The European Super League

[Admincohns Namerryaz]

We have entered a new era of association football unlike any other, everyone.

[The Nihilistic view]

The 2008/09 Barcelona squad cost around €190m in transfer fees. Then the Academy costs at least €5m a year and in 2009 it had a €10m renovation. Given the players in the team from the academy had come through to the team over the preceding 11 years we can say the cost of the academy players in the team was €55m.

So total cost of assembling that 08/09 Barca squad was €245m.

Please can somebody tell me how football wasn't about money in 2009?

[The Champions League]

The 2008/09 Barcelona squad cost around €190m in transfer fees. Then the Academy costs at least €5m a year and in 2009 it had a €10m renovation. Given the players in the team from the academy had come through to the team over the preceding 11 years we can say the cost of the academy players in the team was €55m.

So total cost of assembling that 08/09 Barca squad was €245m.

Please can somebody tell me how football wasn't about money in 2009?

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

[Outer Sparta]

The 2008/09 Barcelona squad cost around €190m in transfer fees. Then the Academy costs at least €5m a year and in 2009 it had a €10m renovation. Given the players in the team from the academy had come through to the team over the preceding 11 years we can say the cost of the academy players in the team was €55m.

So total cost of assembling that 08/09 Barca squad was €245m.

Please can somebody tell me how football wasn't about money in 2009?

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

Now you can rig entire football leagues and farm them into oblivion like in France.

[The Blaatschapen]

I am no longer a Manchester United fan over this decision.

I will pick a new team after an appropriate period of mourning.

May I suggest NAC Breda.

Guaranteed to not be in the Super League any time soon.

[The Nihilistic view]

The 2008/09 Barcelona squad cost around €190m in transfer fees. Then the Academy costs at least €5m a year and in 2009 it had a €10m renovation. Given the players in the team from the academy had come through to the team over the preceding 11 years we can say the cost of the academy players in the team was €55m.

So total cost of assembling that 08/09 Barca squad was €245m.

Please can somebody tell me how football wasn't about money in 2009?

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

Everything UEFA does is in it's own intrests. They have already begun the road to a super league, the new proposals for the champions league would give extra spaces based on coefficients. They will make incremental steps over 15 or 20 years and what we end up with won't be much different from the super league proposal.

The only proposal that would truly be about the fans is for ownership of clubs to be transfered to the fans and if money was redistributed to lower levels on a far wider scale than currently happens. Until that happens anybody claiming to be for the fans is actually just using fans to keep their own pockets lined.

[The Champions League]

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

Everything UEFA does is in it's own intrests. They have already begun the road to a super league, the new proposals for the champions league would give extra spaces based on coefficients. They will make incremental steps over 15 or 20 years and what we end up with won't be much different from the super league proposal.

The only proposal that would truly be about the fans is for ownership of clubs to be transfered to the fans and if money was redistributed to lower levels on a far wider scale than currently happens. Until that happens anybody claiming to be for the fans is actually just using fans to keep their own pockets lined.

If anything, Bundesliga clubs bar Hoffenheim and Leipzig get the closest to that

[The Blaatschapen]

The 2008/09 Barcelona squad cost around €190m in transfer fees. Then the Academy costs at least €5m a year and in 2009 it had a €10m renovation. Given the players in the team from the academy had come through to the team over the preceding 11 years we can say the cost of the academy players in the team was €55m.

So total cost of assembling that 08/09 Barca squad was €245m.

Please can somebody tell me how football wasn't about money in 2009?

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

Denilson?

Way too late.

Money really started to count after the Bosman ruling. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosman_ruling

It wrecked Ajax at the time, and the Dutch professional leagues, before a hotbed for talent despite it being a small country, took a huge hit.

Portugal, somehow slightly better as the Netherlands when it comes to club football nowadays, is full of speculating agents. Lots of deals where the club doesn't own the player.

[The Nihilistic view]

I am no longer a Manchester United fan over this decision.

I will pick a new team after an appropriate period of mourning.

May I suggest NAC Breda.

Guaranteed to not be in the Super League any time soon.

He doesn't need to go that far. FC United of Manchester is only just round the corner and fan owned.

Although NAC Breda is my Dutch team so wouldn't be a bad choice!

[The Blaatschapen]

May I suggest NAC Breda.

Guaranteed to not be in the Super League any time soon.

He doesn't need to go that far. FC United of Manchester is only just round the corner and fan owned.

Although NAC Breda is my Dutch team so wouldn't be a bad choice!

Hey!

It's my team too!

I grew up there. But what's your reason?

[The Nihilistic view]

Everything UEFA does is in it's own intrests. They have already begun the road to a super league, the new proposals for the champions league would give extra spaces based on coefficients. They will make incremental steps over 15 or 20 years and what we end up with won't be much different from the super league proposal.

The only proposal that would truly be about the fans is for ownership of clubs to be transfered to the fans and if money was redistributed to lower levels on a far wider scale than currently happens. Until that happens anybody claiming to be for the fans is actually just using fans to keep their own pockets lined.

If anything, Bundesliga clubs bar Hoffenheim and Leipzig get the closest to that

Yeah I think there are some improvements to be made to that model but most of the top German clubs and Barcelona get closest to the ideal.

[Fartsniffage]

I am no longer a Manchester United fan over this decision.

I will pick a new team after an appropriate period of mourning.

May I suggest NAC Breda.

Guaranteed to not be in the Super League any time soon.

I'm leaning towards Oldham. Local and bottom of League 2 so never have to worry about them being rich cunts.

[The Champions League]

You're right, it has always been about money. The question of how fast this money-related dependence and hunger advanced is the real problem. I would say that starting with Betis's record-breaking transfer for Denilson the entire process catalyzed greatly. Florentino made it worse and at this point, 2009, we already had an idea of just how messy things were going to be with the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City. Then Qatar came, Real broke the $100m limit and all hell broke lose. But in all truth, football and money have always been there side-by-side, but ten years ago it didn't seemed as much of an issue as it does now with the market being more inflated than Hungary in the 50s and owners acting for their own good rather than the fans.

Denilson?

Way too late.

Money really started to count after the Bosman ruling. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosman_ruling

It wrecked Ajax at the time, and the Dutch professional leagues, before a hotbed for talent despite it being a small country, took a huge hit.

Portugal, somehow slightly better as the Netherlands when it comes to club football nowadays, is full of speculating agents. Lots of deals where the club doesn't own the player.

They're close enough in time

[The Nihilistic view]

He doesn't need to go that far. FC United of Manchester is only just round the corner and fan owned.

Although NAC Breda is my Dutch team so wouldn't be a bad choice!

Hey!

It's my team too!

I grew up there. But what's your reason?

FIFA 02 journeyman save lol.

FIFA and Football Manager are the reasons for most of my favorite clubs in most countries.

The most notable exeptions are Manchester United because of family and Giggs, FC United of Manchester because I hate the takeover of United, DC United because that's the local MLS team where my Uncle lives.

[The Blaatschapen]

Hey!

It's my team too!

I grew up there. But what's your reason?

FIFA 02 journeyman save lol.

FIFA and Football Manager are the reasons for most of my favorite clubs in most countries.

The most notable exeptions are Manchester United because of family and Giggs, FC United of Manchester because I hate the takeover of United, DC United because that's the local MLS team where my Uncle lives.

Ah, alright then.

I was hoping for having seen a match or so. They attract quite a crowd

[The Nihilistic view]

FIFA 02 journeyman save lol.

FIFA and Football Manager are the reasons for most of my favorite clubs in most countries.

The most notable exeptions are Manchester United because of family and Giggs, FC United of Manchester because I hate the takeover of United, DC United because that's the local MLS team where my Uncle lives.

Ah, alright then.

I was hoping for having seen a match or so. They attract quite a crowd

Hopefully one day. I have a plan to eventually see all the clubs I've grown attached to over the years live. But after 20 years of football games and watching football the list is quite long and I've only seen about 15% of the teams live so far.

[The Blaatschapen]

Ah, alright then.

I was hoping for having seen a match or so. They attract quite a crowd

Hopefully one day. I have a plan to eventually see all the clubs I've grown attached to over the years live. But after 20 years of football games and watching football the list is quite long and I've only seen about 15% of the teams live so far.

If you do, let me know, I have family and friends in the stadium, and I get to visit my parents around the corner.

And it's been too long as well.

Or if you are in Berlin, a nice Union game (or, if you must, a Hertha one)

[CoraSpia]

May I suggest NAC Breda.

Guaranteed to not be in the Super League any time soon.

I'm leaning towards Oldham. Local and bottom of League 2 so never have to worry about them being rich cunts.

Go for Rochdale. They have very good links with the fans and local community groups, do a lot for charity and help out our local school for disabled kids a lot. Really nice little local club.

[The Nihilistic view]

Hopefully one day. I have a plan to eventually see all the clubs I've grown attached to over the years live. But after 20 years of football games and watching football the list is quite long and I've only seen about 15% of the teams live so far.

If you do, let me know, I have family and friends in the stadium, and I get to visit my parents around the corner.

And it's been too long as well.

Or if you are in Berlin, a nice Union game (or, if you must, a Hertha one)

I'll bear that in mind should I get around to it in the near future.

Unfortunately I'm a Hoffenheim fan because I went to school with the son of somebody who was involved with the club for a while without giving too much away with who they are. Slightly ironic given their ownership but I didn't know what fan ownership was at 15 lol.

[The Archregimancy]

Apparently, Schalke 04 are suspected to join the ESL. Currently dead last in the Bundesliga and 10 points behind 19th-placed Köln.

Apologies if someone else has pointed this out, but that story is from the German version of the Onion, as even a quick check of the other stories on the website would have demonstrated. This one, for example.

[CoraSpia]

Apparently, Schalke 04 are suspected to join the ESL. Currently dead last in the Bundesliga and 10 points behind 19th-placed Köln.

Apologies if someone else has pointed this out, but that story is from the German version of the Onion, as even a quick check of the other stories on the website would have demonstrated. This one, for example.

To be honest that one sounds a lot more believeable than Schalke being invited to join a new European super league.

[Fartsniffage]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YinDvtBCX0I

Just watch it. Jesus wept.

[The Nihilistic view]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YinDvtBCX0I

Just watch it. Jesus wept.

The best bit is when other clubs want them kicked out and haven't worked out that kicking them out would create the European super league by default. They think those clubs will sit and twiddle their thumbs on the sideline? Or will they just go ahead and make the new league which they will do regardless because they will still get more money purely from the super league.

If the other clubs even want a share of that money the super league clubs need to still be in the Premier league because when the super league clean up the broadcasting rights the Premier league won't have nearly as much money as they do now in comparison. Some Premier league overseas rights literally only exist because people want to watch United or Arsenal, they don't want to watch West Brom V Stoke or something like that.

[Outer Sparta]

Gotta love how hypocritical UEFA are in trying to call others corrupt. It's just UEFA, the FAs, broadcasters, FIFA, and the big teams all accusing each other of what they are exactly doing.

[DesAnges]

Wondered what it would take to drag me out of my little region hole and back forum side. I've been mulling this over for the last 24 hours and each new detail seems specifically designed to twist the knife just that little bit more.

What we have here, folks, is greed incarnate. Avarice unfettered, rampant, unadulterated desire for more of what you already have far too much of. It's also been coming for a long time. Each new alteration to the European Cup has been a step down this road, and people only care now because the slowly boiling frogs have been pulled from the pot and thrown into a deep fat flash fryer.

People still defend Fenway Sports Group, despite the contempt they've shown for the average working class fan over their tenure at Liverpool. The ticket pricing debacle, the trademarking scandal, the furlough, Project Restart. Honestly just the furlough should have forever tanked their reputation but put it altogether and it's just a group of men who want everything because then they control everything. It's grubby and petty.

The Glazers have the gall to compare their power grab, their disgusting immoral ladder-dropping to the great Matt Busby's attempts to unite European football into a meritocracy. That would stings me so United fans must be fucking livid.

Andrea Agnelli is a spiteful moron who was given the football club to run because he was considered too dumb to take over something more important in the family empire, and I think he knows this. He's not ignorant like the Glazers; nor does he have FSG's attempts to moralise. He knows football, he knew the way the fans would react, and he didn't care. The head of UEFA is godfather to his child, a close personal friend, and Agnelli burned him unannounced in the pursuit of even more money.

The most laughable aspect is that it has been announced that the clubs will take their European Cup/Champions League gongs with them, so Real Madrid will start with 13 Super League titles, Liverpool with 6, and the mighty Nottingham Forest will have won twice, despite the chances of them ever participating in the competition being similar to me shacking up with Brie Larson on the moon. It speaks of a deep insecurity, an inability to process the fact that you are not the centre of the universe and that which money and fame should revolve.

But the thing that burns the most, the thing which makes my skin crawl is the tag "legacy fan". Men and women who have been going to the terraces since they were terraces, taking along their children, grandchildren, possibly even great-grandchildren along to share in an unbroken line of mutual love and respect between fan and club, that unique symbiosis of the sporting world, swept aside for some teenager thousands of miles away who shitposts on Twitter about Cristiano Ronaldo because they don't like football, they like individualism writ large and by God will the Super League clubs bend over to give it to them.

Liverpool played tonight and for the first time in ages I don't care. Even during the depths of my depression I still cared enough to watch and have a small celebration when we scored. But in a little over 24 hours they have broken me, and I don't think it can be repaired until the vultures are gone and the clubs swept clean of their disease.