What are we to make of the Premier League right now?

So, another season has finished and the withdraw symptoms can begin. One of these withdraw symptoms might be being over analytical, which suits me fine.

Its been a tricky season for the Premier League – a tricky 12 months in fact. A year ago the Premier League was still the biggest league in Europe, but a loss for Man United against Barcelona in the Champions League final, coupled with Real Madrid’s new spending power (emphasised by Ronaldo’s move to Spain)was supposed to represent a changing of the guard.

Certainly the Big Four have all looked flawed and uncertain this season. At their best Chelsea have been unplayable, and should have walked to the title by a far bigger distance than they did and exited Europe early. Man United withered whenever Wayne Rooney wasn’t on the field, Arsenal lack leadership, and Liverpool had a nightmareish season that saw them exiled from the Big Four.

So where does the Premier League stand now? I don’t believe that Spain’s La Liga has surpassed the Premier League. Barca and Real might have ridiculous Dream Teams and scarily good players all through their sides, but neither made the Champions League final either.

There’s also a supreme lack of depth beyond that Big Two. Valencia are comfortably in third place in La Liga eight points clear of anyone else, helped largely by two David’s (Silva and Villa) both of whom could be leaving the club in the summer. Valencia are currently 27 points off the pace, with just one game to play. So basically Spain is Scotland, but with two World Class teams at the top.

A further point about how competitive England is compared with Spain – Fulham play Atlético Madrid in the final of the Europa League this week. With one game left to play, Atleti are 9th with 47 points. Fulham finished 12th with 46 points.

I’m not the kind of person, I’ll hope you’ll realise with an insufferable bias toward the Premier League, and I’m actually happier that European competition has been more varied and interesting this season. I’ve said before, I don’t watch the Champions League to watch Arsenal play Chelsea.

But I don’t think the Premier League has quite relinquished its mantle as the Main League – just as La Liga was ten years ago, and Serie A was before that – just yet. But it seems awfully unsure of itself.

Like I said, all the big sides are flawed, and there is possibility if they don’t improve that the Nouveau riche of Man City and Spurs are catching up. Although this season proved that just by spending an absurd amount of money, you can’t buy happiness. Not that it’ll stop Man City next season.

It is quite possible that the Premier League’s days as the Main League could be drawing to a close – its all circular – but who would take over? Spain would need the money to trickle down a bit. When Spain was the place to be it had more than just Barca and Real – Deportivo were a big side then and Valencia could challenge for the title. I think they would need that competitiveness again.

Serie A is still recovering of course, but it is a fantastic league on its day. It just needs the Romas, Milans, Juventuses and maybe even the smaller clubs like Sampdoria to make a convincing run at the title. Roma are running Inter to the last day this season, but even hardened Roma fans watch with hope, not expectation.

France and Germany are making a credible run at it too, and if their teams start to regularly perform in Europe there could be a real change in the guard.

The striking thing about Italy, Spain and so on, is that the league’s all seem to have a really striking personality. Maybe its because I’m watching it every week so its hard to tell, but the Premier League seems a void of personality.

Sky, and the millions of Rupert Murdoch have bought the Premier League to the biggest table, but at what cost? There seems a vapid, soulless feeling about the Premier League, and I think that is probably why so many fans of Serie A and La Liga find it distasteful.

It is partly because of the monied clubs too – or at the least the seemingly monied clubs. Sides like Manchester city spending all the money in the world to try and achieve success is one thing, but the sides achieving massive debt to get it is another.

Man United and Liverpool are mismanaged at best from a money point of view. Liverpool have seen it come crashing down a bit this season, but Man United have clung on, primarily because Wayne Rooney has made them look so good.

Further down the league, you have to worry when a team like Portsmouth, so successful untill so recently can fall to pieces so horribly. You just know they aren’t the only ones.

What does the future hold? Its tough to tell. The top 7 or 8 looks genuinely compeitive, and depdning on signings throughout the summer, could make a really interesting battle for the Champions League next season. What the sides who have qualified for the Champions League already do in the market will be interesting.

All four need to improve. Chelsea won’t be fooled by the fact they’ve been the best team in the land this season – they do need to shake things up to push on in Europe. Spurs will need to step up to hold onto fourth, especially with a larger number of fixtures next time around. Arsenal do need to spend. And Man United need to do something so they don’t look so frail without Rooney.

Where the Premier League will stand in 12 months is a fascinating one. Its excitingly difficult to say, But I suspect the top of the table could be even more mixed up than before – but I’d still expect the English sides to bounce back to some degree in Europe. It’s going to be exciting to find out.

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