It seems the level of competition in the English Premier League has reached unprecedented levels this season, if particular indicators are anything to go by.
First, Ladbrokes published quarterly losses of 58% in the three months leading up to September 2009. They attributed this to the startlingly few draws in the English Premier League this season. Everyone likes a flutter on the footy from time to time, and mostly people bet on their team to win. So, every time there is a draw (historically about 25% of games result in a draw in the EPL), the bookies win. For the 2009-10 season there have been so few draws that Ladbrokes have been taken to the cleaners by the punter (and good on the punter!) In the first 70 games this year, amazingly only 4 resulted in a draw. Teams are going all out for the win. After yesterday, 106 games in to the campaign, there have only been 19 draws (< 18%).
Second, examine, if you will, the number of red cards and bookings we are seeing. It’s close to being back in the Mark Dennis and Willie Johnston era. As teams go all out, tempers fray and rash acts and tackles creep in to the game. This weekend 29 yellow, and 9 red cards were issued by Premier League referees.
The toll of this frenetic pace will probably show in the weaker teams earlier than in those whose financial position affords them the comfort of having star players to bring in to the team. Several red card suspensions can force selection of a weak line up for teams which lack squad depth.
