Premiership money madness

[Guest alex]

Seriously though, this threatens the game right to the very bottom. In the efforts of competition, surely there needs to be rules in place so that competition is fair and justified rather than just which club gets a rich owner? Not only should there be a limit of foreign players competing on matchdays, but there should also be a salary cap in place so that the limit is there for everyone to compete with.

 

Football isnt a business like any other, its a sport which has been turned into a business by clever marketing experts who realised all those years ago that by marketing the sport as a brand, they had a huge customer base which they could tap into.

I share your concerns about the game and the foreign owners etc. but when has there ever been fair competition in football? The richest clubs have long been the most successful. I also think it smacks of sour grapes. We were all pleased when we got a billionaire owner.

 

 

Not really, Newcastle probably has the financial power (if ran well) to break into the current top 4 (with some luck).

 

Anyone thinking Ashley was going to do a Chelski on Newcastle was being unrealistic, but I think it's fair to have thought he might have spent a bit (although I suspect it's the economic situation as much as anything that's been behind what appears to be Ashley's change in thinking - the world is a different place from 12 months ago).

 

 

It's the same thing with any richer owners too really, whilst the money might be great, there a lot of what ifs that come with it.

I've read that about 3 times now and I still don't know what you're getting at in relation to my reply.

Edited September 3, 2008 by alex

[Fop 1]

Seriously though, this threatens the game right to the very bottom. In the efforts of competition, surely there needs to be rules in place so that competition is fair and justified rather than just which club gets a rich owner? Not only should there be a limit of foreign players competing on matchdays, but there should also be a salary cap in place so that the limit is there for everyone to compete with.

 

Football isnt a business like any other, its a sport which has been turned into a business by clever marketing experts who realised all those years ago that by marketing the sport as a brand, they had a huge customer base which they could tap into.

I share your concerns about the game and the foreign owners etc. but when has there ever been fair competition in football? The richest clubs have long been the most successful. I also think it smacks of sour grapes. We were all pleased when we got a billionaire owner.

 

 

Not really, Newcastle probably has the financial power (if ran well) to break into the current top 4 (with some luck).

 

Anyone thinking Ashley was going to do a Chelski on Newcastle was being unrealistic, but I think it's fair to have thought he might have spent a bit (although I suspect it's the economic situation as much as anything that's been behind what appears to be Ashley's change in thinking - the world is a different place from 12 months ago).

 

 

It's the same thing with any richer owners too really, whilst the money might be great, there a lot of what ifs that come with it.

I've read that about 3 times now and I still don't know what you're getting at in relation to my reply.

That's it is not particularly sour grapes - although Abudhabidoo's money would, of course, have been wonderful in many senses. Although Ashley's never been in the same league as them, or Abramovich (made worse by the fact that the current conditions make them all richer).

[Guest alex]

Seriously though, this threatens the game right to the very bottom. In the efforts of competition, surely there needs to be rules in place so that competition is fair and justified rather than just which club gets a rich owner? Not only should there be a limit of foreign players competing on matchdays, but there should also be a salary cap in place so that the limit is there for everyone to compete with.

 

Football isnt a business like any other, its a sport which has been turned into a business by clever marketing experts who realised all those years ago that by marketing the sport as a brand, they had a huge customer base which they could tap into.

I share your concerns about the game and the foreign owners etc. but when has there ever been fair competition in football? The richest clubs have long been the most successful. I also think it smacks of sour grapes. We were all pleased when we got a billionaire owner.

 

 

Not really, Newcastle probably has the financial power (if ran well) to break into the current top 4 (with some luck).

 

Anyone thinking Ashley was going to do a Chelski on Newcastle was being unrealistic, but I think it's fair to have thought he might have spent a bit (although I suspect it's the economic situation as much as anything that's been behind what appears to be Ashley's change in thinking - the world is a different place from 12 months ago).

 

 

It's the same thing with any richer owners too really, whilst the money might be great, there a lot of what ifs that come with it.

I've read that about 3 times now and I still don't know what you're getting at in relation to my reply.

That's it is not particularly sour grapes - although Abudhabidoo's money would, of course, have been wonderful in many senses. Although Ashley's never been in the same league as them, or Abramovich (made worse by the fact that the current conditions make them all richer).

I think it is, giving the timing of the complaints and the reaction to Ashley's takeover at the time. Fair enough if you disagree.

[Chaser 1321]

I dont think Ashley is a Billionnaire though, only as recent as this afternoon has SSN shown the top 5 wealthiest owners in the Premiership and Ashley wasnt included. Lerner at Villa (5) has a fortune of £800m.

 

The timing was chosen due to this fantasy football wishlist that City have all of a sudden drawn up, at the same time breaking a British transfer record for someone seemingly not on their radar 12hrs before the deal was brokered.

 

The money is making the rich richer and the poor are getting the message that they must pay up or fall behind. Too many clubs are going to the wall at all levels and its only become apparent since the silly money started getting thrown about.

 

Since the inception of the Premier League and all the subsequent reshuffling in the leagues below, which club first fell foul of administration? Was it Luton? I know Boro went bust in 1986 but football as a business is a totally different animal to what it was back then.

 

The taxation and parachute payment from these kind of deals to lower league clubs sounds like a good idea, but then some bureaucrat will argue that its not in EU trading laws or something and we wont see any development in protecting these clubs going to the wall. Id be interested to know how many football league clubs are in administration at the moment.

 

More than anything, the money needs to be invested into establishing academies where British kids can be nurtured into players who are good enough to play in the top flight. Less of picking up kids from the continent and throwing them into our youth systems, we need to be looking at the failings of the past 20 years and find the reasons why other countries are continuing to produce talent in numbers when our systems are producing so few.

 

Are British players so poor that the majority exist in the Championship & below for that reason or is it that with foreign imports being cheaper, we are filling the Premiership up with them rather than paying over the odds for a home grown player?

Edited September 3, 2008 by robchester

[Fop 1]

He's lost a lot of relative and some actual wealth in the last 12 months.

[Craig 6700]

Money's not the problem, it's businessmen buying clubs as a 'play-thing' and trying to run them as a business without the slightest comprehension of what a football club means to those who are involved. And then undermining them in their running.

 

We've seen it in patches at Chelsea under Abromovich for some time at Liverpool and they're in a right mess as a result.

 

And in the last 24 hours we've seen two, well established clubs both with arguably the best sets of fans in the country have a situation whereby the manager is on the verge of or has walked out due to meddling from above.

 

Let the managers manage FFS. It's a fucking sad state of affairs in my book.

 

The only clubs who I think have got anywhere near to looking like they've got it right are Portsmouth and Villa.

[Fop 1]

Where does West Hams money come from? That is in essence (i.e. Ashley - retail + speculation etc.).

[ewerk 31587]

Where does West Hams money come from? That is in essence (i.e. Ashley - retail + speculation etc.).

 

Banking and beer I think.

[Fop 1]

Where does West Hams money come from? That is in essence (i.e. Ashley - retail + speculation etc.).

 

Banking and beer I think.

Probably hit like Ashley then I guess, hence the sudden frugality.

[Craig 6700]

Where does West Hams money come from? That is in essence (i.e. Ashley - retail + speculation etc.).

 

 

[@yourservice 67]

Whats the odds on Mark Hughes being next to go?

[Asprilla 96]

Whats the odds on Mark Hughes being next to go?

I think he'll be ok for a while yet.

[luckyluke 2]

Having clubs as the playthings of millionaires means that their club's fortunes can be changed on a whim of their owner. Look at the farcial sacking of Sven by Man City last year. I doubt they're too bothered now of course, but that's not really the point.

[Douggy B 0]

Where does West Hams money come from? That is in essence (i.e. Ashley - retail + speculation etc.).

 

Banking and beer I think.

 

the chap in charge is a chief at Landesbank, its a big old institution but has been hit by the credit crunch quite badly.

 

He was locked up for fraud in the eightees so no wonder he passed the fit and proper owner test

[R55VYS 0]

Seriously though, this threatens the game right to the very bottom. In the efforts of competition, surely there needs to be rules in place so that competition is fair and justified rather than just which club gets a rich owner? Not only should there be a limit of foreign players competing on matchdays, but there should also be a salary cap in place so that the limit is there for everyone to compete with.

 

Football isnt a business like any other, its a sport which has been turned into a business by clever marketing experts who realised all those years ago that by marketing the sport as a brand, they had a huge customer base which they could tap into.

 

 

Just something for everyone to think about, saying wage caps, amount of non british players etc will never happen, Just look at f1, they brought in sets of rules and so on, to stop the monopoly ferrari had over everyone, to make it easier for teams with less poke to win races, as it was just getting boring ferrari winning it every year. How long till the FA do the same, i mean its pretty much been 16 odd yr of Man U dominating the league. I think in a few years time there going to have to do it, making each team field at least 6 home grown players is an absolute must, in any league, but especially the PL and in spain where the majority of the talent flocks.