Nothing new about it really, it's been mooted for a while, but now it seems the 'self-perceived' "Big Five" have recently held talks about making it happen. Here's a particularly sad line from the Telegraph article, link posted below: "Uefa has been under increasing pressure from the European Club Association to reform the continent's top club competition to ensure teams with the greatest TV appeal have a guaranteed place." Sod all to do with footballing ability, then, just merchandising and brand selling potential http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...s-meet-to-discuss-breakaway-super-league.html
And yet the five clubs in question can already afford to spend £20m, 30m, 40m on players and circa 200k on weekly wages - it's not like they actually 'need' more money!
Hi bors, it is inevitable there will be a global league comprising top world clubs, it happened in our country with the formation of the Premier League, the FA taking over promoting the PL using Football League clubs. Question is what happens to the sponsorship provided by Sky Sports and BT if they depart ? Also will there be promotion and relegation and how will that be done ? Will the sponsors stay with the PL or decide to invest their money in this new super league. I think the answer to that is obvious. Another point in our country's case is will those English clubs joining this super league terminate their membership of the PL or continue to compete in it seeing they have the playing staff to do so. There is the current contracts existing between the PL and the sponsors to be considered. We have to be honest and would do the same if we were in their position. Football today is big business and progressive. Has come a long way from the time when it was a rivalry between local clubs and employed local players. Judging by the newspaper article it appears membership will be by invitation and not based on a particular league achievement.
Norkie squire, see the section I highlighted in the OP. They will insist on a cartel that only those teams 'with the greatest TV appeal have a guaranteed place' On that proviso, ManUre are a shoo-in as they have a global fanbase which the sponsors will drool over. Doesn't matter if they're playing dire football as long as they sell zillions of shirts in Malaysia, Thailand, USA.... And also, on the above criterion, it's most unlikely that they'll ever be relegated from this new league as if Palace, Wet Sham, Saints and god forbid, even NCFC have a sterling season in the top flight, they'd probably still not 'get in' at they're not perceived as big enough, marketable "global brands"! Makes you weep.
I would think that even if this were to happen, one of the TV companies would look as financing what would become the top tier in the domestic game. Perhaps not the same sort of money we are talking about today but enough to make it worthwhile. Not ideal but I would not be sad to see them all fook off.
I can't speak for the other Asian countries but in Thailand they do not buy "real" shirts - only cheap replicas.
Agreed, Thai Plus it's probably the only realistic way our country cousins will ever be able to dine at the top table again, if there are five empty place settings!!
Cromer bor, thanks for the compliment squire but I prefer my real standing: artisan. I had noticed your emphasised original statement, I do not blame the top five clubs from seeking to enhance their profitability, one of the reasons clubs are gradually being taking over by foreigners who see the profit to be made from football today. Not good for our fans but the players will profit. It is an ill wind that blows and bring no comfort. Whatever, us Canaries will soldier on, nothing new in that.
I think that's a bit optimistic. I'd imagine losing the "top" group of the PL to a new league would leave the rest of the PL on par with Championship funding. I doubt the lure of Stoke v Saints etc will get anywhere near the £s they've been enjoying up till now. The trickle down to Championship and below will of course be even worse.
Hence I said - Perhaps not the same sort of money we are talking about today but enough to make it worthwhile.
I think the truth would be somewhere inbetween. I can honestly say that I would have no interest in paying a penny extra for a breakaway league but if offered the viewing rights to a domestic top league we were in that wasn't outragious like current sports packages i might even subscribe. I realise that fans wishes will not really register with those clubs who might breakaway, but if I was a fan of one of those clubs I'm not sure I'd be happy with abandoning the domestic league to get thrashed by Barca every season! Bah!
I personally would love to see the back of "Big Five" and bring some sanity back to our football. It would see the end of overpaid,over rated primo donnas in our leagues. All tho plastic fans will be able to follow their teams on Sky,exactly as they do now.
I think all these clubs should be careful what they wish for. If a european superleague came to fruition how long before all the other wealthy nations outside of europe decide they want a piece and buy their way in. Suddenly Liverpoo and Arse who will be perenial strugglers in the european environment will be top of the list to be given the heave ho when China, US and some other oil rich types want their own local teams in there. Yes they can make money with a european league and they get increased revenue from those markets already in the PL but that could go through the stratosphere if you had two or three obscenely wealthy locally representative teams in there. Look at china already with there attempts to muscle in on the footballing landscape. Not like the US buying up hasbeens, they are actually taking some players who are in their prime. It's all a rather slippery slope for me. As a Norwich fan it's all going to be a world away from intersting me greatly and i see positives and negatives in having the 5 big boys leave. Yes we may have a little more chance of winning a title but, is that title cheapened by those other clubs absense? should we care? it would still be a title. Or would it feel like a second division? Do I like having a chance of seeing the best players, playing for some of the biggest teams and occationally beating them against the odds? Yes and for that I really wouldn't like the greed to win. I think with the latest TV deal for the PL, it will continue to thrive and increasingly attract the best players and that's something I'm not averse to seeing at CR or the PL. Lastly I think the move could be bourne of fear by some of the big 5. i think this season has shown that the gap can be closed, that any of the big 5 are a poor managerial appointment away from european wilderness for a season or seasons. with the increased funds available to all of the PL clubs the quality of the mid-tablers is getting much better making it harder for them to coast into the top 4 for euro qualification. 5 has also never gone into 4. With Spuds building a great young side, if they can hold on to them then the task looks all the more daunting(It is a big if!). Then look at how Stoke, Southampton and others are getting higher and higher quality players, there really are no easy games in the PL. Bah!
You make some excellent points, commander This, from twitter, backs up what you say. Oliver Kay @OliverKayTimes England's "Big 5": 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th & 11th in Prem Lge. Time to look at themselves, rather than wonder how to change football's landscape
