one more nail in footballs coffin.

[ted1965]

The idea of taking the Premiership games half way across the world is simply crazy, as it makes sense only for a hand full of clubs and I was always under the impression the Premiership was about 20, yes right the Premiership is simply designed to keep 4 or 5 clubs within the English league system and so they can do as they please it seems. The authorities are scared witless of upsetting them so any crackpot idea is sanctioned by the rest to keep the golden goose alive.

When and where will the prostitution of the once peoples game stop, yes we all know progress needs to be made or the game will stagnate but is this progress. If it is it’s only progress for a few and for that we all have to bow and scrape to them for the fear they will take their ball and leave. It’s time people reminded them that this was and always will be the peoples game, yes we have little control over what the owners do but we do have the option to refuse to sanction sky or any other channel showing these exhibition matches purely based on greed.

If you look at it logically, who in Hong Kong is going to watch Birmingham versus Wigan, hell they can’t fill the grounds here with their own supporters to watch such a fixture so why in Gods name would people somewhere so far away care, yes I am sure the first time it would be a novelty but in reality this is about the glorification of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and the like. They are the only sides who can make this pay. Though of course the rest play along, more money I am sure but if they hope to close the gap absolute garbage.

If the big clubs want to walk away just because they can’t have icing on there already huge cakes then let them. The football league has been here for over a hundred and thirty years, this will give it a chance to stand up and say sorry you can’t have everything just because you want it. I am guessing a few toys will be thrown from a few executive boxes but in the end it will settle down and nobody will walk out on the league. Though if we just allow them to use the let us have what we want or we are off card over and over then how is football benefiting a few get richer and richer and the gap increases and eventually the game will be an even more closed shop and so what’s the difference with them leaving.

I know football will never be a working mans game again, it’s become way to commercial and financially based for that but we do need to keep a little of it’s heritage in tact, there has to be some aspects tied to it’s roots. The world has changed, people have moved out into it and football has become big business but there should and must still be a place for those who love the game with a passion, those who live every kick and dream of the day when their side is challenging the very best for major trophies.

I heard the chairman of the Premiership claiming it was viable because there’s no champions league or international fixtures in January, what about the F A Cup, the once greatest cup completion in the world will be marginalized even more. The magic of the cup was seen at it’s best with Havant at Liverpool, yet if this scheme gets the green light who would they be playing Liverpool’s junior side as after a long fight the first tem sure as hell wont be turning out. It’s another nail in the coffin for the once peoples game, the prawn sandwich brigade are taking over and soon they will need cheering tracks like laughter tracks over comedy shows because those who love the game will not be able to actually afford to see it. Then football at the very top will die and the band will keep playing as thr Titanic sinks.

rant over when do we play Bolton in Bermuda again.

[Deleted]

How many threads on this subject?!

Going from one of the other threads on this board, the majority are against the idea.

It makes no sense whatsoever. It’s just a case of the bigger, richer clubs getting even greedier. The next time any premier league manager moans about fixture congestion they should be asked what there thoughts are on there bosses pushing for not only an additional game but the extra exertion of travelling half way across the world and back.

It has been provisionally formatted so that the top 5 can’t play against each other so there is a realistic chance you could have matches like Wigan v Derby being played in Australia or America. Who is going to want to watch that?

It’s also unfair on the clubs who play Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea 3 times a season. Relegation often comes down to a single point or even goal difference so this will be a significant factor in the final positions where it really matters.

It’s just bigger clubs getting greedier and it is a ludicrous idea IMO.

[jpm64]

Ted

I completly agree with your excellent post but why start another thread about it ???

[Stick It On Cort's Head]

i think football is fantastic, no problems with it at all.

But if this were to happen, it would wreck the whole centre of it, away fixtures etc, do the FUCKING BOARDS HAVE NO HEARTS!!!

[petershiltonsmini]

My feelings exactly.

Also if these new fixtures are league games how are you going to feel if you support a struggling club fighting a relegation battle and get drawn to play Manure 3 times in one season. They have said that the teams will be seaded so the big 4 will not play each other which gives them a massive advantage.

It's all about manure, Liverpool, arsenal, chelski plc and screw the rest.

[Deleted]

I agree with most of that Ted but football is still a working mans game.

The difference is that many clubs have made more of an effort to attract folk who weren't too keen on standing\sitting next to a foul mouthed fuckwitt for 90 minutes.

[petershiltonsmini]

Sorry didn't read whydelilah's post before firing off mine

[eddyclamp]

Good post Ted 100% spot on

[vientianescfc]

Well to be completely honest if they took ANY premiership game to Asia they'd probably sell out of tickets in about 30 minutes! Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Hong Kong etc cannot get enough of English Premiership football. If you strike up a conversation with pretty much any Asian guy, the first question will be - where are from, say England and the topic will instantly be Premier league football - they'll reel off about 20 or 30 names off the top of there head! My cousins-in-law are just an example they can name pretty much every player on the pitch in any match and I'll sit there pretty much none the wiser of who they are on about!!

The TV here even show programming of Chelsea and Man U TV! It's on the sports channels pretty much 24 hours a day, you even have programs similar to Soccer AM which have supporters of each club on each week. They are up at 2-3am watching live games regardless of who the teams are playing.

I think you seriously underestimate the actual size of the market over in this area of the world.

The major thing that would stop it is making money - since the countries in SE aren't in anyway as wealth as the UK and even £20 in some countries is equivalent to a weeks work.