ESL

[FuB]

Here we fucking go again... https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64578730

They'll keep pushing and revising till they get what they want and then they can control how they evolve things (likely into what they wanted in the first place)

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

Oh its fucking coming. No doubt. And those leading it are desperate for the cash.

[Fuck the Glazers]

I was just reading this - they list some key changes like promotion and (I think) relegation. They also talk about meritocracy and spreading resources across the football pyramid but there's nothing remotely concrete about how TV revenue is dished out. Guaranteed it's still a monopoly for the top teams because that's the whole point of the league.

They also say clubs can continue to play in their domestic leagues and cups. But that's impossible - too many games, too much travelling, too much faff.

My impression is they're trying to make out the ESL is a parallel league of at least 14 games. But such a thing is unworkable.

What do you lot make of it?

[JoelfuckingGlazer]

"The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing," Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt.

Yes, because of capitalist fucking greed driving an insatiable need for ever increasing revenue thats ultimately underpinned by consumers. Consumers who are getting fucked over on an increasing and daily basis.

If reform is needed, it should be centered around a cutting of cloth and sustainability, not finding ways of squeezing more out of the working class that's the foundation of the sport.

[Fuck the Glazers]

"The foundations of European football are in danger of collapsing," Reichart told German newspaper Die Welt.

Yes, because of capitalist fucking greed driving an insatiable need for ever increasing revenue thats ultimately underpinned by consumers. Consumers who are getting fucked over on an increasing and daily basis.

If reform is needed, it should be centered around a cutting of cloth and sustainability, not finding ways of squeezing more out of the working class that's the foundation of the sport.

Well fucking said

[FuB]

I was just reading this - they list some key changes like promotion and (I think) relegation. They also talk about meritocracy and spreading resources across the football pyramid but there's nothing remotely concrete about how TV revenue is dished out. Guaranteed it's still a monopoly for the top teams because that's the whole point of the league.

They also say clubs can continue to play in their domestic leagues and cups. But that's impossible - too many games, too much travelling, too much faff.

My impression is they're trying to make out the ESL is a parallel league of at least 14 games. But such a thing is unworkable.

What do you lot make of it?

My feeling is that this is all just trying to sweet talk us into thinking "oh, that's a much better idea" but, once they get their way, they'll quickly change it. Of course they will because the whole fucking idea was that they wanted a closed shop so as to guarantee their revenues.

As for meritocracy and spreading resources across the football pyramid, in what way is the current status quo not supposed to be doing that? What would the ESL bring to the table that isn't already there with the various European cups that are already in existence? Spouting on about meritocracy is fucking vomit-worthy when it's all the richest clubs driving the idea of the competition.

...and hear hear to Ash's post!

[dozer]

An ESL without the Prem clubs might be a good thing football. The Prem itself is kind of like a super league because it has a lot of money. The other leagues are losing popularity. France and Germany are dominated by one club. Italian football is struggling for viewers. La liga is doing okay relatively but they're still nothing compared to the Prem as a league.

Perhaps it'll now be the Prem vs the super league now. I still think they won't get viewers though, without the Prem clubs.

[swampash]

Have been trying [and struggling, to be honest] to get my head around where the Champions League is heading. Would I be wrong in thinking they're trying to head off the ESL but, in the process, seem to be making it all too complicated?

[Fuck the Glazers]

Have been trying [and struggling, to be honest] to get my head around where the Champions League is heading. Would I be wrong in thinking they're trying to head off the ESL but, in the process, seem to be making it all too complicated?

Yeah, it's heading in a similar direction to the ESL - and was before the ESL was even a thing. They want to get more teams involved which will spread some of the wealth which is good, but add a lot more games (189 instead of 125) which will make it more like a league. They've also made it a bit less risky for top clubs to access the comp as they're the biggest revenue drivers for sponsors who it seems have been key in evolving football in recent years. Probably forever tbh.

I think the key thing is that top clubs like United still have to achieved a certain standard if they want to play in the comp aka get top 4/5. If that were to stop being a thing like in the ESL, the arse will fall out of clubs cos owners, especially those looking to make a profit, will stop investing. That was the main issue with the ESL for me, there was no incentive to maintain a well run club that's good at football.

[swampash]

"...a well run club that's good at football"...how quaint an idea that now seems...