European Super League

[NathStPaul]

Interesting interview with John Barnes. Basically said, "Yay, the status quo has been maintained now let's get back to the real business of the whole of the Premier League exploiting everyone for financial gain".

Is it just me or is it a fact that everytime there is some sort of controversial issue in football, John Barnes is wheeled out to give some sort of unpopular/controversial opinion? He seems to have found a niche in saying slightly questionable things.

[From Despair To Where?]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

[Winston Biscuit]

has Harry Kane gone AWOL?

[Simmops]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

Literally nothing at all he said was unpopular or controversial

[Mr Angry]

The 6 clubs should be punished (for breaching Premier League rule 1.9 about joining unsanctioned competitions) but as is clear, the fans, players and even Managers of those clubs were kept in the dark about the plans, punishing them with points deductions seems counter-productive.

IMO the Premier League should instigate an independent enquiry into this debacle, and then look to punish those responsible - whether owners, Chief Executives or boards of the clubs - by banning them from having any involvement in their clubs for 3 Years; they have clearly brought the game into disrepute, and punishing them as individuals rather than the teams per se seems a fairer and more just way to exorcise the mistrust that will now exist.

[Uke]

IMO the Premier League should instigate an independent enquiry into this debacle, and then look to punish those responsible

Look at those who have resigned.

Where's Samuelson these days?

[NathStPaul]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

John Barnes has invented a media presance which is somewhat spikey and normally offers up opinions that go against the grain. He has been doing it for a while now.

He is extending the argument, no need to at this time. We all know the Premier League "big 6" are money grabbing bastards but there are some battles you cannot win in life, we aren't changing the Premier League any time soon. Football in this country needs big clubs that draw an audience and in turn, big money TV rights, that money is crucial to English football as a whole.
Defeating the ESL is a victory, a clear one. There is also no parallel between the ESL and the Premier League creation. Relegation was on the table for every single club that joined it in 1992, it wasn't a closed shop as the ESL would have been.

[Sanguine]

More broadly, I always find it a shame when a difference of opinion has to be linked to or followed by a denigration of character. The post you've written there about ESL and the formation of the PL is spot on OMA and about as succinct a post as I've seen written on the matter. Couldn't be more right in respect of both.

So Barnes has espoused a different view? Big deal. It's a shame that your post also then has to try to pull Barnes down. Plenty agree with him (not me), and legitimately so.

[NathStPaul]

More broadly, I always find it a shame when a difference of opinion has to be linked to or followed by a denigration of character. The post you've written there about ESL and the formation of the PL is spot on OMA and about as succinct a post as I've seen written on the matter. Couldn't be more right in respect of both.

So Barnes has espoused a different view? Big deal. It's a shame that your post also then has to try to pull Barnes down. Plenty agree with him (not me), and legitimately so.

Yeah fair enough. Not trying to pull Barnes down as such, more saying there is a time and a place to extend the argument about the "big 6" dominating the English game. Let the dust settle from the ESL debarcle first and see if any reforms come in.

[Franchise FC]

To be honest, if they want to create a European League then do so but every place is then available on merit.
How keen do you think some of them will be if they are genuinely in danger of the ignominy of relegation ?

Although how you work out how to gain ‘promotion’ is way beyond me

[Sanguine]

To be honest, if they want to create a European League then do so but every place is then available on merit.
How keen do you think some of them will be if they are genuinely in danger of the ignominy of relegation ?

Although how you work out how to gain ‘promotion’ is way beyond me

That's the madness of the proposal. Or rather, the madness in the apparent belief that these proposals would ever get off the ground, from a fans perspective. A closed shop is never, despite their protestations, about the wider game. Come forward with in effect a new version of the Champions League, with places earned on merit, and they'd have stood a chance. They could even have suggested tweaks to the UEFA coefficient to bring more seasons into the calculation as a nod to those 'bigger clubs'.

Was reading a Twitter thread yesterday on which former Spurs boss Martin Jol was paraphrased as saying that 'you'd be surprised how amateurish the game is behind the scenes.' And that seems to be the case here.

[Brum Royal]

AC Milan now withdrawn, just leaving a "league" of Real, Barca and Juve.

[Hendo]

https://twitter.com/50shadesofhaigh/status/1384583875846881281

[Sanguine]

Jesper Moller, head of the Danish FA and UEFA ExCo member says that, whilst their fate will ultimately be decided at a UEFA meeting on Friday, he 'expects' Real, City and Chelsea to be kicked out of this season's Champions League (either leaving PSG as the de facto winners, or bringing other clubs into the semi-finals), with the same fate likely for United and Arsenal in the Europa League.

[Hendo]

Jesper Moller, head of the Danish FA and UEFA ExCo member says that, whilst their fate will ultimately be decided at a UEFA meeting on Friday, he 'expects' Real, City and Chelsea to be kicked out of this season's Champions League (either leaving PSG as the de facto winners, or bringing other clubs into the semi-finals), with the same fate likely for United and Arsenal in the Europa League.

If that's the case, you've got to feel sorry for pool old OGS, still can't win a semi final Although I don't think any blame can be put on him for this one.

[Sutekh]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

Agree, what JB says is correct and this really has to be addressed. For example the unfairness of a lesser club having mega cash rich owner being penalised for trying to compete by ridiculously complex FFP restrictions when all that should be needed is a simple salary cap across a 25 man squad at each club.

Plus I don’t really know why everyone got so upset by this ESL breakaway idea anyway when essentially it’s exactly the same as what we have already except that half of the clubs that qualify for the Champions League weren’t invited and someone would have to magic up a couple more midweek dates from somewhere.

[tidus_mi2]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

Agree, what JB says is correct and this really has to be addressed. For example the unfairness of a lesser club having mega cash rich owner being penalised for trying to compete by ridiculously complex FFP restrictions when all that should be needed is a simple salary cap across a 25 man squad at each club.

Plus I don’t really know why everyone got so upset by this ESL breakaway idea anyway when essentially it’s exactly the same as what we have already except that half of the clubs that qualify for the Champions League weren’t invited and someone would have to magic up a couple more midweek dates from somewhere.

The big issue for most is that it was a closed shop for the biggest clubs, if they had proposed the ESL as a new European competition where entry was based on merit I doubt there would have been near as much outrage.

[BR0B0T]

https://twitter.com/50shadesofhaigh/status/1384583875846881281

gotta feel for the Woodley lads that they didn't get a shoutout

[6ft Kerplunk]

The big issue for most is that it was a closed shop for the biggest clubs

Not just the closed shop nature of it but also that they wanted to stay in their domestic leagues/cups with the financial advantage of the ESL cash on top of the financial advantage they already have over the other clubs in the leagues.

[Stranded]

So what's controversial about what he said? He's basically said that defeating the ESL isn't a victory because there's still a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots which needs addressing. Hes drawimg a parallel between the ESL and the creation of the Premier League, which was driven by the "Big 5" wanting to money grab.

Agree, what JB says is correct and this really has to be addressed. For example the unfairness of a lesser club having mega cash rich owner being penalised for trying to compete by ridiculously complex FFP restrictions when all that should be needed is a simple salary cap across a 25 man squad at each club.

Plus I don’t really know why everyone got so upset by this ESL breakaway idea anyway when essentially it’s exactly the same as what we have already except that half of the clubs that qualify for the Champions League weren’t invited and someone would have to magic up a couple more midweek dates from somewhere.

The big issue for most is that it was a closed shop for the biggest clubs, if they had proposed the ESL as a new European competition where entry was based on merit I doubt there would have been near as much outrage.

Yep, if they said we're setting this up and this is the line up for 2 seasons but after that here is how teams can qualify, potentially at our expense. It may have got some traction.