I had always known there were clear differences between the
two divisions – such as the range of raw talent, the quality and smoothness of
play, the bigger foreign stars that the Premier League was able to attract, and
of course, the vast amounts of money spent in the Championship was always
beaten by the lucrative gold mine that was the division above.
However, when the team I support got relegated to the
Championship, I began to feel as though there was another difference between the
two leagues, one which was ultimately underrated. When we got relegated I began
to feel that, dare I say it, the Championship was far more exciting than the
Premier League.
This was due to my belief that it was more unpredictable, at
one point during my first season in the Championship, only seven points kept
the team at the top of the relegation zone from the bottom of the play offs. I
thought it was unbelievable – how could so many teams be winning so many
points?
As we spent another season down there, I was surprised at
how much the table had changed – despite the obvious relegation's and promotions
giving the Championship six new teams, I was shocked at the possibility for a team
who had finished 19th last season, to be right up there in the play
offs.
I felt that the top flight was never so unpredictable; it
was always the same top six teams, and always the same teams in mid-table, and
always the same teams scrapping at the bottom.
However, this season I may have to eat a slice of humble pie
as finally the Premier League represents the kind of division I always wanted
it to be. While it isn't necessarily unpredictable, the divide between the top
and mid table is slightly closer than normal years.
When I looked at the league before, despite knowing that it
was bursting with talent and classy football, I couldn't help slightly
resenting the fact that even if my team managed to be promoted, we wouldn't
really get anywhere. While it would be great to play against the “big” teams,
and see our pitch graced with effortlessly beautiful football, and to not have
to stay up ridiculously late to watch the Football League show, I also felt
like I just wanted to see my team playing well, and not have to watch them
struggling to compete.
But this year, Southampton are right up there – the underdogs
who faced a lot of speculative comments as to whether they would be able to
hold their ground in the league after selling a number of quality players, are
now fighting right at the top for a place in the Champions League.
I would really like Southampton to have a successful year;
they deserve it. Their fans deserve it, and the players deserve it too.
Seeing Southampton up in the mix has given me a lifeline to
cling onto, I find myself latching on to the idea that maybe that could be us,
we could defy all the odds and establish ourselves in the league, and find
ourselves competing for places in Europe. Of course, we need to get ourselves
out of the Championship first – and it is a notoriously difficult league to get
of due to the competitiveness of it, but Southampton’s success has enabled me
to feel more positive about a potential return to the best league in the world.
You share nice post.
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