Following Leicester City winning the EPL and the manner in which they won it (with a few weeks to spare, and winning it while they were not even playing) , I heard more than a few Canadian and American radio shows criticizing European leagues and the way they contest the league. While I don't agree or disagree with this north American view, I have the following points to make:
-These North American sports analysts are forgetting that virtually every country in Europe (including the big soccer leagues) have both a league and a cup competition. But fair enough, the league is what counts. They are also forgetting that there is another completion called 'Champions League' which follows a North American format. In other words, while there is only one league in North American for all the 4 major sports, in soccer, you may have 3 different competitions (league, cup, CL/Libertadores etc.)
-They are using the recent Leicester City example to show that this is not a fun or exciting way to win the league. In other words, it is unfair. But they are forgetting that LFC (or any team that has won the league) would have played other strong teams twice already. In North American as we know, for most sports, there is a league format, followed by playoffs (usually best of 7) . But in soccer leagues, you already have something similar: best of 2 with each team in the league, and the team that comes out with the most points from these match-ups, is the one that deserves to win, because they have demonstrated a season-long ability to withstand pressure and remain on top of the league.
-While the EPL was wrapped up with two weeks to go, that is not always the case. Remember what happened in the EPL just two seasons ago, with that dramatic finish that came down to the wire for ManCity? Same with the La Liga this year, it is coming down to the very last match or even minute.
-I think the MLS has a good format which follows a north American format: they play a league system and then the top 8 play in a relegation format, until a winner emerges.
Personally, if I was to tweak European soccer leagues, I would make it as follows:
Play your usual league, where in a 20 team league, each team plays 38 matches. Then, the top 4 teams (not top 8) go on to play relegation rounds (cup format) where team that finished 1st, plays team 4, and team 2 plays team 3, in a home and away formats.
The winners from these two then play in a final that is played on a pre-selected city. Such a format may ensure that in a league like La Liga, you won't necessarily have Real or Barcelona winning it every year. That is, in the playoff round, you may have some surprises, since it is best of 2 only.
What do you guys think? Are north American analysts making a good case here?
ASHOOR
-These North American sports analysts are forgetting that virtually every country in Europe (including the big soccer leagues) have both a league and a cup competition. But fair enough, the league is what counts. They are also forgetting that there is another completion called 'Champions League' which follows a North American format. In other words, while there is only one league in North American for all the 4 major sports, in soccer, you may have 3 different competitions (league, cup, CL/Libertadores etc.)
-They are using the recent Leicester City example to show that this is not a fun or exciting way to win the league. In other words, it is unfair. But they are forgetting that LFC (or any team that has won the league) would have played other strong teams twice already. In North American as we know, for most sports, there is a league format, followed by playoffs (usually best of 7) . But in soccer leagues, you already have something similar: best of 2 with each team in the league, and the team that comes out with the most points from these match-ups, is the one that deserves to win, because they have demonstrated a season-long ability to withstand pressure and remain on top of the league.
-While the EPL was wrapped up with two weeks to go, that is not always the case. Remember what happened in the EPL just two seasons ago, with that dramatic finish that came down to the wire for ManCity? Same with the La Liga this year, it is coming down to the very last match or even minute.
-I think the MLS has a good format which follows a north American format: they play a league system and then the top 8 play in a relegation format, until a winner emerges.
Personally, if I was to tweak European soccer leagues, I would make it as follows:
Play your usual league, where in a 20 team league, each team plays 38 matches. Then, the top 4 teams (not top 8) go on to play relegation rounds (cup format) where team that finished 1st, plays team 4, and team 2 plays team 3, in a home and away formats.
The winners from these two then play in a final that is played on a pre-selected city. Such a format may ensure that in a league like La Liga, you won't necessarily have Real or Barcelona winning it every year. That is, in the playoff round, you may have some surprises, since it is best of 2 only.
What do you guys think? Are north American analysts making a good case here?
ASHOOR
