Does the PL have a problem?

[mid_gen]

Bit clickbaity I know.....but watching this season in the PL, and the CL, has me thinking.

Has the PL gone too far with the 'physical' selling point? It's really glaring watching the PSG/Bayern games how many incredibly talented footballers they have and how great the game is to watch when the players are able to use their pace and footwork....whereas the PL has become more and more about outmuscling your opponents and wrestling and shirt-pulling.

Players like Amad can't physically compete in the PL, just get manhandled out of the game.

Also, I don't think PL players with the required bulk to compete in the wrestling have the athleticism to operate at the same pace and work rate as teams like PSG and Bayern. It's really glaring how static the average PL game is, with players standing around with the ball regularly. CL games have been much faster paced, players always moving on the ball.

Have the refereeing guidelines gone too far?

Definitely feel like the PL meta needs a shakeup.

 

[fez]

I think the Bayern/PSG game has somewhat distorted peoples views of most CL games. These 2 games were just lightning in a bottle (and up to a point, the second game was far more "normal" for playacting/fouls/cheating).

The Arsenal/AM game was just like a PL game. Both teams playing slower football. Cheating, pulling etc. I don't remember thinking the rest of the CL knockout games I saw were shining examples of exciting, free-flowing and clean football either.

The issue the PL has isn't so much the physicality, its the broad quality level across the "weaker" teams that means even they are all full of good players who are athletic and reasonably technical. They aren't plucky underdogs hoping to steal a goal on the break, they are tactically well drilled and know how to exploit weaknesses. I think it would be surprising just how well a mid-table PL side would do if you threw them into the Spanish/German/French league. Just look at how we are doing in the EL this season.

I think the big difference at the moment is the teams at the top of the PL as a group are nowhere near what they were 3-4 years ago while PSG and Bayern are exceptional right now. Peak Klopp/Pep Liverpool and City would still be playing broadly the same style they did at their peak even in the current PL meta and they would still be walking the league.

 

[HangTime]

I don't think physicality and skill have to be completely mutually exclusive, some of the best teams over the years have had a mix of both. Real Madrid had a lot of skill going forward but also had Pepe and Ramos at the back, in fact it was a general trait of Mourinho teams like Chelsea beforehand as well to blend guile with braun and of course of bit of gamesmanship thrown in. You think back to the old PL rivalries between Arsenal and MU, games were decided both on moments of magic (think Henry flick up and looping volley over Barthez, or Giggs run in the FA cup semifinal) but also on physical contents, Keane vs Vieira, various run ins over the years etc.

In terms of bulk someone like Bernardo Silva isn't the biggest (5'8) and that didn't stop him completely mauling a West Ham player in the box the other day. We just need the officials to start stamping it out, only way it will change and that might be tough medicine, week 1 we have 11 red cards, week 2 we get 4 red cards, and then it calms down after that when the penny drops.