Premier daze…

Friday, 30/10/2009

Supporters of every team in the country dream of their side reaching the Premier League. It’s the Promised Land, the Holy Grail, the pinnacle of achievement.
And the great thing about it is that no matter where you are in the football pyramid you can actually get there!
Wimbledon (that’s the original version, that lived at Plough Lane) got to the Premiership. Bradford City were there, as were Swindon Town.
Hull City, Wigan and Burnley are there now and – with respect – are probably regarded as four of the division’s lesser sides. But they are Premier League sides, and no one can take that away from them. Wigan and Burnley are doing nicely thank you, and Hull survived their first season, if only just.
Yet earlier this week I read that former Liverpool, Villa and Fulham striker Stan Collymore reckons sides like those above should not be in the top-flight.
He reckons the Premier League should only be for top sides and that there should be no promotion or relegation. Teams such as Newcastle and Leeds (and we will presume his former side Forest) should be in the Prem.
I can’t argue with him that those sides should be in the top-flight, that the Premier League would actually be better with them there. I’d also include the likes of Southampton, another well-supported team with a great ground.
But they have to earn the right to be back at the top. Remember that it’s not that long ago that Man City were playing in what’s now League One. Would Stan have blocked their route back to the top?
Football is all about excitement, losing, promotion, relegation – and dreaming of winning things! Remove the possibility of taking on the best and you shatter the dream.

* Would you change the Premier League? Tell us…

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