[Albion] Club statement re ESL - SPOT ON.

[Papa Lazarou]

It's interesting to contrast the tone of the Everton statement and the Albion one.

Rather than being critical of the ESL idea in principle, Everton are far more scathing in their naming and condemnation of the Big Six for letting everybody down. I suspect that if there is a proposal to expel the Big Six from the Prem it will be the likes of them, Villa, West Ham and Leeds who will lead the way.

Or maybe it's because when the Premier League was setup (to ensure more money for the top teams) Everton were one of those top teams. It's only since that Chelsea and City have bought their way into the club, shifting Everton out. I'm sure it's nothing to do with feeling left out.

 

[southstandandy]

Makes me laugh hearing the Real Madrid president's interview stating they need the Super League as incomes streams and revenues are falling!

Then stop paying 'tools' like Gareth Bale £600k a week! Absolutely no sympathy whatsoever. His behaviour is pretty disingenous when these clubs still have the bulk of football revenues anyway - and now they want MORE.

They can F**K right off in my opinion.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Or maybe it's because when the Premier League was setup (to ensure more money for the top teams) Everton were one of those top teams. It's only since that Chelsea and City have bought their way into the club, shifting Everton out. I'm sure it's nothing to do with feeling left out.

That may be the case, it might not.

The Premier League has always respected the football pyramid, and has fed money down to the divisions below. As a concept and a product it has been extremely successful, it is just unfortunate that they didn't have the foresight to impose a wage cap that would have protected the other 72 clubs in the Football League.

As owners go, Moshiri and Kenwright before him have been more egalitarian than their Big Six counterparts.

 

[sydney]

who's the ref tonight.....

 

[Papa Lazarou]

That may be the case, it might not.

The Premier League has always respected the football pyramid, and has fed money down to the divisions below. As a concept and a product it has been extremely successful, it is just unfortunate that they didn't have the foresight to impose a wage cap that would have protected the other 72 clubs in the Football League.

Yep, I was just playing Devil's Advocate there. Of all the 'top' clubs I'd say Everton is the one that has retained its links with the local community and its heritage as well as any, and better than most.

 

[sydney]

coverage of this affair has been back to back on sky. I do wonder if the execs at sky are quaking in their boots given how important the top 6 are to viewing figures and therefore subscriptions. This Live Football is the very essence of their business model and it is no wonder why they are so passionately laying into the plans. If the Super 6 idea does go ahead they may be forced into buying up a package to simply operate as normal and then they will look very hypercritical.

aren't they talking about this being a mid week league , effectively wiping out the champions league ....i reckon its got a 30/70 chance of getting off the ground within the next 4 years , the lawyers will have it tied up in this court and that for yonks .....they will have to piggy back with the people suing for breach of contract regarding covid vaccine supplies ......it really is a joke , the top end of town are taking the piss in a big way.

 

[el punal]

Its ok.

Not so keen on this line -

"We remain open to a transparent, calm and rationale dialogue with all clubs to achieve this"


Of course it has to be that way but would like to see harder words and actions against the 6.

Just let’s say that that was an opening salvo. The bigger shells will be fired when the non-ESL clubs join together with their upcoming meeting.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Except that for the EPL you have to name 25 players (not 40). So effectively you end up with an A team and a B team. The A team would presumably play in the ESL, and the B team in the Premier League. That doesn't sound a workable solution to me!

This is a big problem.

Is it better to have a Premier League without the Big Six that will be competitive but diminished, or a Premier League with the Big Six that will be fielding reserves? Imagine if Man City's reserves won the Premier League.

Both our domestic cups are pale shadows or their former selves, and with a possible 10 additional matches in Europe for the ESL finalists compared to what they would play now in the Champions League they would either have to opt out or play a reserve side in those cups. The Premier League could go that way too.

On balance if these clubs are going to have their league it would be better for all concerned if they had their 20 team league and played each other home and away, had their 38 games and had their own knockout cup competition, possibly the 20 plus 12 invited teams from around the world. That way, they could pave the way for a World League.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I think it's workable and this is what will happen.

They'll just run squads of 40 or so players, which they will be able to do with all the money.

I think it will become normal for the same club to be playing different matches at the same time.

It can work but it would be a shell of a competition. Much less money overall, as the TV rights would be virtually worthless in the far East, US and middle eastern markets; Sky would spend their millions on the ESL rights, the big 6 would be guaranteed to finish top 6 every year;the race for the title is all that matters, and who would care if Man U are playing Man City for the premier league title when they're fighting out the ESL title a month later. We'd very much be insignificant also rans to make up the numbers, it's wouldnt be worth keeping them hanging around.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I prefer the Tanks on the Lawn style of the Everton one. The big 6 must now understand that they have overplayed their hands here with bannings and legislation being talked about. Bayern have given it 2 fingers and fractures are reportedly appearing in the 12. It's not a negotiating tactic, its a balls up as they've managed it badly and the fact they used Teresa May's comms team says it all.

If they are coming crawling back, make them pay.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

I think it's workable and this is what will happen.

They'll just run squads of 40 or so players, which they will be able to do with all the money.

I think it will become normal for the same club to be playing different matches at the same time.

40 or so British/Irish players if the mooted idea of refusing work permits becomes reality.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I will be delighted if that turns out to be the case. I would observe that Everton have no such qualms; their statement is far punchier.

I loved the Everton statement.

And I retract my comments earlier today about our every needing to add its own statement. I feared a load of legalese gobbledygook, but the statements are much more visceral (especially Everton's). Still, can't say I'm much looking forward to Bumley's statement...

 

[blue-shifted]

It can work but it would be a shell of a competition. Much less money overall, as the TV rights would be virtually worthless in the far East, US and middle eastern markets; Sky would spend their millions on the ESL rights, the big 6 would be guaranteed to finish top 6 every year;the race for the title is all that matters, and who would care if Man U are playing Man City for the premier league title when they're fighting out the ESL title a month later. We'd very much be insignificant also rans to make up the numbers, it's wouldnt be worth keeping them hanging around.

Agree. But I still think it's what will happen.

The other 14 clubs don't have to balls or unity to act collectively. One or more will be successfully bribed to abstain, so there will be a fudge. The pirate 6, will continue to play in both leagues.

I also believe they will continue to dominate the PL as they'll hoover up all the talent to an even greater degree.

 

[blue-shifted]

40 or so British/Irish players if the mooted idea of refusing work permits becomes reality.

The government won't be able to hold this line.

The 6 pirates will sue and will win. There's no legal reason to withhold permits apart from that they don't want the league to happen

 

[blue-shifted]

Except that for the EPL you have to name 25 players (not 40). So effectively you end up with an A team and a B team. The A team would presumably play in the ESL, and the B team in the Premier League. That doesn't sound a workable solution to me!

In the short term, I believe the 6 clubs will have specialist ESL players, not even registered to play in the PL

In the longer term they'll use their ever increasing financial muscle to pressure other clubs into increasing the 25 squad limit to 40. The emotions and heated words will die down, then the real politik will start

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

The government won't be able to hold this line.

The 6 pirates will sue and will win. There's no legal reason to withhold permits apart from that they don't want the league to happen

They would sue and lose.

The Government can legally refuse work permits to anyone who they don't want working in the country.

Or they could even legislate to require football clubs to be licenced. To comply they must play in a Government approved league.

The circus globetrotters can't win this unless our Government decides not to get involved after all - or they move overseas to a new base.

 

[TomandJerry]

They would sue and lose.

The Government can legally refuse work permits to anyone who they don't want working in the country.

And they can't go running to the European Courts to complain either!

Sent from my EML-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[dazzer6666]

I loved the Everton statement.

And I retract my comments earlier today about our every needing to add its own statement. I feared a load of legalese gobbledygook, but the statements are much more visceral (especially Everton's). Still, can't say I'm much looking forward to Bumley's statement...

It’s already out.......

By Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley Football Club

Dear supporters,

A breakaway Super League should never have happened, but this is about much more than club self-interest and is an example of how the governance of football in this country and throughout Europe needs to be reformed.

The six Premier League clubs taking this step have turned their back on our moral duty as custodians of the game to protect English football and, the spirit of the sport, at all costs.

Weak governance has led us to this point.

Therefore, today I am calling on Boris Johnson and Oliver Dowden to follow their welcome intervention and now appoint an independent regulator to protect English football with legislation.

As a former financier, I understand the commercial considerations for these clubs and can appreciate their frustration at being the largest revenue drivers for the UEFA Champions League, without receiving the same levels of influence and reward.

However, this is a move which does not treat fans or the game’s history with the respect it deserves and is not the solution.

We need to ensure that football is protected. The game is bigger than all of us, and its future cannot be compromised by self-interest.

The contempt the proposals have received was inevitable.

It is truly a shame that it has come to this. We are the greatest league in the world and we can do more to bring people together and set the path forward for all and not just the few.

We have a responsibility to all that have come before us and all those who will follow in the wider game.

While we too at Burnley have ambitious plans to grow the club’s revenues, those plans have always been on the back of performance, both on and off the pitch, and not artificial protectionism.

As my business partners and I have now been working and living in Burnley for several months and are in the process of moving permanently to the area, I would greatly encourage my fellow chairmen to walk the streets around their local communities and get to know them personally, rather than creating more distance between themselves and fans.

This is also why I invite No10, the Government and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to now legislate.

Ultimately, we need a strong regulator in the style of OFTEL or OFCOM to protect and build the interests of English football.

It’s time to do things differently!

Over the coming days, I will be working hard alongside my fellow club owners and governing bodies to fight these proposals and find a solution to improved football governance in this country.

I welcome initial noises coming from the UK Government and encourage them to provide strong leadership on these proposals, given their seismic impact on the UK’s cultural landscape.

Yours, in Football

Alan Pace

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I prefer the Tanks on the Lawn style of the Everton one. The big 6 must now understand that they have overplayed their hands here with bannings and legislation being talked about. Bayern have given it 2 fingers and fractures are reportedly appearing in the 12. It's not a negotiating tactic, its a balls up as they've managed it badly and the fact they used Teresa May's comms team says it all.

If they are coming crawling back, make them pay.

I agree.

A minority of commentators on NSC are giving far too much credit to the 12 for their brilliant and irresistable plan, and the power of their wealth and influence, and the impossibility of mere seaweeds like us standing up to the incoming tide.

Bollocks. The plan was spilled with insufficient planning in response to the announcement of mainstream initiatives. It looks like an embarrassing cock up to me. Stand by for a frenzy of backtracking....

 

[blue-shifted]

They would sue and lose.

The Government can legally refuse work permits to anyone who they don't want working in the country.

I'm no lawyer mate, but this isn't my understanding. Any administrative decision they make as I understand it can be judicially reviewed and overturned if the court finds they are acting arbitrarily. If there's someone in the field who knows i'm wrong, i'd be very happy to be so.