The Football News Thread 2020/21

[Lupo]

I wouldn't watch us if we were invited and then decided to play in the Super League but I understand a lot of fans would.

Fans of the future not us 'legacy' fans!

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Unsure on the validity as its off Twitter. Fingers crossed be tows the line je has since 2019.
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No chance that is real Lincs..

 

[The Saturday Boy]

I would be out. Season ticket at Stourbridge, watching football with friends who have a common interest. This could be a real boost for the rest of the pyramid if they survive covid.

 

[Del Woppio]

I really hope Klopp's said that.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

I would be out. Season ticket at Stourbridge, watching football with friends who have a common interest. This could be a real boost for the rest of the pyramid if they survive covid.

Does my old friend Martin Elliot still have a lot to do at Stourbridge mate ?

 

[Lycan]

If Wolves were to ever find themselves involved in this mess then yes, I'd pack it in as well. Leamington FC play in the National League North, that's quite a decent level, I'd probably just start watching them.

 

[Johnny75]

They’d have financial backing to rotate and be competitive in both. They’d hoover up any quality that exists outside the top 6.
It’ll mean a competition with such disparaging contrast it’ll become a flawed contest.

There's an easy way around that which is the PL says you can't be registered for both comps.

 

[Tony Towner]

I don't think this is true. Man City and Chelsea don't have traditional fan bases nor would people care if they left the league.

In the UK agreed, worldwide they do though.

 

[prawnking]

Sorry I hadn't seen that bit!

I don't pretend to understand it either! I just remember reading that.

So... Does this mean ESL 'founding members' don't intend to compete in the CL or EL any more, but want to still compete in their domestic leagues, even though only winning it will have any merit?

I'm slightly confused about how they want this to function

 

[Tony Towner]

I don't pretend to understand it either! I just remember reading that.

So... Does this mean ESL 'founding members' don't intend to compete in the CL or EL any more, but want to still compete in their domestic leagues, even though only winning it will have any merit?

That's their proposal

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I don't pretend to understand it either! I just remember reading that.

So... Does this mean ESL 'founding members' don't intend to compete in the CL or EL any more, but want to still compete in their domestic leagues, even though only winning it will have any merit?

I'm slightly confused about how they want this to function

It's the Boris Johnson "cake and eat it" principle.

As he's rapidly finding out, it doesn't really work out very well.

 

[Sniffer]

That's their proposal

If that's the case and if UEFA don't sanction it, how will the other five get in there and what happens when they are out? Surely UEFA will ban them from the normal Euro competitions so in theory that would stop any club from wanting to be one of the five?

 

[prawnking]

It's the Boris Johnson "cake and eat it" principle.

As he's rapidly finding out, it doesn't really work out very well.

It's just insane. I don't even think it makes the European product more attractive, it just neuters domestic leagues (even if they stay in them), and reduces a wide European representation to, predominately, England, Spain and Italy!

 

[Tom Hark]

I've been asking myself this question all the way through the thread - what would I do if we were involved? I mean, I know how I'd feel (disgusted, disappointed), but would I stop watching? I honestly don't know. I do recall how mystified I was when the European Cup became the Champions League - the concept of four 'champions' just seemed nonsensical - but that competition seems entirely normal to me now. If this does somehow bulldoze its way through, it might well find similar traction in a few seasons' time.

I don't think for a minute that the PL will have the balls to kick them out. IMO the most likely scenario is that, if this goes ahead, it would do so on a midweek basis with PL games at weekends. (I think that was their stated plan anyway, wasn't it?) It will be the CL as we know it that disappears, rather than the PL. There will still be a second-tier Euro competition for the rest to compete for, same as there is now.

 

[jlo]

It's the Boris Johnson "cake and eat it" principle.

As he's rapidly finding out, it doesn't really work out very well.

Ironically, one factor these clubs may not have bargained for is national governments speaking out or literally getting involved - culture is a part of their levelling up agenda, and football has to be a major part of that. FIFA aren't going to mind governments interfering in these circumstances I'm sure. Also the FA also has a role to play, I'd go for mandatory banning of the owners and making them put the clubs up for sale - i.e. failing the fit and proper test. Lastly, I'm waiting to see some major players add their voices too - bit too quiet at the moment...

 

[The Saturday Boy]

Mourinho sacked by Spurs...

 

[Del Woppio]

I don't pretend to understand it either! I just remember reading that.

So... Does this mean ESL 'founding members' don't intend to compete in the CL or EL any more, but want to still compete in their domestic leagues, even though only winning it will have any merit?

I'm slightly confused about how they want this to function

Yup. They want to be able to compete in the Premier League, resign from UEFA competitions and have a perpetual place in the ESL. Obviously this will mean that the positions between 2nd and 7th are literally worthless. Presumably the 4 highest placed clubs that aren't in the ESL will go into the "champion's league", and the 3 behind them into the Europa League (which will be basically as prestigious as the Anglo-Italian Cup by this point).

The money they get from the ESL will basically mean their squads are so much better than the other 14 that it'll be impossible for anybody to break in to the top six. Fuck knows how the 5 "merit places" in the ESL are going to be given out. I don't know why I keep calling it the ESL, as it's just TSL - which makes me think that there'll be an invitation to the "champions league" winners from South America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 

[prawnking]

I don't think for a minute that the PL will have the balls to kick them out. IMO the most likely scenario is that, if this goes ahead, it would do so on a midweek basis with PL games at weekends. (I think that was their stated plan anyway, wasn't it?) It will be the CL as we know it that disappears, rather than the PL. There will still be a second-tier Euro competition for the rest to compete for, same as there is now.

I don't want to be seen as defeatist, but this is my feeling too.

It'll get pushed through in a slightly revised form (maybe with one relegation/promotion playoff that favours the incumbent team), UEFA will merge their competitions into one for the rest of the continent's teams.

There'll be plenty of bile once fans get back into stadiums

 

[Tony Towner]

If that's the case and if UEFA don't sanction it, how will the other five get in there and what happens when they are out? Surely UEFA will ban them from the normal Euro competitions so in theory that would stop any club from wanting to be one of the five?

The 15 don't care about the 5. That element is only there to stop them being accused of it being a completely closed shop. They'd be happy if UEFA closed that. I'm sure really they'd be happy with a completely closed 20 of:
English 6
Italian 3+Roma
Spanish 3+Another (Sevilla/Valencia)
PSG
4 German Leipzig, Bayern, Dortmund + Another (Frankfurt?)
Porto or Benfica
Ajax

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Out of interest, was there a level of anger at the announcement of the Premier League or did fans/the media generally think that was a positive idea at the time?

I remember the creation of the PL but dont remember the initial reaction. I only remember thinking ‘ooh, Wolves can say they are in Division One now’