1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Simply they have to drop the super league plan or be kicked out. It is not possible to play 20 games in a league format and then knockout football and still play in the league and FA cup.it also means weakened sides picked in the PL to rest players for the super league.

It ruins all the domestic games and having us in the league like that destroys it credibility.

So give them a week or 2 to decide no more or get expelled and go with plan B.

They arent playing that many more matches than now. 10 games instead of 6 in the group stages. So effectively 4 more games, which will no doubt mean the 6 will not compete in Carabao Cup. 

1 hour ago, Malta Blue said:

BREAKING NEWS

The Official She End Kittens Club has just released a brief statement on their stance on the latest developments of the so called ESL

https://youtube.com/shorts/k-Ax5TSE_Pg?feature=share

Doesn’t sound impressed at all. 

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Simply they have to drop the super league plan or be kicked out. It is not possible to play 20 games in a league format and then knockout football and still play in the league and FA cup.it also means weakened sides picked in the PL to rest players for the super league.

It ruins all the domestic games and having us in the league like that destroys it credibility.

So give them a week or 2 to decide no more or get expelled and go with plan B.

The say in their site teams to remain in their respective leagues but nothing about domestic cups. 

Looks like we would be in the Prem and in this Super League. 

It would make sense as rich clubs don't benefit from FA Cup or Carabao financially that much. 

It is all about money at this point. No ways around it. To be fair top flight football has been like this for ages, this seems to be the last line to really wiggle out of competitions that doesn't benefit rich clubs...if I a right about dropping from domestic cups. 

38 Prem games + 20 + odd games in Super League.. 

4 minutes ago, Dean said:

But that’s ridiculous and desperate right? Who’s gonna watch those outside the fan bases, and even within presumably CL will just have zero caché?

I don't know. If French and German clubs stick with UEFA, a CL tournament is viable with clubs from England, Italy and Spain - just not the "big 6". I think the "big 6" could really come to regret this. Let's say the PL shuts them out and makes up the numbers from the championship and possibly Rangers and Celtic - that's a viable competition, arguably more competitively balanced than what we have now.

The break away clubs need to attract at least 8 others to have a viable league. They're planning 2 groups of 10 with home and away games giving each club a guarantee of just 18 games in a season. One its own that's not viable imho and if shut out of other competitions there's little they can do. The idea that 5 clubs could be invited to join the ESL each season - that can't work if the rest of football remains opposed, what club would risk it? How would they return to their domestic game after that season?

I'm increasingly of the view that this idea is a non-starter and if they do proceed, it's quite likely the clubs involved will destroy themselves.     

According to reports Chelsea and man city were the two teams among the six that had reservations about the super league but eventually joined because they didn’t want to be “left behind”

7 minutes ago, big blue said:

They arent playing that many more matches than now. 10 games instead of 6 in the group stages. So effectively 4 more games, which will no doubt mean the 6 will not compete in Carabao Cup. 

10 games at home, 10 games away. So 20. That is quite a bit more than 6.

7 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Doesn’t sound impressed at all. 

Nope, walked off shot in disgust at the end there

4 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

According to reports Chelsea and man city were the two teams among the six that had reservations about the super league but eventually joined because they didn’t want to be “left behind”

heard that too today. apparently Man United and Real Madrid are prime movers with the other clubs owned by Americans also very keen.

If we do stay in the CL and even end up winning, it would be a hollow victory as one of the most hated clubs in the history of football, all the joy of reaching that semi-final has vanished.

Only way back for the club now is to back out and issue and immediate apology to the fans, to the Premier League, The FA, every other club in the country and just about everyone else involved in football. And even then, how could we ever really trust them again? Knowing that they don't give a single sh*t about us.

I've supported this club my entire life. It's been a part of my life every day for as long as I can remember. Watching the games/listening to the games every weekend, managing to go and see them live sometimes, talking about them with friends in the playground, talking about them online, speculating on rumours, discussing tactics. This is a total betrayal of every fan, of the history of the club(s), for no other reason than greed. We've been through incredible highs and some sh*tty lows, and every year we come back for more, because this is our club. 

This is the most disillusioned I've ever been with Chelsea and with football in general.

It doesn't feel like my club anymore.

 

“In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Five of those matches would be at home and the other five would be away from home.

The top eight sides from that 'league stage' format would progress to the knockout stage automatically.

Those remaining sides running from ninth to 24th would then enter two-legged eliminators to determine the other eight teams into the last-16”
 

Hows this new CL format supposed to be better? 

15 minutes ago, evissy said:

The say in their site teams to remain in their respective leagues but nothing about domestic cups. 

Looks like we would be in the Prem and in this Super League. 

It would make sense as rich clubs don't benefit from FA Cup or Carabao financially that much. 

It is all about money at this point. No ways around it. To be fair top flight football has been like this for ages, this seems to be the last line to really wiggle out of competitions that doesn't benefit rich clubs...if I a right about dropping from domestic cups. 

38 Prem games + 20 + odd games in Super League.. 

although these clubs have the squad strength to compete in cups too, they'd just play a "B" team as they've done now for many seasons - banning them is a double edged sword, could be backed by millions of supporters across the country but also devalues the competitions....  

2 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I'm not sure it would be illegal. If FIFA don't recognise this competition as an official competition of the sport, then the players could be forced to choose one or the other.

I really don’t know,  it would be just a guess but I’d have thought that if a player was playing in a FIFA recognised competition ie EPL, then he would qualify to play international football. By barring them because their employer entered them in a separate side competition I thought would break some discriminatory rules. 

 I’m sure there are many legals rubbing there hands thinking of the killing in fees they are going to make out of this saga.

3 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Only way back for the club now is to back out and issue and immediate apology to the fans, to the Premier League, The FA, every other club in the country and just about everyone else involved in football. And even then, how could we ever really trust them again? Knowing that they don't give a single sh*t about us.

I've supported this club my entire life. It's been a part of my life every day for as long as I can remember. Watching the games/listening to the games every weekend, managing to go and see them live sometimes, talking about them with friends in the playground, talking about them online, speculating on rumours, discussing tactics. This is a total betrayal of every fan, of the history of the club(s), for no other reason than greed. We've been through incredible highs and some sh*tty lows, and every year we come back for more, because this is our club. 

This is the most disillusioned I've ever been with Chelsea and with football in general.

It doesn't feel like my club anymore.

 

I read something today from one of the break away clubs where the guy talked about "legacy fans" and "future fans" - that's how we are being thought about "legacy fans". I think that's disgusting. And their vision is based on "future fans" predominantly Asian, American, Indian or African huge populations but no attachment to a club other than maybe liking a single player or the design of a shirt or just because they win lots. It's the death of football.   

9 minutes ago, IndianaBlue85 said:

“In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Five of those matches would be at home and the other five would be away from home.

The top eight sides from that 'league stage' format would progress to the knockout stage automatically.

Those remaining sides running from ninth to 24th would then enter two-legged eliminators to determine the other eight teams into the last-16”
 

Hows this new CL format supposed to be better? 

It's not - that what makes it so sad. The UEFA/FIFA shuffled it's own grave just as well. Inflated World Cups, a new friendly cup competition every other year, be it for the national teams or that useless club wc and whatnot.

 

Might as well finally jump the shark with this ESL

I'm being a bit cynic today. It's probably a bit different coming from Bundesliga since I actually wouldn't mind that much Bayern leaving (and now they don't want to..lol) because they've clearly outgrown the rest by an uncanny margin but with the PL it's different of course because it's almost 1/3 "leaving"..

Edited April 19, 20215 yr by weetee

Just now, carrickblue said:

I read something today from one of the break away clubs where the guy talked about "legacy fans" and "future fans" - that's how we are being thought about "legacy fans". I think that's disgusting. And their vision is based on "future fans" predominantly Asian, American, Indian or African huge populations but no attachment to a club other than maybe liking a single player or the design of a shirt or just because they win lots. It's the death of football.   

Thos is what hurts more than anything....it was something along the lines of we know the legacy fans wont like this but we are prioritising future fans who actually want the bug names in our teams....we have in effect been told we are redundant now. Thanks for your money but f**k off we dont need you anymore

 

Sky have made MNF football free to watch. Carragher and Neville speaking about it right now.

Just now, Zeta said:

Only way back for the club now is to back out and issue and immediate apology to the fans, to the Premier League, The FA, every other club in the country and just about everyone else involved in football. And even then, how could we ever really trust them again? Knowing that they don't give a single sh*t about us.

I've supported this club my entire life. It's been a part of my life every day for as long as I can remember. Watching the games/listening to the games every weekend, managing to go and see them live sometimes, talking about them with friends in the playground, talking about them online, speculating on rumours, discussing tactics. This is a total betrayal of every fan, of the history of the club(s), for no other reason than greed. We've been through incredible highs and some sh*tty lows, and every year we come back for more, because this is our club. 

This is the most disillusioned I've ever been with Chelsea and with football in general.

It doesn't feel like my club anymore.

 

It's been like that for many of us for a while now. This is kinda the final straw.

I'd imagine AFC Wimbledon are rubbing their hands with the prospect of a sudden increase in their fanbase.

16 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Only way back for the club now is to back out and issue and immediate apology to the fans, to the Premier League, The FA, every other club in the country and just about everyone else involved in football. And even then, how could we ever really trust them again? Knowing that they don't give a single sh*t about us.

I've supported this club my entire life. It's been a part of my life every day for as long as I can remember. Watching the games/listening to the games every weekend, managing to go and see them live sometimes, talking about them with friends in the playground, talking about them online, speculating on rumours, discussing tactics. This is a total betrayal of every fan, of the history of the club(s), for no other reason than greed. We've been through incredible highs and some sh*tty lows, and every year we come back for more, because this is our club. 

This is the most disillusioned I've ever been with Chelsea and with football in general.

It doesn't feel like my club anymore.

 

I’d like to make you aware that I would not be willing to participate in Zeta’s European Super League Prediction Competition. 

1 hour ago, jack h said:

No it isn't wrong, as already pointed out to you, the distribution of wealth is what provides and maintains the competition that brought in the revenue in the first place, without the diversity of, unique histories of and sheer number of other clubs this sport would never have been as attractive or as loved as it has been.

You realise as well that fans of Sheffield Utd and Burnley, clubs you named, amongst all the others, do not pay their TV subs to watch us or Man Utd or Liverpool etc? They pay to watch their teams! Who are you or any of these clubs to have the arrogance to presume the motivations of millions of paying fans?

Your irrational and shortsighted view of the game and the sense of elitism coming from your posts represents everything wrong with the game, I struggle to see what attracts you to football to begin with.

Been a fan since 87, will continue to be a fan until the day I die - but the reality is that the history and romanticism you allude to is long dead - You can call that irrational and short sighted, but that's the reality. My sole concern is Chelsea moving forward, and not what happens to teams in lower divisions. The lower echelons of the league bring little benefit Chelsea, other than being a vehicle to loan players to - which they (lower league clubs) will continue to want, as it is mutually beneficial to both parties.

If other lower league clubs have become dependent on money that filters down from other people TV deals, then that is their problem. In my view, the challenge is for them to become self sustainable on that back of revenue they generate on their own. Lets not forget that the majority of these clubs existed before the EPL and Champions league, and well before mega TV deals were a thing - So they did it (survived) before - let them do it again.

Edited April 19, 20215 yr by nonotnowjim

19 minutes ago, IndianaBlue85 said:

“In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Five of those matches would be at home and the other five would be away from home.

The top eight sides from that 'league stage' format would progress to the knockout stage automatically.

Those remaining sides running from ninth to 24th would then enter two-legged eliminators to determine the other eight teams into the last-16”
 

Hows this new CL format supposed to be better? 

It isn’t!

22 minutes ago, IndianaBlue85 said:

“In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Five of those matches would be at home and the other five would be away from home.

The top eight sides from that 'league stage' format would progress to the knockout stage automatically.

Those remaining sides running from ninth to 24th would then enter two-legged eliminators to determine the other eight teams into the last-16”
 

Hows this new CL format supposed to be better? 

Yes we really are between a rock and a hard place here. I so much preferred the CL when it was just, well, the champions from each league, but that format is no longer workable unfortunately.

18 minutes ago, Malta Blue said:

Thos is what hurts more than anything....it was something along the lines of we know the legacy fans wont like this but we are prioritising future fans who actually want the bug names in our teams....we have in effect been told we are redundant now. Thanks for your money but f**k off we dont need you anymore

Yup we are the past, the deep pockets of elsewhere future fans are who they want.

25 minutes ago, IndianaBlue85 said:

“In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Five of those matches would be at home and the other five would be away from home.

The top eight sides from that 'league stage' format would progress to the knockout stage automatically.

Those remaining sides running from ninth to 24th would then enter two-legged eliminators to determine the other eight teams into the last-16”
 

Hows this new CL format supposed to be better? 

It’s not so much better but at least teams have to qualify to play in the CL. In this new ESL, 12 teams have their place guaranteed, including those farcical clubs Spurs and Arsenal.

Can someone clarify - have we signed and committed to the ESL or is it just a letter of “intent”? 
 

I’m reading different things..

Edited April 19, 20215 yr by JM7