Quesion more for the EPL followers? Would ye agree with a Europe-wide UEFA imposed salary cap and draft system similar to the United States?
I know this is highly unworkable at the moment (particularly the draft part) but do you have any concerns about the direction soccer is moving in? A few years ago Liverpool fans were complaining about the money Man United had, then both complained about Chelsea and now Liverpool are becoming wealthy again. Considering none of this is anything to do with onfield performances do you think the current system is ruining the game?
I’m thinking back to the 1980s when Liverpool ruled supreme. They had first choice of many players in England not because of salaries they were offering but because players wanted to play for the best clubs. Manchester United were not competitive with Liverpool over a season but there was no real reason for that - they had some smashing players but just didn’t have a team that produced results for them. In other words there was a footballing reason for the disparity in results.
I’m looking now at Ashley Young, Mathew Upson, the Argies at West Ham, Bent’s proposed move to West Ham and to be frank it’s ludicrous. Fortunately English managers are as xenophobic as ever and are spending silly money on English talents only but if they ever get their act together will it destroy smaller clubs in England, Scotland and lesser leagues?
I think all football supporters are inherently selfish.
Liverpool supporters sing a song ridiculing Chelsea about having no history or tradition and buying their way to the title. Then they get taken over by a similarly wealthy figure(s) from abroad and will next season splash the cash themselves and I doubt they’ll have a problem with it.
It applies to any club though. If some guy approached Celtic bearing gifts and promises of huge cash to buy players then you wouldn’t get many people complaining either.
I do think a draft is unworkable in European football but a salary cap is definitely worth considering in an attempt to drive more competition within each national league. Platini’s idea to limit CL places for each country is also worth considering as this will spread the pot of cash between more countries than at present.
I do think the money in the EPL is ludicrous but if they can raise those vast amounts of cash via selling their TV rights then, other than a salary cap, there’s not much you can do about it. What I can’t get my head around is why companies are willing to pay so far over the odds for the product.
I never complained that United had more money than Liverpool - in fact what I did say is that many clubs use the excuse that their lack of success is somehow justified by having less money. I for one believe that Liverpool should be challenging for the league as it stands. Both Benitez and Houllier (particularly Houllier) blew considerable amounts of money on average players. The art of management has primarily to do with the ability to wheel and deal.
I think your point surrounds the player - ie if you cap the salary that a player can be offered then he will chose the best footballing club. Agree absolutely and would support it.
Yeah I think that second point is absolutely correct too Farmer - though there’d have to be a limit on the percentage of the salary cap you could spend on any one player to reform the system properly.
I’m not suggesting you were complaining about Liverpool not having money but it was a common complaint. I actually agree with you that it was a bit false because Liverpool continued to spend large sums of money, they just wasted it. I just don’t think it’s good for the game that clubs like Chelsea enter into deals which they can’t sustain if one investor decides to walk away - look at how beholden (is that a word?) to Romanov Hearts are. They welcomed him with open arms at first but they owe all their assets to him in effect.
And that is why I am not in favour of Gillett taking control of Liverpool. Apparently he was declared bankrupt in 1992. Hardly fills you with confidence…