Parity v Competition

In another exchange of guest posts, Jason Davis and I discuss the pros and cons of parity and competition on both sides of the Atlantic. You can read my post on Match Fit USA, but I'll leave you in Jason's capable hands.

Our man Chris recently posted a commentary on the state of the Premier League's rather predictable nature, lamenting that only one-fifth of the league have a realistic shot finishing on top. It's a rather disheartening set of circumstances for those who choose to align themselves with clubs outside of the Big Four. As a fan, I can think of little sadder than being forced to acknowledge that your club, before the season even begins, has no chance of competing for the title. This being Chris' site, Villa comes to mind of course; the state of the Premier League (and the modern football world) means that a top four spot is the holy grail for the Villans, and that any thought that the club could win a Premier League title isn't even worth the effort it takes to imagine it.

For American football fans (fans of the beautiful game that are American, not fans of that other football played with an oblong ball), this type of imbalance is a bit of a foreign concept. Our own domestic league goes out of its way to ensure that parity is the law of the land, that every club has a chance to compete for the championship, and that no team gains an "unfair" advantage through a strong financial position. So which approach is preferable? The reality of the matter is that the former will likely never change, and that the latter will remain the status quo for the foreseeable future. The relative financial wherewithal of the leagues and clubs in question mean that each approach is "proper" for the respective interests; it would be difficult to tell any of the Big Four that they simply aren't allowed to spend more than anyone else, and it might be suicide for MLS to remove the shackles and allow a free-spending atmosphere. Money is at the heart of the matter, because money buys quality, and quality wins championships.

I can't conceive of English football going to a salary-cap model, or some other kind of forced parity system. It's such a strange thought that it's almost revolting. What would the Premier League be without big clubs, bursting with high-priced talent and benches full of stars, facing off against their smaller cousins, whose budgets pale in comparison, and getting pipped on occasion? It's true that by the end of the season, by the time the dust has settled and titles and Champions League spots have been given out, those standing are always the same four clubs. But should the situation be radically changed simply because of that fact? How intriguing would Aston Villa's attempts to break into the top four actually be if it weren’t such a monumental task for them to do so? How much joy would any team's fans take from a Champions League spot earned during a season that saw Manchester United and Chelsea held back, unable to swing about their financial might?

Perhaps that's the wrong question. Undoubtedly, some would take a top four finish no matter how or under what circumstances it was earned. But my feeling stands: force some kind of artificial restrictions on the Big Four (and the Premier League as a whole) and you remove the romance of the league. The David and Goliath nature that is such a part of English football, even within its top tier, would slowly disappear, leaving too many clubs as bland copies of each other. What fun would it be to root against Manchester United if its team sheet wasn't stacked with high-priced talent whose very existence riles our passions?

Parity exists, and is forced upon, Major League Soccer because it has to be. A young league struggling to gain a foothold needs all of its fans to believe that a championship is possible when the season begins. Parity breeds interest for MLS (or that’s the idea anyway), keeping engaged a group of fans who might not otherwise remain interested. The Premier League needs no such help, and would only be reduced to mediocrity if any type of restrictions were placed on its clubs.

That's certainly not something I want to see.

While I think it's unfortunate for Chris and millions of fans like him, Aston Villa should start every season dreaming of, well, fourth.

English football is better for it.