Not even a month ago I read an article on ESPNFC by "Nick" "Miller". At the time, after week 13, Manchester City led the Premier League by two points. Nick however could see the handwriting on the wall:
Not only could City win this year's title at a stroll, but there's a strong chance they'll completely dominate the division for years to come.
Liverpool were,
probably still going to lose [the league] by 10 points. Maybe more.
Would it be a huge surprise if City won the next three Premier League titles? Four? Five? Are they going to turn the richest league in the world, the division that sells itself as the place where anyone can beat anyone, into a procession?
Yes, that would be a huge surprise, Nick. Here are the Premier League champions since the Manchester Revolution of 2008.
English Premier League (1st)
2008–09 Manchester United
2009–10 Chelsea
2010–11 Manchester United
2011–12 Manchester City
2012–13 Manchester United
2013–14 Manchester City
2014–15 Chelsea
2015–16 Leicester City
2016–17 Chelsea
2017–18 Manchester City
No club has even repeated as champions in that time span. So yes Nick, BIG FUCKING SURPRISE.
Now week 18 is in the books. Liverpool has led the league for two successive weeks.
Ultimately, for the neutral, it's boring. It's boring whenever one team is totally dominant.
Are you still bored, Nick? There are two great teams in the Premier League this year, separated by one point after 45% of the season has been played. That is every "neutral" sports fan's dream. It sure does not look like City is going to win the league "in a stroll." "Totally dominant"...What are you going to say to that?
Sport relies on competition, but if City are too good for the competition, we're just watching exhibition football. You might as well cancel your TV subscriptions and fire up YouTube to watch those people do absurd tricks in cool urban locations, for all the competitive drama the Premier League could bring.
“Too good for the competition”: “Too good for the competition”! Yeah, cancel your EPL TV subscription Nick. Subscribe to the TV services that carry La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1. You talk about "too good for the competition," take a gander at those other four of the best five leagues in the world and their champions since 2008 and compare to the EPL's:
Ligue 1 France (5th)
2008–09 Bordeaux
2009–10 Marseille
2010–11 Lille
2011–12 Montpellier
2012–13 Paris Saint-Germain
2013–14 Paris Saint-Germain
2014–15 Paris Saint-Germain
2015–16 Paris Saint-Germain
2016–17 Monaco
2017–18 Paris Saint-Germain
Serie A Italy (4th)
2008–09 Internazionale
2009–10 Internazionale
2010–11 Milan
2011–12 Juventus
2012–13 Juventus
2013–14 Juventus
2014–15 Juventus
2015–16 Juventus
2016–17 Juventus
2017–18 Juventus
Bundesliga Germany (3rd)
2008–09 VfL Wolfsburg
2009–10 Bayern Munich
2010–11 Borussia Dortmund
2011–12 Borussia Dortmund
2012–13 Bayern Munich
2013–14 Bayern Munich
2014–15 Bayern Munich
2015–16 Bayern Munich
2016–17 Bayern Munich
2017–18 Bayern Munich
La Liga Spain (2nd)
2008–09 Barcelona
2009–10 Barcelona
2010–11 Barcelona
2011–12 Real Madrid
2012–13 Barcelona
2013–14 Atlético Madrid
2014–15 Barcelona
2015–16 Barcelona
2016–17 Real Madrid
2017–18 Barcelona
Manchester City are a majestic football team. They can play football the like of which we've rarely seen. They have the potential to be the Premier League's dominant side for years to come. If they do, it's great for them. But ultimately it's bad for the rest of us.
Nick, take some anti-depressants. Some antipsychotics, too. Add some anti-hallucinogens and feel better, Nick.
Not only could City win this year's title at a stroll, but there's a strong chance they'll completely dominate the division for years to come.
Liverpool were,
probably still going to lose [the league] by 10 points. Maybe more.
Would it be a huge surprise if City won the next three Premier League titles? Four? Five? Are they going to turn the richest league in the world, the division that sells itself as the place where anyone can beat anyone, into a procession?
Yes, that would be a huge surprise, Nick. Here are the Premier League champions since the Manchester Revolution of 2008.
English Premier League (1st)
2008–09 Manchester United
2009–10 Chelsea
2010–11 Manchester United
2011–12 Manchester City
2012–13 Manchester United
2013–14 Manchester City
2014–15 Chelsea
2015–16 Leicester City
2016–17 Chelsea
2017–18 Manchester City
No club has even repeated as champions in that time span. So yes Nick, BIG FUCKING SURPRISE.
Now week 18 is in the books. Liverpool has led the league for two successive weeks.
Ultimately, for the neutral, it's boring. It's boring whenever one team is totally dominant.
Are you still bored, Nick? There are two great teams in the Premier League this year, separated by one point after 45% of the season has been played. That is every "neutral" sports fan's dream. It sure does not look like City is going to win the league "in a stroll." "Totally dominant"...What are you going to say to that?
Sport relies on competition, but if City are too good for the competition, we're just watching exhibition football. You might as well cancel your TV subscriptions and fire up YouTube to watch those people do absurd tricks in cool urban locations, for all the competitive drama the Premier League could bring.
“Too good for the competition”: “Too good for the competition”! Yeah, cancel your EPL TV subscription Nick. Subscribe to the TV services that carry La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1. You talk about "too good for the competition," take a gander at those other four of the best five leagues in the world and their champions since 2008 and compare to the EPL's:
Ligue 1 France (5th)
2008–09 Bordeaux
2009–10 Marseille
2010–11 Lille
2011–12 Montpellier
2012–13 Paris Saint-Germain
2013–14 Paris Saint-Germain
2014–15 Paris Saint-Germain
2015–16 Paris Saint-Germain
2016–17 Monaco
2017–18 Paris Saint-Germain
Serie A Italy (4th)
2008–09 Internazionale
2009–10 Internazionale
2010–11 Milan
2011–12 Juventus
2012–13 Juventus
2013–14 Juventus
2014–15 Juventus
2015–16 Juventus
2016–17 Juventus
2017–18 Juventus
Bundesliga Germany (3rd)
2008–09 VfL Wolfsburg
2009–10 Bayern Munich
2010–11 Borussia Dortmund
2011–12 Borussia Dortmund
2012–13 Bayern Munich
2013–14 Bayern Munich
2014–15 Bayern Munich
2015–16 Bayern Munich
2016–17 Bayern Munich
2017–18 Bayern Munich
La Liga Spain (2nd)
2008–09 Barcelona
2009–10 Barcelona
2010–11 Barcelona
2011–12 Real Madrid
2012–13 Barcelona
2013–14 Atlético Madrid
2014–15 Barcelona
2015–16 Barcelona
2016–17 Real Madrid
2017–18 Barcelona
Manchester City are a majestic football team. They can play football the like of which we've rarely seen. They have the potential to be the Premier League's dominant side for years to come. If they do, it's great for them. But ultimately it's bad for the rest of us.
Nick, take some anti-depressants. Some antipsychotics, too. Add some anti-hallucinogens and feel better, Nick.
