European Super League

[IBK]

There are a few things that make me uncomfortable in the reaction to this new super league.

The first is the fact the Government are trying to interfere, not just here but in Spain & France etc. As far as i can see, these private companies (which is what they are) have set up a new competition. There is nothing illegal in that and i don’t see how the Government can change it. In my mind it also sets a worrying precedent where if clubs want to do something but the premier league oppose it for whatever reason, they just go running to the government to change it.

While fully accepting cricket is nowhere near as popular as football but recently they have changed the county cricket structure to create a brand new “100” game with new teams rather then existing counties and effectively paid off the opposition. Now as a cricket fan, i dont like this new league i much prefer watching my county but i don’t remember the governemnt getting involved here at all. Probably because it was the league who wanted it rather then the clubs unlike in this situation. The overall theme is that money talks, fans dont and that still applies here.

The second thing is the way uefa & sky etc are banging on about greed. Yesterday Sky made Monday night football free to air so everyone could see Neville & Carragher accuse the clubs of being greedy and ignoring the fans. As soon as the game kicked off though, they stopped the free to air so that fans could pay to watch the game. Not exactly the best message there!
Uefa yesterday accused the clubs of ignoring the fans and being greedy yet this is the same UEFA that put the Europa League Final in Baku, a place where many fans have to fly via Dubai to get to a European game. Was thinking of the fans? Was it bollocks, it was greed but it was ok greed as it was UEFA. Let’s look at the EUROs, their plan (Covid aside) is to play them all over Europe which only adds to the costs for fans as instead of booking a trip to say France to watch all the games, they have to book several trips.

Good and interesting observations, Ollie. particularly re the government intervention. Having spent the last few weeks seeing the cronyism and vested interests operating at the top level in our government, the idea that state intervention would represent an alternative to people acting in self-interest seems laugable.

And we have both observed the hypocisy that many of those bodies (EPL; UEFA; Sky etc) wringing their hands over this are showing here...

[IBK]

the thing is, the lower leagues are still like that - most of their games are 3pm on a saturday, they go to the matches and talk about it in the pub afterwards - it's only 'big' clubs like ours that have a mix of those fans plus the armchair ones and tourists - i don't mind the latter as long as they know their place but it's meant the clubs now feel they can cut off the 'legacy' fans i i've heard they're now calling them...

maybe this will actually help the grass roots if soem 'legacy fans' switch to Enfield or whoever else

...and why are the lower leagues different? Less money at this level. The problem is that along with the more 'traditional' values that you refer to, what makes football most attractive is seeing football skills along with this. So personally, I don't see an exodus to grass roots football happening. The product isn't as good. And those driving this initiative know it.

[Ollie the Optimist]

the thing is, the lower leagues are still like that - most of their games are 3pm on a saturday, they go to the matches and talk about it in the pub afterwards - it's only 'big' clubs like ours that have a mix of those fans plus the armchair ones and tourists - i don't mind the latter as long as they know their place but it's meant the clubs now feel they can cut off the 'legacy' fans i i've heard they're now calling them...

maybe this will actually help the grass roots if soem 'legacy fans' switch to Enfield or whoever else

I think that is quite a dangerous statement. What do you mean “know their place”

Ive seen this attitude towards foreign fans quite a bit on social media but what makes us better fans then them? You only have to see how popular the clubs are when they go on pre season tours and sell out games for meaningless games. These fans also get up at stupid hours to watch every game, probably more so then people do here tbh.

Of course, fans in this country are always likely to have a stronger attachment given the club is located here but i dont think that fans in other countries are not as valuable. We have all seen the pictures of “tourists” at the emirates with large bags of shopping from teh club shop but that could be their only trip to game in their life time so they make the most of it.

Again, on social media someone made an interesting point when people say the fans are against the super league. I suspect if you ask the majority of fans in Asia or America, they would rather watch arsenal v united more then arsenal v Burnley. Do their views not count ?

[Letters]

And we have both observed the hypocisy that many of those bodies (EPL; UEFA; Sky etc) wringing their hands over this are showing here...

Your post above is depressing and spot on.
And yes, you and Ollie have both highlighted the utter hypocrisy.

"Isn't it terrible, it's all about money!"

What they really mean of course is

"Isn't it terrible, it's all bout money which we're not going to get!"

[IBK]

I think that is quite a dangerous statement. What do you mean “know their place”

Ive seen this attitude towards foreign fans quite a bit on social media but what makes us better fans then them? You only have to see how popular the clubs are when they go on pre season tours and sell out games for meaningless games. These fans also get up at stupid hours to watch every game, probably more so then people do here tbh.

Of course, fans in this country are always likely to have a stronger attachment given the club is located here but i dont think that fans in other countries are not as valuable. We have all seen the pictures of “tourists” at the emirates with large bags of shopping from teh club shop but that could be their only trip to game in their life time so they make the most of it.

Again, on social media someone made an interesting point when people say the fans are against the super league. I suspect if you ask the majority of fans in Asia or America, they would rather watch arsenal v united more then arsenal v Burnley. Do their views not count ?

Our league sold its soul to a foreign fanbase years ago. We 'benefitted' from the money and the draw to England of the world's best players, and now we are crying about the consequences...

[IBK]

Your post above is depressing and spot on.
And yes, you and Ollie have both highlighted the utter hypocrisy.

"Isn't it terrible, it's all about money!"

What they really mean of course is

"Isn't it terrible, it's all bout money which we're not going to get!"

Aye, and let's not forget that our shareholders sold out to Kroenke did so for personal gain/greed. We can't in good conscience pick and choose what greed we criticise...

We fans are pawns, yes, but we are also part of what generates the greed by chosing to spend our cash supporting the system.

[KSE Comedy Club]

well they're a club who are called by their nickname (whcih generally is a sign of affection) by fans who are supposed to hate them - i never ever use 'sp*rs' - for me it's always spuds

how many spuds fans call us 'gunners'?

i'm willing to bet it's absolutely zero

and yet many of our fans use their nickname - why?

because it's fewer syllables??

'tottnam' is only two syllables - not a big deal - 'spuds' is only one

so no excuse to use their nickname

Woah there!

I know you're upset, but this is the least of our worries right now....

[KSE Comedy Club]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56812151



Oh fuck off!

Edit: Hadn't read past the headline when I posted the above



So they invited Arsenal?
And Spurs?

Yes, this is definitely about quality...

The guy is off his head, been snorting all that lovely money for too long.

Most of what he has said is bollocks and delusional.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I think that is quite a dangerous statement. What do you mean “know their place”

Ive seen this attitude towards foreign fans quite a bit on social media but what makes us better fans then them? You only have to see how popular the clubs are when they go on pre season tours and sell out games for meaningless games. These fans also get up at stupid hours to watch every game, probably more so then people do here tbh.

Of course, fans in this country are always likely to have a stronger attachment given the club is located here but i dont think that fans in other countries are not as valuable. We have all seen the pictures of “tourists” at the emirates with large bags of shopping from teh club shop but that could be their only trip to game in their life time so they make the most of it.

Again, on social media someone made an interesting point when people say the fans are against the super league. I suspect if you ask the majority of fans in Asia or America, they would rather watch arsenal v united more then arsenal v Burnley. Do their views not count ?

I agree with you to some extent, but this is where the paradox lies.

This is exactly the reason where are where we are now and this super league has been created

[Mac76]

Woah there!

I know you're upset, but this is the least of our worries right now....