That’s it. After a long, gruelling 25 games, the Premier League season has come to an end. That is, of course, if you find yourself to be the likes of Swansea, Stoke or Newcastle, nonchalantly sitting in mid-table mediocrity. The dreaded fear of being involved in a rigorous survival scrap until the very last kick of the season has diminished; the dream of an opportunity to contest with the European elite is far beyond their reach. They are more than happy to coast along the remainder of the ride without any considerable inclines or plummeting drops: seems like a very boring ride, if you ask me.
The ride is a teacup ride at the fair for these clubs in some of the more tense matches: in games where the score is locked at stalemate with not long to go, these teams’ effort and desire to win is nowhere near as prominent as the teams fighting at the top and bottom because “a point will do.”
For example, Newcastle United’s games against fellow mid-table occupants Stoke City and Crystal Palace respectively. Both games were frustrating to endure, as they were simply awful games. Newcastle took the lead in both matches, but they soon took their foot off the gas pedal because the need to fight tooth and nail to the very last second for every treasured point possible has left the players’ mindset. Subsequently, Stoke and Palace equalised. In the Palace encounter, neither team really pushed on for the winner: there was a lack of intensity and pace in the passing. If a goal came that was a bonus; if not, it wouldn’t make that much of a difference.
On the other hand, the dream of Champions League football for the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and of course Southampton very much keeps their season alive. Every player has aspirations of playing in the Champions League, the biggest club competition in Europe. It is inevitable the players are naturally going to have to find that extra gear to keep their dream alive.
These dreams are shared with the fans. They want their team to be competing against the European elite. The excitement buzzing around the stadium as the fans are significantly louder when their team is playing well, the roar for every goal is significantly louder as it pushes the team one step closer to a prestigious top four spot in contrast with the anxiety stretched among every face when their team is close to throwing away easy points. The ride up to the end of the season is significantly more entertaining when a glorious prize is potentially awaiting them.
Looking at the bottom of the table, there is definitely more apprehension rather than excitement for the teams facing the doom and gloom of relegation. The amount of money the Premier League offers makes it vital for clubs to make sure they are there to collect it. Furthermore, a trip to Old Trafford is far more attractive than a trip to the New York Stadium in Rotherham. The nerves of players at the bottom becomes evident when easy passes are sprayed astray and defending becomes more like that of Sunday League than Premier League football.
These fears are shared with the fans. This is telling in the atmosphere that the stadium generally has in the majority of games when their team are playing appallingly, which is absolutely non-existent. The repetitive gnawing of the fingernails as their team gradually descends closer to the drop zone, spending the majority of the match slumped back in their chair waiting for something entertaining to happen. However, on the rare occasion something does happen and the team score a goal, there is a desperate, passionate roar erupting and when their team eventually start to climb the table and distance themselves from the relegation zone, relief and elation come forward.
Every club wants to be fighting at the top, trying to grab a place among the elite, winning more than their fair share of games. Therefore, they provide the most entertainment, hence why they get the most games televised. However, not everybody can occupy the top places and have to settle for the mediocre places. Then there are the teams that are left, who have to fight for their place in the top division for next season. A relegation fight, of course the least desired choice, but at least it gives an incentive for every game rather than playing for nothing like teams stuck in mid-table mediocrity do.
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