The Positives of Parity

The margins between Premier League teams might be the smallest they've ever been. At the midway stage of the season, just 12 points separate 5th from 17th. The gap was 16 points after 19 games last year and 20 the year before. The early season congestion is lingering more than normal. Here's why it's great for the league:

1) Entertainment value

Big gaps in the table lead to “meaningless” games. A lack of jeopardy leads to a lack of interest. As fans, we love drama, storylines, and high stakes. The more teams in danger of relegation, the better. The more teams realistically chasing Europe, the better. A tight table discourages complacency and increases unpredictability.

2) Goals

We've had several goalfest classics already this year. Manchester City 5, Fulham 4. Liverpool 3, Newcastle 2. Bournemouth 4, Manchester United 4. Brighton 3, Aston Villa 4. Every team has depth not seen elsewhere in Europe. Factor in long stoppage times and five substitutions and that leads to more goals. Defending hasn't gotten worse, teams have gotten better and more equally matched. An evenly balanced scale can tip one way with the addition of a grain of rice. You can't write a team off unless the hole is three goals or more. Sometimes even that can be risky.

3) World dominance

This one is more prospective than current. The best leagues are centered on more than one team. Top heaviness is a huge reason why the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 are often criticized. The Premier League was questioned at times too during Pep Guardiola reign of terror with 6 titles in 7 seasons. It's in the best interest of the league to have new teams cycle up to the top and to have traditional powers struggle. A variety of winners shows strength. The NFL in America is a perfect example. It's so hard to stay at the top. College teams can go 12-1 a couple years in a row but for an NFL team, it's quite an accomplishment to go 10-7. Why? Because the league is so tight. Only the best make it to the NFL, and the huge talent gaps seen in college football are erased. Only the best make it to the Premier League. It should be very hard to win there. The “big six” shouldn't be the top 6 every year. This trend of parity is the best route for the English top flight to dominate fandom, broadcasting, revenue, and European football.