Football is broken

Yesterday, the final round of Premier League fixtures kicked off at four in the afternoon, with most of the main issues having been decided weeks ago.

Liverpool became champions when we were still in India on 27th April. And the three relegated teams were confirmed soon afterwards. Arsenal would almost certainly come second behind Liverpool, so the reamining issues were who would finish in 3rd, 4th and 5th, so enter next season's Champions League, who would get the other European places, and who would run out.

TV and fan enjoy the issues being sorted out on a hectic final afternoon, with last minute goals and issues swinging one way and then the other.

But not this year, it was all rather flat, with Sky and the BBC trying to make the scramble for the minor places more exciting than it actuall was.

Truth is only Manchester City or Liverpool have won the title since 2017, that's eight seasons.

I said at the start that as long as Citeh didn't win it again, I wouldn't mind, but another Liverpool title was only slightly better.

At least there was Citeh's mid-season collapse to enjoy, not because I don't like the club, but it ensured they didn't win the title for the 5th season in a row.

Meanwhile at the bottom, the three promoted teams were all relegated, with Southampton close to having the worse season ever, only avoiding that by winning at fellow relagated team, Ipswich.

This is the second season in a row when all three promoted teams have gone straight back down, and with less combined points and goals scored than last year too. Its too soon to say if this a sign of things to come, as the previous time it had happened was 27 years ago.

But the "prize" for escaping the Championship is being beaten in 30 out of 38 games like happened to Southampton, how soon before a club declines promotion?

And what of Sky and the BBC as well as overseas broadcasters covering the self-proclaimed best league in the world? For how much longer will they accept the same teamsd winning, the promoted teams being dreadful, and there being little of any sporting cmpetition over the season? On a game by game basis any team can beat any other, but over the season, cream and money rises to the top.

It has been the absolute failure of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United that has brought light relief for those who do not support them. Spurs finished in 17th place, just above the relagation zone, though 13 points above next placed Leicester, and United climbed to 15th through their last day win over Aston Villa. That both clubs played each other last week in the final of the Europa League for a place in next season's Champion's League is very strange to anyone looking in.

Is the interest going forward to ee how bad Manchester United can be, or can Chelsea or Arsenal break the near decade-long stranglehold on the title by Citeh and Liverpool? It is nine years since Leicester won the league, the first first time winners of the English title since Nottingham Forest in 1978, some 36 years previously. How many years will it be before another first time winner triumphs?

And who will keep paying top dollar, or pounds, to see season after season of foregone conclusions? In order to make as much money with the new TV more games than ever will be live on Sky and TNT here?

The Premier League is currently destroying the matchday experience for those at games on those watching on TV by the use, or misuse of VAR, with some reviews taking up to 5 minutes, removing the thrill of the spontaneous release of joy upon scoring a goal shared by players and fans.