Scottish football dying? (EPL, atmosphere, English, club) - - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

paull805 · 08-26-2011, 09:53 AM

lol don't worry, sound like the same train wreck as the SPL!

BrianH · 08-26-2011, 10:53 AM

Figured as much.
If I woke up in the morning and discovered everybody at the FAI was kidnapped I would smile from ear to ear. Irish football cannot, and will not progress with a corrupt org like that running it. Ima sure the SFA is the same. FAI stands for F&#* All Intelligence anyway!

Teak · 08-26-2011, 02:10 PM

A few years ago some people were floating the idea of a Northern European league that would bring in the top clubs from smaller-market countries, e.g. Feyenoord, Ajax, PSV (Netherlands), Celtic, Rangers, Hearts (Scotland), Anderlecht, Brugge (Belgium), Porto, Benfica (Portugal), and so forth. Such a league would be more attractive to the TV markets and generate more cash for THOSE clubs. It was shot down, however, by country associations for obvious reasons. Would the SPL and Dutch Eredivisie survive the loss of their leading clubs? Probably not.

Bondurant · 08-26-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teak

A few years ago some people were floating the idea of a Northern European league that would bring in the top clubs from smaller-market countries, e.g. Feyenoord, Ajax, PSV (Netherlands), Celtic, Rangers, Hearts (Scotland), Anderlecht, Brugge (Belgium), Porto, Benfica (Portugal), and so forth. Such a league would be more attractive to the TV markets and generate more cash for THOSE clubs. It was shot down, however, by country associations for obvious reasons. Would the SPL and Dutch Eredivisie survive the loss of their leading clubs? Probably not.

I also heard a proposal for Celtic and Rangers to join EPL. The Northern European league would deep six the current leagues but I don't think even those clubs would join such a league. Gone would be the guaranteed Europa and Champions League spots. Would this leave have promotion/relegation? If so, they would need more teams to stock a lower league. At that point they would likely have just created a super minnow league. Not to mention the loss of history and tradition.

paull805 · 08-26-2011, 05:12 PM

Its difficult, there needs to be reform in a lot of leagues but the question is what, hard to decide never mind implement.

BrianH · 08-26-2011, 08:16 PM

The FA said no to the Rangers Celtic idea a long time go. There is absolutely no way it can happen, none.
Summer football = joke too. Looks all great, the weather will be perfect, people will come out en masse. yeh not really.

Teak · 08-26-2011, 09:23 PM

At this point, I don't see how the smaller-market leagues can reform. The elephant in the room is TV income. What needs to be done is at the top of FIFA and UEFA. The Bosman ruling started this when the European Union ruled that football players were like any other labourer in that he or she should be able to move about freely. That football is NOT like normal business (i.e., you cannot have a monopoly or oligopoly) should have been recognised and a different structure or set of rules used.

The MLS has been a success primarily because they were able to keep salaries and the transfer of players under control. It is a success because it is competitive in the sporting sense. The EPL, for all of its praise, has become quite uncompetitive in that only 2-3 teams have a realistic chance of winning the league. Likewise, the same clubs appear in the "Champions" League each season because they are able to buy the best players for the field, bench AND stands. Players would rather sit for millions at a big club than to play every match for a small club.

Here in Asia you find millions of ManU and Chelsea "fans", who are willing to pay big ringgit for the latest kit. Those clubs are under pressure to keep that cashflow coming. I don't see any Stoke City kits around.

Bondurant · 08-26-2011, 09:41 PM

MLS, though, has issues. The salary cap is too low. When I lived near Chicago I was working in a factory and I made more than the starting keeper for the Fire. Then clubs spend millions on dinosauers like Beckham, Henry and Blanco. Don't get me wrong, I love MLS, but it's not a model league. So many other stupid rules too.

paull805 · 08-27-2011, 06:23 AM

Beckham and Henry still seem to be doing the business to me!

Teak · 08-27-2011, 04:52 PM

MLS is improving year by year. As more fans attend and, more importantly, greater TV revenue rolls in, MLS will be able to raise those salary caps. They started showing MLS on Malaysian cable telly this season and I have enjoyed the matches shown.

I have noticed an interesting trend here in Malaysian cable TV land. Up until last season the local cable provider was showing EVERY ManU and Chelsea match...everything: FA Cup, League Cup, BPL, "Champions" league, etc., ad nauseum. But this season, even after raising cable subscription prices, they are showing mostly lower-level BPL matches and added the Dutch League, Brazil League, MLS and the occasional Scottish PL match. What I think is happening is that the big clubs are somehow pricing themselves out of markets that cannot afford them anymore. Good news, IMHO, since now I get a greater variety of matches to see and those poorer leagues are starting to get more TV revenue. Not being a ManU or Chelsea "fan", I don't really care to see them whip up on FC Cannon Fodder.