Opinion: The Super League undressed one vital ingredient hidden in plain sight

The Dirty Dozen or the 12 clubs who was breaking away from the Football governing bodies and creating their own league on Sunday the 18^th April 2021. Have shown the world their true character and reason for ownership in the sport in the first place. The clubs have been taken over by sports owners, businesses and financial backers who is in for a quick buck. This isn’t owners who cares about football, its traditions or the legacy of these clubs. No, they are a MEAN to an END.

The clubs in question are useful tools for a cash-grab and a huge profit margin in sports where there isn’t to much investments for supporters and consumers world-wide to buy the product. If that is TV-Licensing deals, sponsorships or merchandise sale. It is all ways to sell the products and get the money flowing. Get the business from going from red to black in a heartbeat.

The 12 clubs and additions would have a financial wet-dream and be in a beneficial agreement. Where they would earn big money before even playing and just participating in the Super League. These teams would earn fortunes and they would just change the rules of the game. The pyramid of national leagues or even UEFA club coefficient wouldn’t matter. These twelve teams would get an advantage and be partners in their own system.

They wouldn’t have to care about the rules of FIFA, neither the tournaments of UEFA or the national association. The teams would be separate from the national leagues and cups. The 12 in question would live on their own island and on their own terms. Not playing in solidarity with others than themselves and gaining the perks of that.

That is why the Super League was so baffling. Yes, the UEFA and FIFA isn’t perfect. They are corrupt and have well known cronyism. The UEFA governing body is a greedy machine and the same is FIFA. So, the 12 clubs are just a mirror of their efforts, but in their own way. The 12 teams have been living in this greed and been building its prestige within these systems. That’s why breaking away would be a betrayal of the system they have grown big in.

Neither of the parties I have mentioned has clean hands. In the end its the supporters and fans who pays the price. The clubs are only being wealthy and rich, because of fans and supporters are willing to spend their dimes on them. They are buying tickets, subscription to Pay-Per-View and other things in connection with them. Not like the clubs can live or work without fans. They are the one reason for their existence in the first place.

The Super League was built on a shaky ground and would be a damned from the start. There would be so many left behind and leagues shattered because of the betrayal of these 12 teams. The owners of the teams might seek to find a way out. As their wet-dreams went south. The fans and the football bodies didn’t accept this. However, the teams still needs a reminder and they we’re close to making it happen. They had finalized the deal and went out with sort of collective statements. They we’re proud founding clubs of the Super League. These teams needs to be reminded and get a punishment. The Football Associations and others needs to react swiftly. It cannot just be water under the Stamford Bridge. It got to be something, drop of points and transfer embargoes. They need to feel.

The 12 teams are maybe not able to configure the league. As teams are ditching out the deals tonight. Sports directors and CEOs are resigning. We are seeing rumours of trading teams or trying to sell. All of that because they couldn’t bath in glory and swim in coins like Scrooge McDuck. However, the clubs was willing and was close to ditch everyone else. That got to have consequences. This cannot just conspire to happen over night, release it out of the bag and scare whole of Football Europe without any sanctions or punitive actions. The clubs who was willing to betray their national leagues and associations needs to be addressed. These has to be answered and they have to wonder why they wanted to leave the fold for their own game.

The owners underestimated the values, the reach and the general support for Football in Europe. These owners aren’t close in the alleys and streets around the stadiums on the day-to-day basis. They are only looking over the stock portfolio and the bottom-line on their investment. If it is yielding good money and great returns. Now, they are seeing the heart of the matter and possible the outreach of clubs. They didn’t just buy a Football Club, but also a local stakeholder and a part of a community. That cannot just be traded or sold as a loaf of bread. No, it got to be respected and honour the commitment of the fans it has.

The Dirty Dozens owners forgot this part. They forgot why they exist. Now, these clubs better face consequences and answer for the Super League. The resignations and possible sales of clubs isn’t saving it. That is just damage control after a failed enterprise. They we’re supposed to get a quick fix of money and run their own game. Now, they have lost without even playing a game. The PR is ghastly and the reputations is in tatters. The trust in the owners and the boards is at a all time low. These folks are willing to trade it all for a JP Morgan security of steady cash-flow.

The Super League shows how the Americans lives in their own world of Money-Ball. Where clubs are vehicle for printing money and securing favourable deals in Entertainment/Sports. That is all it is to them. They don’t value traditions, competitions or the rules of the game. No, it is money and that is what it all boils down too. They don’t care about Bushby, Shankly or Shearer. No, they only care about Pound Fucking Sterling and Euros. Peace.

Opinion: Supporters have to learn from AFC Wimbledon [Super League, don’t join’em, but beat’em]

I always remember back to Wimbledon and their rough playing style (the Crazy Gang). Wimbledon as a team was filled with sometimes misfits and out of character players. However, they did entertain and showed courage on the pitch. That is why the Wimbledon team was respected and deserved credit for what it did.

However, at some point the team fell apart. It also got relegated and got new owners. That really relocated the team and its facilities. This cause furore and fury among the loyal supporters. Wimbledon deserved much better. The owners went ahead and relocated it. Nevertheless, the supporters started from scratch and built up a new team.

MK Dons – The Owners Club:

“MK Dons, formed in 2004 from the ashes of Wimbledon FC, began playing their football at the National Hockey Stadium under the guidance of Stuart Murdoch, but poor results would lead to his dismissal in November of the same year and the appointment of Danny Wilson in his place. The experienced Wilson was in charge during the Dons’ most turbulent spell as a Club, escaping relegation from League One on the final day of the season thanks to Gareth Edds’ 84th minute winner against Tranmere Rovers.” (MK Dons – History).

AFC Wimbledon – The Supporter Club:

“It was preserving that glorious past that drove followers of the club to start again in the summer of 2002 after a specially appointed three-man FA commission shocked football fans everywhere by allowing the old Wimbledon FC to relocate to a Buckinghamshire new town. Determined not to let a proud 104-year history die, Dons supporters organised themselves and within just six weeks AFC Wimbledon – a club the commission had declared would be “not in the wider interests of football” – was born” (AFC Wimbledon – About Us).

This here is a cautionary tale, as well as one that has to inspire, as AFC Wimbledon is the game ahead and what the supporters needs to do. Yes, the owners can have the stadiums, the licenced names and jerseys. They can have the logos and even the grounds where the proud history of the clubs was made. However, the owners doesn’t own the supporters or the fans. They are the reason why the clubs are profitable and big business. These are the ones spending and making football viable as an investment.

Therefore, now that the Super League becomes a thing. The fans of the Big Six in the United Kingdom better learn from AFC Wimbledon. If they want to take care of the rich history and what matters. They better start their own clubs and forget the old ones. They are like the MK Dons. The clubs of the owners like Glazers, Levy and Henry. These people are in it for business and profits. Those fellows isn’t in it for the love of the game, but to earn quick bucks. That is why they are invested and interested in a Super League where they control and secure the bag.

That is why the supporters, fans and everyone who loves the sport. Have to start a fresh. They got to do like the Wimbledon fans had too. They had to stand strong and united, be courageous and not take the bollocks from the owners. They have to start new clubs in their stead. The supporter unions and organizations have to organize together in a manner where the they all can participate and create new clubs. Clubs which will represent the supporters and be “theirs”. Not be money-making machines for rich investors or hedge-funds.

Supporters have to stay grounded and think for the long run. Because this Super League is only envisioned as a cash-grab for a selected group of owners who has no care in the world in the spirit or the ideals of the competitions. They want a huge profit quickly and earn fortunes on the hard work and dedications of supporters for decades before they arrived to the clubs. These individuals want to take the heritage and the history of these clubs to get a few more shillings. That is what they do and leave behind a lot of national leagues, cups and European competitions without their presence. All been done for a creation of a money-ball situation. That’s it. The rich historic clubs traded on the alter of crony capitalism. That is tragic and therefore, the supporters have to challenge this. Just like the great supporters of Wimbledon who lost their home, their club, but they started their own with AFC Wimbledon, because the owners traded it away with the MK Dons.

Now, the big clubs are trading away their histories and their collective place for a shot at this Super League. In their stead the supporters have to create new teams in Milan, London, Manchester and elsewhere. To show the owners that they got nothing without the supporters and in the end… the souring profits will stop when they don’t have the ratings, the licences, the merchandise and gift selling. They only have empty stadiums and TV-deals, which the supports might boycott. That will be the tragic end. That is if the supporters are willing to risk their clubs, which have already been traded and taken for granted by a few greedy owners. Peace.

Opinion: The “Owners” League

The establishment of the European Super League (ESL) is practically the “Owners” League. This is made by and made for the owners of these clubs. The owners of these Football Clubs see the profit and possible incentives to control the licensing and merchandise directly. Not being part of the European Football bodies or governing associations. This is taking direct control of their investments and finding ways of getting a possible cash-cow.

The Super League is the European answer to the American Money-Ball. Where they have “World Series”, NBA and all the other leagues where Franchises and Owners of Teams are automatically part of the leagues. These are not made by national associations and by league structures that makes it possible for the underdog to get to the top. Because, the leagues are pre-fixed and has the Major League Teams already secured play.

The same will be with the Super League. Where the Founding Teams and such will have a favourable spot. These clubs will be there and never get relegated. These clubs with their massive wealth will sign of their own rules and together not care about for instance the “Financial Fair Play” or other measures to make the game more interesting.

With this sort of game-play and league. There will not be possible to see Burnley or Sheffield United beat Manchester United or Tottenham. No, they will not be able to participate or even try to play other second tier teams in the other leagues. They are practically shut out of the competition and the league is a narrow joint venture between the capital strong clubs of Europe.

The ESL is just made for the owners and not for the supporters. This is not intended on making it better for fans or making the sport more competitive. There is already Champions League and Euro League under the UEFA umbrella. Where the European Club Association has a say and is a vital member of. Therefore, ESL is playing around this and trying to be challenger to this.

What the ESL is losing out of is the direct competitions and the growth of the national leagues itself. If La Liga, Premier League or Serie A wasn’t competitive and interesting the supporters would ditch that too. However, the race for the titles and the race for the European titles as well have fuelled the interests for years. The ESL wants to cash out of that without putting the work down.

These clubs wouldn’t be interesting or as big as they are, if they didn’t participate or being part of the bigger picture. So, if they go along with this one and plays this one out. They are outplaying themselves too. You cannot grow naturally on your own. The competition will be pointless and mediocre with time. Especially, if the fans ditches things or boycotts it. As they feel betrayed by the owners and the financial backers of this. The owners wants quick money and control. They don’t want to be playing to rules of the game or the governing bodies of it. No, they want to the dough and wants to eat quickly.

That is what happens when you mix a lot of rich billionaires, oligarchs and hedge-fund investors taking control of Football Clubs. These are only calculating profits and possible returns. They are all in for their ends and doesn’t care about the love of the sport. These has invested to get money and earn money on buying the clubs. That is why they are doubling down on it and preparing for the ESL.

The ESL is the “Owners” League. It isn’t made for the supporters, but as a incentive to make it more profitable and cash-in money quickly. However, that can also only happen if the supporters actually follows and does participate in this. Nevertheless, supporters and fans are already outraged.

We know that will matter, but they are not taking that in. As the money is to big to care about few screaming out and being mad. They need to see the bottom-line and if the money goes from red to black. When they do that… then they are earning money and they don’t care what the older fans cared about. Peace.

Opinion: The European Super League [it’s all about the money(!)] and forgetting the fans

It is now officially that there been made a deal or an agreement to form an European Super League. This has been made with the American Bank JP Morgan and other owners of European Clubs. This being the owners of the 15 big Football Clubs.

The clubs who is involved is Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus. These together will form the core of the league. That is 12 clubs with additional 6 teams to become 18 teams league.

This is a formation made with the financial backers and owners of the clubs. These are oligarchs and wealthy hedge-fund owners who is trying to make their own cash cow, which they control and not involving either UEFA or FIFA. These clubs will run the tournament and be the chiefs in their own house. These is all founded by the financial backers and the ones owning the clubs. It is their own drive to make a more profitable enterprise.

The Super League at this point is slated to start in the 2023-24 season. This means the club will be preparing for the shift and the machinery behind the launch of the League until then. The managers and the clubs will be making preparations for it. While they might focus less on the National Leagues or the European Cups (Euro League and Champions League). They maybe not even care about the FIFA Club World Cup. Therefore, this is creating their whole own additional thing without considering the implications of the current tournaments the clubs already participate and is members off.

The modern day football have been driven by money. The salaries and the revenue have reached epic sums. The clubs, the merchandise and licensing is profitable enterprise for the European elites. The clubs has fans worldwide and the stars has posters everywhere. That is why these clubs who signs up to this Super League could profit and make vast fortunes to cover the eventual debt or prices of operation. However, they are also not respecting the football’s governing bodies or the traditional tournaments, which have made the sport and the clubs big in the first place.

This clubs didn’t grow on a island. They grew as a part of a football body and part of the evolution of football. These clubs have been part of the changes with UEFA and their National Leagues. If they feel to big for these bodies now. Then they are disrespecting the national associations and their roles in supporting their growth. The clubs are grand and great, because the Football Associations and supporters made them huge.

If they would pick the Super League and do this deal. Take the bait and the funds. They would have fight for relevancy and be a secondary league or tournament to the ones already existing. These are sort of making their “upper echelon” Champions League and formalizing it. The elite making their own league and ignoring the other champions of Europe. They are not caring for the second tier from the other states who also can get their cut and sometime meet the giants at their field. That is the beauty of this game.

Now this will block the greatness of the possibility of seeing the Messi’s and Ronaldo’s against the national heroes of Eastern Europe or Central Europe who could only dream about challenging such big stars on the pitch. They are now relegated by default and by the cynic approach of outside owners who see the money, but not the heart of the game.

If I we’re a Liverpool support. I would turn to Everton. Similar with the other clubs. If they decide to do this. Yes, UEFA and the National Association have to take their turns. They got to show force and enforce strict rules. So, that the ones that betrays the leagues get punished. However, this only proves what the American Money-Ball people thinks. They can juice up the clubs and make them invisible to the rest. Instead of investing and securing a better football product for all supporters.

This is corporate greed, which has grown strong into the Football Community. This is the market driven and profit thinking. Instead of loving the game. This is the owners taking it all in their hands, using their leverage and trying to forge their own rules. Instead of using all governing bodies of Football. Yes, FIFA and UNICEF have become cash-cows and big business too. Still, they are capable of exporting and making the sport more interesting for the supporter. Yes, they have made greedy agreements and shady transactions, which the manner they have traded the World Cup on the International Stage.

However, the National Leagues and European Cups have been successful and grown massive interests. That’s because of the competitive nature and international interests on these competitions. This is why the world is following Champions League, Euro League and the other National Leagues like Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and others. Which has all created interests and fans all across the globe.

If the big-teams ditches this and creates their own by corporate interests, instead of their fans. They are losing their key ingredient to why they became big-clubs in the first place. If the fans and supporters ditches the Super League and forget these clubs. Then they are losers and have huge bills to pay for empty stadiums. It maybe not happening at first. However, when they are not participating in ordinary leagues or competitions. What will drive them to make them better or challenge for titles? When they are in their secluded little league… of giants… who just plays along themselves.

That will end hurt themselves. It might work for a few seasons if the backers are lucky, but the prospects and the greatness will fade. As these will not have growth potential or glory in their respective fields anymore. They will be lonely in their own tournament and maybe not allowed to return to respective leagues and such.

In previous times, when clubs have demoted or breached rules. They have lost points, been relegated and even pre-fixed to struggle in the up-coming season. If these clubs abandon their respective leagues and wants to return “home”. Then the associations should use measures to stifle and make them pay for their disloyalty. Also, in a way where the club pay a hefty price and also on the pitch. Since the owners didn’t value the additional support or the traditional leagues.

The Super League is the Money-Ball experiment in Europe. American investors and corporations thinking they can juice up a cash-cow and call it a day. Where they can use strong brands and huge platforms to make a “World Series” and hope for a “Super Bowl”. While forgetting about the UEFA cups and the importance of national leagues. This is why this is a destructive move and as a supporter of football. A tragic move. A move made only for the pockets and not for the heart of the game. Peace.

AVB og 2013 mange manageres fall i PL!

Premier League idag uansett hvordan resultater du har oppnådd. Så kan det ende med ditt fall. Bare ett par dårlige kamper og feil, så ender på sidelinjen som keeperen Hart i Manchester City. Tidligere i år fikk Crystal Palace manager Ian Halloway sparken. Etter 9 kamper og 8 tap. Som ny-opprykket fra Championship før sesongen, selv med nye spillere gikk det feil. Galskapen var enda villere i Sunderland med Paolo Di Canio som skaffet flere spillere før sesongen. Reddet klubben akkurat ifjor fra nedrykk. Derimot kunne ikke klare å snu klubbens resultater. Nå har klubben fått en ny manager i Gus Poyet som kom fra suksess i Championship med Brighton & Hove. West Bromwhich Albion(WBA) som har hatt suksses ifjor med topp plassering og med imponerende angrepsspill av både leiesoldaten Lukaku og Odemwingie siste nevnte solgt til Cardiff etter illojalitet for å selge seg selv til Harry Redknapps Queens Park Rangers. Steve Clark har til nå klart på 16 runder fått laget til å ende opp en sikker 16 plass – som blir sett på som underparig.

I så hensende så har også Martin Jol just nå nylig fått sparken i Fulham. En klubb som er veldreven i London og også for ikke lenge siden fått nye eiere. Fulham som har de siste sesogene har vært midtsjikte lag i ligaen. Etter den sesongsstarten ligger nest sist. Dette kunne ikke den nye amerikanske eieren godta. Dermed måtte styre se seg etter en erstatter får å få skikk på resultatene. Martin Jol fikk fyken og nye treneren Rene Meulensteen ble ansatt kjapt.

Stoke som ifjor var ledet av forsvar taktikkeren og kontringsvillige Tony Pulis. Byttet ham ut med Mark Hughes for å få mer fart i angrepsspillet. Dette har ikke skjedd. Derimot har Tony Pulis funnet seg til rette i Crystal Palace som har funnet formen etter fallet til Ian Halloway, Chamackh har begynt å score.

Ikke at noen av disse fallene er den store grunnen til hvorfor jeg kommenterer den kjappe sparkingene av trenere i Premier League. Det går kjappere enn tidligere. Nesten på nivå hva som pleier å skje i Serie A. Hvor man har regler om at i en sesong kan en klubb ha max tre managere. Dette vil si at fra slutten av sommervinduet for salg til sommervinduets start så kan Inter ha tre trenere. Er dette målet til FA og Premier League klubbene?

Tottenham er siste i rekken som sparker sin trener. Dette etter å ha sendt Harry Redknapp på dør ifjor. Etter å ha vært misfornøyd med at han ikke klarte å få klubben blant topp 4 og sikre Champions League plass. Derfor ble det den da sparkete unge Andre Villas Boas(AVB) fra Chelsea som ikke fikk anledning til gjøre noe med laget. Som veldig mange andre trenere har opplevd under Roman Ambramovich. Slik som Avram Grant, Ray Wilkins, Guus Hiddink, Roberto Di Matteo og Rafael Benitez. Chelsea har virkelig byttet managere ofte. En av disse var AVB som deretter fikk ta over Tottenham etter Redknapp som senere tok over QPR.

AVB ble lovet tid. Han klarte ifjor å sikre klubben Euro-league og respektable resultater i cupene. Før sesongen i år solgte Tottenham deres viktigste spiller, den kreative og spennende spilleren Gareth Bale til Real Madrid. De samme pengene er blitt brukt på 7 nye spillere på både midtbanen og spiss. Disse har ikke slått igjennom selv om mange av disse var spillere med stort potensiale fra både Brasil, Spania, Danmark etc.

AVB ble sett på som en overgangsvinner i sommervinduet blant de øverste og store klubbene. Akkurat som Chris Hughton som tok over fra 2012 for Paul Lambert som for tiden er manager i Aston Villa. Chris Hughton har hatt enormt press, men ting ser ut som at det går bedre nå som en av de innkjøpte spissene Gary Hooper har begynt å score!

Det er her AVB har hatt stress. 16 kamper 15 mål. Flere kamper avgjort på straffer. Soldado som kom fra Spania har ikke slått helt igjennom. Defoe som ikke har hatt anledning til støtte Soldado. Paulinho og Eriksen har gjort det helt okay, men ikke like teknisk suverne som forventet av både Tottenham og ikke minst også alle kommentatorer til ligaen.

AVB har hatt press etter stortap hjemme mot West Ham – Hvor innleide Ravel Morrison viste klasse. Manchester Citys Pellegrini hadde en triumf hjemme med å slå samme laget 5-0. Helt overbevisende. Problemet til Tottenham, har vært at midtbanen har ikke tatt del i forsvarsarbeidet til laget som gir mye rom til motstanderen før 16 metersfeltet.

AVB har som skrevet at de har sletet med å bare score 15 mål. Man har hatt mye moro med at Stokes keeper Begovich hadde scoret like mange mål som spissene til Chelsea. Nå spøkes det med at Luis Suarez har scoret flere mål enn Tottenham til sammen. Det er her momentet ligger. Styret og Levy forventer morsom angrepsfotball. Dette har ikke AVB levert i år. Selv om de ligger godt an på tabellen. Selv foran Manchester United. De har kommet videre i Euro League. De er videre i FA Cupen og Liga Cupen. Selv om resultatene er svake i ligaen har de likevel klart å ta poeng og forsatt med i kampen om toppen av tabellen. Selv om det er ett stykke opp til Arsenal og Liverpool.

AVB fikk aldri tid og ro til å bygge laget. Selv om fikk kjøpt en gjeng spillere. Har han ikke fått roen til å styre som Brendan Rodgers i Liverpool og før dette i Swansea. AVB fikk bare en kort rolle til å styre. Fikk styret til å selge Bale til Real Madrid, og kjøpe spillere fra resten av Europa. Brukte samme summen på disse som selve salget.

AVB fikk sjeldent velge spillere i forsvar pga skader. Der de ikke forsterket laget før sesongen. Lloris keeperen har vært agressiv. Dette har kunnet skadet og mistet poeng på å hoppe ut i feltet med mer kraft enn David James i sine glansdager.

AVB har dermed kommet på listen av managere som har mistet sin jobb i 2013. Den begynner å bli lang. Det er bare vente på neste styreformann som mister tillit til sin utvalgte leder. Virker ikke som bygging og tillit til topplederen gjelder lenger. Bare kjappe lettkjøpte resultater gjelder. Ikke bygging og steg for steg. Tottenham kan sikkert velge i kandidater som vil lede klubben. Likevel så er det ett risiko prosjekt. Fordi man vet ikke om man kan leve opp til det som forventes av Levy samtidig som Manchester City, Chelsea og Liverpool er velfungerende maskiner, med sine problemer selvfølgelig.

AVB sorry for din korte tid og liten tillit. Håper du får bygget en klubb etter ditt ideal senere. Om det er i Italia, Spania eller Frankrike. Fordi britene virker ikke som de har tillit til deg.

Peace.