Quote:
Originally Posted by Matty81
The spending rules are to protect the fans and the game... I get that these new money premier league clubs are all frustrated but the reality is for 20 years we had mid to small community clubs going out of business, turning into phoenix clubs or staggering along completely ruined after bad owners came in and spent well beyond the club's means in search of glory, pissed off and left the clubs in debt.
I think the real problem is the way that the explosion of foreign interest in the prem has exasperated the gap in revenue as those fans are all glory hunters who support only big six clubs. You go on twitter these days and there are a million dudes from random places supporting the likes of chelsea, arsenal, liverpool spewing poison every time there is a refereeing decision going against them, they lose a bet, or anything they don't like etc. These clubs make as much on a pre season tour and overseas shirt sales as a club like Cardiff makes in gates.
I actually like that football is a meritocracy and you can spend what you earn, but I think they should ring fence a definition of revenue to domestic ticket, sponsorship and merchandise and remove overseas revenues, preseason tours, hotel sales, etc.
Good luck ever making that happen though, the ownership group is like a bond villains crew these days, some of the most unethical win at all costs people in the world there.
|
Its a self-fulfilling prophecy. Its like Jörmungandr, the snake that ate it's own tail.
They allowed Abramovich to spend indiscriminately and other clubs had to compete.
They allowed City to spend indiscriminately and other clubs had to compete.
Spurs and Arsenal needed Stadiums to generate more revenue and they couldn't just tap a limitless Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Liverpool need more revenues, they had to expand Anfield, that money has to come from somewhere.
Its disingenuous to call them all Bond Villains or monsters who have to win/compete at all costs when in fact these are the scenarios and circumstances that the EPL themselves created.
So yeah, the EPL threw community clubs, small business clubs, large Corporate clubs, Oligarch Clubs and Petro-State clubs all into the same pool with sharks and then chummed the waters.
These guys are wired to 'win at all costs' because thats the environment that was created for them and that they've had to survive in, if they dont constantly fight like hell someone will come in and toss more chum into the water to eliminate a rival.
The system is no doubt flawed, but its better than it was, but it still can be better.
And the 'Super League?' Of COURSE the huge Clubs want it! Whats not to want? A vastly larger amount of guaranteed money split amongst significantly fewer parties with no relegation meaning an elimination of almost any and all risk.
If someone comes to you and offers you 3-times as much money for much less work and almost no downside risk....who says 'no' ?
All you gotta do is show up? Where do I sign? But if you want to talk about the erosion of sport...there it is right there.