Meltdown...

[CopenhagenBlade]

..or will football be saved this season by the World Cup? Looking at the Premier League I can't see much money being spent this summer. Man U & Liverpool are skint, Arsenal never really spend big though they need a new defender. Man City will be the only movers and I can see them buying a defender and a big name, though no idea who, unless it is someone like Torres. Spurs will throw millions away as well but I don't see anyone else spending and the 3 promoted clubs will be cautious. Of the clubs coming down, Pompey are in the deep and smelly stuff from the start and if rumours are to be believed Hull won't be far off going into administration and Burnley will sell what assets they have, about 2 players, and struggle without having much to spend. Forest need to go up this year. QPR have a bit of money and I think that Leicester and Ipswich will be solid though I can't see them spending money.
So who is going to pay the big transfer fees and the big wages or will everyone be following our lead of loaning players? Will players salaries start to go down? Will there be pressure on clubs to be run like proper businesses? Will clubs be restricted to using a certain percentage of their income on salaries or is this unworkable?
I think that the World Cup will save football this year especially if England do well as interest will rise but in a way I have a weird desire for football to collapse. I don't want to read on chat sites that a player 'only wants £100k per week'. Some people, players, agents have lost all levels of realism. They are just obscene amounts of money that no one is worth. I want Utd to have a chance that there is a realistic playing field. Who wants to be a Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton in the premiership, big enough to survive and attract good players but never going to win anything and slowly the stadium empties as fans become bored and disillusioned.
I would rather stay in the Championship and start the season not knowing what is going to happen by April/May then be in the Premiership knowing that come April/May you would have won nothing and sit in mid table

 

[Nick Jansky]

Agree with every word of that. We really could do with the Thanks button back. I think we are heading for an almighty levelling of the playing field. And I feel quite happy about it.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Sunderland and Birmingham will all spend over £25 Million in the summer. With Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City spending over £35 Million. The bubble in the PL isn't about to burst no matter how much we would want it too. Personally I hope Leicester go up because I think it would be good to see Forest and Cardiff go tits up after their reckless spending. In our league I would think the obvious money will come from QPR with the relegated teams not as strong as in previous years. Pompy and Burnley won't be able to spend too much and Burnley won't be able to attract anyone. From the others Hull are struggling financially and I would love West Ham to come down for obvious reasons. West Ham have some big debts and again might not be able to buy their way back.

I think the league will be as open as ever and a well organised average team should be able to have a shot at one of the automatic places.

 

[Micalijo]

No-one will be happier than me if footballers start earning a lot lower salary - at all levels. Might happen in our section but not in Prem. We've missed the boat. Stoke and now Wolves are clambering aboard.

I do not get this wish to remain in the CCC. Surely better to go up, bank the cash, come down and do what WBA do. You make out life in CCC is exciting - well it isn't for me and under KB you will definitely get your wish.

Blackwell Out.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

What are Stoke and Wolves clambering on board too though. How many seasons has Pullis left playing the brand of football that he does?I am sure that next season there will be pressure on him to take it to the next level and they just won't be able to do that. If the club tries to change style they will fail. Fans will start turning up just for the big games and lethargy will set in.

Yes I would rather go up, everyone has to strive to reach the top, but where is the fun in knowing that you have no chance at all of being Champions. Knowing that their is a favouritism/pressure angle on refs to help the bigger clubs. We lost our place in the Premiership last time by the authorities changing their rules to suit one of their favoured clubs. I doubt if there are many Sebastian Verons out there growing up in Argentina wishing to play for Sheff Utd. We pick up the mercenaries or the unknowns and hope that they succeed.

 

[LouTheBlade]

I agree with a lot of what Copenhagen says. Football is farsical now and a lot of long time followers of the game are losing interest. It's the way that the top flight has become so elitist, the way that the men who run the PL have their own vested interests in maintaining the status quo and keeping things the way they are. They don't want a level playing field. If they did they would be doing something about the current problems.

Promotion to the PL has lost a lot of its appeal to me. Why would I want to go up to watch us sit in mid-table or lower bottom half, whilst we are cannon-fodder for the top four and get knocked out of the cup as soon as we draw one of them.....

What a BORING and POINTLESS existence!!!

So we bank a few million, so what?! What are we going to do with it? I'll tell you.....we will clear some debt and spend money on "promising" young championship players or players that other PL clubs don't want.....leading to further mid-table obscurity and decreasing interest. But we might have a cup run every 3 or 4 years you say?! Yipeeee! It will be so worth it even when we get knocked out in the semis by Chelsea.

Whether football implodes or not, I will still remember this era as being one or stagnation for everyone except half a dozen clubs (at the most).

 

[Micalijo]

What are Stoke and Wolves clambering on board too though. How many seasons has Pullis left playing the brand of football that he does?I am sure that next season there will be pressure on him to take it to the next level and they just won't be able to do that. If the club tries to change style they will fail. Fans will start turning up just for the big games and lethargy will set in.

Yes I would rather go up, everyone has to strive to reach the top, but where is the fun in knowing that you have no chance at all of being Champions. Knowing that their is a favouritism/pressure angle on refs to help the bigger clubs. We lost our place in the Premiership last time by the authorities changing their rules to suit one of their favoured clubs. I doubt if there are many Sebastian Verons out there growing up in Argentina wishing to play for Sheff Utd. We pick up the mercenaries or the unknowns and hope that they succeed.

Good points. I talking about a financial bandwagon and when they fall off it could be spectacular but they are living the dream for a club of their size (Stoke) and them finishing tenth is akin to winning the league. I agree, As each year goes by they'll struggle to keep crowds high and meet expectations but when SUFC are in Prem and not really considered as relegation fodder I will be a very happy man.