11 Feb 2018 08:08:51
Morning Ed2,

A question for you on the European break away league.

What is the likely timescale of this happening, if there is one?
Is it likely to happen within say the next 10 years? Or sooner?

Sorry if you answered this or similar already, I had a look but couldn't see that you had.

Thanks a bunch

Carra.

{Ed002's Note - Timing wise, two very prominent clubs wanted it to happen as soon as possible (2018 was their plan in 2015 – obviously not a chance) and they had the support of a third club - but most are looking at 2022 to 2025 being a good option. A few clubs are looking at 2025 to 2028 and I suspect that could end up as the reality.}

1.) 11 Feb 2018
11 Feb 2018 09:37:20
Thanks Ed,

Your reply as always very much appreciated.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

2.) 11 Feb 2018
11 Feb 2018 10:17:14
STANLEY VICTOR COLLYMORE spewing rubbish about the reds.
Would this be the STANLEY VICTOR COLLYMORE who played in a team with
NEIL RUDDOCK and PHILL KEBABB as centre-halves and one DAVID JAMES throwing the ball in the net. AHHH it was so much better in your day STANLEY VICTOR winning all those trophies. not.

3.) 11 Feb 2018
11 Feb 2018 10:36:02
"You wildly underestimate how popular it will be"

This was part of a reponse you gave to Mikey1985 in an earlier thread.

When you say how popular it will be, do you mean amongst fans or is this just commercially from your point of view. I appreciate that you say that this is just natural progression but i would think most fans would not want to see their Premier League or La Liga etc ripped up and not play teams they have played for decades, very succesfully at that.

So is this just a case of footballing big wigs (owners etc) doing what the want and not giving two hoots about what fans think is a good idea? Has anyone even asked the fans? I know you say that you get to watch Juventus, Madrid etc every other week but i would rather watch the more British teams. Personally i think getting to play the cream of European teams 3/ 4 times a season is perfect and keeps it exciting for the fans so to speak.

Like i have said, maybe the fans are at the bottom of the pile, "who cares what they think? " Might be the answer! I can see it being a massive turn off for fans and tv fans alike. I think the fans want their "grass roots" football, such as the Wba, West Ham games and i would guess it would be the same in Italy, Germany and Spain etc.

{Ed002's Note - Only two English sides have made the commitment and it is likely the third club involved will as well. So you can happily carry on in a similar manner to now watching "British" teams (I assume you meant English) - but there will be less money for the remaining sides. But eventually, regardless of all of this, the English game needs a massive shake up as there are too many professional sides and it cannot be sustained. English clubs don't get to play the elite of European football three or four times a season - only those that qualify for the Champions League have that opportunity and they also have to mix it with the Tromso's and Hadjuk Split's. The plan is that about 16 teams will end up in a league and will play each other side twice a season. The trade off is that they will break away from their domestic leagues. And plenty fans have been spoken to about this over the years but their view is not a driver for anything (the same as now in fact).)

4.) 11 Feb 2018
11 Feb 2018 13:30:15
Interesting that some people don’t want a European breakaway league as it will be to the detriment of the EPL.

I assume that those who would favour the English set up staying as it and having an elite top-flight weren’t around when exactly the same arguments were banded about over discussion over the EPL- which then creamed off broadcasting rights and left the rest of the English game to suffer.

Football moves with the times. Other than major exceptions (Leicester being one) many European leagues have the same teams winning them or on co tension year-on-year.
The rest of the top flight teams are in essence playing for revenue off the back of their finishing position.
If the major clubs with most sending power in each top flight were removed- and income from broadcasting shared more equally between the rest - then you would probably see more competitive domestic leagues.

Below this, as the Ed’s have suggested, football is restructured then it’s good for the game. More competitive, more regionalised- and a Pan-European League above that.