The Bundesliga could really teach us a thing or two. It is time for the FA and Prem to wise up a bit to ensure longevity. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21167381
This sensible regulation of clubs' fitness to compete, plus their safe standing areas in stadiums- they've go a lot right while we go hurtling on to destruction.
Strictly speaking we didn't. In 1966 there was no Germany, It was East and West. <takes off pedantic hat>
This has gone off topic. Can't we admit they have got their league system right whilst we are heading into ruin.
Yes. I think the financial problem for football in England is the money at the top. Not even all the teams in the Premiership can compete with Manchesters and Chelsea, but they think they can. Then there are the teams in the Championship who are spending a lot of money to try to get with the bigger clubs one level up. This does not work. Portsmouth, Leeds and Queens Park Rangers prove this.
Not quite Ak. The date on your map gives it away that German unification actually took place in 1871. Since then in 2 world wars Germany has managed to "lose" Alsace, Silesia, Posen, both West and East Prussia and most of Pomerania. Good going......equivalent to us losing East Anglia, Yorkshire, Kent, Devon & Cornwall. Actually losing Yorkshire wouldn't be a bad idea........ Anyway back to topic - I, for one, wouldn't mind something along the lines of a German licensing system for all league clubs - not just the Premiership.
Attendances in the 1 Bundesliga may be the highest in Europe - but this support evaporates quickly at the lower levels. Average attendances in the second division are no different to those in England (Apart from F.C. Cologne) in the third national league German attendances are half those of England and at the 4th stage there is only regional football with very little support. British football support is spread over many more clubs and leagues than in Germany. Also many well supported clubs such as Dortmund have the city all to themselves without the same competition as there would be in Manchester, Liverpool etc. there are no real derbies in German football. Another point is that there has been a boom in Bundesliga attendance figures since hosting the 2006 World Cup - something which we also experienced after 1966. 16 top stadiums in Germany were upgraded at that time at no cost to the clubs themselves. Which raises another point. There have been near bankruptcies in German football but the Federal State or City has stepped in to prevent this in a way which would be impossible in England. Would we tolerate state money being used to bolster clubs and stadiums whilst at the same time closing hospitals, schools etc. I think not. As for the on the field success of German football it's worth remembering that football is the countries number 1 sport and that they have 80 million inhabitants, most of their immigrants come from other footballing countries e.g. Turkey, Italy, Poland, the influence of which we are now seeing in the national squad. What does English football benefit from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi immigration in comparison. There is no competition from Rugby in the schools, which is often the case in England. At school I was more or less compelled to play Rugby whether I wanted to or not. Which brings me to my last point. Football in Germany does not have the same sociological origins as in England and has always been more of a national sport drawing supporters and players from across the social spectrum. This is why a person like Angela Merkel goes to matches, goes into the National teams changing rooms before a match etc. In short, she understands the game - whereas our politicians, based on their social background, understand only egg chasing. Having said this it's great to travel to matches by free public transport (If you have a stadium ticket), get into stadiums for 20 Euros,and have a great atmosphere once there. No problems with beer and to be able to have a *** at half time in designated areas. The other side of the coin is that Germany has a growing problem with organised football hooliganism which is not really being addressed in the right ways.
There is a lot wrong with the English game, and I would suggest most stems from money! We have become arrogant in thinking we offer the best service, where I would say we just offer the best-paid service. Many players come here now for the money - with all due respect, why else would the likes of Samba and Remy go to QPR? A lot needs to be done to 'fix' the Legaue. First of all, Sky needs to distribute it's wealth muych more evenly - and maybe make the clubs use this money to invest in the Academy rather than the first team. I would also introduce wage caps (maybe £50k in Prem, £20k in Championship, and £5k lower down) with more emphasis on performance-related bonuses, and more realistic wage to turnover ratios. Maybe no more than 50% of turnover can be spent on wages. I know people would then say that the 'best' players would play in foreign leagues.... I'd say good! Let us make clubs produce their own talent ot players who actually want to play ratehr than pick up a cheque! I'd also want to see ticket prices come down - and hopefully with wages lower, this could have a knock-on effect to ticket prices. If clubs aren't so reliant on maintaining a high wage bill, they can look at where they can save this money - the fans! Obviously this is never going to happen as the Prem clubs would never go for it.... but the Prem has been on the decline for some time (even if Chelsea did win the CL)
It was said a season ticket costs £62 at Bayern...one match day ticket costs that at Arsenal. Sums it all up I feel!
