For some time now, there have been talks about a salary cap in the English Premier League. Something, most of the clubs and players are arguing against. The last couple of weeks, Great Dane Football Blog, have been putting focus on the wages in the league, to find out if money wins trophies. Today, we have reached the final part.

The wages in the English Premier League are getting higher and higher, and Chelsea and Manchester City are often blamed for ruining football by spending much more than other clubs. The two clubs are in the top 5 of the richest clubs in England, but who are the others? Watch the clip below to get the answer.

According to Forbes’ list, the five clubs are all in the top 10 of richest clubs in the world. Spanish Real Madrid is positioned first with a value of 3.3 billion dollars, just ahead of Manchester United, second with 3,165 billion dollars. Arsenal is placed fourth on the list while Chelsea is seventh, Manchester City ninth and Liverpool tenth.

With help from The Telegraphs graphic of the Premier League spending of wages and transfers from 2001-2012, and The Guardians datablog, Great Dane Football Blog have gone through and compared the clubs spending on wages. Manchester City was latest promoted to the Premier League in 2002, so we start with the 2002/03 season. Watch the clip below to see how the spending on wages has developed.

Now that, we have answered the question, let’s take a look on how the wages are spent in the Premier League. The salary data used in the clip below are from the website matchincome.com, and while the website does not state where they have their data from other than it is a reliable source, they seem to tally up with the data found on the Guardian and the Telegraph earlier. It is important to remember that the data used only shows the basic salary and does not include any bonuses. Watch the clip below to see which player have earned most per match, and which club that has gotten most out of their money. Please note, that the film only uses match data from the Premier League 2012/13.

What do you think about the things you have seen in this post? Does the Premier League need a salary cap, and do the players deserve the money they get? Comment below!

Other parts of this series:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Earlier in the 'Does money guarantee trophies?'-series we took a look on whom the best paid players in the Premier League are. This week, we will see how much the players have earned per match, and for the strikers per goal. The data used in this project is taken from Matchincome.com, and only displays the basic salary without any bonuses. The website does not state where they have their data from, but compared with the data from the guardian and the telegraph, used earlier in the series, the numbers tally up. Please note that the tables can be hard to read, I apologize for that! To see the tables in their original state, follow this link!

The table below shows how many matches each of the goalkeepers has played in the Barclays Premier League 2012/13. Furthermore, it shows how much the players have earned annually as well as per match played. Please note that goalkeepers that have not played a match this season has been let out of the data set.

On the chart below, it is easier to see what they players have earned per performance. While Chelsea paid a big salary compared to Paulo Ferreira's numbers of matches, Liverpool is the club getting the most value for their money with Daniel Agger. The Dane has an annual income of £541,270, and with 35 performances in the Premier League this year, it means that he has earned £15,465 per match.

We have now come to the midfielders, some of the most important players on the pitch. The best midfielders are also some of the highest paid, so it is going to be interesting to see if the clubs get value for their money. With only 2 matches and an annual salary of £520,024, Manchester United's 19-year old talent Nick Powell is the best paid midfielder. Meanwhile, the talent also contributed with one goal.

As you can see in the table as well as in the chart below Manchester United, is also the team getting the most value for the money with Michael Carrick, while Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is the midfielder who has earned least per match played. Take a look at the chart to get the full view.


Finally, we have come to the attackers - the players that have a decisive influence on the match. How much do they earn per performance, and per goal based on the basic salary? As we want to see how much a goal is worth compared to the basic salary the goalscorer has been included in the table. Notice, once again that players that have not played and not scored have not been included.


Watching the table and comparing with the other positions on the pitch, it is clear that strikers are often playing close to the same number of matches, no matter what club they represent. The club that has gotten most value for the money when it comes to salary and matches played is Arsenal. Here, Olivier Giroud has played 34 matches, and with an annual wage of £510,919 it means he has earned £15,027 per match.


Meanwhile, if we compare the salary of the players with the numbers of goals scored, Manchester United and Liverpool are the two clubs getting most out of their money. In Manchester United, Robin van Persie has scored 26 goals this season, earning him £22,491 per goal while Luis Suarez with 23 goals has earned £23,753 per goal. Meanwhile, if we compare the salary with the amount of goals Fabio Borini's one goal for Liverpool in the Barclay Premier League has been a very valuable goal: £533,176! After all, football is about scoring goals!


The stats used for the Premier League matches can be found here:

Arsenal

Chelsea

Liverpool

Manchester City

Manchester United

Champions League Final 2013

Wembley Stadium

25-05-2013 @ 19.45 UK

How are the two teams form?

Weidenfeller

Kirch - Subotic - Hummels - Schmelzer

Gündogan - Bender

Blaszczykowski - Grosskreutz - Reus

Lewandowski

________________________________

Mandzukic

Robben - Müller - Ribéry

Schweinsteiger - Martinez

Alaba - Van Buyten - Boateng - Lahm

Neuer

What to expect from this match?

Both teams have much of the same strengths and weaknesses why it is hard to find a favorite for this match. That said, a few more players from Munich have more experience with finals than most of the Dortmund players. This is something that can be crucial on Saturday. 

What are the odds?

Paddy Power holds the best bet on a Dortmund victory with a 6/5 odds. Meanwhile, a draw gives 3 back a Bwin and a Munic victory gives the best odds at BETVictor with 15/4. 

“When I sleep I dream about playing in the Superliga, but I wake up to the reality and the injury. It is only if everything works out right that I will be playing in the best league, in Denmark,” Shiralipour says.

“It is always great to that the work that is done in the youth department is successful, and Carlos is one of the players that have taken the chance and gotten a contract. It is great work from our youth coaches from U13 to U19; they make a tremendous work and they deserve all the tribute they can get.”

"It is a possibility, but it is not something I have thought about. However, you can never say never,” he says.

“I went through surgery 3 months later and had a long recovery time, but had the motivation for a comeback," Shiralipour says.

“We wanted to give him support as we still believed in him and felt sorry for the lad. He didn’t get any great contract, but enough to make a living while he was recovering and hopefully would return and we wanted to help him. He never had the chance to show what he could, so we wanted to give him a chance.”

“It means everything for me as I have had all these injuries. Viborg is my hometown, and to have that kind of support is amazing and gives me believe that I one day can pull the Viborg shirt back on.”

"I still hope to come back, and sees it as a bonus if I can reach the same level as I had earlier. However, it is important to have other plans to fall back on if I can’t return to football," Shiralipour says.

“It is hard to say, but I know that Carlos has the will to come back, and he has always said that he will return and show what he is capable of. I respect him for that and hope he will return and play for us.”

Pep Guardiola has given up on signing Jack Wilshere this summer, but remains interested in the player (Metro) - Probability: High

Arsene Wenger could make a sensational move for Wayne Rooney (The Mirror) - Probability: Low

Meanwhile, Manchester United has joined the race for Cesc Fabregas (London Evening Standard) - Probability: Medium

Manchester City are ready to make a £12m move for Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben (Daily Mail) - Probability: Medium

Dortmund seems to have won the race against Liverpool, for the signing of Danish starlet Christian Eriksen (The Sun) - Probability: High

Napoli is just one of may clubs keeping an eye on Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet (talkSPORT) - Probability: High

Arsenal has been quoted a price of £22m for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain (The Mirror) - Probability: High

Liverpool wants young striker Christian Tello in exchange for Barcelona target Pepe Reina (The Mirror) - Probability: Low

Frank Lampard have agreed a new one-year deal to remain in Chelsea next season (Daily Telegraph) - Probability: High

Esteban Granero wants to leave QPR for Real Betis or Sevilla (Daily Star) - Probability: High

Sporting Lisbon centre-half Tiago Ilori is a target for Liverpool (The Mirror) - Probability: Medium

Roberto Martinez might leave Wigan to replace Manuel Pellegrini in Malaga (The Mirror) - Probability: Medium

Romelo Lukaku is set to join Swansea on a loan deal next season while the Swans are closing in on a deal for Real Betis midfielder Jose Canas (Daily Mail) - Probability: High

Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is reported to be heading for Manchester City (La Gazzetta dello Sport) - Probability: Medium

It is time for the season's last Wednesday Update! Who will be sidelined this weekend? Great Dane Football

Europa League Final

Amsterdam Arena

15-05-2013 @ 19.45 UK

How are the two teams form?

Chelsea is currently unbeaten in 7 matches and is 3rd in the Premier League. In the Europa League, took a victory on aggregate 4-2 against Basel in the semi finals. Meanwhile, Benfica is 2nd in the Portuguese 1. Division 1 point after Porto on the 1st. In the Europa League, Benfica won 3-2 on aggregate against Fenerbache in the semi finals.

The last meeting between the two teams was in last years Champions League. Here, Chelsea won both matches. 

What are the probable starting XI's?

Rafa Benitez has talked about leaving John Terry and Frank Lampard out of the squad for the final, but after this weekends performance from Lampard, it is likely he will feature in the starting line.

What to expect from this match?

Chelsea are favorites for the Europa League final, but their season has been a mix of good and bad performances. Meanwhile, Benfica has been more stable in this season. Comparing the two squads, Chelsea are far best and have the quality to cause great pain to Benfica. That said, Benfica's ability to make quick changes in the play as well as the magician Aimar on the attacking midfield will be interesting in this match. I could see Benfica take a 1-0 win in the final.

How are the odds?

The best odds for Chelsea to win is 6/4 from Bet365 while SkyBet gives a 12/5 for a Benfica win. Should the match end in a draw after the first 90 minutes Bet365 gives 21/10 back.

"Suddenly things started to go my way, and I got a youth contract when I was 15, and was selected for some DBU [Danish FA] gatherings. I was promoted to the U17 squad a year earlier than normal, and again for the U19, so I have always been a year ahead,” Lissau says.

”It has always been a good way to put extra pressure on myself. I have always felt that I was good enough, and so did my coaches. It has helped me develop and add physical pressure on me, which I have been happy for,” Lissau says.

“It has been a mix of me feeling I still can develop in Næstved and some education, as well. There is a great setup with Næstved College, uniting football and school. At the same time, I don’t feel the right offer has come yet.”

“He is a great in the switch of play, he has a great run with the ball, a great right leg and a player with a good pace."

“It might sound paradox, but he is not a MVP or anything on the team. Just like any other young player he faces opposition; he can play two good matches and then not show anything in the next two. He had a period on the bench and came back strengthen back.”