I don't think City's players didn't really do any thing to help Mancini today

Its almost sad to see the PL at this state of mediocrity. There are maybe 4-5 really world class players in the league right now (Suarez, RvP, Aguero and Bale who may be the 3rd best player in the world at the moment) the PL is suffering from thus lack of genuine talent and may lose more players in the summer. Not only do Bale and Suarez need to stay but PL teams need to attract more talent. It wont be hard with the dram of the German league, the three Spanish teams and FFP

I think it's more that the EPL was due for a down year, mostly after last season.

I blame Chelsea and City for the lack of talent. Overseas clubs now seem to be adding £10 million to the value of their players because these reckless chumps have shown that they're prepared to pay it. They appear to believe that all English clubs are in the same financial situation. For clubs who are actually concerned with staying solvent the top young talent is much harder to find at a sensible pric than it was 6 - 7 years ago.

There is no logic in "the league is due". Yes it ended fantastically last year. The two top teams combined for the highest point total in decades. But that can't mask the clear issue thatother leagues are putting out a better product, even last year. While City-United was a great end.... where was the drama in the rest of the league? And how has that dram led to an influx of new talent? It hasn't. While I should add Mata to that list of world class players the league did lose Modric. Chelsea won the Champs league but was massively outplayed by Bayern and Barca. The English teams this year are underdogs in their upcoming ties.

I agree with Spur... City and Chelsea may have pushed the league to untenable heights of spending. But there is something else. Neymar, Lucas, Falcoa are not even considering the PL. Pep passed up obvious openings at City, Chelsea and maybe United for Germany. Bale and Suarez may be leaving. They will no doubt be well sought after in Spain this summer.

I was thinking of the action-reaction thing. Last season was one of the most exciting seasons of the EPL, so I feel it could have been that this season is the result of it and the EPL is suffering while trying to follow up that and it's just not happening this season.

I think there's a number of reasons why those 3 players are turning down the EPL, but I don't really think it's solely because they don't want to. With Falcao, Atletico is actually in title contention in La Liga, though Barca don't look like they're gonna lose it, so it could be Atletico is refusing to sell him at the moment. Neymar, it's really anyone's guess as to his true reasoning. Lucas, it was simply a case of PSG offering more than United and other EPL clubs that were interested.

As for Pep, a blind donkey could see why he chose Bayern Munich over City and Chelsea. I think most big name managers are afraid to take the Chelsea job because of Abramovic. And then City, is a lot tougher to figure out this reason, but I think it's more that Pep just didn't want to deal with the craziness the City job would bring.

You maybe onto something there. It might make sense that some teams are price fixing their players solely cause City, and Chelsea, are willing to way more than a player is actually worth.

Again Gate, aside from agreeing through disagreement I'm not sure what you're on about. A blind monkey? At what point did the German league become a stronger pull than the PL? Peps choosing the German league because its easy? No... and while Chelsea may be unstable, City isn't. He chose Germany because that league is on the rise. Its financially stable, competitive and developing. The PL is on the way down. That's the point. Lucas chose PSG because they can offer more. Falcoa will go to Italy, Real or Barca in the summer because the success rate is higher. Basically everything I said you agreed with then tried to explain. The explanations aren't necessary, but they aren't anoloies, nor each singular. Pep, Cavani, Neymar, Lucas, Falcoa will all end up outside of England for the same basic premise. Its the same one that may draw Suarez and Bale away. The PL right now is not looked on as the ultimate in football. Last years dramatic finale and chelseas herpics did nothing to add to the allure either (what world class players joined the PL this summer.... and don't bore me with Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool additions. None were world class. They represent the new PL.. almost moneyball additions)

Ericksen is this summers big target. Where he goes will say alot

I want to say that it may not be a bad thing. Purchases like Borini, Coutinho, Holtby, Giroud, Sissokho, Kagawa may help overturn the precedent set by the Chelseas and Citys. They can only help the health of the league. But the PL may not see a truly world class addition for a couple of windows. So why the Neymars, Ronaldos, Alonsos, Lucas' go elsewhere, and the Dortmunds and Schalkes continue to develop in their own buildings, the PL may have to wait and create more balance. Because of that, as peaches said, the mediocrity will continue

We both know, the German league is far from easy, and you're right, the Bundesliga doesn't have a stronger pull than the EPL, but even I would choose Bayern Munich over the likes of Chelsea and City. And while I never actually said City are unstable, Manchester City are basically a tightrope act due to all the ego they are buying, though they did offload a massive chunk of it with Balotelli's transfer to Milan, but honestly in my mind, City are still a few steps from turning into a full on train wreck of a club, and it's mostly to do with the outrageous wages that the players are being paid, half of which are being paid 150+ to sit on the bench for at least 60 minutes.

It's not just City and Chelsea though. Next season every EPL team will be making a lot more tv money than this year due to the new sky, bt vision and al jazeera deals. Why should non EPL clubs not ask for more money for their players when they know they'll have it.

I think part of the reason players have second thoughts about England is the tax rate. 50% of your earnings are taxed whereas in Russia they aren't.

Glasgow, your point about tax is a good one. Footballers in Spain only pay 20% tax too.

They are proposing a 70% high earners tax in France. Whether it will pass I don't but it could make PSG's job so much harder to attract talent.

The 25% top earners bracket (a tax rate specifically for footballers, effectively, and known in Spain as 'the Beckham law'), won't last long in Spain, either. I think it moves to 45% later this year.

Just kill me now.

Seriously.

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Yep... done. Lost all interest in the season

I don't see how Suarez stays at this point. Barring a massive turn of events, we're looking at MAYBE Europa league again. He deserves better.

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Better than what? He pissed away his chances this afternoon as well... he deserves us as much as we deserve him.

Today is a day that sports can die in a fire.

Yep.

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