Comments on: The Sweeper: Premier League looks to cash in on Asia http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/12/29/the-sweeper-premier-league-looks-to-cash-in-on-asia/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:48:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/12/29/the-sweeper-premier-league-looks-to-cash-in-on-asia/comment-page-1/#comment-18813 Dave Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:22:41 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=5976#comment-18813 You gotta work damn hard to look as good as Tony Pulis, man. You gotta work damn hard to look as good as Tony Pulis, man.

]]> By: Lanterne Rouge http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/12/29/the-sweeper-premier-league-looks-to-cash-in-on-asia/comment-page-1/#comment-18809 Lanterne Rouge Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:11:35 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=5976#comment-18809 Having travelled extensively in Asia in the last couple of years, the Premier League is certainly popular, but your post is apposite because my impression is that locals in the various countries I have visited see their own football as something of a joke in comparison. Certainly, Singapore's S League isn't taken seriously at all and the A League in Australia has in reality had little impact, judging by the still dominant foreign-based contingent in Europe. What may change things could be economic progress in China and India in particular. I was struck by the large number of African players competing in Indian football these days. At the moment, they tend to be lesser known stars but as clubs grow and begin to wield financial clout, players will become tempted to go there. In the Nineties, we were forever told that Serie A was the gold standard among football leagues, now it's the "EPL". In ten years' time, it could be the Russian or Turkish league; a decade later and it could be China. Scudamore and his ilk need to make hay while the sun shines. Having travelled extensively in Asia in the last couple of years, the Premier League is certainly popular, but your post is apposite because my impression is that locals in the various countries I have visited see their own football as something of a joke in comparison. Certainly, Singapore’s S League isn’t taken seriously at all and the A League in Australia has in reality had little impact, judging by the still dominant foreign-based contingent in Europe.

What may change things could be economic progress in China and India in particular. I was struck by the large number of African players competing in Indian football these days. At the moment, they tend to be lesser known stars but as clubs grow and begin to wield financial clout, players will become tempted to go there. In the Nineties, we were forever told that Serie A was the gold standard among football leagues, now it’s the “EPL”. In ten years’ time, it could be the Russian or Turkish league; a decade later and it could be China. Scudamore and his ilk need to make hay while the sun shines.

]]>