I don't know how sustainable the ESL would actually be in the medium term

Same clubs always playing each other for no meaningful stakes. There'd be novelty value for the non-fan/casual football-watcher for a year or two, but after that? Barca vs Real for the tenth time this year for the same no-stakes outcome - who's actually turning that on?

The money in football has taken the game ever further from the fans and the communities that clubs are rooted in. A situation where we are one of very, very few clubs in the top couple of tiers who aren't just a "fun" bit on someone else's balance sheet which needs to show ever-increasing return in financial terms over and above all other considerations means the drivers for decisions at the top of the game are skewed away from the interests of the game as a whole.

They should be looking to greatly increase what flows down the pyramid, maybe with some broad-brush restrictions on how much of that can go on player salaries and how much *must* go on facilities and community outreach and so on. This would help teams from tier 9/10 up to grow their own fanbases and develop their own players better. The national game and in time the national side would also benefit greatly and there'd be more people engaged in football across the country. It would mean a small decrease in top-line for the prem clubs (and yes we should certainly put our hands up for our share of that minor haircut).

This does need to be a watershed moment.

Posted By: Old Man on April 19th 2021 at 09:26:11

Message Thread

This is really cultural theft (Other Football) - Under soil heating, Apr 19, 08:39:02
- I don't know how sustainable the ESL would actually be in the medium term (Other Football) - Old Man, Apr 19, 09:26:11
- I'm disgusted by it to be honest. Glad I'm a Norwich fan. (n/m) (Other Football) - shoddy, Apr 19, 09:10:44
- Have you not noticed? (Other Football) - Henclrikus, Apr 19, 08:52:50
  - hmmmmm (Other Football) - Cardiff Canary, Apr 19, 08:55:35
    - ferzackerly (Other Football) - Tombs, Apr 19, 08:58:10
- Another example of where globalisation is not necessarily a good thing (n/m) (Other Football) - Jim, Apr 19, 08:52:38
- If Sky or BT signup to broadcast will we cancel our subscriptions? (n/m) (Other Football) - Ben, Apr 19, 08:49:17
  - Would not be surprised if done pay per view by the club (Other Football) - Kar1, Apr 19, 09:15:58
  - I'd cancel the sports packages, yes (Other Football) - jamesward, Apr 19, 09:03:23
    - i wouldn't even be tempted to watch it tbf, even on illegal streams (Other Football) - Tombs, Apr 19, 09:05:48
      - This (n/m) (Other Football) - Old Man, Apr 19, 09:13:32
      - I wouldn't watch that comp, no (Other Football) - jamesward, Apr 19, 09:12:24
  - My guess is that you'll need to pay extra for the new Comp, if they do take it (Other Football) - Under soil heating, Apr 19, 08:59:21
  - yep. I will (n/m) (Other Football) - Cardiff Canary, Apr 19, 08:51:25

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