Stan Collymore Talking Sense

[Shrimper2thecore]

This is all a joke, makes me really happy that we are in league 1 to be honest with you

 

[londonblue]

This is all a joke, makes me really happy that we are in league 1 to be honest with you

It now begs the question of whether we really want to be in the PL, or would be reliquish the opportunity should it ever arrive?

 

[bomma77]

It is the logical and inevitable conclusion of capitalism. "Globalisation" is merely a phrase for describing when one successful business within one particular market wishes to replicate that success in different markets in other locations.

In exactly the same way that Starbucks wants to sell coffee in Singapore as well as Seattle, so Manchester United wants to sell football in Singapore as well as Salford. And so, you have to take the product to your market - and the real product, not simply the ersatz, out-of-season kickabout product. You have to take real Premiership matches overseas.

When football clubs - and the Premiership in particular - stopped being sporting associations representing a community and became instead multinational corporations floated on stock exchanges and leveraged assets accountable to banks and shareholders first, and fans second - then the phenomenon of games being played overseas became totally inevitable.

I'm just surprised it has taken them this long to cotton on to the idea.

Matt

I still think it's a bad idea, and like it or not these clubs are still sporting associations. Success is still measured by how well these clubs do on the pitch. Their ability to attract the best players diminishes, if they don't get into Europe, and shirt sales in outer Mongolia fall if the team isn't doing so well.

People sight the NFL game over here as a success and therefore a reason for this idea, but was it really? Do we even have an American 'Football' league over here and how well supported is it? I wouldn't even know who my local NFL team is. Football is a global sport anyway in my opinion, and stands up very well against anything peculiar to what the Yanks have.

I feel it will also alienate the loyal supporters of the clubs, which may not matter to the big 4 as they have massive waiting lists just to get a chance to buy a ticket, which is why the likes of Arsenal can charge 90-odd-quid for a ticket. However, the home support to the likes of Wigan, Birmingham etc. it is crucial, especially if they get relegated.

Also, would a game like Wigan vs Birmingham really generate a lot of interest in Singapore? Another way of looking at it is would Singapore be happy biding £50m to bring 2 premiership games to their nation and ending up with Wigan Vs Birmingham & Derby Vs Reading?

All I can see this doing is generating more cash to the big four, as that is where most of the interest lays. When I went to South Africa last year, all I was asked, do I support Man Utd, Liverpool or Arsenal and to a lesser extent Chelsea. Of course I got immense pleasure telling people Southend the only league side to have a 100% win record over Man Utd!

If they really want to venture into this then why not make it into a cup competition, whereby the top 8 sides in the premiership at the 1st January compete, all the money from the bids is pooled, and the winner of the competition receives the Lions share of the pooled money. This way it would have no bearing on the league and points system what-so-ever.

 

[chaco27saf]

Chaco, there may be outrage but unfortunately I can't see the vast majority of fans seriously contemplating a boycott.

TBH with the potential earnings from a globalised brand and the TV revenues some clubs could concievably run successfully and profitably without any paying customers in the stadium.

Honestly, if the fans who are upset about this don't take serious action in order to prevent this from occurring, I will have absolutely no sympathy for them. A boycott is the only way I can see this plan not becoming reality, the EPL is not going to be dissuaded if they don't think much will change in viewership domestically.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Honestly, if the fans who are upset about this don't take serious action in order to prevent this from occurring, I will have absolutely no sympathy for them. A boycott is the only way I can see this plan not becoming reality, the EPL is not going to be dissuaded if they don't think much will change in viewership domestically.

Completely agree with this.

Money-Hungry Megalomaniacs like Scudamore will hurt in one way, his wallet size. He needs to know that he doesn't have the power he thinks he does, and that the people are not afraid to respond with action.