Predictable Premier League has failed to entertain as lame Leicester loss sums up one problem

It was no wonder Leicester fans were filing out and heading for the exits after just 35 minutes on Monday night. . What a turn-off.

Newcastle were so much better, they were 3-0 up, in cruise control and . if you go by the number of points they have gained.

The Ipswich hierarchy said at the start of the season that they had maxed out on their spending - and yet they are set to go down as well. That just highlights the gulf because I think Ipswich have shown flashes, made some decent signings - - and yet they have still found the gap way too big.

And you know what? That was the same story last year. For the second year running, the three newly-promoted teams are going straight back down. It was Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley last year. Two of those could come straight back up.

Incredibly, that was only the second time it had ever occurred in the Premier League, after Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Bolton all went straight back down in the 1997/98 campaign. So, that is clearly telling us this is becoming a worrying trend. And it has massive implications for the Premier League as a whole.

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It has been so uncompetitive this year. No relegation scrap to speak of. No title race. That is not taking anything away from .

The one thing we’ve had is the battle for top four. Oh no, it’s actually the So even that is not as competitive as it might be!

I’ve enjoyed Nottingham Forest. They’ve been a great story. Then who else? Brighton and Bournemouth. But they’ve tailed away. Then Manchester City, Newcastle and Chelsea are fighting for other spots. It’s not that original, is it?

Then you’ve got three clubs at the bottom who have not raised the level this season. Southampton and Leicester have rolled over in most games. That does not make for a competitive, exciting Premier League.

The best bit of Monday night was Monday Night Football on Sky. I think . Great analysis. . Top show. What a shame the game got in the way. They should have binned it at half time.

I did not see the Manchester derby live but . And yes, I know … but how many of those have we had this season? Not enough.

And how many absolutely belters have you seen in the Premier League this season? I’m struggling to think of too many great goals, great moments and great matches.

And I’m afraid to say that partly comes from a league which has been well below par this season. And that’s what you get when you do away with relegation. You don’t get competition. And for the past two seasons, we’ve effectively not had relegation. The 17 clubs have all had a pass.

I have to say I’m not sure what this does for the . They were designed to help clubs cope with the cost of relegation from the top flight but they can make it harder for new teams to get promoted.

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Last year, the three clubs relegated from the Premier League - Luton, Sheffield United and - received £49m each in parachute payments for their first season in the Championship and will get £40m in their second year. Burnley spent a lot of money when they came up under Vincent Kompany - but went back down without a fight or a defence and their manager got the Bayern Munich job. You could not make it up.

But Sheffield United and Luton hardly went for broke. Luton have the cost of their new stadium but could go straight down again. Sheffield United are second and could go back up. Burnley are top.

All in all, the gulf between the EFL and Premier League is getting bigger and harder to bridge. But is the Premier League that it once was?

When clubs like Ipswich have to worry about PSR. Fans are complaining each week about the worst set of referees I can remember. And a one horse title race and entirely predictable relegation scrap.

I’ve always been a cheerleader for the Premier League and why it is the best in the world. But part of that was because you would see newly-promoted clubs provide a good story. You would see upsets on a regular basis. Who fancied going to Stoke?

But now too many games like Leicester v Newcastle have become entirely predictable.

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