'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That security guard is being quite heavy handed. Is it necessary?
There's got to be more to this, surely? Wouldn't a LOTO ordinarily try to find somewhere hospitable for this sort of visit? I'm struggling to believe Keir Starmer's in the habit of getting his heavies to bully business owners into letting him in for a photo shoot.
Looks to me like the landlord was giving him verbal outside, so he and his team stepped into the pub to try and avoid a confrontation, not realising that it was his pub!
So then the security detail has to hold him off while Kier and the gang make their exit. You do not get in the face of the LotO like this, what did the guy think was going to happen? Non story.
That probably is the case, but then Sir Keir must have forgotten that you aren't allowed to actually go inside pubs at the moment!!
Sure, but better to (attempt) to de-escalate a confrontation by moving to a securable location than to be out on the street with someone giving you aggro. Just bad luck that it turned out that the individual in question was the landlord!
Apparently the co-owner of the pub is not impressed
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
These fuckers are fucking themselves. They are in the most lucrative competitions in the world and they are fucking off to start a new competition. Which, medium term, will be less lucrative. It will be unable to sustain the long term interest of top level national football or Europe-wide football open to all.
'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That security guard is being quite heavy handed. Is it necessary?
There's got to be more to this, surely? Wouldn't a LOTO ordinarily try to find somewhere hospitable for this sort of visit? I'm struggling to believe Keir Starmer's in the habit of getting his heavies to bully business owners into letting him in for a photo shoot.
Starmer clearly didn't realise he was the landlord !
That's very funny. But wouldn't these visits normally be arranged in advance? Wouldn't they try to find a business which would be reasonably happy to play along with the friendly photoshoot?
Maybe that's the thing though?
Feelings are running much higher in hospitality businesses( many of whom believe they have been scapegoated), than many politicians realise.
Giving some politico (either tory or labour) who poleaxed the industry a photo-op might be letting the side down.
Son who runs a bar commented he got shut down for less at weekend........
Trouble is, I don't think there is a law that does that without horrible collateral damage.
For the first time in ages, maybe ever, Boris hasn't been able to make something happen or unhappen by the pure force of his reputation.
Though it might look totally different in two hours' time.
Surely there is a restriction of trade issue for any government attempt to dictate which competitions these clubs want to play in. They have decided to set up a rival to the UEFA Champions League. What specific action can the government take to stop them?
The FA has to sanction it and the government and FA agree policin policy for matches. The FA is essentially a public body so the government has a lot of leverage. They could banish those clubs to playing these matches behind closed doors losing about 11 matches worth of revenue, which is a huge sum for Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool and United.
'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That security guard is being quite heavy handed. Is it necessary?
There's got to be more to this, surely? Wouldn't a LOTO ordinarily try to find somewhere hospitable for this sort of visit? I'm struggling to believe Keir Starmer's in the habit of getting his heavies to bully business owners into letting him in for a photo shoot.
Looks to me like the landlord was giving him verbal outside, so he and his team stepped into the pub to try and avoid a confrontation, not realising that it was his pub!
So then the security detail has to hold him off while Kier and the gang make their exit. You do not get in the face of the LotO like this, what did the guy think was going to happen? Non story.
Sir Keir’s thug really had no right to restrain the landlord. He wasn’t a threat. He just wanted Starmer out of his pub and it would have been a better look for starmer to have listened and sympathised and come back with bland platitudes instead of sneering at a man who is simply worried for his business . I see labour supporters on social media are already attacking the landlord
If he wanted him out of his pub then maybe he shouldn’t have been blocking the only exit while sounding more and more unhinged?
Looks to me as if the protection officer did about as well as could be expected in the circumstances: moves the guy into a space where he can put himself between him and Starmer, whilst simultaneously opening up the exit for Starmer to get out (which is exactly what the guy claimed to want!)
It would have been better all round if Starmer could have listened & sympathised, but from the video, it really doesn’t seem like the guy was very interested in that kind of exchange & was steadily winding himself up. Protection officer at that point (rightly imo) intervened to prevent a potential physical confrontation, nobody got hurt, the press got a good story for the day. Good outcome all round.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Clubs have competed in both the Champions League and the Premier League for years. Clubs have competed to win both for years.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
Trouble is, I don't think there is a law that does that without horrible collateral damage.
For the first time in ages, maybe ever, Boris hasn't been able to make something happen or unhappen by the pure force of his reputation.
Though it might look totally different in two hours' time.
Surely there is a restriction of trade issue for any government attempt to dictate which competitions these clubs want to play in. They have decided to set up a rival to the UEFA Champions League. What specific action can the government take to stop them?
The FA has to sanction it and the government and FA agree policin policy for matches. The FA is essentially a public body so the government has a lot of leverage. They could banish those clubs to playing these matches behind closed doors losing about 11 matches worth of revenue, which is a huge sum for Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool and United.
Not to mention "restraint of trade" applies primarily to individuals rather than companies, that would be competition law, but Parliament is sovereign and can do whatever the f*ck it wants, as we've literally spent the last 5 years discussing endlessly.
Labour need to get John Prescott on the airwaves pronto to reminisce about that farm hand and the egg - remind everyone of the time when politicians' battering members of the public was viewed with affection.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Bryan Swanson @skysports_bryan NEW: Premier League to host meeting with 14 clubs tomorrow morning. Clubs involved in proposed European Super League are not included. Meeting chaired by Richard Masters online #SSN
'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That's an even worse look than telling him you aren't going to be lectured to.
I am not clear did Starmer try to go into this pub unannounced, the landlord get shouty and then they had their exchange outside....or did Starmer try and go into the pub after shouty mcshouty face spoke?
That's really not a good look for Starmer. Labour leaders are supposed to look at home in a pub.
Surely your typical Labour Leader needs to look at home in a vegan cafe given their current membership.
Their must be a ton of those in Bath!
Its a good pub (The Raven) - a popular spot for decent beer, although not the biggest venue.
The Raven was recommended to my daughter by her university tutor - though she hasn't been able to go yet...
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Clubs have competed in both the Champions League and the Premier League for years. Clubs have competed to win both for years.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
I’m not sure why you’re taking this position but I have to say you’re coming over as quite naive.
These fuckers are fucking themselves. They are in the most lucrative competitions in the world and they are fucking off to start a new competition. Which, medium term, will be less lucrative. It will be unable to sustain the long term interest of top level national football or Europe-wide football open to all.
The owners of these clubs don’t care. If they get a larger slice of a smaller pie & come out ahead, then they’ll do just that. Then they can juice the books a bit & sell the clubs into the open market for a nice fat profit & move on to the next industry.
They don’t care if they leave a smoking crater behind them - it’s just business.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Quite. Once upon a time, if there was European football on, you watched it, even if it was Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and most of the time you disliked them heartily. But there is an optimum amount of European football which keeps it special. We passed that point about 20-odd years ago, and diminishing returns have set in.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
So what? Nobody is saying they don't. What they're saying it will devalue the PL, which it will, because suddenly it has no real bearing to the financials of these clubs.
There's currently an exciting race happening for 4th place. That won't exist anymore because why would Liverpool, Chelsea, or Spurs care if they finish in the top 4?
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Clubs have competed in both the Champions League and the Premier League for years. Clubs have competed to win both for years.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
I’m not sure why you’re taking this position but I have to say you’re coming over as quite naive.
Its naive to think clubs will continue to want to win the Premier League?
Lets have a bet shall we - if this goes ahead with the Big 6 still in the Premier League then in the first season it goes ahead I reckon the Premier League will be won by a Big 6 club.
I'll wager £100 at evens if anyone wants to take the opposite opinion.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Clubs have competed in both the Champions League and the Premier League for years. Clubs have competed to win both for years.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
I’m not sure why you’re taking this position but I have to say you’re coming over as quite naive.
Its naive to think clubs will continue to want to win the Premier League?
Lets have a bet shall we - if this goes ahead with the Big 6 still in the Premier League then in the first season it goes ahead I reckon the Premier League will be won by a Big 6 club.
I'll wager £100 at evens if anyone wants to take the opposite opinion.
You're completely missing the point. Completely and totally.
Bryan Swanson @skysports_bryan NEW: Premier League to host meeting with 14 clubs tomorrow morning. Clubs involved in proposed European Super League are not included. Meeting chaired by Richard Masters online #SSN
These fuckers are fucking themselves. They are in the most lucrative competitions in the world and they are fucking off to start a new competition. Which, medium term, will be less lucrative. It will be unable to sustain the long term interest of top level national football or Europe-wide football open to all.
The owners of these clubs don’t care. If they get a larger slice of a smaller pie & come out ahead, then they’ll do just that. Then they can juice the books a bit & sell the clubs into the open market for a nice fat profit & move on to the next industry.
They don’t care if they leave a smoking crater behind them - it’s just business.
I think they will leave a medium-sized but salvageable smouldering crater behind them while marching forward into their own obliteration.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
I don't care about it being a "top League". Why as a Newcastle fan do I care about that? All I care about is it being a fair sporting competition.
'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That security guard is being quite heavy handed. Is it necessary?
There's got to be more to this, surely? Wouldn't a LOTO ordinarily try to find somewhere hospitable for this sort of visit? I'm struggling to believe Keir Starmer's in the habit of getting his heavies to bully business owners into letting him in for a photo shoot.
Starmer clearly didn't realise he was the landlord !
That's very funny. But wouldn't these visits normally be arranged in advance? Wouldn't they try to find a business which would be reasonably happy to play along with the friendly photoshoot?
Maybe that's the thing though?
Feelings are running much higher in hospitality businesses( many of whom believe they have been scapegoated), than many politicians realise.
Giving some politico (either tory or labour) who poleaxed the industry a photo-op might be letting the side down.
Son who runs a bar commented he got shut down for less at weekend........
Wow stay tuned.
If this gathers momentum (publicans vs politicians) your son's experience could be newsworthy!
Bryan Swanson @skysports_bryan NEW: Premier League to host meeting with 14 clubs tomorrow morning. Clubs involved in proposed European Super League are not included. Meeting chaired by Richard Masters online #SSN
'Wow. Longer video here. A man who is apparently the pub landlord being assaulted because he says he doesn’t want Starmer and Dan Norris in there. Really unacceptable.'
That security guard is being quite heavy handed. Is it necessary?
There's got to be more to this, surely? Wouldn't a LOTO ordinarily try to find somewhere hospitable for this sort of visit? I'm struggling to believe Keir Starmer's in the habit of getting his heavies to bully business owners into letting him in for a photo shoot.
Starmer clearly didn't realise he was the landlord !
That's very funny. But wouldn't these visits normally be arranged in advance? Wouldn't they try to find a business which would be reasonably happy to play along with the friendly photoshoot?
Maybe that's the thing though?
Feelings are running much higher in hospitality businesses( many of whom believe they have been scapegoated), than many politicians realise.
Giving some politico (either tory or labour) who poleaxed the industry a photo-op might be letting the side down.
Son who runs a bar commented he got shut down for less at weekend........
Wow stay tuned.
If this gathers momentum (publicans vs politicians) your son's experience could be newsworthy!
It won't. There's much more important things going on right now.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
I don't care about it being a "top League". Why as a Newcastle fan do I care about that? All I care about is it being a fair sporting competition.
Which was my point about it being an unsporting closed shop!
Labour need to get John Prescott on the airwaves pronto to reminisce about that farm hand and the egg - remind everyone of the time when politicians' battering members of the public was viewed with affection.
He (the farmhand) deserved it though, even if I probably did agree with him (the farmhand). You can't go throwing eggs at politicans just because you don't like what they stand for.
See also John Prescott's robust response to Danbert Nobacon of Chumawamba tipping a bucket of water over him at the Brits. As Prescott later apparently related to his son: "I knocked him down, and he didn't get up again."
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
They normally played their best teams in the PL. Why? To make sure they got into the European tournaments. If they no longer have to qualify then they will field weakened sides in the PL and focus where the money is - midweek ESL matches.
You can feel the atmosphere at a midweek Liverpool European tie even watching on TV because against the big sides they were uncommon events (few times/year max). Would it be the same week-in, week-out in the ESL? I somehow doubt it, particularly if the fans boycott it.
Interesting that the one topic that stops everyone from talking about Covid is football!
Clubs have competed in both the Champions League and the Premier League for years. Clubs have competed to win both for years.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
I’m not sure why you’re taking this position but I have to say you’re coming over as quite naive.
Its naive to think clubs will continue to want to win the Premier League?
Lets have a bet shall we - if this goes ahead with the Big 6 still in the Premier League then in the first season it goes ahead I reckon the Premier League will be won by a Big 6 club.
I'll wager £100 at evens if anyone wants to take the opposite opinion.
You miss the point spectacularly. You’re not going to get Kane or Salah playing against saints at the weekend. You’re going to get the top strikers outside of the current “big 6” turning out for those all powerful big 6 “league squad” and the clubs they came from shoved further down the pecking order. The Premier League will become a finishing school for youngsters or those returning from long term injury.
And as has now been blurted out by one of the clubs, if the Premier League don’t like that then stuff them. We’d rather play 36 Super League games than 18 a year, we only revealed this midweek plan as an opening salvo in the PR war.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
I don't care about it being a "top League". Why as a Newcastle fan do I care about that? All I care about is it being a fair sporting competition.
Which was my point about it being an unsporting closed shop!
I said that, so how is that disagreeing with me?
Because you don't think the EPL will cease to be a "top league" if the big 6 remain whereas I wholeheartedly do.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
I don't care about it being a "top League". Why as a Newcastle fan do I care about that? All I care about is it being a fair sporting competition.
Which was my point about it being an unsporting closed shop!
I said that, so how is that disagreeing with me?
Because you don't think the EPL will cease to be a "top league" if the big 6 remain whereas I wholeheartedly do.
How can the EPL be a top league if it no longer has the countries top clubs?
It would be about as top as the Championship is top.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
Other top clubs will emerge to replace them. In the 90s it was Arsenal vs Man United, then Chelsea and Liverpool made it a big 4 in the 00s. City and Spurs are relatively recent additions and City are wholly reliant on oil billions like Chelsea to maintain that status. The Big 6 isn't something that has existed since the beginning of time, of them I'd only class United and Liverpool as historically big clubs because of the sheer weight of silverware they've won. City and Chelsea are plastic, Arsenal had a good run but are now Banter FC and sadly at Spurs we've haven't fucking won any trophies for ages.
You expel and be damned because there's no way that any of the 6 clubs can survive without EPL TV money and no one wants to watch those six teams play each other 6 times a year.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
The EPL has a serious problem - expel them and see what happens to the money. Allow them to say and watch the income drop as the Premiership becomes a second rate competition ala the Scottish Premiership..
I suspect the only reason the EPL are silent is because they are frantically working out what to do....
Point of order! The Scottish Premiership is not a second rate competition ... it's far worse than that (and I say that as an afc fan). Seriously though, I can't help but have a wry smile on my face about the impact of this ESL plan on the EPL. Talk about hoisted by your petard. Just as the two big teams in Scotland have manufactured a situation in which they win the league before it starts every year and basically go through the motions of disposing of the cannon fodder on a weekly basis, so has the EPL trended in the same direction.
Although most Scottish football fans outside the big two would be glad to see the back of them, the fact is that they ARE the league from a commercial point of view (as was cynically demonstrated with the infamous TV contract "guaranteeing" 4 derbies a year despite the split after 3 rounds of matches). If they left (which is looking more likely now I have to say), the league finances would be devastated and it would become a semi-pro, non-league (some might say it's that already!).
If the big 6 in England are kicked out, the EPL is finished as an "elite" league ... therefore, not going to happen. But I hope you are all looking forward to watching Man City Colts in years to come ...
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
"Squad rotation" come on man FFS.
Yes its what already happens. Its what its called.
Besides if this goes ahead as suggested, and the players banned from international football then overall the players will be playing fewer fixtures not more than they are today. So there might be less squad rotation than occurs today, not more.
The fact its an unsporting closed shop is an extremely valid criticism, the hyperbole over the future of the Premier League is bullshit.
It isn't bullshit. It's entirely valid and it's amazing you can't see it.
How?
There is already squad rotation today. There is already prioritisation of the Champions League today. There is already a surfeit of fixtures today.
The proposed difference in number of fixtures between the Champions League and the Super League is tiny.
That is not the story here. The story is it being a closed shop, that is what is damning.
I have no idea why you are separating the two. You have to consider the competition in the context of its actual circumstances.
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
I'm saying clubs compete to win the Premier League, not just scrape fourth place.
Lol, have you been watching football at all for the last 15 years? The race for the top 4 is one of the most compelling parts of the season narrative. Losing that will kill the PL.
It will damage it yes, and I've said that myself since last night. I oppose it in part for that reason.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
I don't care about it being a "top League". Why as a Newcastle fan do I care about that? All I care about is it being a fair sporting competition.
Which was my point about it being an unsporting closed shop!
I said that, so how is that disagreeing with me?
Because you don't think the EPL will cease to be a "top league" if the big 6 remain whereas I wholeheartedly do.
How can the EPL be a top league if it no longer has the countries top clubs?
It would be about as top as the Championship is top.
How can the EPL be a top league if it is no longer a fair sporting competition? Where certain teams automatically are entitled to more "prize money", regardless of their sporting achievement, because they happen to be "founding fathers" of some random Super League?
I should say as well, I have been a tv watcher of the World Cup from 4 different continents (never been in person). It’s one of the few things in life that seems to unite most of the planet in unbridled pleasure and optimism, creating memories of who you were with and what you doing, even for a lot of people with only a casual interest normally. Fuck these clubs for taking that away from us.
......The Landlord of the Raven will be live on Talk Radio with Mark Dolan this afternoon......
All we need now is Al Murray....
Why do they give these idiots the oxygen of publicity. I have no problem with calm discourse, but we shouldn't be encouraging people to scream and shout at politicians by then giving them spots of radio shows.
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Trouble is, I don't think there is a law that does that without horrible collateral damage.
For the first time in ages, maybe ever, Boris hasn't been able to make something happen or unhappen by the pure force of his reputation.
Though it might look totally different in two hours' time.
Surely there is a restriction of trade issue for any government attempt to dictate which competitions these clubs want to play in. They have decided to set up a rival to the UEFA Champions League. What specific action can the government take to stop them?
The FA has to sanction it and the government and FA agree policin policy for matches. The FA is essentially a public body so the government has a lot of leverage. They could banish those clubs to playing these matches behind closed doors losing about 11 matches worth of revenue, which is a huge sum for Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool and United.
Not to mention "restraint of trade" applies primarily to individuals rather than companies, that would be competition law, but Parliament is sovereign and can do whatever the f*ck it wants, as we've literally spent the last 5 years discussing endlessly.
Do we really want the government directing the FA to take action against certain clubs because they have decided to bypass a UEFA tournament? In reality, I can't see what the FA/PL can do about it. To expel a club for breach of the rules there has to be a vote in favour of at least 15 clubs...
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
“ One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.”
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
The EPL has a serious problem - expel them and see what happens to the money. Allow them to say and watch the income drop as the Premiership becomes a second rate competition ala the Scottish Premiership..
I suspect the only reason the EPL are silent is because they are frantically working out what to do....
Point of order! The Scottish Premiership is not a second rate competition ... it's far worse than that (and I say that as an afc fan). Seriously though, I can't help but have a wry smile on my face about the impact of this ESL plan on the EPL. Talk about hoisted by your petard. Just as the two big teams in Scotland have manufactured a situation in which they win the league before it starts every year and basically go through the motions of disposing of the cannon fodder on a weekly basis, so has the EPL trended in the same direction.
Although most Scottish football fans outside the big two would be glad to see the back of them, the fact is that they ARE the league from a commercial point of view (as was cynically demonstrated with the infamous TV contract "guaranteeing" 4 derbies a year despite the split after 3 rounds of matches). If they left (which is looking more likely now I have to say), the league finances would be devastated and it would become a semi-pro, non-league (some might say it's that already!).
If the big 6 in England are kicked out, the EPL is finished as an "elite" league ... therefore, not going to happen. But I hope you are all looking forward to watching Man City Colts in years to come ...
What's wrong with a semi-pro league? I can't be the only one who would rather see a compeitive league than a rich one.
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Do we really want the government directing the FA to take action against certain clubs because they have decided to bypass a UEFA tournament?
Yes
Ironically that's the kind of action that sees UEFA/FIFA bans national associations for, which means they cannot play international football.
From 2018.
FIFA has suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference in soccer affairs, the sport's world governing body said here on Friday.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
......The Landlord of the Raven will be live on Talk Radio with Mark Dolan this afternoon......
All we need now is Al Murray....
Why do they give these idiots the oxygen of publicity. I have no problem with calm discourse, but we shouldn't be encouraging people to scream and shout at politicians by then giving them spots of radio shows.
Feelings are running high. Many hardworking small business people have been completely steam-rollered by the government and they are angry.
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
My son has just picked up his phone from school reception. Safe to say he’s not happy.
......The Landlord of the Raven will be live on Talk Radio with Mark Dolan this afternoon......
All we need now is Al Murray....
Why do they give these idiots the oxygen of publicity. I have no problem with calm discourse, but we shouldn't be encouraging people to scream and shout at politicians by then giving them spots of radio shows.
Feelings are running high. Many hardworking small business people have been completely steam-rollered by the government and they are angry.
Only those who drive round in top end range rovers but declare £11k a year income. Everyone else has had a more than decent bit of support.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
But how many opposed the premier league when it was first proposed. There was outrage over the idea at the time and talks of banning the teams from football league competitions and so on.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
But how many opposed the premier league when it was first proposed. There was outrage over the idea at the time and talks of banning the teams from football league competitions and so on.
But you could get relegated from the Premier League.
This is a closed shop.
This is the express highway to a glorified version of the Scottish Premier League.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
Show some balls man! [Metaphorically] Find another club that deserves your support. You don't get many chances to change club in life. This is the perfect opportunity. I reckon far fewer than 85% will stick with it. Football fans of my aquaintance typically seem to loathe football as it has become. Typically they say they carry on going out of force of habit, or because it is how they see one particular group of friends, of relatives, or some such. Most seem desperate for a reason to stop.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
But how many opposed the premier league when it was first proposed. There was outrage over the idea at the time and talks of banning the teams from football league competitions and so on.
But this isn't the same thing, the Premier League was a new elite level at the top of the pyramid, it had relegation into the EFL and promotion from it. It was built in conjunction with the existing systems. This is completely outside of the pyramid.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
But how many opposed the premier league when it was first proposed. There was outrage over the idea at the time and talks of banning the teams from football league competitions and so on.
But you could get relegated from the Premier League.
This is a closed shop.
This is the express highway to a glorified version of the Scottish Premier League.
Changes and compromises were made after the initial EPL announcement to get to,that situation. I expect some compromise will be forthcoming
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
Show some balls man! [Metaphorically] Find another club that deserves your support. You don't get many chances to change club in life. This is the perfect opportunity. I reckon far fewer than 85% will stick with it. Football fans of my aquaintance typically seem to loathe football as it has become. Typically they say they carry on going out of force of habit, or because it is how they see one particular group of friends, of relatives, or some such. Most seem desperate for a reason to stop.
Look, in recent years I've already given up on a lifelong association with the Tory Party, I'm not sure I can give up on LFC either.
If I stop supporting Liverpool then that's me done with football, I cannot transfer my loyalties elsewhere, I just cannot.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Do journalists even bother fact checking these days ? He’s just rehashing the labour line verbatim.
In the main, no. As sadly shown by many incidents. One is reminded of the story about a Tory MP (or was it advisor?) being punched by a Labour person during the 2019 election, which was repeated by most political journalists for hours until the video came out and clearly showed it hadn't happened. It's very disappointing, and doesn't help inform the public.
Do we really want the government directing the FA to take action against certain clubs because they have decided to bypass a UEFA tournament?
Yes
Ironically that's the kind of action that sees UEFA/FIFA bans national associations for, which means they cannot play international football.
From 2018.
FIFA has suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference in soccer affairs, the sport's world governing body said here on Friday.
Exactly my point. Direct government interference in the operation of sport is a Bad Thing. If Football is going to stop the ESL from occurring then it is up to football to do so. As the EFL are effectively powerless due to 6 teams joining the ESL, then the sanction will have to come down from UEFA or FIFA. The idea that a government can step in and fiddle with sport because a club has done something unpopular is not a precedent we want to set.
Lol, what a joke. It's literally lie after lie after lie. Madrid and Barca have been going bankrupt for a decade, COVID had nothing to do with Barca spending €500m keeping Messi in employment and another €500m on players that barely get any game time.
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Judging by the forums/groups I belong to I'd say it is about 99% opposed to it.
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
But how many opposed the premier league when it was first proposed. There was outrage over the idea at the time and talks of banning the teams from football league competitions and so on.
But you could get relegated from the Premier League.
This is a closed shop.
This is the express highway to a glorified version of the Scottish Premier League.
Changes and compromises were made after the initial EPL announcement to get to,that situation. I expect some compromise will be forthcoming
I don't
The only acceptable compromise is to continue with either a qualification process (top x positions in the national league) or promotion and relegation.
Neither of those items are things the founders of the league understand nor want.
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
Perhaps a mistake of the ESL was to make it too elitist....I wonder if they had proposed a two division system, with an element of promotion / relegation?
I should say as well, I have been a tv watcher of the World Cup from 4 different continents (never been in person). It’s one of the few things in life that seems to unite most of the planet in unbridled pleasure and optimism, creating memories of who you were with and what you doing, even for a lot of people with only a casual interest normally. Fuck these clubs for taking that away from us.
Hear Hear
It is one the most repulsive acts of myopic, arrogant, over-entitled greed that I have ever-witnessed. It is breathtaking in its avarice as much as its stupidity. It will, I suspect, blow them all up.
Squad rotation is something that has long happened, it isn't an original concept.
The EPL has a serious problem - expel them and see what happens to the money. Allow them to say and watch the income drop as the Premiership becomes a second rate competition ala the Scottish Premiership..
I suspect the only reason the EPL are silent is because they are frantically working out what to do....
Point of order! The Scottish Premiership is not a second rate competition ... it's far worse than that (and I say that as an afc fan). Seriously though, I can't help but have a wry smile on my face about the impact of this ESL plan on the EPL. Talk about hoisted by your petard. Just as the two big teams in Scotland have manufactured a situation in which they win the league before it starts every year and basically go through the motions of disposing of the cannon fodder on a weekly basis, so has the EPL trended in the same direction.
Although most Scottish football fans outside the big two would be glad to see the back of them, the fact is that they ARE the league from a commercial point of view (as was cynically demonstrated with the infamous TV contract "guaranteeing" 4 derbies a year despite the split after 3 rounds of matches). If they left (which is looking more likely now I have to say), the league finances would be devastated and it would become a semi-pro, non-league (some might say it's that already!).
If the big 6 in England are kicked out, the EPL is finished as an "elite" league ... therefore, not going to happen. But I hope you are all looking forward to watching Man City Colts in years to come ...
What's wrong with a semi-pro league? I can't be the only one who would rather see a compeitive league than a rich one.
Nothing wrong with it all ... but how many fans will actually turn up at 3 o'clock on a Saturday to watch it?
If the big 6 do get kicked out (or even if they don't) despite all the howls of protest the owners know that most fans are still fans first and customers second ... 90% of them will still support the club and that's the calculation the big 6 have made (along with the fact that local fans are a minority now and the growth market is Asia anyway). Sad but true. The game was lost a long time ago when the EPL became an entertainment product rather than a tribal "don't care how pretty we play as long as we win" sporting competition.
I'm not sure that modern fans, brought up on a diet of live EPL on Sky, have the same mindset as us traditionalists.
I think it's a typo, in the video he is in the street outside the pub. He may have entered the pub with his team briefly to get away from the man shouting at him.
I should say as well, I have been a tv watcher of the World Cup from 4 different continents (never been in person). It’s one of the few things in life that seems to unite most of the planet in unbridled pleasure and optimism, creating memories of who you were with and what you doing, even for a lot of people with only a casual interest normally. Fuck these clubs for taking that away from us.
Hear Hear
It is one the most repulsive acts of myopic, arrogant, over-entitled greed that I have ever-witnessed. It is breathtaking in its avarice as much as its stupidity. It will, I suspect, blow them all up.
Hope so.
Still there’s a big open goal for Boris. He can single-handedly save football. It’s a penalty without a keeper.
Political opportunities like this don’t come around very often.
I think it's a typo, in the video he is in the street outside the pub. He may have entered the pub with his team briefly to get away from the man shouting at him.
Perhaps a mistake of the ESL was to make it too elitist....I wonder if they had proposed a two division system, with an element of promotion / relegation?
Pure greed. If they had just allowed one relegation a season, including the - boak - Founding Fathers, then much of the wild anger would have been defused. It would still be horribly unpopular, but not the Work of Satan.
This, this is the Work of Satan. No relegation at all. The big 12 clubs are the big 12 clubs for the rest of time, and no one else will ever break in.
It is despicable. The ruination of the world's favourite sport. It cannot stand
Goodness me that is not a healthy man whatsoever, he needs to hit the gym
He's still got the charm tho. Look at the adoring faces of the public
You're right however he's not setting a good example to people, he said just a few months ago how important losing weight was, he's evidently not stuck to that.
This is the email Liverpool's CEO sent to all staff.
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
That last sentence must be one of the most out of touch sentences ever made by a football club, and there have been many
Goodness me that is not a healthy man whatsoever, he needs to hit the gym
He's still got the charm tho. Look at the adoring faces of the public
You're right however he's not setting a good example to people, he said just a few months ago how important losing weight was, he's evidently not stuck to that.
He did also about last May (?) when he left hospital. All that talk about obesity campaigns.
Comments
The Champions League does not devalue the Premier League because you have to do well in the Premier League to enter the Champions League. It maintains the pyramid.
The Super League does the opposite.
You arguing for the sake of it that "the EPL will be fine" because "squad rotation is nothing new" is just nonsense.
If we were comparing an open "super league" to replace the champions league and the actual Super League, then your argument might be valid, but we're not.
Looks to me as if the protection officer did about as well as could be expected in the circumstances: moves the guy into a space where he can put himself between him and Starmer, whilst simultaneously opening up the exit for Starmer to get out (which is exactly what the guy claimed to want!)
It would have been better all round if Starmer could have listened & sympathised, but from the video, it really doesn’t seem like the guy was very interested in that kind of exchange & was steadily winding himself up. Protection officer at that point (rightly imo) intervened to prevent a potential physical confrontation, nobody got hurt, the press got a good story for the day. Good outcome all round.
Why wouldn't they compete to win the Premier League still? You're acting as if Top 4 was all the clubs competed for, that they never competed to win titles.
Once a club is out of the running for winning the League then absolutely they might field weaker squads - but they already do that too.
Bryan Swanson
@skysports_bryan
NEW: Premier League to host meeting with 14 clubs tomorrow morning. Clubs involved in proposed European Super League are not included. Meeting chaired by Richard Masters online #SSN
Is that the time?
All we need now is Al Murray....
They don’t care if they leave a smoking crater behind them - it’s just business.
Once upon a time, if there was European football on, you watched it, even if it was Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and most of the time you disliked them heartily. But there is an optimum amount of European football which keeps it special. We passed that point about 20-odd years ago, and diminishing returns have set in.
There's currently an exciting race happening for 4th place. That won't exist anymore because why would Liverpool, Chelsea, or Spurs care if they finish in the top 4?
Lets have a bet shall we - if this goes ahead with the Big 6 still in the Premier League then in the first season it goes ahead I reckon the Premier League will be won by a Big 6 club.
I'll wager £100 at evens if anyone wants to take the opposite opinion.
But hyperbole helps nobody, it won't kill it, it will hurt it.
There's a difference between hurt and kill. Losing the race for the top 4 will hurt the League, losing the best clubs in the country will kill it as a top League.
If this gathers momentum (publicans vs politicians) your son's experience could be newsworthy!
I said that, so how is that disagreeing with me?
See also John Prescott's robust response to Danbert Nobacon of Chumawamba tipping a bucket of water over him at the Brits. As Prescott later apparently related to his son: "I knocked him down, and he didn't get up again."
And as has now been blurted out by one of the clubs, if the Premier League don’t like that then stuff them. We’d rather play 36 Super League games than 18 a year, we only revealed this midweek plan as an opening salvo in the PR war.
It would be about as top as the Championship is top.
And on the Super League questions I gave one answer - No
You expel and be damned because there's no way that any of the 6 clubs can survive without EPL TV money and no one wants to watch those six teams play each other 6 times a year.
Although most Scottish football fans outside the big two would be glad to see the back of them, the fact is that they ARE the league from a commercial point of view (as was cynically demonstrated with the infamous TV contract "guaranteeing" 4 derbies a year despite the split after 3 rounds of matches). If they left (which is looking more likely now I have to say), the league finances would be devastated and it would become a semi-pro, non-league (some might say it's that already!).
If the big 6 in England are kicked out, the EPL is finished as an "elite" league ... therefore, not going to happen. But I hope you are all looking forward to watching Man City Colts in years to come ...
Labour sources say that, as well as shouting at Starmer, this man also physically manhandled a female member of staff, hence why he was restrained. No apology forthcoming - in fact the pub's owner has apparently apologised to Labour for the man's behaviour.
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1384141188303790087
Dear Colleagues,
You will be aware of the announcement published late last night regarding Europe’s leading football Clubs coming together to establish a new mid-week competition, the European Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs.
It’s important as a member of our team that I share with you some of the context.
For quite some time now, Clubs, including our own, have held numerous longstanding concerns about not only the future of European football but also the way football is run by UEFA. The global pandemic has also accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model.
We have therefore joined AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur as Founding Clubs of the Super League. It is anticipated that a further three Clubs will join ahead of the inaugural season, which is intended to commence as soon as practicable.
The Super League will be the future of European football and if we want to continue our journey of being a sustainable Club with ambition to grow and continue winning trophies then we should absolutely be part of that process and have a seat at the table rather than outside that group.
The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments are expected to be roughly three times what is currently achieved from UEFA competitions. One of the core commitments of the European Super League is to vastly increase financial support for the football pyramid.
After the start of the men’s competition, a corresponding women’s league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women’s game.
We know that this announcement has provoked strong feelings within the game and elsewhere but we believe this decision is in the best long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club.
Importantly, this is the beginning of the journey and we can now start an engagement process with you, supporters and key stakeholders to help shape this process in the right way.
There is still much more information to come in due course.
I will keep you updated as we progress on this journey and discuss further on our Town Hall tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
Pull the other one...
I can't be the only one who would rather see a compeitive league than a rich one.
Come on Boris. Time to step up and save football.
Opportunities like this don’t come around very often.
From 2018.
FIFA has suspended the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) with immediate effect due to government interference in soccer affairs, the sport's world governing body said here on Friday.
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-sle-fifa-ban-idUKKCN1MF27A
How are Liverpool fans taking this? Spurs fans are basically all anti, even though it guarantees Spurs an elite place every season, almost all are against it.
Jessie'sBoris's dietshttps://twitter.com/IamHappyToast/status/1383536551653568523
I'll be honest, I suspect about 85% of them will suck it up, because there's FOMO, and the fact it is the club we've supported our entire lives.
They are ripping into for the fact that four of the twelve super clubs have never won the Champions League/European Cup and the fact that Spurs and Arsenal are in it.
The only positive things about it is that Everton weren't invited and the fact most fans view UEFA with disdain.
This is a closed shop.
This is the express highway to a glorified version of the Scottish Premier League.
I reckon far fewer than 85% will stick with it. Football fans of my aquaintance typically seem to loathe football as it has become. Typically they say they carry on going out of force of habit, or because it is how they see one particular group of friends, of relatives, or some such. Most seem desperate for a reason to stop.
More than 10m people in the UK have now had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine
Changes and compromises were made after the initial EPL announcement to get to,that situation. I expect some compromise will be forthcoming
https://tinyurl.com/ybdt9axd
If I stop supporting Liverpool then that's me done with football, I cannot transfer my loyalties elsewhere, I just cannot.
The only acceptable compromise is to continue with either a qualification process (top x positions in the national league) or promotion and relegation.
Neither of those items are things the founders of the league understand nor want.
It is one the most repulsive acts of myopic, arrogant, over-entitled greed that I have ever-witnessed. It is breathtaking in its avarice as much as its stupidity. It will, I suspect, blow them all up.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/19/tech/apple-parler-app-store/index.html
If the big 6 do get kicked out (or even if they don't) despite all the howls of protest the owners know that most fans are still fans first and customers second ... 90% of them will still support the club and that's the calculation the big 6 have made (along with the fact that local fans are a minority now and the growth market is Asia anyway). Sad but true. The game was lost a long time ago when the EPL became an entertainment product rather than a tribal "don't care how pretty we play as long as we win" sporting competition.
I'm not sure that modern fans, brought up on a diet of live EPL on Sky, have the same mindset as us traditionalists.
Goodness me that is not a healthy man whatsoever, he needs to hit the gym
Still there’s a big open goal for Boris. He can single-handedly save football. It’s a penalty without a keeper.
Political opportunities like this don’t come around very often.
This, this is the Work of Satan. No relegation at all. The big 12 clubs are the big 12 clubs for the rest of time, and no one else will ever break in.
It is despicable. The ruination of the world's favourite sport. It cannot stand