Operation Big Picture
Discussion
Oh here we go, I don't know where to start with this but anything that made the big clubs even richer I have always felt needed to be avoided at all costs. Reading between the lines this just looks like a blatant power grab by the Americans who have been here since last Tuesday in the grand scheme of things, and you start to wonder why the Newcastle takeover hit the rocks when you see that they want the powers to veto takeovers too so they don't feel threatened! Incredible, and the fact they have been in more Premier League campaigns than City.
Scrap the 'Charity Shield' is a belter of an idea. Teams can go and play in meaningless pre season tournaments around the world but can't manage one friendly on home soil to benefit charity.
And good old Rick Parry is in support of it, who used to be in charge of... oh yes nothing like knowing your old employers are still your paymaster!
Scrap the 'Charity Shield' is a belter of an idea. Teams can go and play in meaningless pre season tournaments around the world but can't manage one friendly on home soil to benefit charity.
And good old Rick Parry is in support of it, who used to be in charge of... oh yes nothing like knowing your old employers are still your paymaster!
It's a blatant power-grab so the big clubs can do whatever they want and screw everyone else. As a Saints fan we'd actually be one of the nine clubs given 'special voting rights' - except if six of the nine clubs vote in favour of a proposal it would get passed, meaning we'd be totally ignored anyway!
The other clubs should come up with a counter proposal to make the league more competitive rather than less competitive.
The other clubs should come up with a counter proposal to make the league more competitive rather than less competitive.
I fail to see how this would reduce the gap between the PL and everyone else. If anything it would widen the gap. Yes, under the proposals more money would flow down, but the only impact it might have would be on the balance sheet of football league clubs, and I don't see it translating on to the pitch. The top players, the big publicity, international interest is all focused on the PL. That wouldn't change. The only change would be 2 less seats at the top table, so even less chance for a comparative minnow to reach the big time. The Championship is already one of the most competitive leagues there is, this proposal would make it even more so.
If they genuinely wanted to bridge the gap then wouldn't they be better off expanding the PL back to 22 clubs? And then scrap the League Cup (at least for PL teams) which would offset the additional 4 league fixtures. But obviously this doesn't fit into their idea of expanded European Competitions, a European Super League, or more meaningless but money-spinning pre-season friendly tours.
One final point to add - if this does get the go-ahead then I really hope one of the instigating teams has a shocking first season under the new format and finds themselves in the reglation zone (potentially 16th place)
If they genuinely wanted to bridge the gap then wouldn't they be better off expanding the PL back to 22 clubs? And then scrap the League Cup (at least for PL teams) which would offset the additional 4 league fixtures. But obviously this doesn't fit into their idea of expanded European Competitions, a European Super League, or more meaningless but money-spinning pre-season friendly tours.
One final point to add - if this does get the go-ahead then I really hope one of the instigating teams has a shocking first season under the new format and finds themselves in the reglation zone (potentially 16th place)
Isn't part of the deal a far bigger slice of TV revenues going to the EFL clubs? That's what I understood and if so, they may not be in a position to refuse. How many EFL clubs will survive on the current arrangement if no crowds continues for another 6 months, another year, or longer?
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Isn't part of the deal a far bigger slice of TV revenues going to the EFL clubs? That's what I understood and if so, they may not be in a position to refuse. How many EFL clubs will survive on the current arrangement if no crowds continues for another 6 months, another year, or longer?
Strikes me as the top 6 using Covid to go for a power grab. Some clubs in the EFL may have no choice but to to support it, whilst the other clubs in the Premiership wouldn't likely agree with it. Killer2005 said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Isn't part of the deal a far bigger slice of TV revenues going to the EFL clubs? That's what I understood and if so, they may not be in a position to refuse. How many EFL clubs will survive on the current arrangement if no crowds continues for another 6 months, another year, or longer?
Strikes me as the top 6 using Covid to go for a power grab. Some clubs in the EFL may have no choice but to to support it, whilst the other clubs in the Premiership wouldn't likely agree with it. Only 6 teams have been in the PL for its entire 28 years.....
Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
And 3 of those 6 have US owners.
aeropilot said:
But which 6......?
Only 6 teams have been in the PL for its entire 28 years.....
Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
And 3 of those 6 have US owners.
Hmmm, they should be reminded that football wasnt invented when the PL started. And I certainly remember when ManU were a second tier team and Man City were in the third tier, and there were other bigger clubs around.Only 6 teams have been in the PL for its entire 28 years.....
Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton.
And 3 of those 6 have US owners.
This is a blatant attempt to stop the likes of Leicester, Wolves, and Leeds even upsetting their cosy status quo. They should be told where to get off.
Football does need reform, and there are some positive aspects to this but concentrating power in a self proclaimed "big 6" is not the answer.
And I dont see the need to cut the PL to 18 teams or to cut the League Cup either. Why should two less teams benefit from the PL, and whilst the League Cup may not be popular now it is still a good vehicle to give fringe players and youngsters proper competitive action.
andy97 said:
And I dont see the need to cut the PL to 18 teams or to cut the League Cup either.
Because cutting out 2 teams means a cut in the number of games by 4. Losing the league cup saves maybe another 4. That's 8 more slots available for an expanded CL/ European league, or ludicrously lucrative friendlies in the middle or far East. It just stinks of protectionism at the long term cost of everyone else, forced through via their short term cash needs. The big 6 together and they've pulled in 3 other nobodies to try and make it appear something other than its not.
I think if the top teams rip up the rule book and rewrite them to suit themselves I'll be binning watching the English football.
I want the likes of Leeds, Wolves etc to have a chance. Not have the cartel bully them or exclude them.
I think if the top teams rip up the rule book and rewrite them to suit themselves I'll be binning watching the English football.
I want the likes of Leeds, Wolves etc to have a chance. Not have the cartel bully them or exclude them.
Killer2005 said:
Strikes me as the top 6 using Covid to go for a power grab.
Algarve said:
The big 6 together and they've pulled in 3 other nobodies to try and make it appear something other than its not.
That's a touch unfair seeing as Operation Big Picture was cooked up in secret by Liverpool and Man Utd so 4 of the top 6 had no involvement in the idea. It's particularly necky from Liverpool IMO - the engraving is barely cool on their first league title in 30 years and they're already trying to throw their weight around and dictate how the competition is run. Fittster said:
Wish the big 6 would just leave and join a European super league.
Last time this was bandied about it was lead by the same two teams with the same fair weather supporters who generate the most money. I don't think the rest of the Top 6 would be eligible for the super league let alone join it. Dangling the carrot to the EFL of the 250M is very short term thinking especially when you consider the owners of Barnsley and QPR alone have a combined wealth of nearly 30Bn. It stinks of a bribe. That Rick Parry is running around saying "everybody wins" should be the biggest red flag in all of this. Everybody doesn't win.
The lengths the American investors will go to in order freeze out teams like Newcastle breaking into their market is considerable.
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