Football Season 2020 - 2021

It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Klopp and Milner were quite vocal the other night so let’s see if they put their money where their mouths are.

Fingers crossed!

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BBC ARTICLE:Why Super League plan makes financial sense for top clubs

Which kind of surmises what we all know already. If the new business model is doomed from the outset, it will have to be dropped.

I’m not a great follower of football, strangely I’m more interested in the economics of how the game in England works, having seen how many clubs struggle - and noting how poorly the imposition of FFP was handled.

The land-grab of the ESL concept looks a potential step in the evolution of pan-European franchises, with UEFA side-lined etc, (a la NFL) – and one of the many unanswered questions at this time is where is the new broadcaster money coming from to support this competition as JP Morgan aren’t altruistic.

I’ve seen an interesting comment (I think on a BBC response) that in monetary terms the Spanish and Italian clubs need more income, as they are weighed down by massive debts through largesse, poor financial management and even suggested corruption. It’s an interesting viewpoint.

Meantime, this appears to be heading the way of a lawyer-fest, which won’t lead to a fast resolution.

I unfortunately don’t get to see much premier league here since a change in broadcast rights a few years ago and would welcome the opportunity to see top European side play mid week. There’s been huge upheavals in all major sports over the last few decades, isn’t this just another shift in the status quo. My understanding is it’s always about money.

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Bayern has already spoken out against it, and in support of the new CL setup. Also not a club from a rich owner, they’re one of if not the richest club by being well managed. PSG might still join I think.

I’m afraid football income is generated through satellite tv and we in this country will have little effect on the outcome compared to the funds generated by eager viewers in the rest of the world.
We have to accept change is now created elsewhere in the world.

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But…But, if this goes ahead, I’m going to have to start watching…Fulham!

Like Barcelona and Real Madrid a few years ago these clubs are holding the governing bodies to ransom over a larger, guaranteed slice of the global tv rights if they get that which I’m sure they probably will.

Saying that your club ie Chelsea or your manager ie Klopp wasn’t initially keen is like saying I didn’t do the crime I just kept watch.

Parting UEFA official and former head of Ajax Michael van Praag said in an interview that this is the third time that this plan has come up to pressure UEFA into doing the clubs bidding.

It is however the first time that it is used publicly and with such political timing, the first two times were behind closed doors.

Van Praag felt especially insulted by fellow UEFA official Andrea Agnelli who also is the chair of Juventus. Agnelli was part of the plans around the new CL and even last friday in a UEFA conference call gave his full support to them. Then two days later suddenly Juventus appeared to be part of this Super League group, and Agnelli apparently now doesn’t answer his phone anymore when they try to reach him.

Van Praag called Agnelli ‘an ordinary liar, a fraud’.

Pete - as you know Optus would allow you to watch European games midweek - in a competitive environment
This super league removes competition - it operates as a closed shop - and it is totally against the principles of football and the thrill of the game
Europe is not America and we don’t want franchised football played without competition

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Members please note that there is a dedicated thread re. the proposed Super League. This should allow this thread to remain for discussion of the current season without too much diversion.

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Yes but the problem is I have Fox, Stan, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Qobuz I can’t keep up with all the streaming services never mind afford them. I’ve just had to sign up to Britbox just to watch season 6 of Line of Duty.

The owners of these clubs need a shock, especially the six English clubs who play in the richest league in the world. So let them go off to this new Super League. But the FA, PL and the other 14 clubs should take action to throw them out of the PL and ban them from domestic cups. If the Super League is such a money-spinning idea the banned clubs won’t care and can get on with it. Both sides would be taking a gamble but my guess is the PL and EFL pyramid could and would survive. New opportunities would arise. Everton could become the new big club of the NW; Leeds and Wolves might regain the ‘giant’ status they once held; Villa (former European Cup winners) could aim to compete in the CL. The Sheffield clubs could come to the fore once more. Meanwhile the Foxes would likely win the PL again. Yes, it would feel rather odd in London with the loss to the PL of the biggest four London clubs but I bet the owners of WHU would see an opportunity. All these clubs have massive fan bases and the atmosphere in their grounds would be something the Skys, BT, Amazon would still crave to televise and market abroad. Let’s call their bluff. Football is bigger than they are.

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Ah yes, the current season.

Arsenal are doing terribly. However, it no longer matters :joy::wink:

Jokes aside I wish the remaining 14 clubs all the best for the rest of the season, especially Leicester and WHU, who I sincerely hope stay in the top 4.

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As a Leicester follower I am hoping they finish in the top four, but it may be irrelevant.

There is no point in the Six teams being in the PL. Unless they are in contention to win it their games will be meaningless. Better to chuck them out.

The power of the 14 clubs shouldn’t under estimated, the owners are very rich people.
You don’t get to be a billionaire by NOT being a sharp operator.

There was a Danish EUFA official in 5 live this morning. He indicated players would be free to leave the ESL clubs if they wished. He didn’t explain why, but you’ve got to assume he knows what he’s talking about.

There’s also question of players moving to and from the ESL. Non ESL clubs could agree not to sell to, or buy from the ESL clubs.

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yes it certainly is an issue in Australia- with streaming rights moving from provider to provider so regularly
I ditched Foxtel in favour of Optus so I could watch Premier League
Line of Duty is compulsory viewing
Of course with the Superleague we don’t yet knows who would stream it in Europe never mind here- but it wouldn’t effect me as I won’t watch a contrived and fake contest
Great statements put out bu the boards of Everton and Brighton football clubs

Think we’ll be ditching Fox and just pick up their streaming service only which is much cheaper.

Cracking match at Stamford Bridge tonight. How anyone can describe the PL game as boring is beyond me…

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:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Someone should come up with a league that includes only the “top” teams.

It pains me to say this, but well played those Chelsea fans who were out in force before the game.

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