[drewks]

Unusual - top-of-the-table in League 2 (Morecombe) have a negative goal difference after 5 games
First time I've ever seen that I think

[WBA-Josh]

Unusual - top-of-the-table in League 2 (Morecombe) have a negative goal difference after 5 games
First time I've ever seen that I think

Of their first 5 matches it is 2-1, 2-1, 1-0 and 3-2 wins and a 5-0 defeat.

Football is strange right now.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Great to see the Shrimps doing well; I used to go and watch them at Christie Park a fair bit in the 2000s. For a club of limited means, they've done an amazing job of surviving in the football league these last thirteen years, and promotion would be magical - if Fleetwood can make a go of League One then there's no reason why Morecambe shouldn't.

[wba13]

Bye bye to football the way we know it.


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Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD
« Reply #10570 on: Today at 11:59:54 AM »
John Percy Twitter Account

World exclusive: Man Utd and Liverpool driving 'Project Big Picture' - football’s biggest shake-up in a generation.

The full Telegraph article, sorry in advance for the length of this post

World exclusive: Man Utd and Liverpool driving 'Project Big Picture' - football’s biggest shake-up in a generation
18-team Premier League, increased EFL funding and axing of League Cup among raft of proposals in 'Revitalisation' document seen by Telegraph

Manchester United and Liverpool are the driving force behind the biggest changes to English football in a generation and an extraordinary overhaul of the Premier League, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
The two clubs have worked together on a radical set of proposals – called “Project Big Picture” - that will reshape the finances of the game. The Premier League, the most lucrative sports league in the world, would see a reduction to 18 teams, and controlling power in the hands of the biggest clubs.
In return for tearing up many of the rules that have governed the game since the Premier League’s inception in 1992 there will be £250 million rescue package to the Football League to see them through the Covid crisis.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the details of the working document “Revitalisation” authored by Liverpool’s American ownership Fenway Sports Group with support from United. It anticipates the backing of the other members of the so-called big six, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
In a remarkable set of proposals, which will send shockwaves through the game, 25 per cent of the Premier League’s annual revenue will go to the EFL clubs with £250 million paid up front to see them through the current crisis. There would also be a gift of £100 million to sustain the Football Association.
However, there would be an abolition of the one-club, one-vote principle that has sustained the Premier League since its inception as well as the abolition of the threshold of 14 votes to pass any decision or regulation change.
Under the new proposals, the League Cup and the Community Shield would be abolished. There have been additional discussions that the League Cup would survive but without the participation of the clubs in Europe.
There would be two automatic promotion places for Championship clubs, but the third, fourth and fifth placed clubs would be in a play-off tournament with the 16th placed Premier League club.
The nine clubs who have been in the Premier League for the longest - which includes the big six - would dictate its running in every aspect and would be free to play more games in the expanded Champions League that is anticipated from the 2024-2025 season onwards.
As well as the Premier League dropping from 20 clubs to 18, there would be 24 in each of the Championship, League One and League Two making a total of 90.
The plan is supported by the EFL chairman Rick Parry who has held talks with Liverpool’s principal owner, the American investor John W Henry, and shareholder and director Mike Gordon. In addition, Parry has spoken to the Glazer family, who own United.
The talks began in 2017 but have been accelerated since the coronavirus pandemic has thrust football into the grip of crisis with no fans in stadiums until March at the earliest. Liverpool and United are prepared for a fierce debate over their proposals but they want them implemented as soon as possible.
The Revitalisation document calls for immediate action to cut dramatically what it calls the “revenue chasm” in earnings from television contracts between the Premier League and the EFL. In order to discourage Championship clubs from gambling recklessly on promotion, the parachute payments system would be abolished in favour of the 25 per cent share of Premier League revenue being shared more equitably among EFL clubs.
Under proposals for the new model of distribution of television revenue in the Premier League, Fenway, the driving force behind the document, insist there would be no greater share for the top six. Their stated aim is to eliminate the huge gap in earnings between Premier League and EFL clubs while in return having a greater control of the decisions made by the Premier League.
The document says: “A reset of the economics and governance of the English football pyramid is long overdue”.
The proposals also rewrite the Premier League’s 20-club democracy in favour of placing huge power in the hands of the nine clubs with the longest continual stay in the division. As things stand that is the big six, as well as Everton, Southampton and West Ham. Those nine clubs afforded “long-term shareholder status” would have unprecedented power, with the votes of just six of them required to make sweeping changes. These clubs would even be able to veto a new owner taking over a rival club.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Parry said that he had the support of many of his 72 members, many currently facing financial ruin, to go ahead with the plan. He said: “What do we do? Leave it exactly as it is and allow the smaller clubs to wither? Or do we do something about it? And you can’t do something about it without something changing. And the view of our clubs is if the [big] six get some benefits but the 72 also do, we are up for it.”
He accepted there would be opposition from the Premier League clubs outside the big six who would see it as detrimental to their financial prospects with less money and two fewer places in the top flight.
“It is definitely going to be challenging and it is an enormous change so that won’t be without some pain,” Parry said: “Do I genuinely think it’s for the greater good of the game as a whole? Absolutely. And if the [big] six are deriving some benefit then why shouldn’t they. Why wouldn’t they put their names to this otherwise?”
The proposals include:
• £250 million immediately to the EFL to compensate its clubs for lost matchday revenue, deducted from future television revenue earnings and financed by a loan taken out by the Premier League
• Special status for the nine longest serving clubs – and the vote of only six of those “long-term shareholders” required to make major changes, including amending rules and regulations, agreeing contracts, removal of the chief executive, and a wide-ranging veto including on club ownership
• Premier League to go to 18 clubs from 20
• £100 million one-off gift to the FA to cover its coronavirus losses, the non-league game, the women’s game, the grassroots
• 8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go on operating costs and “good causes” including the FA
• From the remainder, 25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to the EFL clubs
• Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions, calculated at £100 per seat
• New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic, including proposals that base one portion on performance over three years in the league
• The abolition of the League Cup and the Community Shield
• 24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90
• A women's professional league independent of the Premier League or the FA
• Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted. The 16th place Premier League club in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
• Financial fair play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts
• A fan charter including capping of away tickets at £20, away travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity
• Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament
• Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England

[Lord Snooty]

Well the knee jerk reaction would be to tell them to shove their proposals up where the sun don't shine, but.... Something is going to have to give. It's too late now to say that the power of the so called Big 6 is too much. We've been saying it for years to no avail. And the tv broadcasters. too much power and us supporters don't get a say. It's too late. It's done.
So what can we do? Sod all really.
And as for the so called Big 6. It just goes to show how much money talks when Spurs are in this exclusive club, but Everton aren't. How many league titles have Spurs got? Less than Huddersfield Town, that's how many. Everton have won it 9 times but are now considered as one of the other clubs.

[wba13]

Can see most of leagues 1 and 2 voting for this plus the championship clubs in financial trouble. Don’t want it but the top six clubs hold all the power and without Premier league help lots of clubs will go to the wall.

[Blue Baggie]

I see issues for us as a club, reduced PL payments and no parachute money?
We rely on both to sustain our levels of investment and running costs. Without these we would be down and out now.
Any club that gets relegated will be in serious trouble, unless it's owners have very deep pockets.
I can only see more clubs returning to amateur status and footballers salaries and transfer fees falling.
The leagues as we knew them are sadly finished. We are just treading water atm, but it's coming.

[wba13]

Project big picture thrown out official statement.
All 20 Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed that Project Big Picture will not be endorsed or pursued by the Premier League, or The FA.

Further, Premier League Shareholders agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid. Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability. This project has the full support of The FA and will include engagement with all relevant stakeholders including fans, Government and, of course, the EFL.

Also at today’s meeting it was agreed to make available a rescue package which aims to ensure that League One and League Two clubs will not go out of business as a result of the financial impact of COVID-19 and be able to complete the 2020/21 season.

League One and League Two clubs rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal than Championship or Premier League clubs and are therefore more at risk, especially at a time when fans are excluded from attending matches. This offer will consist of grants and interest-free loans totalling a further £50 million on top of the £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced to League One and League Two this year, making a total of £77.2m. Discussions will also continue with the EFL regarding Championship clubs’ financial needs. This addresses Government concerns about lower league clubs’ financial fragility.

Football is not the same without attending fans and the football economy is unsustainable without them. The Premier League and all our clubs remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible.

PREMIER LEAGUE

[drewks]

Ross Barkley after scoring Villa's winner today :
"I was 50/50 in the week and [our physio] did a really good job getting me right. He said I would end up scoring the goal and I did so I dedicated the goal to him."

Well, that's mighty kind Ross, I'm sure he feels a whole lot better

[drewks]

Interesting story here about Jack Wilshere.
Really like(d) him as a player; surely he'd be a fantastic addition to almost any PL club on some sort of pay-per-game deal to start?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54664335

Can't help thinking WE could benefit!