Wages-to-Points Ratio: The Overachievers and the Underachievers.

Surprisingly for some, Chelsea are in fact overachieving when it comes to comparing wages to league position in the Premier League.

Chelsea are notorious for high spending, and this hasn't changed this season, with their wage bill racking up to a extortionate £197.7m; with the acquisitions of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa contributing to this. However, it isn't just the big names who are driving the wage bill up, but Chelsea have an unnecessary amount of players on loan who are all tied up to lucrative deals; this is one of the big driving forces which people tend to forget.

Let's not forget the 2 highest spenders, the 2 Manchester clubs, with Manchester United leading the way at £215m, Manchester City just a measly £10m behind (£205). United can thank the ever non-present Radamel Falcao who is reportedly earning a whopping £300,000 week as well as Wayne Rooney who is on a similar amount.

1885. The year when it became possible for a player to be paid a wage. To think that the maximum wage in 1901 was £4 - football really has evolved into the profession which has people talking. Whether it's justifiable is a subjective matter in itself. Is the enjoyment and entertainment that football fans crave worth it? I'll let you make your own mind up.

Anyway... back to the subject. So Southampton have done remarkably in terms of what they have achieved when comparing performance to their wage bill. They rank 16th on the wage bill league table, when compared to their current league position of 7th, it makes fine pickings for the Southampton board. They can thank this endeavour to the clever directors and scouting systems, who have managed to acquire bargains in the form of the Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic, as well as retaining the reliable Morgan Schneiderlin, who was on the brink of a move to Tottenham in the summer. Southampton also deserve credit on the way in which they have managed to progress youngsters from their academy, names such as James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed and Sam Gallagher have all managed to make the step and show their worth in this fine Southampton team.

On a negative note, QPR, who are 19th in the league at the moment, have the 8th highest wage bill in the league which clearly demonstrates the lack in football knowledge by their owner Tony Fernandes. QPR have not managed to get rid of unwanted players, so as a result have had to pay the price of keeping them on their wage bill whilst they play Golf and occasionally make an appearance in the reserve team.

Overall, the findings show a strong correlation between league standings and total wage bill, which is an encouraging sight, and shows at least for some of the clubs, the market mechanism of a higher wage bill to attract the best players for the best teams is working to an extent. More savvy management is needed in some clubs to cut down the wage bill and make sure that the clubs have the right players for their club, because only then will the players play to their full potential and only then will it be affordable for the club.