Comments on: Is it time for a European Super League? ? The Perspective from England http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/ Football News, Views, Articles and Discussion Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:44:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sam http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7711 Sam Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:42:07 +0000 http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7711 Fair enough Kieran. "Unlucky", few would disagree with. Re a Super League, I doubt that it'll happen any time soon. It's true there is a big 4 at the moment in England but the cast changes over time. Man Utd had a pretty hard time of it in the 70's and 80's; ditto Liverpool in the 90's. Chelsea practically had 30 years in the doldrums and where are Leeds now? You may well be right about West Ham although I'd say the Aston Villa situation will prove very interesting in the next 2-3 years. O'Neil with money will surely do brilliantly. You can imagine the boards at Celtic and Rangers would prefer to see their teams join the Premiership first before a Euro Super League happens. They'd stand a far better chance of entry than from the SPL. Overall the EPL worldwide TV revenues would suggest that apart from Chelsea (not a G14 member) the other 3 big 4 clubs (all in G14) would rather build up the EPL further still before even contemplating such a move. The Champions League may not be perfect but it does throw up all sorts of interesting "adventures" en route to the serious business from the quarter finals onwards. Unlike a Super League, nobody can win by Xmas/March whatever. We all have to wait for the grand final in May, and therefore the audience around the world keeps watching. Finally, the cost of fuel and environmental taxes may soon cripple the cheap flights bonanza in Europe, so away games won't come cheap. Also can you imagine what a tout-fest it will be in the less well-off countries when along come thousands of "loadsamoney" fans from a richer nation. Redistribution of wealth or means test for the fans? I think you make really good points, Kieran and who knows what'll happen next but once you start thinking through the detail it's maybe not in anybody's interest. Fair enough Kieran. “Unlucky”, few would disagree with.
Re a Super League, I doubt that it’ll happen any time soon.
It’s true there is a big 4 at the moment in England but the cast changes over time.
Man Utd had a pretty hard time of it in the 70’s and 80’s; ditto Liverpool in the 90’s.
Chelsea practically had 30 years in the doldrums and where are Leeds now?
You may well be right about West Ham although I’d say the Aston Villa situation will prove very interesting in the next 2-3 years. O’Neil with money will surely do brilliantly.

You can imagine the boards at Celtic and Rangers would prefer to see their teams join the Premiership first before a Euro Super League happens. They’d stand a far better chance of entry than from the SPL.

Overall the EPL worldwide TV revenues would suggest that apart from Chelsea (not a G14 member) the other 3 big 4 clubs (all in G14) would rather build up the EPL further still before even contemplating such a move.

The Champions League may not be perfect but it does throw up all sorts of interesting “adventures” en route to the serious business from the quarter finals onwards. Unlike a Super League, nobody can win by Xmas/March whatever.
We all have to wait for the grand final in May, and therefore the audience around the world keeps watching.

Finally, the cost of fuel and environmental taxes may soon cripple the cheap flights bonanza in Europe, so away games won’t come cheap. Also can you imagine what a tout-fest it will be in the less well-off countries when along come thousands of “loadsamoney” fans from a richer nation. Redistribution of wealth or means test for the fans?

I think you make really good points, Kieran and who knows what’ll happen next but once you start thinking through the detail it’s maybe not in anybody’s interest.

]]> By: Kieran http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7709 Kieran Tue, 19 Sep 2006 10:18:30 +0000 http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7709 Sam - I'm not a Manc no and appologise for my use of the word "sorry". Perhaps unlucky would be better (or maybe sorry for missed chances?) However Liverpools performance was not at issue in the article, or indeed was the performance of any team - Chelsea included. Harry - You are of course right about the fans and how there is no value in respect to European competition. Yet as stated a league would be created for maninly financial not footballing reasons and what you have highlighted would be an unfortunant side effect of any action towards the creation of a league. It may be seen that the increase competition will raise TV viewing and increase revenue to be shared around all Europe, not just England. Greed after all drives modern society. You are also right about the CL being reduced but in number of final rounds. The number of teams competing remained the same. I refer in the article in this circumstance to the increase of qualifying rounds from 1-3 since 1998 thus allowing more teams to compete for qualification. Sam - I’m not a Manc no and appologise for my use of the word “sorry”. Perhaps unlucky would be better (or maybe sorry for missed chances?) However Liverpools performance was not at issue in the article, or indeed was the performance of any team - Chelsea included.

Harry - You are of course right about the fans and how there is no value in respect to European competition. Yet as stated a league would be created for maninly financial not footballing reasons and what you have highlighted would be an unfortunant side effect of any action towards the creation of a league. It may be seen that the increase competition will raise TV viewing and increase revenue to be shared around all Europe, not just England. Greed after all drives modern society.

You are also right about the CL being reduced but in number of final rounds. The number of teams competing remained the same. I refer in the article in this circumstance to the increase of qualifying rounds from 1-3 since 1998 thus allowing more teams to compete for qualification.

]]> By: Sam http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7707 Sam Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:57:49 +0000 http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7707 Why "sorry" Liverpool? Can't help yourself? An interesting article that alienates scousers in the first few lines. Most Liverpoool fans can see just how good we'll be once the new players click. The stats vs Chelsea don't suggest "sorry" Liverpool at all. Let me guess Kieran. You must be a Manc? Why “sorry” Liverpool? Can’t help yourself? An interesting article that alienates scousers in the first few lines. Most Liverpoool fans can see just how good we’ll be once the new players click. The stats vs Chelsea don’t suggest “sorry” Liverpool at all. Let me guess Kieran. You must be a Manc?

]]> By: Harry Barracuda http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7706 Harry Barracuda Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:57:08 +0000 http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/09/19/is-it-time-for-a-european-super-league-the-perspective-from-england/#comment-7706 "At this time UEFA simply enlarged the competition but they can not continue to do this." Actually what they did last year was reduce it again, having one group stage instead of two, so they know there are limits. It has no value to fans of English teams, what rivalry or even pisstake do they have with an Italian or Spanish team, who wouldn't even understand the songs? UEFA might want a Euro league, but while the Premiership is the most watched and most valuable individual league on the planet, then there is no point whatsoever in trying to dilute it, and I'm sure none of the chairman would even want to try. And as for "A Chelsea supporting friend of mine last season bemoaned how boring it was now that they were always winning.", you can remove the last part of that sentence start with the word "now". They are boring to watch, plain and simple. “At this time UEFA simply enlarged the competition but they can not continue to do this.”

Actually what they did last year was reduce it again, having one group stage instead of two, so they know there are limits.

It has no value to fans of English teams, what rivalry or even pisstake do they have with an Italian or Spanish team, who wouldn’t even understand the songs?

UEFA might want a Euro league, but while the Premiership is the most watched and most valuable individual league on the planet, then there is no point whatsoever in trying to dilute it, and I’m sure none of the chairman would even want to try.

And as for “A Chelsea supporting friend of mine last season bemoaned how boring it was now that they were always winning.”, you can remove the last part of that sentence start with the word “now”.

They are boring to watch, plain and simple.

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