Who is actually the best team to watch in the Premier League?
Today in football there is more of a call than ever before for fans to be entertained. Perhaps the rise in match day prices is the cause or the years spent by fans watching the likes of Spain and Brazil play beautiful flowing football. The call of England to adopt a more entertaining and free flowing game has beckoned and generally from the Premier League down the Football Leagues, there are more teams playing football on the floor than the old hoof ball that was so common in our football culture.
So, who are the most entertaining teams in the English Premier League over the current season? What team likes to pass and move with fluidity or likes a fast counter attack to set the pulses racing? Or what team isn’t so nice to watch? Perhaps they may favour the more direct approach of getting the ball into the final third of the pitch as quickly as possible.
Entertaining football however, does not guarantee you will win games and some teams play to their strengths, which may not be as pleasing on the eye like a Barcelona team of all-stars, but they get the best out of their players with victories.
I am a fan of the total football style of play that the Dutch made famous in the 1970s but I also respect the Italian catenaccio, which focuses on a more defensive approach to the game. So as I go through the teams in the EPL this season, with a brief description, I will be rating them on the scale 1 to 10 on entertaining value, 1 = dull and 10 = engaging.
Arsenal – Known for playing football in “the right way” by many fans and pundits alike, Arsene Wenger has nurtured this current Arsenal squad into playing some of the purist football out of any of his sides. However, that is proving to be their downfall as they are often accused of not being able to ‘win ugly’. Despite their trophyless years, at least Arsenal fans can boast playing very entertaining football that involves smart and technical passing and movement as well as fast counter attacks. Entertainment value – 9/10.
Aston Villa – Under the management of Martin O’Neill, Villa were more prone to the direct ball over the top, using the likes of Emile Heskey and John Carew as a target man, with the likes of Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor using their pace on the wings. To some it wasn’t pretty on the eye and since Gerard Houllier’s arrival, Villa are more prone to keeping the ball on the floor using a mixed style of passing. However, the change in managerial style has affected their League form, but they have the potential to be more entertaining than results suggest. Entertainment value – 6/10.
Birmingham City – The Blues are more rigid than fluid, but it has earned them a few good results this season with the League Cup final win over Arsenal the biggest highlight. They have been guilty of relying on the height of Nikola Zigic up front too much for the football purists’ liking but it is rather effective. However, their firm play under Alex McLeish does not make it a hugely enjoyable game of football at times. Entertainment value – 4/10.
Blackburn Rovers – ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce had them playing the direct approach to the game, hard to beat at the back and using set-pieces to their advantage. It worked for Bolton for many seasons and it seemed to be working for Blackburn, until the new owners thought they could do better with promoting coach Steve Kean to the job as manager. Perhaps, the football under the managerial rookie is a bit more versatile, but they’ve still failed to impress many with their football style. Entertainment value – 3/10.
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absolute tosh. To say teams such as Chelsea play as entertaining as Tottenham or Blackpool is utter rubbish, id have chelsea down as a 6 at best.
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arsenal are not the most entertaining – tippy tappy tippy tappy – football is about winning, so man utd it is (from a bored arsenal fan)
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Shade Reply:
April 18th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
How dare can you tell that Arsenal isn’t the most entertaining since you’re a Gooner? Maybe you were one of that morons who abused/booed the players at 65′ yesterday….
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Essexian76 Reply:
April 18th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
He’s not alone then?, sort of backs up his point of view I’d say!
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It is widely accepted that the league, unlike a cup where anything can happen over a few games, is a test of consistency, over 38 games, and therfore, the winners of the league ARE the best team in the league. So what is the point of stupid articles like this one?
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Never United they play the worst football
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haha… read the title of the article, “it’s who is the best team to watch” not the best team.
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Chelski get an 8?? they are boring to watch, it’s not about effective but entertainment, so that rules out both sides of Manchester! Spurs, Wigan, Blackpool now they entertain, it’s attack attack attack and defend badly..includes Spurs and i support them
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There is no doubt,to watch,Tottenham are by far the most entertaining.Win or lose you will get your money’s worth.
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i like watching fulham, they are real entertainers especially when they knocked spurs out of the f.a cup, what a game!but arsenal are by far the best team to watch, always have been.
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man u is the best.
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Arsenal are strets ahead. All the other teams mess about with tactics because they can’t play the beautiful game. Of the rest- only Blackpool, Brom, Villa and Wigan play without fear- although they are not that good at it yet. Barca are of course- the Masters. Like Arsenal, they only have one tactic– get the ball, pass and move. Anything else is pants.
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