It's a question that has been haunting me over the past week, as I think of what could be and what will be. There are three teams desperately fighting for survival, and around seven that could all have a chance to play next year. My question is this: does any team have a real right to be in the premiership? No doubt "Top Four" supporters will come on and say yes, but I would like to offer the answer...no. Time has an odd way of unfolding, and in the same way that Accrington Stanley is having a rebirth, teams may yet fade and die under the power of increased commercialism within society. So my next question: ups and lows? Define please. Charlton playing in the premiership: definite high. Low? Getting relegated? Don't think so. You see, a real low is administration, possible bankruptcy, and the thought that you team won't be around to play anymore. It's incredible to think that several teams have gone through this - the aforementioned Accrington Stanley, York City, My own Manchester City amongst others, and have survived or miraculously risen from the ashes so to speak. Do they have a right to top flight football? No, but they treasure it when it happens. So is having too much of something a bad thing? Yes and no. Having something as precious as top fight football, or an FA cup final, is treasured by those to whom it is a rarity. On the other hand, perhaps that is the same case to those supporters whose clubs are there often (any thoughts, Liverpool fans)? So? Any thoughts, football fans? Does any team have a divine right to be in the premiership, and what defines a high or a low for your team? Is relegation really all that bad? How about some real highs and lows for your club? Your thoughts please.
The answer is no, you are right. Look at Leeds, a few seasons ago they would have said yes. The problem is that now football is, generally, less volatile, and the reason is business. The fact is, that if Chelsea broke the rules in a Juventus style, and were put into division three, such is the financial power, they would find themselves in the Premiership again. Clubs are far more than a squad of players a manager and a stadium. A better question is, do some clubs have a devine right to do business within the realms of the Premiership? The answer to that, in the case of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and maybe Spurs... is probably yes.
