Champions League revamp

[Hottigersleftpeg]

Still some absolute media weapon manages to turn this into a dig at Everton:

"“What has it come to when we’re looking to Fifa and Gianni Infantino to protect the moral and economic values of the sport?” wonders Keith Hennigan. “Also, while I think the statement from Everton’s Directors is laudable, I can’t read it without that niggling thought that if they, rather than say Spurs, has been considered ‘Big Six,’ they’d be doing exactly the same ... apologies to Everton fans and Directors for my cynicism!”

I don’t think we can convict Everton for something they’ve not done, but I understand the sentiment so I think it’s worth restating what is, in mine, the key point: no one here is pure, but some people are on one side and others are on another. Those who want to stop the ESL need to support those who want to do likewise, not pick at their previous misdeeds, because that’s the only way this might work."

 

[catcherintherye]

That's actually my point though - you're asking UEFA to bin off their primary competition, the Premier League to massively devalue their own competition and destroy the prospects of every other club in the footballing pyramid forevermore.

It gets to the point where the long term loss to these institutions is so severe in letting it happen that any short term financial loss becomes relatively inconsequential.

Not only that, for the Premier League/UEFA to bend over now, they'd have to deal with governments being against it and about 90% minimum of fans. You're right there'll be no boycott, but there certainly will be opposition.

I can't see a route ahead for it to go ahead. If it does, it'll certainly be without their participation in the league IMO.

And actually I'm not entirely sure they'd be that botherd about leaving the league. They would probably think they can have a rival proper league then, rather than what is essentially a cup competition.

 

[Tubey]

What would a fine do? What would a point deduction do? Only half those sides would go down.


They're not throwing them out the league.

Relegate the six, reprieve for clubs who finish bottom three this season and three clubs come up from the Championship. That's the punishment just for what they've done now.

If it goes ahead, for reasons said above, I genuinely can't see an alternative to throwing them out.

 

[catcherintherye]

Indeed.

Football fans are more dependent on their product and more fickle.

And moan a lot more.

 

[Tubey]

And actually I'm not entirely sure they'd be that botherd about leaving the league. They would probably think they can have a rival proper league then, rather than what is essentially a cup competition.

Indeed. And if so, bye then! I'd be delighted.

 

[daza_1973]

Off BBC sport:​

Taking away a dream - Taylor​

Simon Stone
BBC Sport
As PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor pointed out, football evolves. England's 'big six' now used to be a 'big four' - Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - then Everton joined it. Now Manchester City and Chelsea are part of the club and Everton are not.
"Things change," said Taylor.
"I remember Blackburn, when Jack Walker appeared, and they won the Premier League.
"It is always a hope and what supporters can dream of but it takes away a dream. I don’t think it will be good for the game at all in the long run."

I'm 47 can't ever remember this scenario - did i miss something?

 

[Martin Alvito]

They'll threaten it, but will never follow through.

The clubs know it.

What you're seeing right now is exactly how wars happen.

You have a complicating incident that hardens resolve on both sides. Neither side really wants the war, and if they knew ex ante who would win they'd settle it at the conference table because the war is ex post inefficient (stuff gets destroyed), but the two sides are far apart due to resolve hardening, the outcome is uncertain and both sides believe they can win.

The 14 have to play the hand they're dealt, which involves threatening to kick out the six. The alternative is capitulation, which is unacceptable to their stakeholders. The six don't believe them, and too many of them can't back down financially.

Everything I know about bargaining, international relations and war tells me that the two sides going their separate ways is a very real possibility, even though there was no way on God's green earth it could ever happen 48 hours ago.

 

[TheSecondComing]

Off BBC sport:​

Taking away a dream - Taylor​

Simon Stone
BBC Sport
As PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor pointed out, football evolves. England's 'big six' now used to be a 'big four' - Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - then Everton joined it. Now Manchester City and Chelsea are part of the club and Everton are not.
"Things change," said Taylor.
"I remember Blackburn, when Jack Walker appeared, and they won the Premier League.
"It is always a hope and what supporters can dream of but it takes away a dream. I don’t think it will be good for the game at all in the long run."

I'm 47 can't ever remember this scenario - did i miss something?

He’s a bumbling fool

 

[nsno-chris]

The super league automatically devalues the PL

You think that massive TV deal is happening in the next round of negotiations?? Not a chance

The money will be the ESL, the clubs will prioritise that

 

[GrandOldTeam]

That's actually my point though - you're asking UEFA to bin off their primary competition, the Premier League to massively devalue their own competition and destroy the prospects of every other club in the footballing pyramid forevermore.

It gets to the point where the long term loss to these institutions is so severe in letting it happen that any short term financial loss becomes relatively inconsequential.

Not only that, for the Premier League/UEFA to bend over now, they'd have to deal with governments being against it and about 90% minimum of fans. You're right there'll be no boycott, but there certainly will be opposition.

I can't see a route ahead for it to go ahead. If it does, it'll certainly be without their participation in the league IMO.

And yet, all that is still less costly to the Premier League than permanently expelling the 6.

When push comes to shove, £££ will talk and it dictates those 6 won't be expelled IMO.

I don’t think they will much choice

it will undermine the EPL and seal off any chance of the other 14 clubs to compete.

if they don’t then those clubs have essentially signed there own death warrant

Compete? The games been going that way for a very long time mate.

Most just exist now.

How many outside that 6 win trophies?

 

[Nymzee]

Off BBC sport:​

Taking away a dream - Taylor​

Simon Stone
BBC Sport
As PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor pointed out, football evolves. England's 'big six' now used to be a 'big four' - Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - then Everton joined it. Now Manchester City and Chelsea are part of the club and Everton are not.
"Things change," said Taylor.
"I remember Blackburn, when Jack Walker appeared, and they won the Premier League.
"It is always a hope and what supporters can dream of but it takes away a dream. I don’t think it will be good for the game at all in the long run."

I'm 47 can't ever remember this scenario - did i miss something?

Spurs were never ever in the Big 4 haha.

 

[Jamiednm]

If you hand out a punishment that is so severe they might as well leave you’re effectively forcing them to move away as well which hurts everyone.

either you expel or you punish so that it’s not seen as a death sentence but enough to hurt for a year or two.

The Super League locks-in a competitive advantage for participating clubs.

In the interests of sporting integrity, the Premier League should simply implement a rule to offset that: Any club that participates in a non-sanctioned tournament will be subject to a -40 point handicap at the start of the season and a transfer embargo. They'd be permanently handicapped as long as they persist with ESL participation. When Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea get relegated, the EFL can use the same sanctions.

That way, they can't just 'turn up' in the domestic league, they have to play strong sides to avoid getting relegated. They'd have to get to 70+ points just to be safe. This is a perfect solution for the Premier League because it means the clubs can retain their status but it'll be even more entertaining watching them scramble for safety, and it benefits Premier League loyalists like Everton who finally get a real chance of winning the league and a greater share of the prize fund.

In fact, implement it now, it's a great idea!

 

[DanEFC92]

Screw it, give them a transfer ban for a few years too, just try lob it all at them.

I can think of no greater punishment than forcing them to buy Cenk Tosun off us.

 

[zukai12_]

Off BBC sport:​

Taking away a dream - Taylor​

Simon Stone
BBC Sport
As PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor pointed out, football evolves. England's 'big six' now used to be a 'big four' - Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - then Everton joined it. Now Manchester City and Chelsea are part of the club and Everton are not.
"Things change," said Taylor.
"I remember Blackburn, when Jack Walker appeared, and they won the Premier League.
"It is always a hope and what supporters can dream of but it takes away a dream. I don’t think it will be good for the game at all in the long run."

I'm 47 can't ever remember this scenario - did i miss something?

Yeah back in the mid 2000s it was always top 4 , big 4 etc

Then Man City got Rich and Man U and Liverpool started finishing in Europa sports so they "had" to expand thier definition of top teams

 

[Kantareller]

Off BBC sport:​

Taking away a dream - Taylor​

Simon Stone
BBC Sport
As PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor pointed out, football evolves. England's 'big six' now used to be a 'big four' - Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal - then Everton joined it. Now Manchester City and Chelsea are part of the club and Everton are not.
"Things change," said Taylor.
"I remember Blackburn, when Jack Walker appeared, and they won the Premier League.
"It is always a hope and what supporters can dream of but it takes away a dream. I don’t think it will be good for the game at all in the long run."

I'm 47 can't ever remember this scenario - did i miss something?

There has never been a big four with Spurs in it lol