Was the Barclays Premier League Era Really Better Than The Current Era? A Deep Dive Into The Numbers Comparing The Two Eras

The recent #Barclaysmen trend has sparked debate over whether the Premier League has regressed in quality since the Barclays era, but has it actually, or is that just nostalgia talking?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will have noticed the glaring social media trend that has flooded with nostalgic clips of the “Barclaysmen”—iconic figures like Mark Viduka, Steven Pienaar, and Darren Bent—scoring incredible goals.

These compilations have sparked debates among fans, with many arguing that the Premier League was simply better during the days of the Barclays partnership than it is today.

But is this nostalgia-fuelled sentiment justified, or has the league actually improved in recent years?

To answer this question, we’ve conducted a deep dive into the statistical data from both the Barclays and current eras. We’ve analysed goals, points, and other key metrics to determine whether the league has truly changed, and if so, in what ways.

For the purpose of the article, we defined the Barclays Era period as the seasons from 2004/05 until the end of Barclays’ partnership with the Premier League in 2016. We have therefore defined every season since 2016/17 as the Modern Era.

Goals Galore: Has the Scoring Rate Increased?

One of the most common arguments in favour of the Barclays Era is that there was more attacking football and, consequently, more goals.

Let’s examine the data:

Total Goals Scored

Data collected from FootballHistory.org.

The average goals per game (gpg) has actually increased slightly from 2.65 in the Barclays Era to 2.83 in the Modern Era. This suggests that the league has become more attacking in recent years.

Highest Goalscorers

Data collected from Premier League. The blue dashed line represents the average total of goals scored by the highest goalscorer in the Barclays Era. The green dashed line represents the average total of goals scored by the highest goalscorer in the Modern Era.

The average number of goals scored by the top scorer per season has also risen from 23.8 to 26.9. This indicates that individual players are more prolific than ever.

However, many would argue that Erling Haaland isn’t as aesthetically satisfying to watch as a Thierry Henry was or a Fernando Torres.

It could be argued that the latter two scored more incredible goals, producing more moments of individual brilliance, but Haaland has had his fair share himself. The same can be said for Mohamed Salah.

Hat-Tricks

Data collected from myfootballfacts.com.

The number of hat-tricks per season has remained relatively consistent, averaging 11.2 in the Barclays Era and 11.6 in the Modern Era.

Overall, while the scoring rate has increased slightly, the difference is not dramatic. The league has always been known for its exciting attacking football, and the Modern Era has seen a continuation of this trend.

Goal Distance and Scoring Styles

Data collected from Premier League. Data was not available for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons. The blue dash represents the average number of goals scored outside the box per season during the Barclays Era. The green dash represents the average number of goals scored outside the box during the Modern Era.

A common argument is that football has become overly structured and that we see fewer screamers from outside the penalty area these days.

This graph supports that argument, as you can see the Barclays Era saw a significantly higher number of goals from outside the box compared to the Modern Era.

The years 2006/07, 2007/08, and 2013/14 were particularly prolific in terms of goals from outside the box, with the highest number recorded in 2007/08 (191).

The Modern Era has seen a noticeable decrease in the number of goals scored from outside the box. The highest total in this era was in 2021/22 (149), but it was still significantly lower than the peak years of the Barclays Era.

Possible Reasons for the Decline in Modern Era:

It is possible that teams may be adopting more defensive strategies, focusing on preventing goals from close range rather than risking conceding from long-range shots.

Clubs have also become smarter, thanks to data models such as Expected Goals (xG), which have encouraged teams to prioritise creating high-quality chances closer to goal and therefore perhaps dissuading long-range shots.

In the Barclays Era, it seems that teams were adopting more direct playing styles, relying on individual brilliance and long-range efforts to create scoring opportunities.

It is also possible that goalkeepers have become more skilled at saving shots from outside the box, reducing the effectiveness of these attempts. Whether this hypothesis is true or not is an investigation for another day.

Overall, the graph suggests that the Premier League has seen a shift in the way teams approach scoring goals, with a decreased emphasis on long-range strikes in recent years.

Points and Titles: Has Competition Intensified?

Another argument is that the Premier League was more competitive in the Barclays era. Let’s look at the points tallies and title margins:

Average Points Tallies

Data collected from Premier League.

The average points tally to win the league has increased slightly from the Barclays Era to the Modern Era. This suggests that the title race has become more competitive, requiring higher point totals to secure the coveted title.

The average points tallies for achieving both a top four finish and a top half finish have also increased, albeit just slightly. Therefore, it could be argued that the competition for European places has intensified, but at the same time, it could be suggested that the overall level of competition in the league has not changed significantly.

Meanwhile, the average points tally for teams in the relegation zone has decreased slightly in the Modern Era compared to the Barclays Era. This suggests that it has become more difficult for teams to avoid relegation, increasing the pressure on clubs to perform consistently throughout the season.

Overall, the graph shows that the level of competition in the Premier League has increased in recent years, especially at the top end of the table. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including increased financial resources, improved managerial expertise, and the growing global popularity of the league.

Notable Record Points Totals

Barclays Era

• Fewest points – 11 Derby County (07/08): This remains the lowest points total ever recorded in a Premier League season, highlighting just how bad Derby were during that campaign. From this alone, it could be assumed that the lower teams were worse in the Barclays era. However, when looking at the bigger picture, this was an anomaly.
• Smallest title-winning margin – Manchester City 0 points, +8 goal difference (11/12): This incredibly close title race demonstrates the competitiveness of the Premier League, where even a small goal difference can be decisive in determining the champion.

Modern Era

• Most points – 100 Manchester City (17/18): This is the highest points total ever achieved in a Premier League season, showcasing Man City’s dominance during that particular campaign.
• Most points without winning the title – 97 Liverpool (18/19): This record-breaking tally without securing the title underlines the high level of competition during the Modern Era and the narrow margins that can separate champions from runners-up.
• Fewest points for a club avoiding relegation – 32 Nottingham Forest (23/24): From this alone, it could be argued that the lower teams are worse in the Modern Era and that the skill gap between the top teams and the bottom teams is wider.
• Fewest points required to avoid relegation – 27 (23/24): This record-breaking low points total for a team to avoid relegation highlights how even teams with relatively low point tallies can secure their Premier League status.
• Biggest title-winning margin – Manchester City 19 points (17/18): This significant margin of victory underscores Manchester City’s dominance during this season and, considering that they’ve won six of the last seven titles, the difficulty faced by other teams in challenging for the title.

Average Title Margins

Data collected from Premier League.

The average title margin has actually increased slightly from 6.1 points in the Barclays Era to 8.1 in the Modern Era. This suggests that the title races have become slightly less competitive in terms of the gap between 1st and 2nd, which can largely be attributed to the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Man City.

Attendance Figures

Average Attendance:

• Barclays Era: 35,255
• Modern Era: 38,579*

Data collected from Football Web Pages. *Attendances for the 2019/20 season included were from August 2019 until March 2020, after which fans were unable to attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This carried on through to 2020/21, which was not accounted for at all in the data.

The average attendance per match has increased slightly in the Modern Era, indicating growing fan interest and support.

Of course, this can also be attributed to larger stadiums. But the reason clubs are increasing the size of their stadiums is because the demand is there.

However, it should be emphasised that improved attendance figures don’t necessarily equate to a more entertaining product, but it’s clear that the demand for the product is greater than ever.

The “Prime Barclays” Era

The “Prime Barclays” era is often considered to be the period from approximately 2006-2010. It is argued that during this time, the league was better, perhaps more competitive, with multiple teams vying for the title and European places.

Iconic players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard were at their peak, and the league witnessed several thrilling title races and memorable matches.

Rather than the “big 6” that is pushed down out throats today, it was always the “big 4” during the “Prime Barclays” period: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United. These clubs consistently finished in the top four during this period. But is that not boring?

In recent years, we’ve seen Newcastle and Aston Villa break the wheel and qualify for the Champions League, suggesting that the Modern Era is actually more competitive.

Sure, these clubs aren’t exactly underdogs themselves – they are two massive clubs in their own right, backed by some of the richest owners in world football.

Ultimately, there are more good teams now, and more teams genuinely threatening the traditional elite clubs in the country. Surely more competition is better, no?

However, on the flip side of that, as mentioned earlier, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have dominated the title picture, winning six of the last seven. It’s this sort of repetition that can cause viewers to become bored of the product.

Further down the table, the “Prime Barclays” saw the likes of Portsmouth and Bolton qualify for the UEFA Cup. Similarly, we’ve seen the likes of Burnley and Brighton qualify for the Europa League during the Modern Era.

So why do fans long for the days of the Barclays? Is it just the fact that there were more long-range goals scored, the style of football played, or is there something else at play?

Nostalgia and Perception

Nostalgia plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of the Premier League. Fans who grew up watching the league during the Barclays Era might have a sentimental attachment to that time, leading them to view it as a golden age.

However, the truth is that the league has continued to evolve and improve, with new stars emerging and exciting football being played.

Today, we see highly talented players like Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Bryan Mbeumo, and Morgan Gibbs-White, who wouldn’t look out of place at the elite sides, play for midtable teams.

It’s entirely possible that these guys will become the new crop of “streets won’t forget” players down the line, but they are ultimately better players than the likes of Morten Gamst Pedersen were.

But perhaps for some, that’s part of the problem. The Premier League may have become less relatable for many, with World Cup winners immediately signing for lower sides like Nottingham Forest.

The Verdict: Was The Barclays Premier League Era Better?

Overall, while the Premier League has undergone changes since the Barclays era, it remains one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues in the world.

The increased scoring rate, improved attendance figures, and emergence of new stars suggest that the league is in as strong a position as ever.

While nostalgia for the past is understandable, the proof is in the pudding: the Premier League is as grand, as successful, and as ‘good’ as ever. But for some, perhaps that’s the problem.