European Super League

[Blades1889]

So I'm a bit confused. Will this be instead of the Champions League? Premier league will be like it was but 6 teams will be playing midweek games in a super league instead of the Champions league?

Unless the PL expel them from the league, yes? I think.

 

[littlepeasoup]

Joel Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United and Vice-Chairman of the Super League said:

“By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.”

Upside down pyramid isn't it Joel, you doorknob.

 

[stevoc]

The Tories nationalising multi-billion companies.

Might end up being the only nationalisation Starmer agrees with.

Exactly which is why it wouldn't happen.

 

[hobbers]

Something people havent thought about yet...

The idea of inviting 5 new clubs to the super league every year is a stupid joke. In a fantasy world where the Super League get their wish for the clubs to continue playing in national leagues. How are you going to invite 5 teams every year to join the Super League and forsake UEFA competitions, when they won't get any permeance in the Super League?!

They'll join the Super League for one season, then get kicked out, and be fecked out of parallel UEFA competitions. Maybe even banned from them forever.

These 5 invited teams are going to end up being shit teams from out of Europe, I guarenfeckingtee it.

 

[stevoc]

So the five additional non-Founder clubs just get rotated out every season then? Based on achievements in other competitions? Who decides who gets in and how?

The founding members of course. Make no mistake this is about money but also control for the historic big clubs.

 

[RORY65]

Alright, we need to stop with this bollocks.

Our players aren't motivated by the amount of prize money on offer, and that hasn't stopped us recruiting before now. And even if that was in the slightest bit true, surely winning the SL would mean we'd absolutely kill the sponsorship deals? There's huge incentive to win the biggest competition on the planet.

And it doesn't matter if you or I watch it, everyone else in the world will be.

Our current team isn't winning this, they didn't even make the knockout stages of the Champions League never mind winning the bloody thing. We have recruited because without it we run the risk of missing out on the top 4, that risk is gone, the incentive to spend the amounts of money to have some chance of winning the thing is not great enough so why not just take the money and finish wherever? Do you really think these owners are in this to win or to maximise profits?

Also there are a big chunk of people in here who have said they won't watch it, viewing figures for football aren't huge anyway so not sure how everyone else in the world will be when most football fans I've seen have dismissed the whole idea.

 

[tomaldinho1]

You’ll care when you start realising how vapid, meaningless and cynical this new league is.

When facing Real or Barca means absolutely feck all to either set of fans it might make a dent.

UEFA was going to add more teams to the CL, we’ve already got one pointless domestic cup, a new pointless international nations league...I’m just playing devils advocate here...players are overworked and there’s already far too many games.

 

[crossy1686]

I've been wondering this. I've got a fair few questions I've not been able to really get any answer or at least discussion on.

This doesn't mean the CL and Europa stop, does it? The 'elite' wouldn't be in it and it may not be 'as' prestigious but could this not mean that different teams now make up those competitions?

Would a Southampton fan really hate the idea of a European night against Roma? Surely they would get increased TV and match day revenue. Maybe not to the extent the current CL clubs do but its still a European night isn't it?

There are Europa League teams who have never had a sniff at the CL but I'm sure it doesn't mean their fans haven't had some great trips and memories as part of that competition.

Could it potentially mean we have 3 European style competitions now and suddenly fans of a lot of clubs get the chance to start making European history of their own?

The CL and EL would continue to be run by UEFA but only teams eligible for those would play in them.

I'm sure Southampton fans would love the Roma game and trip, even winning it, it would be a cup after all, but is it not the League cup compared to the FA cup at that point?

It's great that those fans get to participate in those events and we'll probably end up in a situation where every PL team plays some form of European football at some point in the season.

 

[DOTA]

Why would they? All the money will be in the super League and they don't need to try in the premiership to get in it again the next year. All incentive is gone.

There's just no way this happens, is there? I'm not being weird in dismissing the idea outright? It has to be a breakaway plan where the clubs involved no longer compete domestically and the format will have to be revised to accommodate that.

 

[Mickeza]

No you wouldn't, you won't destroy your career based on some loose information Sky pumped out this morning based on them losing the PL to something better. If you would, you're a moron, but you're obviously not.

As a player or manager, why wouldn't you be motivated to win the league anymore? Does that currently happen when we're in the CL? Why is there new focus all of a sudden?

Exactly. This thread has lost its head. People will calm down eventually. According to this place all the PL is good for is getting into the CL.

 

[Fox outside the box]

Why would they? All the money will be in the super League and they don't need to try in the premiership to get in it again the next year. All incentive is gone.

Like they do now and have done ever year for decades? It's not 'all' the money at all.

It seems complete hyperbole to me, players still care about league titles, fans still care about league titles. I think you're being a bit melodramatic.

 

[2 man midfield]

Meh. Let's see what happens. I am not letting the press get me riled up. They are always short on the details and just into pushing their agenda.

Folks here should calm down until we know more.

What we know already is bad enough. A closed shop for the big boys - pull the ladder up and feck the rest. It goes against everything football is about - competition.

 

[Zoo]

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[Tony Babangida]

This is shit. Football has lost its way.

 

[Zoo]

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[Scorpy]

Absolute fecking shambles

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Agnelli quitting adds some weight..

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Guess Stan Kroenke will be chairing the biggest yacht in Europe.

 

[DOTA]

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What on earth is this account and why do people keep posting it.

 

[horsechoker]

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Us in the championship then, looking forward to Crewe away on a Wednesday night

 

[Tapori]

Agree. I would say that 90% of fans from these clubs don't want this and actually want Premier League and UEFA to do some drastic moves, even if it means from tommorow.

They are making the bet that their market base worldwide won't mind.
Will be telling to see how social media can dampen their so-called brand value

We will see

 

[Berbaclass]

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[Foxbatt]

Going by the reports earlier, the remaining spaces on the core 15 would be filled by two German clubs and a French club. Not sure how Porto would be involved when PSG are obviously more valuable to the super league.

PSG is owned by Qatar. Do you think they are in it for the money? I don't think Qatar is going to create any more problems with the WC.
I am surprised at City though.

 

[balaks]

Will it?

Can people stop just saying this please? Just explain why. Not one person I've read or watched has really made an actual case for this.

All I see is emotional outburst. It's frankly embarrassing how little actual discussion is going on. So many people aren't even bothering debating it. It's really frustrating. It's like wading through a crowded room of grown adults having toddler style tantrums on the floor. Stop being such a bunch of wet wipes and talk about it properly ffs.

Gary Neville has really got a lot of you going. It's scary how easily everyone seems to be lapping up Sky and BT's outrage. I can guarantee you it isn't because they care about the fans.

I suspect I've thought it through a lot more than you so leave the atrwnots at patronising to the side. I'm not saying I'm on board with it but I've at least genuinely contemplated the reasons this could be both good and bad, I don't think for a second that you have.

What incentive is there for any if these clubs to get top 4 in the league now? They automatically get super League every year nomatter where they end up in the league. Is this really difficult to understand?

 

[sullydnl]

Key points to understand is the damage this does to the CL (which will haemorrhage money and status without the best clubs and players) and domestic leagues (which become consequence-less friendlies for the SL clubs once they are out of a title race and offer little more than access to 2nd/3rd rate competitions for the smaller clubs who will increasingly be left behind).

Even those five clubs lucky enough to make it to the SL every year only get a temporary financial boost in the knowledge that they have no real chance of keeping pace with the permanent members financially.

 

[0le]

Will it?

Can people stop just saying this please? Just explain why. Not one person I've read or watched has really made an actual case for this.

All I see is emotional outburst. It's frankly embarrassing how little actual discussion is going on. So many people aren't even bothering debating it. It's really frustrating. It's like wading through a crowded room of grown adults having toddler style tantrums on the floor. Stop being such a bunch of wet wipes and talk about it properly ffs.

Gary Neville has really got a lot of you going. It's scary how easily everyone seems to be lapping up Sky and BT's outrage. I can guarantee you it isn't because they care about the fans.

I suspect I've thought it through a lot more than you so leave the atrwnots at patronising to the side. I'm not saying I'm on board with it but I've at least genuinely contemplated the reasons this could be both good and bad, I don't think for a second that you have.

Piss off. The reasons have already been well explained.

 

[Blades1889]

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This sport is washed now. Just greed all round.

 

[RedPed]

I’ve not seen it mentioned anywhere but the most glaring problem I see with this new league if it does go ahead is the fact that the majority of games in the league will be dead rubbers.

If you have 15 teams in the league guaranteed to remain in the league then any team below the top 3 have literally nothing to play for. If you are not close to winning the super league then all your games are meaningless as you have no rewards or punishments based on how you perform.

At least the premier league has Title, champions league spots, Europa league spots, relegation spots. Etc. Majority of teams in the league have something to play for.

This new league threatens to be an utter shambles.

Not if you're American. It's the only thing they know.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Feel like I've stabbed through the heart. I fecking loved this club.

 

[Fox outside the box]

Exactly. This thread has lost its head. People will calm down eventually. According to this place all the PL is good for is getting into the CL.

Can we not have a seperate thread for those of us who are calm to have an actual discussion about this? It's seemingly impossible because of the flood of emotional out cries. I'd really like to actually talk about this and weigh up the pros and cons without all the drama and childish tantrums.

 

[Blades1889]

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I wonder if there are domestic punishments too?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Why would they? All the money will be in the super League and they don't need to try in the premiership to get in it again the next year. All incentive is gone.

you think that Man Utd and Liverpool won’t want to be winning the league?

Winning the league and challenging is not about getting into Europe. That’s when the club is chasing 3rd and 4th - it’s about winning the league. There will always be prestige in doing so.

I know you are emotional, but it’s not the death of domestic football. I’m not saying I like the super league, but the reality will be different to the perception that many have this evening.

 

[Tapori]

Following the Group stage, 8 clubs will qualify for a knockout tournament, playing home and away until the single-match Super League championship, in a dramatic four-week end to the season.

*in Texas accent*

The Soccer SuperBowl everyone...

PLAYED IN....
SAUDI NEW CITY

 

[Jacky Quacky]

Anyone think that the European governments will band together and stop this?

 

[Rightnr]

Sorry, must have missed it.

As United fan's we want to see our team compete against the best of the best and win, yeah beating Burnley is great but what about that Paul Scholes goal against Barcelona? For the random fan, is Tottenham vs Juventus not a better game than Leipzig vs some random Turkish side? We're talking elite football here, nothing else like this on the planet in terms of ability and prestige and we're part of it.

The money will be reinvested into the club and spent on players/stadium/coaching staff, whatever. Most of it will probably go on transfers as we'll have to pay a SL tax on top of a United tax when we sign a player so most of that money will filter into the leagues anyway.

This is a win for everyone.

First, our history is built on beating domestic teams and winning domestic leagues. We don't sing about winning Super Leagues, we sing about '20 times'.

Second, the money will not be reinvested, as we have shown previously, they will go into the Glazers' pockets and if you believe the opposite, I have a bridge to sell you.

Lastly, if you are part of a competition based on your birthright, we are going back hundreds of years in terms of structure of society. This is nothing to do with what football is meant to be and represents for the everyday man. If football was like this from the beginning, it wouldn't have become the most popular sport in the world.

Frankly, your posts sound like a sales pitch.

 

[::sonny::]

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Europa league and premier league are probably over, with the clubs involved banned, fined and relegated

 

[SwedishFish]

PSG is owned by Qatar. Do you think they are in it for the money? I don't think Qatar is going to create any more problems with the WC.
I am surprised at City though.

Why are you surprised. The whole reason behind Citys modern existence can be summed up in one word. Exposure.

 

[FizzyWomack]

As if last year wasn’t crazy enough, now football as we know it is fecked too?

Seriously. What Black Mirror season are we all starring in now?

Absolutely mental news.

 

[horsechoker]

Feel like I've stabbed through the heart. I fecking loved this club.

Don't give up yet, there's still hope.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Good lad Dermot. Come on celebs, pile on...

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[padr81]

heightened emotions. I’m not saying we have to like it, but we will come to terms with it and watch. Let’s see in 12 months time. I bet you will be watching the team regularly as before.

100%. I said this in the other thread but its hard to walk away from a football club regardless of what shit goes on. Believe me as pissed and all as I am at this, when I didn't walk away or stop watching in 09 I never will. I'll moan and stamp my feet but eventually it'll be the new norm.