Will the EPL ever see a Phoenix rise from the ashes again?

Will the EPL ever see a Phoenix rise from the ashes again?

Since the formation of the Barclays Premier League in the February of 1992; 45 clubs have appeared in the Premier League, seven of which are permanent members – playing since the foundation of the League. Eleven teams have never been relegated from the league, and 8 have represented England in the UEFA Champions League.

A fair league – where anything is possible?

The answer is no. Since the inception of the Barclays Premier League – there has only been five teams crowned Champions. Only once has a team that has been relegated came back up and won the title; mega-rich Manchester City – and this was not an instant bounce-back.

There is an accusation that the Premier League is currently in an impenetrable chokehold of the traditional ‘big four’,  which has recently morphed into the ‘top six’.

Very rarely will a team lay siege to the fortress at the top of the table and unsettle the natural equilibrium  of things. Newcastle United famously finished within arms-reach of a Champions League spot in 2011-2012 season; finishing above the likes of Everton, Liverpool and European Champions Chelsea.

Occurrences like this are too far apart.

The main-drive in the Barclays Premier League is money, and not passion.

Gone are the days where eleven home-grown talents will represent your team. Gone are the days where winning the FA Cup would be more important than ensuring Premier League survival.

The gap between the Championship and the multi-billon pound Premier League is astronomical; it is the reason why teams like Leeds United, and Portsmouth have crumbled. With Queens Park Rangers looking like the next club to fall victim to the differences in money.

When we look away from the main Footballing Leagues in the world: Spain, England, France, Italy and Germany. It is an even ball game, in terms of who wins the football leagues. It is any teams to win. For example in America's MLS' 17 year history there has been 9 different winners; making it a much more engaging spectacle to watch for fans.

The question is:

Will England ever again see a Phoenix rise from the ashes?

or will they just be content in settling with the cash that mere Premier Survival offers?

Where are they now? Nuno Gomes

Nuno Gomes

Where Are They Now: Nuno Gomes!
Roughly thirteen years Nuno Gomes was named in the 2000 European Championship's; Team of the tournament. Rubbing shoulders with legendary figures such as: Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Zinedine Zidane. At the time Nuno Gomes was 24. Similarly, if you lived in Portugal at the time of FIFA 2003's release Nuno Gomes' face would of been embroiled on the case.

Ten years on: the 36 year old plies his trade in Lancashire, for Championship side Blackburn Rovers. A team that had once upon a time won the Premier League and boasted the likes of Alan Shearer.


60 Second Dossier:Full name: Nuno Miguel Soares Pereira Ribeiro
D.O.B: 05/07/1976
Nationality: Portuguese
Clubs: Boavista, Benfica (twice), Fiorenta, Braga and Blackburn Rovers
International Appearances/Goals: 79/29
Club Appearances/Goals: 604/227
Position: Forward

The story of Nuno Gomes is perhaps not a remarkable one; neither tragic or outstanding. He was never a big star like some of the players he rubbed shoulders with the European Championship XI. But he was still a very talented player; almost at a world-class level.

His story began in the 1994/1995 season.

The eighteen year old man: Nuno Gomes would break into the first team at Boavista. Netting 2 times in 23 appearances; mainly as a winger. The next two seasons he would start to evolve into the Nuno Gomes that rival fans feared. 1996-97 season, Nuno Gomes would net 21 times in 45 appearances, also getting his hands on his first piece of silverware.

His first three seasons impressed the bigger fish in Portugal, Benfica aqquired his services at the start of the 1997-98 seasons; this would be his first stint at the Portugeuse giants. Until the 2000 season Gomes would make his name bigger around Europe by netting 76 times in 124 games. Also during that time beginning his fifteen year senior international career.

After his three year tenure at Benfica he joined Serie A outfit - Fiorenta. Here he would net 20 goals in 70 appearances, picking up the Italian Cup along the way. But in 2002 he would return home; to his beloved Benfica- staying there until 2011. Gradually as the years went by and his youth faded, he would fall down the Benfica pecking order. By his last season with Benfica, he managed eight appearances; mainly as a substitute, he managed to notch 5 goals however. In 2011 he was released from his contract; thus severing a 12 season bond. In his second spell with the club he netted 90 times in 276 appearances.

The talented Gomes was not short of takers; joining Primeira Liga side - Sporting Clube de Brage for the 2011-12 season. Managing 29 appearances in all competitions - including 5 in Europe. During his short tenure with the club he managed 6 goals. Not bad, for a player who was mostly used as a back-up player. His highlight of his tenure: A brace against Gil Vicente Fc in the September of 2011.

July 2012, the recently relegated Blackburn Rovers under the stewardship of Scotsman Steve Kean acquired the services of the veteran. Nuno Gomes signed a two year contract with the Lancashire side. A contract which will surely see Gomes see out the rest of his career on English soil.

At the time of writing this article- 15/03/2013- Nuno Gomes has appeared 13 times, netting 4 goals. Also partnering future star Jordan Rhodes, and ex Newcastle hitman Leon Best.

WATN RATING: 7/10

Maybe some of the readers of this article will remember Nuno Gomes from his time with Benfica, or his international appearences against England; 2004 still hurts the soul. The purpose of this article was to introduce my readers - if I have any - to a player, who has never really had much attention. This is the point in my new blogs, to throw some old, or forgotten sportsmen back into the limelight. I hope to make six different issues of 'Where Are They Now' (#WATN). Hopefully I will be releasing one every Friday for the foreseeable future. Anyways; I hope you enjoyed this!

Twitter: RyanRowley23

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