Couldn’t think.... part three

alderz

My big concern about this all is that it’s being driven by the American owners of Liverpool and Man Utd. I don’t like the format of American leagues, and I don’t trust the intentions of those owners.

Expat_Hammer

Why fix it if it isn't broken ?

Oh, pound notes may have something to do with it

IronHerb

Jorderz_Moyes_will_be_Moyes said:

Interestingly West Ham are listed as being a club who will be given ‘special status’ along with Everton, Southampton and the big 6.

No idea what that means or why anybody has special status.

They want a 9 team 'steering committee' and the additional 3 spaces go the the teams with the current longest Premier League tenure, and we are one of those.

alderz

I think it’s concerning they want to make decisions with half the clubs not voting. Haven’t the big clubs been talking about a European super league too?

yoyo

IMO it's typical Anerican business owners making rules for what will generally benefit them. They know diddley squat about football or care.

thornburyiron

We may be one of those teams with long PL tenure but teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa are excluded both of whom have played more PL seasons than Man City.

ASLEFshrugged

This is nothing new, the big clubs have been complaining about the number of games they have to play for years so suggesting the Premier League be reduced by a couple of teams and ditching the League Cup is no big surprise. The First Division had 22 teams from 1918 until 1987, this isn't much different.

Also they aren't talking about getting rid of promotion/relegation, they're suggesting playoffs involving the 3rd, 4th and 5th teams in the Championship and whoever finishes 16th in the Prem, like they have in the Bundesliga.

It will still need 14 teams to back it, making Everton, Southampton and West Ham "our special friends" still doesn't get them enough votes.

What should be considered is reverting to regional leagues below the second tier, as they were before 1958 when you had the 3rd Division North and South. Less distance to travel could mean more fans willing to travel to away games and increased ticket sales.

ASLEFshrugged

After getting a sponsorship deal with Innocent drinks Forest Green Rovers asked their fans to chose a new name for "New Lawn".

This week they announced that they will be playing at the "Innocent New Lawn" despite 65% voting for "Kevin".

thornburyiron

At least they didn’t suggest Lawny McLawnface.

BubblesNeverDies

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54564257

Exactly 10 years ago today, both Everton and Liverpool were in the bottom 4, no prizes for guessing who was bottom.

I'm sure the BBC is using this story so they can post the league positions.

BubblesNeverDies

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54584269

The Ginger Pele announces his retirement, with a special mention for us.

Cuz1

Just the sort of ch I’d love here now

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Liverpool and United doing everything in their power to tear the prem of its competitiveness

Lukerz

It’s to replace the champions league, by the looks of it

thornburyiron

I think it is but the original proposal was for the 18 or 20 teams in it to be guaranteed to be in it for 20 years.

Pearces_Left_Foot

Its says its FIFA backed ? won't UEFA have something to say about it . Looks like another attempt by the top teams to make themselves richer and ensure they don't lose their place at the top.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Lukerz said:

It’s to replace the champions league, by the looks of it

Yea but its appears as though the difference is it is formed of elite teams regardless of position in the league

Whoever makes the most money can get involved, not the teams actually finishing in the top 6

IronHerb

Assuming Chelsea are involved then when they come back for Rice his price will be £150m plus. 😎

Expat_Hammer

IronHerb said:

Assuming Chelsea are involved then when they come back for Rice his price will be £150m plus. 😎

I'm guessing that's the loan fee for the season

alderz

Their fans won’t be in favour of it at all. It will be interesting to see if clubs listen to fans.

alderz

Just reading about it now, and it is allegedly a plan to replace the champions league with a 16-18 team league. So teams would have 38 PL games and 30-34 European PL games. “Player welfare”

OutcastLondoner

I don’t watch so much champions league football anyway, I’d be far less interested if they did away with the knockout element.

buffybegood

OutcastLondoner said:

I don’t watch so much champions league football anyway, I’d be far less interested if they did away with the knockout element.

I barely watch any these days; originally there was a novelty value of seeing a couple of big European teams play, but there's so many fixtures now that I have next to no interest in it.

ASLEFshrugged

The report claims that this has been cooked up by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez who has had discussions with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. No mention that any other teams are involved

Sky Sports say the source of the story is Spanish website Vozpopuli which according to Spanish wikipedia has 22 employees of which 19 are journalists. I think the Barking & Dagenham Post has more journalists...

OutcastLondoner

19 is a lot.

IronHerb

In an interview on Sky Wenger said this was being dreamt up to curtail the power of the EPL by the other clubs in Europe.

ASLEFshrugged

According to the Guardian FIFA were dismissive, UEFA are "strongly opposed" and If it can't get the support of either of those then its not going to happen.

I'm sure Vozpopuli have been paid rather well from other news agencies sharing their story, no doubt it will keep their 22 staff paid for a few months...

I've just checked it isn't 1st April

MIAHammer

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54623337

Tell Sir Trev to brush off his boots

Pearces_Left_Foot

https://www.kumb.com/article.php?id=43883

Hamstew

Incredible stuff from Marcus Rashford btw