Should there be a level playing field?

[dml1954]

Ironically, if you canvassed the fans [the ones who actually go and watch their team in person] of both the top PL clubs and the other 85 or so league clubs, I bet percentage-wise there would be more advocating a breakaway super league from the 85. If the top clubs in Europe can't get their fans on their side, we'll still end up with a super league in all but name. Why do you think the 5 subs rule came in and stuck ? The top 6 PL clubs could field a second string in the PL for three quarters of games and still finish comfortably in the top half - even more convincingly in the other big European leagues. No worry about 'qualifying for Europe', they'll already be there with another 12-16 clubs, playing their best players in matches hyped throughout the Western and more significantly, Eastern World. They'll get richer and richer, with a guarantee of European money every year. Sad, but look at Golf and F1. It's money, not sport.

You mean like the many thousands of fans who took to social media and the streets to protest about the recent super league breakaway and forced its cancellation. You have no idea what you are talking about.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Players in every league, in every country of the world, dive and play act, so what that has got to do with anything ? I don't go around lecturing people about how they should live their lives and espousing discredited and outdated communist views either.

It's got everything to do with it as the premiership is where the elite play

No wonder kids of 5 and 6 and rolling around pretending they have shot

Stamp down on that and we might get somewhere

You silly tory tart

[Hilts]

You mean like the many thousands of fans who took to social media and the streets to protest about the recent super league breakaway and forced its cancellation. You have no idea what you are talking about.

So you are happy about the wealth of the PL but if and lets face it when a European Super League forms and the top clubs become richer and a bigger gap between them and the rest occurs will you then support them and criticise those against as following the politics of envy.

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

You're also allowed to beat them. Even Cardiff City managed that on one occasion. Swansea managed it a number of times during their stay in the Premier League.

The notion that any City fan is peeved that the Bluebirds can't realistically compete with the biggest clubs in the country is just hilarious. The highest Cardiff have finished in the English pyramid in almost all of our lifetimes is 15th, and that happened more than sixty years ago! We can certainly aspire to finish 14th. Brentford bettered that last season, as did Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brighton.

The last time Cardiff City were in the top six, Hitler was five years away from seizing power in Germany. I think that puts things in perspective.

I'm not sure anyone thinks City have been thwarted by anything other than being a relative shambles for decades but plenty of other mid size clubs used to finish in the top 6 or win a trophy.

Knocking over a giant from time to time and getting excited about that is akin to a cup giant killing and not two teams competing in the same division.

[The Lone Gunman]

I'm not sure anyone thinks City have been thwarted by anything other than being a relative shambles for decades but plenty of other mid size clubs used to finish in the top 6 or win a trophy.

Earlier in this thread, one contributor said: "We have got no chance of ever being a top 6 big club, the best we can hope for is a second rate Premier league...." as if that was a relatively new development. It obviously isn't.

When you say "plenty of other mid-sized clubs used to finish in the top six," which specific period are you referring to?

[The Lone Gunman]

Players in every league, in every country of the world, dive and play act.....

Indeed they do. Two of the worst examples I've seen so far this season were when Lee Tomlin managed to get himself sent off for some ludicrous play-acting in a League Two game, and when Perry Ng hit the ground clutching his face after being shoved in the chest by a Norwich player.

To my knowledge, neither Lee Tomlin or Perry Ng are Premier League players.

[splott parker]

You're also allowed to beat them. Even Cardiff City managed that on one occasion. Swansea managed it a number of times during their stay in the Premier League.

The notion that any City fan is peeved that the Bluebirds can't realistically compete with the biggest clubs in the country is just hilarious. The highest Cardiff have finished in the English pyramid in almost all of our lifetimes is 15th, and that happened more than sixty years ago! We can certainly aspire to finish 14th. Brentford bettered that last season, as did Crystal Palace, Wolves and Brighton.

The last time Cardiff City were in the top six, Hitler was five years away from seizing power in Germany. I think that puts things in perspective.

And now he posts on here

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Earlier in this thread, one contributor said: "We have got no chance of ever being a top 6 big club, the best we can hope for is a second rate Premier league...." as if that was a relatively new development. It obviously isn't.

When you say "plenty of other mid-sized clubs used to finish in the top six," which specific period are you referring to?

But the reasons for our lack of top six-ness used to be ropey leadership and now there are greater external factors (and ropey leadership). And just because we were rubbish then doesn't mean we have to be rubbish in future.

I was thinking of mid 70s (when I began taking an interest in football) up until the Premier League, specifically teams like QPR, Watford, West Brom, Ipswich, Derby, Wolves, Forest, Southampton, Swansea, Sheff Wed, Wimbledon, Norwich and Palace, all of whom made the top 6. You could possibly include Leeds and Everton too given they have a slim chance of getting in there now.

[The Lone Gunman]

I was thinking of mid 70s (when I began taking an interest in football) up until the Premier League, specifically teams like QPR, Watford, West Brom, Ipswich, Derby, Wolves, Forest, Southampton, Swansea, Sheff Wed, Wimbledon, Norwich and Palace, all of whom made the top 6. You could possibly include Leeds and Everton too given they have a slim chance of getting in there now.

So you do you believe it would be a good idea to somehow go back to the period between the mid-Seventies and the very early-Nineties?

I think the demographic of this board is clear when considering the responses to threads like this one. I don't believe they are in any way reflective of the feeling among the majority of football fans in this country.

[jeepster]

And now he posts on here

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

So you do you believe it would be a good idea to somehow go back to the period between the mid-Seventies and the very early-Nineties?

I think the demographic of this board is clear when considering the responses to threads like this one. I don't believe they are in any way reflective of the feeling among the majority of football fans in this country.

Yes, I think it would be fairer, but it's not going to happen (as it is). A fairer distribution of wealth would mean less chance to hoover up most of the world's best players so yeah, you're probably right, most fans in this country are too young to remember anything other what we have now and wouldn't want to lose that.

Lose 6/7 teams to an ESL, however, and it could conceivably return to the former set-up.

[The Lone Gunman]

Lose 6/7 teams to an ESL, however, and it could conceivably return to the former set-up.

I firmly believe that if six or seven teams broke away to join some sort of super league, the effect on the rest of the clubs would be disastrous. I think crowds would plummet, especially among the bigger 'other' clubs (if that makes sense). Take away the opportunity to compete with the best and I reckon whole thing would quickly become sterile.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Shouldn't we get someone from Taffs Well FC on here to be able to answer this question with any real authority?

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

I firmly believe that if six or seven teams broke away to join some sort of super league, the effect on the rest of the clubs would be disastrous. I think crowds would plummet, especially among the bigger 'other' clubs (if that makes sense). Take away the opportunity to compete with the best and I reckon whole thing would quickly become sterile.

Very possibly, especially if they went up against an ESL with the format we have now. But they could change that or have different competitions with other nations. Still might not work but they'd need a radical change to make it an exciting attraction. Might not have to worry about that for a while though.

Full disclosure: I'm completely bored of the format as it is and could just be eager to see a change.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

You mean like the many thousands of fans who took to social media and the streets to protest about the recent super league breakaway and forced its cancellation. You have no idea what you are talking about.

Not meaning to be rude, but did you really read my post - I suggested PL 'fans' would in the main, be against it.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

There are right apologists on here

The Premier league is the only league to be in , in terms of status , income and exposure

But that doesn't mean we should all creep and crawl to its tune

Because its essentially the epitome of greed and capitalism

I would love CCFC to be successful. We are not and I don't think we will ever be .

But for christ sake stop kissing the arse of this money filled giant

[tforturton]

You cannot create a level playing field, and there will always be teams with better resources than others. Those who got there first (in terms of Premiership riches) have generally speaking done well out of it, though there are of course some that now linger in the lower leagues. What you can create is a better distribution of the money. The current system means that the big six clubs just get more and more wealthy, and further and further away from everyone else.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

There are right apologists on here

The Premier league is the only league to be in , in terms of status , income and exposure

But that doesn't mean we should all creep and crawl to its tune

Because its essentially the epitome of greed and capitalism

I would love CCFC to be successful. We are not and I don't think we will ever be .

But for christ sake stop kissing the arse of this money filled giant

So how is CCFC going to be succesful without a Premier League?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

So how is CCFC going to be succesful without a Premier League?

The answer to that question is that the whole edifice of football needs shaking up with fairer distribution of income so being on the TV all the time won't matter

But that's not going to happen

No change and all we can hope for is an occasional bite of the pie

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

You cannot create a level playing field, and there will always be teams with better resources than others. Those who got there first (in terms of Premiership riches) have generally speaking done well out of it, though there are of course some that now linger in the lower leagues. What you can create is a better distribution of the money. The current system means that the big six clubs just get more and more wealthy, and further and further away from everyone else.

Indeed

And the apologists just say yes , complaining about unequal distribution of money whilst sitting down and watching the football on their sky TV

It's ironic but there you go

[Eric the Half a Bee]

The answer to that question is that the whole edifice of football needs shaking up with fairer distribution of income so being on the TV all the time won't matter

But that's not going to happen

No change and all we can hope for is an occasional bite of the pie

Why should it happen? Why should we get lots of PL money for being a mid-table Championship side?

If we didn't have the top 6, the amount of money available in the pie would be significantly reduced. They provide a lot of the pie. If they went, your idea of fairer redistribution of income is worthless.

[The Lone Gunman]

The current system means that the big six clubs just get more and more wealthy, and further and further away from everyone else.

Do they get more and more wealthy? I was under the impression that most of the biggest clubs have enormous debts?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Do they get more and more wealthy? I was under the impression that most of the biggest clubs have enormous debts?

Indeed. Isn't football under one massive debt bubble that is growing?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Why should it happen? Why should we get lots of PL money for being a mid-table Championship side?

If we didn't have the top 6, the amount of money available in the pie would be significantly reduced. They provide a lot of the pie. If they went, your idea of fairer redistribution of income is worthless.

Kin hell , another one bending over

Football right through the system should get a fairer distribution of money

The fact you are even questioning this is incredible . It's the football league , all of us , not just the feckin premiership

The why should we get cash is exactly the tune the Premier league want you to be singing

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Kin hell , another one bending over

Football right through the system should get a fairer distribution of money

The fact you are even questioning this is incredible . It's the football league , all of us , not just the feckin premiership

The why should we get cash is exactly the tune the Premier league want you to be singing

I'm generally on the same side as you politically, redistribution of wealth etc. You want more redistribution of football money. That would be destroyed if the top 6 left. So what do you want?