Premier League’s Set-Piece Plague and More Season Gripes

Set-Piece Circus

The 2025-26 Premier League season will be remembered for an avalanche of set-piece goals and the relentless assault of long throws. At times, the self-proclaimed best league in the world drowned in a torrent of guileless ball-flinging that turned matches into aerial bombardments.

Defensive organization meant little when teams simply launched the ball into the box from every angle. The spectacle suffered.

The Long Throw Epidemic

Rory Delap’s ghost haunted every touchline. More teams than ever adopted the tactic, reducing intricate build-up play to a game of human pinball.

• Throw-ins became glorified corners, with entire squads camped in the penalty area
• Average aerial duels per game spiked, while passing sequences in the final third plummeted
• Fans groaned as 30-second restarts killed any rhythm

“It’s not about finding space anymore. It’s about finding the tallest man and hoping for a bounce.” — the prevailing sentiment among purists

Fashion Disasters and Digital Flops

Off the pitch, the gripes didn’t stop. Kit designers seemed to compete in a “who can blind the viewers” contest, while the league’s official video game became a ghost in the machine.

Absurd Jerseys

Several clubs unleashed designs so hideous they made fluorescent pink look subtle. Third kits in particular veered into abstract art territory, with one resembling a melted traffic cone.

• Three clubs released shirts that clashed horribly with 3D pitch-side advertising, making players almost invisible on broadcasts
• A top-six side’s away kit featured a pattern that induced motion sickness among watching fans

A Video Game Nobody Played

The official Premier League video game launched to deafening silence. Buried under the dominance of EA Sports FC, it failed to crack the top 50 downloads in its debut month.

• Active player count reportedly in the triple digits weeks after release
• Esports integration was non-existent, rendering the £60 price tag a punchline

The Bigger Picture

These frustrations point to a league increasingly disconnected from its own myth. When set-piece roulette, eye-searing kits, and a pointless video game define a season, the Premier League’s product stops being football and starts becoming content without soul.

The 2026-27 campaign needs a reset - less circus, more craft.