Scrap the G14?

[leg_breaker]

If the scumbag G14 get their way and abolish international football, I think as a punishment they should be kicked out of their leagues. We can't allow these selfish rich clubs to destroy the game.

[Spion Kopite]

Wouldn't bother me. International football is just an annoyance that get's in the way of club football anyway.

[Caesar]

If the scumbag G14 get their way and abolish international football, I think as a punishment they should be kicked out of their leagues. We can't allow these selfish rich clubs to destroy the game.
They'd just create a very successful, very lucrative European Super League. With the amount of money they can offer players compared to non-G14 clubs, they can well offset the inconvenience of having no international football.

The big clubs in world football outside of the G14 are a long way below them. Right now Chelsea and the Old Firm are probably the only ones who can even compete, and they're next on the list to join. After that who have you got? Tottenham? Roma? Villareal? None of them are remotely in their league. World football will be a poor cousin, just like world cricket and Kerry Packer's World Series in the 70s.

[Oscar]

¿How would they abolish international football? By demanding payment when their players, whose salaries they pay, get taken from them? This is not the fault of the clubs, but of FIFA.

Money generated by the players going to either the 'scumbags' at FIFA, or the 'scumbags' who pay the salaries of said players? No brainer.

Maybe if Blatter wasn't busy paying so much to get people to vote for him, he'd have money left to pay the clubs.

[Prenn]

They'd just create a very successful, very lucrative European Super League.

Unlikely.

[leg_breaker]

They'd just create a very successful, very lucrative European Super League.

There would be a few problems with that. One would be not being able to attract any players who want to play internationally. The second would be keeping up interest once the novelty wears off. Remember that second CL group stage which was a complete flop?

Even now, big European games are not watched by many people outside of the countries involved.

World football will be a poor cousin, just like world cricket and Kerry Packer's World Series in the 70s.

And what happened to that?

[spoonman]

Real Madrid CF
AC Milan
AFC Ajax
Liverpool FC
Juventus FC
FC Bayern Munchen
Intern Milan
FC Barcelona
Manchester United FC
Borussia Dortmund
PSV
Porto
Olympique Marseille
Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal FC
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Olympique Lyonnais
Valencia CF

Yeah, Who could possibly be interested in watching a league like this

[Clan]

The thing with G14 is though, that they are needed...or at least, something like them.

Yes, they are in business for themselves, have a hidden agenda to make sure their clubs are the ones winning and making money.
But, at the same time, FIFA and UEFA are so inept and corrupt, they make it necessary for something like them to exist in the first place.

It's not perfect, but somebody has to stick up for the clubs.
If that somebody has clout, then even better.

[Caesar]

Unlikely.
Care to expound?

[Zaphkiel]

we all know Juventus would bribe and win the title.

[Caesar]

There would be a few problems with that. One would be not being able to attract any players who want to play internationally.
Money talks. Not a great example but Major-League baseball wasn't hampered by the fact that none of their players are allowed to compete in the Olympics. Additionally none of the World XI players from cricket's World Series were dissuaded from signing up by the fact that they wouldn't be able to play for the West Indies or England any more.

Yes, internationals in football are a big deal and it would cause a lot of problems. But the World Cup is 3-7 games once every four years, continental championships something similar. It's FIFA and Co.'s single trump card - a very strong one, but not insurmountable.

The second would be keeping up interest once the novelty wears off. Remember that second CL group stage which was a complete flop?
It's a different situation. If you had a European league with G14 clubs plus (say) Chelsea, Celtic and Rangers, it would be the pinnacle of world club football. Half the success of the Premier League is its worldwide marketability. It would pale in comparison to this one.

And what happened to that?
Packer got exactly what he wanted. Call the deal what you will, he won. Plain and simple.

[ninodelsol]

Real Madrid CF
AC Milan
AFC Ajax
Liverpool FC
Juventus FC
FC Bayern Munchen
Intern Milan
FC Barcelona
Manchester United FC
Borussia Dortmund
PSV
Porto
Olympique Marseille
Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal FC
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Olympique Lyonnais
Valencia CF

Yeah, Who could possibly be interested in watching a league like thisIt would definitely be interesting, but after a few years of not being able to see a Villareal or Benefica in there once in a while it would get a bit old. "Outsider" teams in the mix occasionally keeps things interesting for me.

[leg_breaker]

Money talks. Not a great example but Major-League baseball wasn't hampered by the fact that none of their players are allowed to compete in the Olympics.

You're right, that's not a great example. In fact it's a ********ing awful one.

Packer got exactly what he wanted. Call the deal what you will, he won. Plain and simple.

Yeah, international cricket has been well and truly resolved. Flintoff and co gave up the chance to play for England in the Ashes last year so they could play in this world series thing.

[Caesar]

You're right, that's not a great example. In fact it's a ********ing awful one.
Just pointing out that the right amount of money can trump patriotism.

Yeah, international cricket has been well and truly resolved. Flintoff and co gave up the chance to play for England in the Ashes last year so they could play in this world series thing.
:rolleyes:

The ICC caved, not WSC. The only reason a deal was done is that Packer got given everything he wanted, not because WSC was unsuccessful.

[leg_breaker]

The ICC caved, not WSC. The only reason a deal was done is that Packer got given everything he wanted, not because WSC was unsuccessful.

The important fact is, the WSC disappeared, and international cricket stayed.

[Prenn]

Care to expound?

LegBreaker did it for me, there isn't the fan interest in a European Super League.

[Caesar]

The important fact is, the WSC disappeared, and international cricket stayed.
Not really the point.

[Caesar]

LegBreaker did it for me, there isn't the fan interest in a European Super League.
So fans would abandon the clubs?

I can't see why interest would drop off to any great extent, providing they could retain the standard of players they currently have. Most of the big domestic matchups for the clubs involved would be preserved anyway, because you'd still have teams like (for example) Barcelona and Real Madrid in the same league. Of course you'd lose a lot of traditional rivalries like Spurs/Arsenal and City/United, but I can't see that causing utter failure.

[LebenslangGruenWeiss]

It's a different situation. If you had a European league with G14 clubs plus (say) Chelsea, Celtic and Rangers, it would be the pinnacle of world club football. Half the success of the Premier League is its worldwide marketability. It would pale in comparison to this one.


The power of the G14 is highly overrated. Dortmund and Leverkusen wouldn't join a league like that because of the pressure of their fan base. The fans in Germany have much more influence than elsewhere. So if you take away a couple of clubs like those two and add your "awesome" british clubs because of their worldwide marketability, why not creating a "british super league" in the first place?

European Super League won't happen!

[LebenslangGruenWeiss]

Most of the big domestic matchups for the clubs involved would be preserved anyway, because you'd still have teams like (for example) Barcelona and Real Madrid in the same league.

That's what I call ignorance. What about Dortmund vs. Schalke?

There are more clubs in Europe with a big tradition and passionate fans than just those 20. And some of those 20 aren't even on top when it comes to tradition and passionate fan support and they are not even the richest 20 in Europe either.