Sky has ruined football...Utter bollocks

[coaxingstar71]

The worst aspect of Sky is the obscene amount of money shoveled into players wages in PL.

It has a knock on effect to the lower leagues. Take us for instance regularly losing £5M per year.

The league structure is unbalanced and unstable.

How long before it is just PL1 and PL2 and fuck the rest ?

You may well say economic forces but it could be a catastrophe for the club I've supported for over 50 years.

I agree with you and I think eventually that's exactly what will happen.
I would argue that what makes the English league stand apart from other European leagues is that, until recently, it was still possible for a side in the lower leagues to make it to the top and we regularly see smaller sides beating bigger ones in the cup. Now, unless your club gets taken over by arabs with limitless oil money, the best you can hope for is fighting to stay in the Premier (if you're lucky). The way it's going it won't be long until smaller clubs are just 'feeders' for the big clubs or where Chelsea and Man City reserves are playing in League One or the Championship.

 

[Darren]

Interesting OP.

I am (just about) old enough to remember football before Sky and the Premier League. Attendances were low. The grounds were all the best part of 100 years old and stunk of piss (even Wembley). There were nutters everywhere looking to have a scrap. It was, frankly, pretty grim, and that's from someone who saw it all as a wide eyed young kid who thought Paul Stancliffe was Roy of the Rovers.

Let me put it this way; since Sky there has been no Heysel, Hillsborough, or Bradford fire in English football. Can Sky and its cash take any of the credit for that?

I'd also ask 1) In what sense is football be ruined? and 2) What is telling us this?

The fact is that for a large number of us grim northern types, the fact that football was earthy and grim was part of its attraction. Now it's all bright and shiny, we feel we have lost something. A bit like coal mines and trade union power.

History to the defeated may say alas
But cannot help or pardon.

 

[UnitedBlade]

I agree with you and I think eventually that's exactly what will happen.
I would argue that what makes the English league stand apart from other European leagues is that, until recently, it was still possible for a side in the lower leagues to make it to the top and we regularly see smaller sides beating bigger ones in the cup. Now, unless your club gets taken over by arabs with limitless oil money, the best you can hope for is fighting to stay in the Premier (if you're lucky). The way it's going it won't be long until smaller clubs are just 'feeders' for the big clubs or where Chelsea and Man City reserves are playing in League One or the Championship.

Yes and not to forget that the head of our FA disgracefully thinks it's a good idea for PL B teams to play in L 1 and 2.

 

[super_pig]

Sky itself has not ruined football, but it has reduced the importance of the modern day fan.

so.. therefore.. ??
you answered the argument by yourself mate ;0)
the extra money has gone straight into the pockets of overpaid players and agents.
agree about the replays though

 

[Bartleby]

How long before it is just PL1 and PL2 and fuck the rest ?

Would it necessarily be a bad thing? There was talk of the a European super league a few years back - the top 4 or 6 from each country going into that and I remember thinking that might not be a bad thing, then maybe the rest of the English football league could become more normal again.

 

[Bartleby]

helped to minimise crowd disorder.

I don't agree , as per my post (#29) I think that is down to other factors.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Would it necessarily be a bad thing? There was talk of the a European super league a few years back - the top 4 or 6 from each country going into that and I remember thinking that might not be a bad thing, then maybe the rest of the English football league could become more normal again.

Well I wouldn't watch one minute of European Super League so perhaps it would be OK

 

[super_pig]

Would it necessarily be a bad thing? There was talk of the a European super league a few years back - the top 4 or 6 from each country going into that and I remember thinking that might not be a bad thing, then maybe the rest of the English football league could become more normal again.

yeah i wish the big five would just push off and take all of their glory seekers with them

 

[BushBlade]

Fan experience is way better in Germany where they haven't cow towed to the TV subscribers.

Atmosphere in most UK grounds are dead, tickets overpriced, clubs are being run into the ground to chase the Premier League TV money and lower league clubs are going to the wall.

But yeah the SKY graphics are flash and its piss funny when Kamara fumbles his words on SKY Sports Soccer Sunday so it's worth it.

I watch Bundesliga on BT. Their kick off times also vary due to televised games.
The biggest difference is the ticket prices. Which isn't down to Sky per se.
But Germany has a different culture to us. They believe in regulating the free market to benefit their society as a whole.

 

[BushBlade]

The problem I have is the disproportionate hand out of the money - £99m to finish last in the Premier, never mind what the club finishing top will get - how can that be justified when there are clubs in the bottom leagues (and non-league) struggling to stay afloat? A friend of mine who is a Lincoln fan was telling me they are struggling over a £380,000 bill.

Because we live in a free market economy where people are rewarded for success and punished for failure.
Isn't that what people want? They must do, they voted Tory.

 

[derryblade]

Whatever your views on Sky's involvement in football, SUFC has to be part of it or we will never progress.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

The illusion created by Sky and others is that every game is a major event - the fact that the matches are covered better than the old Match of the Day solely on Saturday nights disguises the fact that football has not improved, only the wall-to-wall coverage.

This is typified by the countdown coverage by Jim White on transfer window day - utter shite

 

[BushBlade]

The illusion created by Sky and others is that every game is a major event - the fact that the matches are covered better than the old Match of the Day solely on Saturday nights disguises the fact that football has not improved, only the wall-to-wall coverage.

This is typified by the coverage by Jim White on transfer window day - utter shite

Yes, it's massively over hyped. As long as I've watched football around 20% of games were great, 30% OK and the other half fairly boring with the occasion incident, if you were lucky. It's always going to be like that, it's the nature of the game.
Didn't matter as much when I paid 50p with my Junior Blades card but for those with Sky Sports subscriptions and/or STs for PL clubs it's not worth the money. It really isn't and one day people will wake up to this. It's become a bubble and bubbles burst.

 

[Tyler Durden]

The only thing that can be said in Skys favour is that they are not the exclusive factor in footballs "transformation".
It's all part of a mass drive to gentrify the game. After all you can't "market" the "brand" if its adherents are plebs from the lower classes can you?....

I've long since rejected the idea of 'progress' in the modern football world for a club such as ours. If we ever did reach the top-tier what would it really matter? No. We'd be lower table target practice for the mega-rich title chasers and playing in a sterile, overpriced environment. The founders of FC United understood which way the wind was blowing for the average football fan and I admire them for what they've done.

There's nothing to aspire to anymore, not in this format.

 

[Darren]

The illusion created by Sky and others is that every game is a major event - the fact that the matches are covered better than the old Match of the Day solely on Saturday nights disguises the fact that football has not improved, only the wall-to-wall coverage.

This is typified by the countdown coverage by Jim White on transfer window day - utter shite

 

[coaxingstar71]

Would it necessarily be a bad thing? There was talk of the a European super league a few years back - the top 4 or 6 from each country going into that and I remember thinking that might not be a bad thing, then maybe the rest of the English football league could become more normal again.

I think it would if you knew that your club will never have the chance to compete in it.

 

[coaxingstar71]

The only thing that can be said in Skys favour is that they are not the exclusive factor in footballs "transformation".
It's all part of a mass drive to gentrify the game. After all you can't "market" the "brand" if its adherents are plebs from the lower classes can you?....

I've long since rejected the idea of 'progress' in the modern football world for a club such as ours. If we ever did reach the top-tier what would it really matter? No. We'd be lower table target practice for the mega-rich title chasers and playing in a sterile, overpriced environment. The founders of FC United understood which way the wind was blowing for the average football fan and I admire them for what they've done.

There's nothing to aspire to anymore, not in this format.

I'm liking it because I think you're right but not liking it at the same time, if you get my drift.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

This is typified by the countdown coverage by Jim White on transfer window day - utter shite

There's summat scary about Jim White. I wouldn't want to get on wrong side of him when he's had a few sherberts.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I'm guessing the OP (correct me if I'm wrong) is referring to FIFA paying off the Irish FA to keep schtum over Thierry Henry's handball incident v France (World Cup play-off)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33011692

I would have hoped the would have, as some at the Irish FA would have had a bit of a chuckle over the matter. The Football Association of Ireland however, they were probably a bit more upset..

If I might allow myself a moment of pedantry?

 

[Bartleby]

I think it would if you knew that your club will never have the chance to compete in it.

unfortunately that is how the Premiership is starting to look to me anyway

 

[Bartleby]

The founders of FC United understood which way the wind was blowing for the average football fan and I admire them for what they've done..

me too, and I also admire what AFC Wimbledon have done in the face of having their original club stolen.

Been to a couple of lower league games this season (NWCPL - same division Fleetwood were in about 10 years ago) and really enjoyed it, one was against Maine Road, the Man City fans club.

 

[PeteBlade]

Before the invention of sky TV, clubs like Forest and Derby could challenge for the title and European glory.

The top league champions were not decided by who has the most money and there was a lot more skill to management.

We live in an age where realistically our club won't win anything in our lifetime.

Yes partly because we're shite, but also because of the lack of spreading out the wealth.

Football is so scewed towards the top teams now that they were able to blackmail lower league clubs into accepting awful new rules that mean we won't ever be able to keep hold of young players and any academy products can be sold for a pittance.

And now it's spread to the championship. It's like a mini premier league. Those at the top are those wifi spent most money.

If that's not ruining football, I really don't know what is.

 

[BushBlade]

I would have hoped the would have, as some at the Irish FA would have had a bit of a chuckle over the matter. The Football Association of Ireland however, they were probably a bit more upset..

If I might allow myself a moment of pedantry?

No, you may not. You can only be a pedant if you proof read your posts before posting.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Even in our division we see players (ours!) who no longer have the good old fashioned qualities of desire, determination and heart for the team they play for or even pride in their own performances.
Maybe they aren't on 250,000 (a quarter of a million) a week like Rooney, but they are on enough it seems to think they can have one off if they feel like it.
It seems to me that, as soon as promotion and the extra that goes with that is becoming less of a possibility, they lose interest.
I guess I'd be the same if that was my main motivation, but honestly, if you paid me £10,000,000 a week, I'd try my absolute hardest for my beloved Blades and my own self esteem.
I remember in '75/'76, even after we had been relegated, playing for pride.
The atmosphere when we almost sent Birmingham down on the last day was electric.

 

[BushBlade]

Before the invention of sky TV, clubs like Forest and Derby could challenge for the title and European glory.

The top league champions were not decided by who has the most money and there was a lot more skill to management.

We live in an age where realistically our club won't win anything in our lifetime.

Yes partly because we're shite, but also because of the lack of spreading out the wealth.

Football is so scewed towards the top teams now that they were able to blackmail lower league clubs into accepting awful new rules that mean we won't ever be able to keep hold of young players and any academy products can be sold for a pittance.

And now it's spread to the championship. It's like a mini premier league. Those at the top are those wifi spent most money.

If that's not ruining football, I really don't know what is.

Since the abolition of the maximum wage the league has been won, in the main, by the richest clubs.
Did you go back in the days when Derby won the league?

 

[BushBlade]

Even in our division we see players (ours!) who no longer have the good old fashioned qualities of desire, determination and heart for the team they play for or even pride in their own performances.
Maybe they aren't on 250,000 (a quarter of a million) a week like Rooney, but they are on enough it seems to think they can have one off if they feel like it.
It seems to me that, as soon as promotion and the extra that goes with that is becoming less of a possibility, they lose interest.
I guess I'd be the same if that was my main motivation, but honestly, if you paid me £10,000,000 a week, I'd try my absolute hardest for my beloved Blades and my own self esteem.
I remember in '75/'76, even after we had been relegated, playing for pride.
The atmosphere when we almost sent Birmingham down on the last day was electric.

What if your beloved Blades sold you to Leeds. Would you still try hard?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Before the invention of sky TV, clubs like Forest and Derby could challenge for the title and European glory.

The top league champions were not decided by who has the most money and there was a lot more skill to management.

We live in an age where realistically our club won't win anything in our lifetime.

Yes partly because we're shite, but also because of the lack of spreading out the wealth.

Football is so scewed towards the top teams now that they were able to blackmail lower league clubs into accepting awful new rules that mean we won't ever be able to keep hold of young players and any academy products can be sold for a pittance.

And now it's spread to the championship. It's like a mini premier league. Those at the top are those wifi spent most money.

If that's not ruining football, I really don't know what is.

Is that sky's fault or the premier leagues fault though? Do Sky dictate how the money is spread around? Genuine question.

 

[JJ Sefton]

The fact is that for a large number of us grim northern types, the fact that football was earthy and grim was part of its attraction. Now it's all bright and shiny, we feel we have lost something. A bit like coal mines and trade union power.

History to the defeated may say alas
But cannot help or pardon.

If 'grim northern types' can be stretched to include well off lawyers in the Home Counties, it supports, I'd argue, my point that football has just changed rather than being 'ruined'.

 

[JJ Sefton]

The problem I have is the disproportionate hand out of the money - £99m to finish last in the Premier, never mind what the club finishing top will get - how can that be justified when there are clubs in the bottom leagues (and non-league) struggling to stay afloat? A friend of mine who is a Lincoln fan was telling me they are struggling over a £380,000 bill.

Maybe the problem there is not that Watford are getting £99 million but that the people of Lincoln aren't interested enough in the club to turn out in numbers sufficient to make the club viable?

 

[billyblademan]

Is that sky's fault or the premier leagues fault though? Do Sky dictate how the money is spread around? Genuine question.

Sky gives money to the Premier League. PL then decides what to do with it. Undoubtedly, the majority goes to the clubs - after all they're the reason that Sky is paying all the money to the PL. Presumably this also becomes even more of an investment for the PL - give out more money, clubs will improve further, and hence even more TV money...