Is The EPL A Farmers’ League? -By Ayobami Okerinde

Manchester City were crowned the winners of the 2022–2023 Premier League season on May 20, following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Taiwo Awoniyi’s Nothingham Forest. For most of the season, Arsenal FC, led by Mikel Arteta, was at the top of the league and was at one point the clear favorite to win the coveted trophy. However, a bad run of form that saw the team garner 3 points out of a possible 12 (which included draws to Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, and a loss to Manchester City) saw the title slip away from the North London side.

The title win saw Manchester City lift their third title in a row, their fifth title in six years, and their ninth Premier League title in their history. Since he joined the club, Pep Guardiola has overseen the most successful period in the club’s history, one that has seen the club win numerous titles in England. The win has led to conversations about how competitive the Premier League has been.

Over the years, there have been debates over the best and sometimes toughest leagues in Europe. Across the world, the term ‘Farmers League’ has been popularized. Farmers League is a slang term or statement used by football fans to describe a league that is less competitive and has been dominated by a football team for a number of years. The number of years is unspecified but could mean a team winning the league title for at least three years and more.

In Europe’s top five leagues, there are at least three that have earned the tag farmers league. One such example is the German Bundesliga, which was won by Bayern Munich for ten consecutive seasons between 2012–2013 and 2021–2022, and it could be extended. In the Italian Serie A, Juventus won nine titles in a row between 2011–2012 and the 2019–20 season. Most notably is the French League 1, with PSG winning 8 titles in 10 years between 12-13 and the 20-21 season. The team lost the title to Monaco in the 17/17 season and Lille in the 20-21 season.

For years, supporters of football clubs in the EPL have proclaimed the EPL as the toughest league due to the number of top teams. For many years, the EPL had a traditional top four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Presently, the number has expanded to at least five, with Manchester City and, to an extent, Tottenham Hotspur.

Individuals who are of the opinion that the EPL is now a farmers league have their basis. In a league that prides itself on being the toughest, a team winning five league titles in six years should have them rethink their position, and the only year they lost, they finished second. The level of dominance by Manchester City, though unprecedented, shows how much they ‘own’ the league. However, the three-peat and five titles in six years are not something new in the EPL. Manchester City has now joined Liverpool and Manchester United as teams to have won three-peats and five titles in six years: Liverpool between 1979 and 1984, Manchester United between 1996 and 2001.

A closer look at the EPL table showed how much Manchester City has ‘worked’ to win the league. In their last five Premier League title triumphs, they won convincingly in the 17-18 season, finishing 19 points above the second-placed team. In the 18-19 and 21-22 seasons, they had to wait until the final day before their win was confirmed, and they won by 1 point on both occasions against second-placed Liverpool.

As major leagues across Europe come to an end, City will definitely reinforce in the summer to continue their dominance. A different champion in the 23–24 season could dispel the talk of the EPL being a farmers league. If Manchester City, who are clearly favorites going into the season, wins, the talk of the EPL as a farmers league would be asserted.