20 Apr 2021 09:28:48
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have hit the nail on the head, and done a brilliant job at explaining the gravitas of the situation that faces the game we all love.
I can't lie, I'm scared, because when you look at the names involved, these aren't people who will back down. This will remove the element of competition from our game, and I keep saying our game because that's what is was, our game, and now it's being taken away to line the pockets of people who you could fit what they know about our game, on the back of a stamp. There would no longer be any sense of achievement in reaching the champions league or Europa league, it would always be tainted.
Jurgen Klopp was clearly agitated, I have no doubts from the way he spoke that the managers and players only found out moments before we did yesterday. Him sticking by comments he made in 2019 was a measure of the man and we need the rest to follow suit!
I think we can stop this, but I think it's going to be very very hard and needs everyone on the same page, I'm hopeful that given a bit more time to not only consider their position but also what they can contractually say, if a Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire or Harry Kane come out and condemn this, take a strong stance, it will give the rest something to build around, at least in this country.
The more I've thought about this the more it feels like the game has been taken away from us as of the last year, for good safety reasons, but there's so many out there who will be lost without it for so long, dying to get back, and now it feels like what we are going to get back is not what we left and not what we love.
20 Apr 2021 10:06:18
Chris, really good post . the part that frightens me, is their arrogance that they can just do it .
20 Apr 2021 10:28:20
Brad Friedel makes a good point, some American owners don’t realise, that we are not just supporters, to us it’s like a religion, a way of life .
20 Apr 2021 10:31:38
I actually felt sorry for Klopp in his interviews, he clearly has had no input whatsoever on the decision made by the clubs owners, ditto the players and has obviously, unfairly, been put on the spot. Whatever our feelings on the clubs involved it should be directed at the faceless, spineless powerbrokers and not the players, management and others of the coaching staff.
They will all be asked about this in interviews and I'm hoping that they all speak out about this proposal as much as they possibly can, even though it goes against those who pay their salaries.
A united front by all involved from the tea lady up would give these trumped up, greedy, dictatorial b######s some pause for thought but ultimately these blood sucking megalomaniacs will just do what best serves themselves and s##t on the "little " people that are the lifeblood of the game.
Rant over (for now) 🤬.
20 Apr 2021 12:30:40
I’m hoping your right Dave, and that sort of religious element, that usually makes us as fans of different clubs quite tribal, can now unite us. Together I really think we can stop it, but it surely requires all fans, on top of that players and managers, which is a big ask because some won’t see where this is taking the game before it’s too late.
20 Apr 2021 13:00:22
The administrators need to get hold of this quickly and make it absolutely clear that they administer football not these 12 clubs otherwise they may as well pack up and go home. So for me they should:
1. Ban these teams from there domestic leagues and all other UEFA/ FIFA events this should include youth and U23 events. No loan deals for there players to domestic leagues should be allowed.
2. All players playing in this league to be banned from international football. (I know this penalises the players and whilst it seems a little unfair all avenues of exerting pressure should be used) .
3. TV companies to be encouraged/ incentivised not to broadcast these games this might be optimistic but worth a try.
4. Supporters clubs etc to be encouraged to boycott these matches.
5. Govt to put every available obstacle in the way of these rich clubs maybe for example levy a wealth tax based on turnover.
Even this might not be enough as the guys running these clubs are used to getting there own way, but at least it shows the depth of feeling at grass roots level.