GRAEME SOUNESS: There's a worrying obsession gripping Premier League teams
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I settled down to watch the Champions League this week but after just 15 minutes found myself turning over to enjoy Leeds United versus Middlesbrough in the Championship instead. There's not enough jeopardy to this Champions League format; it has become boring. There are too many games where teams are not bang at it - like Liverpool this week - and it's bland because other opportunities remain to put results right.
![[A more interesting midweek clash was Leeds against Middlesbrough in the Championship]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/16/93126113-14190275-image-a-3_1734106717230.jpg)
But as well as the Champions League, I have to say even our own Premier League, which is generally regarded as the best out there, has become a hard watch at times, too much playing in your own half and too much passing from side to side. Look at who is making the most passes in the Premier League today and statistics tell you they are all defenders. On average, they touch the ball 72 times a game. Erling Haaland, the top scorer in the Premier League, touches the ball on average 23 times a game.
![[But the way the game has been played at the highest level has even made the Premier League a hard watch at times]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/16/93127725-14190275-image-a-20_1734108813599.jpg)
As a midfield player I was always told the people that matter most are the strikers. Get your passes in early and accurately so the 'badge-kissers' have time and space to do their job and score the goals. Now, other than the top teams, there's far too much football played in their own halves.
![[Defenders like Virgil van Dijk are the ones making most passes in the Premier League today]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/18/93126153-14190275-Defenders_like_Virgil_van_Dijk_are_the_ones_making_most_passes_i-a-21_1734113307625.jpg)
I don't think you would want to be a centre forward if you were looking to carve out a career in football today. There is not enough jeopardy in the new Champions League format - the league phase has made proceedings boring. A more interesting midweek clash was Leeds against Middlesbrough in the Championship.
![[Erling Haaland, the top scorer in the league, touches the ball on average 23 times a game]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/16/93126163-14190275-image-a-6_1734106819603.jpg)
