Has the PL peaked?

[Rich]

I think we'll see wages inflation continue to restrict the Premier League. The teams are starting to feel the bite of having to pay an average player £40/50k per week. It isn't a sound long term business plan. You're not helped either when two of the biggest English teams are drowning in a mountain of debt. Chelsea are aging and Man City are the pretenders to the thrown.

I expect to see a levelling out of the leagues in the next couple of years; with Barcelona and Real Madrid being the dominate teams in Europe.

[dww]

I wonder if we might even see some English writers and fans suggesting that Platini isn't in fact the devil when he suggests that clubs drowning in debt might be a bad idea.

[Rich]

Madrid will always beable to outspend pretty much any team with their dubious financing (cough cough Spanish government), while Barcelona's team of stars are pretty much all young enough to remain intact for another 5+ years (perhaps not Xavi and Puyol).

I'd say Arsenal are in the English box seat with Wenger's footballing policy, however he seems unable to integrate experience into his youthful mix and could continue to shoot himself in the foot over his principles.

[dww]

Madrid will always beable to outspend pretty much any team with their dubious financing (cough cough Spanish government), while Barcelona's team of stars are pretty much all young enough to remain intact for another 5+ years (perhaps not Xavi and Puyol).

I'd say Arsenal are in the English box seat with Wenger's footballing policy, however he seems unable to integrate experience into his youthful mix and could continue to shoot himself in the foot over his principles.

And Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell could all leave on frees in the summer.

[Imy]

UK tax system is not going to help attract the top stars like it did previously, add to that the weather and the apparant poor quality of life means many of the top stars will head to Spain and possibly Italy.

The league has been so reliant on overseas stars that many have taken their eye off the younger players coming through. Trevor Brooking is supposedly looking at how younger players are trained with more of an emphasis on skill as opposed to results, but this training wil take years to bear fruit.

Add to that the cedit crunch and the harsh lessons of Leeds and Portsmouth, us and the Mancs, investment at most clubs i believe won't be what it used to be.

So poorer quality youngsters and overseas stars will mean a poorer less dominant Premier league.

[Neil Young]

Top foreign players won't come here because of the imminent rise in employers' NI contributions.

[Neil Young]

I'd love to play in England one day but until they make sensible and sustainable efficiency savings and trim the public sector, then talent won't flower there.

Lionel Messi

[Shaggy]

Lionel Messi

[dww]

Top foreign players won't come here because of the imminent rise in employers' NI contributions.

It's getting harder and harder to employ a full retinue of servants.