[Football] FC Barcelona statement on the Super League

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Well it will happen now.

But fan opposition means the clubs will have to be much more careful about it, and we're likely to see it happen incrementally. It will certainly have another name.

Saudi clubs will of course be invited too

 

[BadFish]

Surely Uefa and FIFA can refuse their entry into their competitions? In which case bring it on. Football will be better without the ridiculous money super/sports washed clubs.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Could well see a lot of 'AFC' clubs in the future. This closed shop no relegation bollox is not my ideal game to watch. It's just some big name club owners wanting to put their hands in the cookie jar

 

[BadFish]

It's probably on a technicality.

Something along the lines of 'it can't be a Super League if Spurs are involved', so crack on you jokesters.

Spurs might actually win something if they don't join

 

[Stat Brother]

Spurs might actually win something if they don't join

Are you suggesting the EPL will shorten it's season to 1 month?

 

[dazzer6666]

Probably end up with a watered-down version that replaces the Champions League as UEFA realise they have to compromise or lose the geese that lay their golden eggs. The EPL Clubs signed a charter after the last decision - technically any owners/directors taking their club to the ESL would now be disqualified under the owners and directors test. Whether that's worth the paper it's written on with the £££££ involved remains to be seen I guess. Think fans will provide the biggest obstacle to English clubs joining.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Surely Uefa and FIFA can refuse their entry into their competitions? In which case bring it on. Football will be better without the ridiculous money super/sports washed clubs.

If they do decide to go ahead with it then the participants should be barred from UEFA competitions.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Surely Uefa and FIFA can refuse their entry into their competitions? In which case bring it on. Football will be better without the ridiculous money super/sports washed clubs.

Problem is those are the clubs that bring the money, but I agree.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Surely Uefa and FIFA can refuse their entry into their competitions? In which case bring it on. Football will be better without the ridiculous money super/sports washed clubs.

This is a misconception I think.

These clubs will be joining the ESL, but they won't be leaving domestic leagues. Clubs like Man U, Juve etc will continue to compete in domestic competitions but will do so with supersized squads.

They may bloat themselves out to a senior squad size of say 40, naming 25 players to play in the PL, 25 to play in the ESL, and a few players, especially keepers or fringe players floating between both.

The future will very much look like an ESL club having games on consecutive days or maybe the same day. But the managers won't mind too much as they are effectively playing two totally different squads. Separate managers for the different competitions is also a possibility in time.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Probably end up with a watered-down version that replaces the Champions League as UEFA realise they have to compromise or lose the geese that lay their golden eggs. The EPL Clubs signed a charter after the last decision - technically any owners/directors taking their club to the ESL would now be disqualified under the owners and directors test. Whether that's worth the paper it's written on with the £££££ involved remains to be seen I guess. Think fans will provide the biggest obstacle to English clubs joining.

So what happens if the 6 (7 with Newcastle) clubs call the leagues bluff?

A PL with out United/Liverpool/Arsenal brings in nowhere near as much money in TV revenues/Sponsors.

I think what will happen is the PL will "reluctantly" agree to them joining a Super League and withdrawing from UEFA and the rest of the PL will agree

 

[BadFish]

This is a misconception I think.

These clubs will be joining the ESL, but they won't be leaving domestic leagues. Clubs like Man U, Juve etc will continue to compete in domestic competitions but will do so with supersized squads.

They may bloat themselves out to a senior squad size of say 40, naming 25 players to play in the PL, 25 to play in the ESL, and a few players, especially keepers or fringe players floating between both.

The future will very much look like an ESL club having games on consecutive days or maybe the same day. But the managers won't mind too much as they are effectively playing two totally different squads. Separate managers for the different competitions is also a possibility in time.

That sounds monumentally shit to me.

I will continue to hope that Uefa/FIFA/Premier League show some balls and tell any clubs involved to do one.

 

[dazzer6666]

So what happens if the 6 (7 with Newcastle) clubs call the leagues bluff?

A PL with out United/Liverpool/Arsenal brings in nowhere near as much money in TV revenues/Sponsors.

I think what will happen is the PL will "reluctantly" agree to them joining a Super League and withdrawing from UEFA and the rest of the PL will agree

Yeah - hence 'Whether that's worth the paper it's written on with the £££££ involved remains to be seen I guess'

 

[BadFish]

So what happens if the 6 (7 with Newcastle) clubs call the leagues bluff?

A PL with out United/Liverpool/Arsenal brings in nowhere near as much money in TV revenues/Sponsors.

I think what will happen is the PL will "reluctantly" agree to them joining a Super League and withdrawing from UEFA and the rest of the PL will agree

A PL without those clubs could take the opportunity to change philosophy and offer a competition based on competition rather than money. Of course this won't happen but I can dream.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

A PL without those clubs could take the opportunity to change philosophy and offer a competition based on competition rather than money. Of course this won't happen but I can dream.

A nice thought, but how much are the likes of Bloom owed for new stadium training ground?

 

[studio150]

Barcelona and Real Madrid to join the Saudi League along with whoever else wants to go.

No doubt if the League goes ahead, there will be loads of rule changes for the benefit of TV and commercial income.

Dual ownership and feeder clubs to follow.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

That sounds monumentally shit to me.

I will continue to hope that Uefa/FIFA/Premier League show some balls and tell any clubs involved to do one.

It is monumentally shit yes.

Supporters groups killed this before and can again. Boycotts and picket lines around grounds will be needed. It's tough to organise and achieve. But possible.

 

[BadFish]

A nice thought, but how much are the likes of Bloom owned for new stadium training ground?

A fair question, maybe these developments will affect our spending until the outcomes become clearer.

 

[A1X]

It is monumentally shit yes.

Supporters groups killed this before and can again. Boycotts and picket lines around grounds will be needed. It's tough to organise and achieve. But possible.

It’s going to be an interesting showdown at the big clubs between the traditional match-going fans (who were primarily the ones who killed it last time) and the global army of plastics who’d love it and have never seen the team anywhere beyond the TV.

 

[nicko31]

It’s going to be an interesting showdown at the big clubs between the traditional match-going fans (who were primarily the ones who killed it last time) and the global army of plastics who’d love it and have never seen the team anywhere beyond the TV.

The problem is the big clubs have an unlimited supply of plastics to put bums on seats.

If it was a choice between joining an SL or watching lower league football, I'd choose the latter

 

[Hugo Rune]

I think we’ll be fine in this country.

The ESL is a reaction to the EPL being so astonishingly dominant financially and in terms of coverage. But after the Chelsea fan reaction, it’s clear that NO EPL side (no matter what their owners think) could bring the ‘fans’ with them to the ESL - they’d be empty stadia and plenty of riots.

So, if the ESL is to launch, it’ll be without EPL teams. That is high risk. There are enough big sides (Ajax & Bundesliga etc) left to still make UEFA competitions worthwhile.

I hope it all goes wrong for the ESL teams and they end up with empty stadia and bankruptcy.