The Premier League

[Reds73]

Shea Charles to Fulham, a bit disappointed we didn’t look at him.

We’re looking higher level than him

[Paplane]

I'm just thinking about the news that Bezos is investing in Liverpool, and contrasting that with that boxing Sheikh guy pulling out from the Sheep deal yesterday and also the Saudis losing interest in Newcastle. And Aston Villa, despite having wealth in abundance and showing the capability of cracking the top 6 are now going backwards due to the 'rules'.

With the ffp/psr (or whatevever its called now) are we now seeing mega wealthy external investors turning their backs on English football on the basis that they'll be restricted from bank rolling a club to the very top of the game? Bezos is buying into Liverpool. Would he ever invest in a Villa or a Newcastle knowing that he'll hit a glass ceiling at some point?

Newcastle hired a good coach and bought some semi decent players. Where are they now? The coach has resigned as his players are being sold to the top 6 clubs. Similar story at Villa.

[wassy04]

I'm just thinking about the news that Bezos is investing in Liverpool, and contrasting that with that boxing Sheikh guy pulling out from the Sheep deal yesterday and also the Saudis losing interest in Newcastle. And Aston Villa, despite having wealth in abundance and showing the capability of cracking the top 6 are now going backwards due to the 'rules'.

With the ffp/psr (or whatevever its called now) are we now seeing mega wealthy external investors turning their backs on English football on the basis that they'll be restricted from bank rolling a club to the very top of the game? Bezos is buying into Liverpool. Would he ever invest in a Villa or a Newcastle knowing that he'll hit a glass ceiling at some point?

Newcastle hired a good coach and bought some semi decent players. Where are they now? The coach has resigned as his players are being sold to the top 6 clubs. Similar story at Villa.

Not to mention despite years of being terrible, Spurs are just able to casually spend 300m on players.

[Paplane]

Is it a bad thing that these Sheiks, and other non footballing people are turning their backs? Maybe not when you think about it?

We're actually quite lucky that our billionaire owner is a mad football nut. I doubt that Bezos is.

[DeesideRed]

Is it a bad thing that these Sheiks, and other non footballing people are turning their backs? Maybe not when you think about it?

We're actually quite lucky that our billionaire owner is a mad football nut. I doubt that Bezos is.

I think Bezos wants a seat at the table for the TV deal, we are getting closer to Simon Jordan's NETFLIX subscription idea in my view and who has a platform for that...

I'm with you though Pap, we discussed before football has always had its money teams and yes sometimes it goes tits up like Leeds but you speak to any of their fans and they wouldnt swap that champions league semi for jobbing around in mid table like fulham. The rules essentially cement the big 6 when in fairness they didnt need it as the likes of Arsenal Liverpool United etc are always in and around the top 6 mix anyway. 

What grates on me is City and Chelsea being in there having had their time in the sun. Newcastle should have won the league by now or at very least had the ability to challenge for it. Who could begrudge them being a top 6 side given they have the money to do it? Whats to say we wouldnt get a chance in the sun without being hamstrung?

[Sausage Roll]

Things will never change while allowed expenditure is linked to revenue.

[wassy04]

Is it a bad thing that these Sheiks, and other non footballing people are turning their backs? Maybe not when you think about it?

We're actually quite lucky that our billionaire owner is a mad football nut. I doubt that Bezos is.

I think Bezos wants a seat at the table for the TV deal, we are getting closer to Simon Jordan's NETFLIX subscription idea in my view and who has a platform for that...

I'm with you though Pap, we discussed before football has always had its money teams and yes sometimes it goes tits up like Leeds but you speak to any of their fans and they wouldnt swap that champions league semi for jobbing around in mid table like fulham. The rules essentially cement the big 6 when in fairness they didnt need it as the likes of Arsenal Liverpool United etc are always in and around the top 6 mix anyway. 

What grates on me is City and Chelsea being in there having had their time in the sun. Newcastle should have won the league by now or at very least had the ability to challenge for it. Who could begrudge them being a top 6 side given they have the money to do it? Whats to say we wouldnt get a chance in the sun without being hamstrung?

Completely disagree with Newcastle, why should just because a state takes them over they suddenly be allowed to spend unlimited money. It's unfair Man City got in before the rules and clearly cheated them in the early days and Chelsea abused the rules and got away with it. However, I would argue the rules have actually been effective stopping Newcastle way overspend, they've even limited the amount of spending from Man City. I think they have actually reigned in the top 6 sides more than people give them credit for an allowed the gap to be closed. Hence in recent times, the likes of Forest, Newcastle, Villa etc have all been in and around the top spots. Both Forest and Villa were in touching distance of the top spot at halfway the last few years. 

Whereas you go back to before the rules and the top 4 was just always the top 4. Man City bought their way in and so did Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd have been there a long time and Spurs worked their way up with years of net profits on spending. I remember how big a deal that Everton getting top four was under Moyes before they immediately lost in qualifying. Not like we've making massive profits or anything yet we've been able to spend quite a lot within the rules each year (even if we did mess that up once).

[Paplane]

If we've created spending rules that are designed to stop nation states buying football and contorting it to suit their own agendas, what's the point in those rules if their implementation just freeze frames a pre-existing contorted position as it existed in 2013(?) when the rules were first introduced? We may as well not have rules.

We need some fresh thinking in the game from independently minded people, not people who have a vested interest in the status quo remaining.

[JollyLollyAussie]

I can do that for you Pap, do you want details either my off-shore or Swiss bank accounts?

[wassy04]

If we've created spending rules that are designed to stop nation states buying football and contorting it to suit their own agendas, what's the point in those rules if their implementation just freeze frames a pre-existing contorted position as it existed in 2013(?) when the rules were first introduced? We may as well not have rules.

We need some fresh thinking in the game from independently minded people, not people who have a vested interest in the status quo remaining.

You're always going to have bigger clubs, whichever approach you take and whatever timeframe you use. The teams with the bigger stadiums/fanbases will always rise to the top due to relegation/promotion, compared to the closed shop approach in US sports that makes a salary cap effective.

You want a system where smaller or lower down sides have an opportunity to close the gap whilst not just giving a free pass to any state that come and create a new superteam with unlimited money. I feel like you want a system where a team can invest a lot, even they are small but in a way that its not just free so that teams like Brighton can also still succeed also. Which is broadly what we have.

In fact, sadly the new SCR rules make it easier for the top sides to spend more again which will likely re-increase the gap in the long run.

[Sausage Roll]

Latest super-computer prediction has us 17th and only fractionally ahead of the bottom three on predicted points.

There's three weeks of the transfer window left. We've got a new manager. We've lost one of our best players but have strengthened our defence and don't have the distraction of Europe. Hopefully we won't have four managers. But we're predicted to finish 9 points worse off.

I get really triggered by these predictions. I hope Glasner and the players use them as motivation.

Sky Bet meanwhile have us at 8/1 against to get relegated, the same odds as Brentford and longer than the three promoted teams, Sunderland, Fulham, Palace and Leeds. That sounds far more reasonable.

[Paplane]

Super computer my arse. More like my old 3.5k Commodore Vic20.