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Premier League: Is the Top Flight Becoming Boring?

Calum StarkeyContributor IMarch 19, 2011

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 09:  A view of the Premier League trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge on May 9, 2010 in London, England. Chelsea won 8-0 to win the championship.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Clive Mason/Getty Images

In 2003-04, we had Arsenal's Invincibles, the glorious side that claimed the league title unbeaten. The following season, Mourinho led Chelsea to the championship with a record points tally, and followed that up a year later with another almost perfect season.

Manchester United then reigned supreme, ending Chelsea's dominance over the top level of English football, displaying wonderful attacking skill and a solid defensive back-bone.

But since the 2007-08 season, has it all gone downhill?

That season, England had three of the four UEFA Champions League semi-finalists, with both finalists being from the Premier League. The league itself was just as exciting, with Manchester United claiming the title on the final day of the season, ahead of Chelsea by just two points. Arsenal had led the way for the majority of the season, only to see their ambitions crumble on an infamous day at St. Andrews.

At the bottom, Derby County were relegated were the lowest points tally in Premier League history, managing to claim just 11 points from a possible 114. Even the January signings of Robbie Savage and Roy Carroll couldn't save them.

From 14th to 19th, only five points separated the sides, with Fulham avoiding relegation on goal-difference, after some incredible comebacks during the final games of the season.

In the battle for Europe, Aston Villa and Everton pushed Liverpool for fourth spot until March, where the Merseyside club really hit form and solidified their spot in the Champions League.

Talking of Europe, nine Premier League clubs qualified for European Competition that season.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool clambered into the UEFA Champions League, Aston Villa grabbed a spot in the Intertoto Cup, and Everton, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all claimed places in the UEFA Cup.

The goals were flowing, as Cristiano Ronaldo hit 31 goals in the Premier League, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Fernando Torres each bagging 24. Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani made names for themselves with 19 and 15 goals respectably, while Cesc Fabregas topped the assists chart with 19, finally beginning to reach the potential that had long been expected of him.

Since those heady-heights of English football though, it's all gone a little bit downhill.

Liverpool pushed Manchester United for the league title in 2008-09, and with a fully-fit Fernando Torres, they may have won it, but everything else that season was rather bland.

Nicolas Anelka was named the top scorer with just 19 goals, and Manchester United's title win itself was more down to clean-sheets than attacking prowess.

Chelsea fell away early in the season under Luis Felipe Scolari, but following the part-time hiring of Guus Hiddink in February 2009, Chelsea's league form greatly improved to see them finish in third place, just seven points behind the Champions.

The truth is, not many people remember the 2008-09 season that well. If you remove the memories of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League semi-final with Barcelona, and Barcelona's eventual dominant win over Manchester United, people struggle to recall the details.

A lot of people will point to Liverpool's 4-4 draw with Arsenal, United's run of clean-sheets and Manchester City having Robinho in their side, but besides that, there's not much to shout about.

Last season wasn't much better.

Sure, Chelsea were amongst the goals for the first time since Zola left, but there just didn't seem to be the excitement there anymore.

Ronaldo had left for Real Madrid, and Fernando Torres seemed to be injured for pretty much every game that didn't involve Manchester United.

People can try and defend the season by pointing to Liverpool's downfall, Tottenham's rise, and Manchester City's salary, but it just didn't feel as good as the other seasons did.

I found myself sitting down to watch my team (who will remain nameless to avoid accusations of bias), and spending more time focused on the beer mat than the television screen.

There were a few fantastic moments, like the match at Old Trafford at the end of the season between Manchester United and Chelsea, which was packed with controversial decisions and jaw-dropping moments. There was the 8-0 win for Chelsea over Wigan which saw them claim the title, and break the 100 goals barrier, and the match between Tottenham and Manchester City to see who would make it into the Champions League.

There was also the first flashes of Gareth Bale's real genius, as Harry Redknapp pushed him up to the left-wing, and the form of Wayne Rooney, along with Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard.

The point I'm making is, this is all about the big teams.

If you ask me who Wolves best player was that season, I wouldn't have a clue.

A few years ago, I could have reeled off the top players at each club, talking about their goals, or tackles, or passes. Now, even the mid-table sides don't seem as good.

This wasn't reflected in Europe however, with Fulham reaching the Europa League final after some wonderful performances.

At the top level of European football however, England quite frankly died.

Liverpool tumbled into the Europa League, after being bettered by Fiorentina and Lyon in the Group Stage. Chelsea were beaten home and away by eventual winners Inter in the second Round, with Mourinho coming back to haunt them. Arsenal were destroyed by a brilliant Lionel Messi in the Quarter-Final, and Manchester United being eliminated by a wonder-goal from Arjen Robben at the same point.

That season, the Semi-Finals had a French team, an Italian team, a German team and a Spanish team. A worrying thought for English football.

Is it that the Premier League isn't as good as it once was? In terms of talent, no. Tottenham Hotspur proved that against Inter and AC Milan.

Is it that the Premier League is less competitive? Once again, I say look at Tottenham Hotspur, along with Manchester City and Chelsea who are all clambering over each other for a spot in the Champions League.

Is it that the "Soap-Opera" has died? Maybe. A few years ago, everyone wanted to see Chelsea fail because of the money they had. People became more interested in the game, and started focusing on the storylines of football. The way a big, rich sugar daddy had taken over a major club, and pumped them full of cash.

Now that Chelsea have been bettered, after Manchester United's trio of league titles, that factor has disappeared. Maybe if Manchester City can qualify for the Champions League this season though, that thrill might return.

The main question is, has the Premier League became boring?

Every season seems the same, to me at least.

Chelsea and Manchester United will battle for the title, Arsenal will challenge early on before falling away around March, Liverpool will fight for 4th spot, and a half-decent Premier League side will be relegated, along with some of the newly promoted ones.

Is it any wonder that people have become so wrapped up in Tottenham's European ride this season? English football is finally providing us with some long over-due excitement.

Let's hope that Chelsea spend big in the summer again, and battle it out with Manchester City for most expensive flop. It'll finally inject some fun back into our National game.