(04-19-2021 08:48 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:40 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  Still seems unlikely that the Super league happens to me. The vast majority of the fans of the clubs are against it, and there's no turning back for them if they do it. How many players will be willing to give up playing for their national team? These clubs could be signing their death certificates.

I didn’t know they would have to give up playing for their national team. Why would they have to do that?

All of that would go to the lawyers so yet to be seen. Look like FIFA isn't for the ESL. Looks like ESL teams want their league to coexist with current leagues; sort of wanting to have their cake and eat it too. I don't blame the leagues fighting this with everything they have.

(04-19-2021 08:48 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:40 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  Still seems unlikely that the Super league happens to me. The vast majority of the fans of the clubs are against it, and there's no turning back for them if they do it. How many players will be willing to give up playing for their national team? These clubs could be signing their death certificates.

I didn’t know they would have to give up playing for their national team. Why would they have to do that?

FIFA is against the Super League and has threatened a player ban.

"As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams."

https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champio...per-league

(04-19-2021 09:15 AM)RobUCF Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:48 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:40 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  Still seems unlikely that the Super league happens to me. The vast majority of the fans of the clubs are against it, and there's no turning back for them if they do it. How many players will be willing to give up playing for their national team? These clubs could be signing their death certificates.

I didn’t know they would have to give up playing for their national team. Why would they have to do that?

FIFA is against the Super League and has threatened a player ban.

"As previously announced by FIFA and the six Federations, the clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level, and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams."

https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champio...per-league

Yikes!

There is a lot of $$$ behind the Super League. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. You know FIFA can be bought.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

(04-19-2021 09:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

He can say that all he wants but it will get challenged in court. Not sure how he can dictate anything WC related. I get Euros. Lawyers getting ready to make a lot of money.

Ha! One La Liga team has already put the league table on its website with RM, BARCA, and Atletico removed. Not sure how long it'll stay up though.

the power 5 is next in line.

(04-19-2021 11:06 AM)Meatwad Wrote:  the power 5 is next in line.

Yea, the P5 breaking away from the rest of college football is a pretty good analogy. Protests are picking up around Europe. Was watching Sky News and fans are protesting outside of Anfield and there's a plane circling ahead flying a "Say No To Super League" banner. Not sure if the billionaire owners will care, but at least people are letting their feelings known.

(04-19-2021 10:04 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 09:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

He can say that all he wants but it will get challenged in court. Not sure how he can dictate anything WC related. I get Euros. Lawyers getting ready to make a lot of money.

Ha! One La Liga team has already put the league table on its website with RM, BARCA, and Atletico removed. Not sure how long it'll stay up though.

Everything about it will get challenged in court. Bottom line, if they decide to do it knowing they will have to go to the 5th tier if they return they have idiots in charge. It seems very unlikely right now that viewers will match the UCL, and when their first TV contract runs out they are going to be screwed.

(04-19-2021 01:04 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 10:04 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 09:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

He can say that all he wants but it will get challenged in court. Not sure how he can dictate anything WC related. I get Euros. Lawyers getting ready to make a lot of money.

Ha! One La Liga team has already put the league table on its website with RM, BARCA, and Atletico removed. Not sure how long it'll stay up though.

Everything about it will get challenged in court. Bottom line, if they decide to do it knowing they will have to go to the 5th tier if they return they have idiots in charge. It seems very unlikely right now that viewers will match the UCL, and when their first TV contract runs out they are going to be screwed.

I agree. The first season may be exciting but how many times can I watch Man U vs Madrid with nothing on the line and get excited? It seems all enthusiasm will be short lived.

(04-19-2021 01:11 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 01:04 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 10:04 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 09:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

He can say that all he wants but it will get challenged in court. Not sure how he can dictate anything WC related. I get Euros. Lawyers getting ready to make a lot of money.

Ha! One La Liga team has already put the league table on its website with RM, BARCA, and Atletico removed. Not sure how long it'll stay up though.

Everything about it will get challenged in court. Bottom line, if they decide to do it knowing they will have to go to the 5th tier if they return they have idiots in charge. It seems very unlikely right now that viewers will match the UCL, and when their first TV contract runs out they are going to be screwed.

I agree. The first season may be exciting but how many times can I watch Man U vs Madrid with nothing on the line and get excited? It seems all enthusiasm will be short lived.

The lack of the magnitude of the games is the big thing for me. Who cares if you have Man U vs Madrid when they're 8th and 9th in their league. I think they would have to have a playoff to see viewer totals similar to the big knockout round games of the UCL. Over the course of a season I think they would have less viewers than the UCL even without accounting for a boycott from fans.

Fines, point deductions, transfer bans; I hope these 6 EPL teams get hit with the whole shabang even if they do decide to renege on their commitment and not participate in this league.

They're making a mockery of the sport.

(04-19-2021 07:41 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 01:11 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 01:04 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 10:04 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 09:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/statu...14310?s=20

He can say that all he wants but it will get challenged in court. Not sure how he can dictate anything WC related. I get Euros. Lawyers getting ready to make a lot of money.

Ha! One La Liga team has already put the league table on its website with RM, BARCA, and Atletico removed. Not sure how long it'll stay up though.

Everything about it will get challenged in court. Bottom line, if they decide to do it knowing they will have to go to the 5th tier if they return they have idiots in charge. It seems very unlikely right now that viewers will match the UCL, and when their first TV contract runs out they are going to be screwed.

I agree. The first season may be exciting but how many times can I watch Man U vs Madrid with nothing on the line and get excited? It seems all enthusiasm will be short lived.

The lack of the magnitude of the games is the big thing for me. Who cares if you have Man U vs Madrid when they're 8th and 9th in their league. I think they would have to have a playoff to see viewer totals similar to the big knockout round games of the UCL. Over the course of a season I think they would have less viewers than the UCL even without accounting for a boycott from fans.

For me, it's the frequency of the big matchups that drives excitement. The big teams in different leagues don't meet that often so when they do meet it's exciting. If all the big teams play each other multiple times each year the excitement, IMO, will fade. I hate everything about this ESL.

(04-20-2021 05:45 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  Fines, point deductions, transfer bans; I hope these 6 EPL teams get hit with the whole shabang even if they do decide to renege on their commitment and not participate in this league.

They're making a mockery of the sport.

Unfortunately, UEFA has decided to let next week's Champion's League matches go on as if nothing has occured. If that is any indication, UEFA and FIFA may be all bark and no bite.

(04-20-2021 09:38 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 05:45 AM)BrooklynRocket Wrote:  Fines, point deductions, transfer bans; I hope these 6 EPL teams get hit with the whole shabang even if they do decide to renege on their commitment and not participate in this league.

They're making a mockery of the sport.

Unfortunately, UEFA has decided to let next week's Champion's League matches go on as if nothing has occured. If that is any indication, UEFA and FIFA may be all bark and no bite.

Yeah, there is no chance a WC ban is happening...FIFA knows that many of these guys want the paycheck more than they care about playing for a country. It would just devalue their own property.

(04-19-2021 08:33 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:28 AM)VA49er Wrote:  European Super League. That is gonna suck. So much for futbol as we know it.

I’m not so sure it’s going to suck, but it’s the end of the Champions League’s stature as the top club competition. This becomes guaranteed money for the “big” clubs without worrying about the Leicester’s of the world stealing a clubs payday.

It’s kind of the BCS for European soccer.

No, it would most definitely suck. Even European domestic leagues don't have permanent members, as teams are relegated or promoted based on yearly results. The Champion's League structure as it currently stands is the best of its kind because teams have to earn their way in every year, as opposed to this ridiculous "Super League" idea where a certain number of big clubs - whose rich owners are only looking for another way to get richer - become some sort of permanent fixture regardless of how they're even doing in their domestic leagues.

There should be no 'exclusive private league for the richest' who divvy out temporary one-year invitations to those deemed worthy before they have to prove themselves again the next year in order to get back in, while the rich members/clubs enjoy permanent membership privileges regardless of their product. This is elitist to the core, and the whole idea goes against everything that sports and athletic competition are supposed to be all about.

(04-20-2021 11:19 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:33 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:28 AM)VA49er Wrote:  European Super League. That is gonna suck. So much for futbol as we know it.

I’m not so sure it’s going to suck, but it’s the end of the Champions League’s stature as the top club competition. This becomes guaranteed money for the “big” clubs without worrying about the Leicester’s of the world stealing a clubs payday.

It’s kind of the BCS for European soccer.

No, it would most definitely suck. Even European domestic leagues don't have permanent members, as teams are relegated or promoted based on yearly results. The Champion's League structure as it currently stands is the best of its kind because teams have to earn their way in every year, as opposed to this ridiculous "Super League" idea where a certain number of big clubs - whose rich owners are only looking for another way to get richer - become some sort of permanent fixture regardless of how they're even doing in their domestic leagues.

There should be no 'exclusive private league for the richest' who divvy out temporary one-year invitations to those deemed worthy before they have to prove themselves again the next year in order to get back in, while the rich members/clubs enjoy permanent membership privileges regardless of their product. This is elitist to the core, and the whole idea goes against everything that sports and athletic competition are supposed to be all about.

Agree it’s elitist, disagree it goes against what sports is about. Sports at this level are about money and profit. TV, t-shirts, tickets all exist to make money. I have to laugh when folks who support laissez faire cut throat capitalism or hate participation trophies see this super league as a negative. And most professional sports, as well as the big NCAA sports, already have elitist structures, consistent winners and losers. The only exception is the NFL, which by scheduling, draft selection, and free agency is the only sports league where last to first actually happens. Bottom line, if these soccer team owners believe there is a big pay day here, this will happen.

(04-20-2021 12:25 PM)vick mike Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 11:19 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:33 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:28 AM)VA49er Wrote:  European Super League. That is gonna suck. So much for futbol as we know it.

I’m not so sure it’s going to suck, but it’s the end of the Champions League’s stature as the top club competition. This becomes guaranteed money for the “big” clubs without worrying about the Leicester’s of the world stealing a clubs payday.

It’s kind of the BCS for European soccer.

No, it would most definitely suck. Even European domestic leagues don't have permanent members, as teams are relegated or promoted based on yearly results. The Champion's League structure as it currently stands is the best of its kind because teams have to earn their way in every year, as opposed to this ridiculous "Super League" idea where a certain number of big clubs - whose rich owners are only looking for another way to get richer - become some sort of permanent fixture regardless of how they're even doing in their domestic leagues.

There should be no 'exclusive private league for the richest' who divvy out temporary one-year invitations to those deemed worthy before they have to prove themselves again the next year in order to get back in, while the rich members/clubs enjoy permanent membership privileges regardless of their product. This is elitist to the core, and the whole idea goes against everything that sports and athletic competition are supposed to be all about.

Agree it’s elitist, disagree it goes against what sports is about. Sports at this level are about money and profit. TV, t-shirts, tickets all exist to make money. I have to laugh when folks who support laissez faire cut throat capitalism or hate participation trophies see this super league as a negative. And most professional sports, as well as the big NCAA sports, already have elitist structures, consistent winners and losers. The only exception is the NFL, which by scheduling, draft selection, and free agency is the only sports league where last to first actually happens. Bottom line, if these soccer team owners believe there is a big pay day here, this will happen.

I agree that sports at the collegiate and professional levels have become big business and that there are elitist structures in place. But this "super league" idea is almost scandalous and bears little resemblance to the BCS in college football that the other poster alluded to. It would be like taking the BCS, expanding it to 8 teams, and saying for example that Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Michigan, and USC are in it yearly be default, regardless of how they're actually doing in any given year, and that only two others would be invited based on actual performance. It really does go against what sports is supposed to be about. Even with the elitist structures in place in college football, at least you still have to earn your way into the BCS, even if there is always some controversy surrounding who should and shouldn't be there.

Bye, bye, Superleague, we hardly knew thee. Chelsea and Manchester City backing out:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/chelsea/stor...k-reversal

(04-20-2021 01:56 PM)RobUCF Wrote:  Bye, bye, Superleague, we hardly knew thee. Chelsea and Manchester City backing out:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/chelsea/stor...k-reversal

Good news. Wonder if ELS will try to invite other clubs to take Chelsea and Manchester City's place?

(04-20-2021 12:46 PM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 12:25 PM)vick mike Wrote:  

(04-20-2021 11:19 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:33 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 08:28 AM)VA49er Wrote:  European Super League. That is gonna suck. So much for futbol as we know it.

I’m not so sure it’s going to suck, but it’s the end of the Champions League’s stature as the top club competition. This becomes guaranteed money for the “big” clubs without worrying about the Leicester’s of the world stealing a clubs payday.

It’s kind of the BCS for European soccer.

No, it would most definitely suck. Even European domestic leagues don't have permanent members, as teams are relegated or promoted based on yearly results. The Champion's League structure as it currently stands is the best of its kind because teams have to earn their way in every year, as opposed to this ridiculous "Super League" idea where a certain number of big clubs - whose rich owners are only looking for another way to get richer - become some sort of permanent fixture regardless of how they're even doing in their domestic leagues.

There should be no 'exclusive private league for the richest' who divvy out temporary one-year invitations to those deemed worthy before they have to prove themselves again the next year in order to get back in, while the rich members/clubs enjoy permanent membership privileges regardless of their product. This is elitist to the core, and the whole idea goes against everything that sports and athletic competition are supposed to be all about.

Agree it’s elitist, disagree it goes against what sports is about. Sports at this level are about money and profit. TV, t-shirts, tickets all exist to make money. I have to laugh when folks who support laissez faire cut throat capitalism or hate participation trophies see this super league as a negative. And most professional sports, as well as the big NCAA sports, already have elitist structures, consistent winners and losers. The only exception is the NFL, which by scheduling, draft selection, and free agency is the only sports league where last to first actually happens. Bottom line, if these soccer team owners believe there is a big pay day here, this will happen.

I agree that sports at the collegiate and professional levels have become big business and that there are elitist structures in place. But this "super league" idea is almost scandalous and bears little resemblance to the BCS in college football that the other poster alluded to. It would be like taking the BCS, expanding it to 8 teams, and saying for example that Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Michigan, and USC are in it yearly be default, regardless of how they're actually doing in any given year, and that only two others would be invited based on actual performance. It really does go against what sports is supposed to be about. Even with the elitist structures in place in college football, at least you still have to earn your way into the BCS, even if there is always some controversy surrounding who should and shouldn't be there.

Looks like the ESL ship is sinking. As mentioned, both Manchester City and Chelsea are pulling out and Laporta has stated that Barcelona will not finalize any move to the ESL unit they have received approval from socios (fans that own the club). Also, apparently Ed Woodward has stepped down from Manchester United which seems to be an overwhelmingly positive occurence.