So is English football really the best in the world? I pose that question because I tend to think that it is, and that view is shared by so many in this country.
However, if indeed Chelsea are the best team in England at the moment, and five wins out of five in the Premier League would seem to indicate that fact as they sit at the top of the table, then the question should really be ...
Are we actually deluding ourselves?
Three teams in the semi-finals, four teams in the last eight, two teams in the final; we've managed it in recent years, but this season is the acid test.
The balance of power has shifted back to Spain, where Real Madrid's £220 million summer spending spree will provide champions Barcelona with a real challenge.
After winning Euro 2008, Spain has suddenly risen at both international as well as club level to have every right to say it has usurped England's claim to possess the best league in the world. It is a tough call. This season could be decisive, notably with a World Cup at the end of it.
Kenyon leaves a mixed legacy
The whispers and rumours surrounding Peter Kenyon's bombshell of a departure from Chelsea have begun in earnest but, as with every key decision taken by the silent Roman Abramovich, the real reasons behind Wednesday's news are likely to remain out of the public domain, officially at least.
Was Kenyon the victim of a behind-closed doors power struggle with Frank Arnesen? Is he being lined up for a role at Manchester City? Did the Gael Kakuta saga spell the end of his grip on the Stamford Bridge piggy bank?
Concerns over Chelsea's recruitment policy have been paramount following the Kakuta case and the timing is interesting, but surely their aggregation of young players, and the methods by which that is achieved, falls under the remit of Frank Arnesen, not Kenyon. Indeed, the influence of the Dane has been mooted as a potential factor in Kenyon's departure.
Was Kenyon the victim of a behind-closed doors power struggle with Frank Arnesen? Is he being lined up for a role at Manchester City? Did the Gael Kakuta saga spell the end of his grip on the Stamford Bridge piggy bank?
Concerns over Chelsea's recruitment policy have been paramount following the Kakuta case and the timing is interesting, but surely their aggregation of young players, and the methods by which that is achieved, falls under the remit of Frank Arnesen, not Kenyon. Indeed, the influence of the Dane has been mooted as a potential factor in Kenyon's departure.
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Premier League records fifth-highest losses in Europe, claims Uefa
Manchester City's and Real Madrid made a combined spending of £330m this summer. Uefa wants clubs to take more financial responsibility. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA
The Premier League has been warned to face up to its financial responsibilities after it made the fifth-highest losses in Europe. A third of the teams in England's top flight had losses of at least 20% of their income saids Uefa's ecretary general, David Taylor, while almost a quarter of Europe's top clubs faced similar problems.
The Premier League was trailed only by Romania, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Poland in terms of losses made, while Italy was 15th in the list of 53 European federations, with Spain ranked 35th and France and Germany among the best scorers. Despite reporting an average income per club of £122m, six of the 18 clubs investigated in the Premier League reported large losses. Germany, Italy and Spain are its closest competitors when it comes to average club income, all three hovering around the £75m mark.
The financial problems are there despite a tripling of income for clubs since 1997, largely through marketing and media revenue. But while income rose by 5% last year alone, player costs increased by 9%.
"The huge spending on players produces constantly an inflationary effect with consequences on the whole club football movement," Taylor said, who added that "the current financial crisis has exacerbated the situation."
The Premier League has been warned to face up to its financial responsibilities after it made the fifth-highest losses in Europe. A third of the teams in England's top flight had losses of at least 20% of their income saids Uefa's ecretary general, David Taylor, while almost a quarter of Europe's top clubs faced similar problems.
The Premier League was trailed only by Romania, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Poland in terms of losses made, while Italy was 15th in the list of 53 European federations, with Spain ranked 35th and France and Germany among the best scorers. Despite reporting an average income per club of £122m, six of the 18 clubs investigated in the Premier League reported large losses. Germany, Italy and Spain are its closest competitors when it comes to average club income, all three hovering around the £75m mark.
The financial problems are there despite a tripling of income for clubs since 1997, largely through marketing and media revenue. But while income rose by 5% last year alone, player costs increased by 9%.
"The huge spending on players produces constantly an inflationary effect with consequences on the whole club football movement," Taylor said, who added that "the current financial crisis has exacerbated the situation."
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Hodgson - We're serious about this
Roy Hodgson denied Fulham are neglecting the Europa League by making wholesale changes for Thursday's Group E clash with CSKA Sofia.
Only goalkeeper David Stockdale and defender John Pantsil survive from the starting line-up that defeated Everton 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Fulham have been robbed of front-line players such as Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey through injury, but Hodgson has also opted to rest the likes of Andy Johnson and Brede Hangeland.
Aston Villa and Tottenham made their opinion of Europe clear last season by fielding severely-weakened sides and paid the price with their exits.
But Hodgson defended his team selection by denying he has adopted a similar tact, declaring he expects his international-heavy line-up to topple the Bulgarian league leaders.
Only goalkeeper David Stockdale and defender John Pantsil survive from the starting line-up that defeated Everton 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
Fulham have been robbed of front-line players such as Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey through injury, but Hodgson has also opted to rest the likes of Andy Johnson and Brede Hangeland.
Aston Villa and Tottenham made their opinion of Europe clear last season by fielding severely-weakened sides and paid the price with their exits.
But Hodgson defended his team selection by denying he has adopted a similar tact, declaring he expects his international-heavy line-up to topple the Bulgarian league leaders.
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Liverpool look ahead after Champions League scare
LIVERPOOL — Liverpool will hope to make it four wins in a row when they visit West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday after limping to a 1-0 victory against Hungarian champions Debrecen in Europe.
"We're slowly getting back to where we want to be," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said after seeing his side struggle to victory over Debrecen in their opening Champions League Group E tie at Anfield on Wednesday.
"It's three wins on the spin, hopefully we can make that four at West Ham," added the England midfielder.
Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt scored the only goal against Debrecen, who were making their first appearance in the Champions League group stages.
"The most important thing is to get the three points," Reds manager Rafael Benitez said after seeing Kuyt's goal in added time at the end of the first half secure the win.
"People didn't know what to expect because they didn't know the other team, but they showed they're not bad," added the Spaniard who was celebrating his 300th game in charge of Liverpool.
Attention now turns to Saturday and Liverpool's visit to West Ham.
The Reds, boosted this week by a multi-million pound sponsorship deal signed with Standard Chartered Bank, have endured a mixed start to the new Premier League season.
Liverpool have lost two of their opening five fixtures - the same number as during the whole of last season when they finished second to champions Manchester United.
"Everyone knows we had a bad start... We are trying to get our confidence back," Kuyt said on Wednesday.
"We're slowly getting back to where we want to be," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said after seeing his side struggle to victory over Debrecen in their opening Champions League Group E tie at Anfield on Wednesday.
"It's three wins on the spin, hopefully we can make that four at West Ham," added the England midfielder.
Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt scored the only goal against Debrecen, who were making their first appearance in the Champions League group stages.
"The most important thing is to get the three points," Reds manager Rafael Benitez said after seeing Kuyt's goal in added time at the end of the first half secure the win.
"People didn't know what to expect because they didn't know the other team, but they showed they're not bad," added the Spaniard who was celebrating his 300th game in charge of Liverpool.
Attention now turns to Saturday and Liverpool's visit to West Ham.
The Reds, boosted this week by a multi-million pound sponsorship deal signed with Standard Chartered Bank, have endured a mixed start to the new Premier League season.
Liverpool have lost two of their opening five fixtures - the same number as during the whole of last season when they finished second to champions Manchester United.
"Everyone knows we had a bad start... We are trying to get our confidence back," Kuyt said on Wednesday.
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