Could a European Super League Happen?
Talk has returned discussing the potential ‘European Super League’ that would see the top clubs from Europe’s smaller top flight leagues compete in an alternative to the Champions League. The idea goes back 16 years but has recently caught fire again due to the proposed new revamp for the Champions League that would see clubs outside Europe’s top leagues struggle for Champions League qualification. The fear from the clubs involved in the proposed new league is that if no action is taken in light of a new Champions League format, it will result in an even bigger financial gulf between Europe’s biggest clubs and the rest.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn mid-October, F.C. København director Anders Hørsholt confirmed that talks are currently ongoing, with Hørsholt telling Danish newspaper BT, “If we do not act now, we will see the biggest clubs grow larger and stronger while it will be increasingly difficult for clubs like us.” He added, “It is still too early to talk about specific models, but the discussion of leagues across European borders is a theme that we look at and actively participate in.”
The new Champions League format, set for implementation in for the 2018-19 season would see the top four clubs from Europe’s top four leagues automatically gain a place in the competition, therefore making qualification harder for everyone else. Whilst this of course would benefit the bigger clubs in Europe, it stands as an issue for the smaller clubs who rely so heavily on the financial rewards gained from being in Europe’s top competition.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs well as the financial aspect of the proposal, the new league would provide some much needed competition for many of the clubs involved, as they frequently win their domestic leagues. This is particularly true for the Scandinavian leagues that see a lack of interest due to the league winners nearly always being the same (FC København, Rosenborg BK and Malmö FF). Despite this, it would mean that these clubs are denied the financial rewards that come with participation in Europe’s elite competition. To put it into perspective, the money FC København have earned from their results in this seasons Champions League so far, is nearly double what they received for winning the Danish Superliga back in October. Also, the change would deny smaller clubs their moment in the spotlight. Leicester City’s Premier League results this season have left them in a potential relegation battle, yet they have already secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages with some fantastic performances. Whilst the previously mentioned FC København will progress if they win and FC Porto do not get a result in the final gameweek.
Embed from Getty ImagesCeltic are another club believed to be involved in the potential setup, with the club frequently winning the Scottish Premiership but falling way behind the bigger clubs financially. Despite this, SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster is very much against any changes and believes it would significantly damage Europe’s mid-level domestic leagues. “The threat is very real, very significant.” revealed Doncaster. “We are only talking about the cycle of 2018-21 but the direction of travel that UEFA have embarked upon is a very dangerous route. It threatens the very future of very top-level football and it is vital that a line is drawn in the sand now and the EPFL (European Professional Football Leagues) take the firm stand that is required and start the pulling back of the very damning proposals. It is important to be a domestic club champion; it is about access to the top-tier of European competitive football with the other champions of European football. Remove that and you fundamentally remove what is important about being a champion in a domestic contest.”
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Is the New TV Deal Backfiring on the Broadcaster?
Is there such thing as too much football on our TV’s? Surprising early season figures are suggesting so, as broadcasters and analysts search for the possible reasons behind this. Demand for live football has seen a constant increase since Rupert Murdoch introduced Sky TV to the Premier League in 1991. This has led to the Premier League TV deal exceeding £8 billion over three seasons. In the same period, BT Sport have shelled out almost £1bn for the Champions League and Europa League, whilst the FA have managed to squeeze around £820m over six seasons for the international rights to the FA Cup. In return, fans can expect a typical mid-season week to consist of Premier League action on Monday Night Football, Champions League on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Europa League on Thursdays, Championship football on Friday nights, and then a weekend jam packed with games from Saturday lunch time. Is it all becoming too much for the average football fan?
Embed from Getty ImagesRecent statistics show viewers for this seasons live Premier League games are down by a fifth, and the midweek Champions League fixtures have seen up to a 40% decline in figures. So what could be the reason behind such a drop in ratings? One suggestion is that simply the overexposure of the Premier League is becoming boring and therefore is putting off the average viewer. In October we were given an around 72 hours of constant coverage in the build up to Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United, to the point where it simply became boring and even cringe worthy. ‘Red Monday’, as titled by the marketing team at Sky Sports, saw 2.8 million viewers tune in to an uninspiring 0-0 draw which saw fans mock the pre match hype, and newspapers printing headlines such as ‘Dead Monday’ and ‘(Bo)red Monday’. Of course Sky Sports are not directly responsible for the result of the match, but to overhype a fixture to the point of overexposure, only to have it backfire and result in mocking, is a poor decision on the part of the broadcaster.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother suggestion behind the drop in viewers is the alternate ways in which fans can watch football these days. Many are choosing to head to their local pub in order to watch their chosen games, as the cost of a few pints to watch a match certainly works out cheaper than that of a Sky Sports subscription fee. Others look to streaming websites in order to avoid all costs of live viewing, which has been helped by the recent enhancement in USB streaming sticks and media boxes.
Another reason behind the drop in TV viewers could be that fans are now watching games on their smartphones and tablets, therefore meaning they can still watch the game whilst doing other things, as opposed to having to commit to sitting in front of the TV to watch the match. Figures back this up too, with BT recently announcing that match viewing via its app and website have increased by 17% this season, which is no surprise considering how heavily they promote it. Sky have done the same this season, promoting their Sky Go service and new Match Centre app, as well as heavily investing in their Now TV service, which allows non-subscribers to pick and choose which matches they want to watch and pay for, allowing for more flexibility and control for the viewer.
Embed from Getty ImagesPerhaps it’s too early to tell but whatever the reason behind the early season drop in TV viewers, broadcasters will certainly be keeping a close eye on proceedings knowing the significant amount of money they shell out to obtain the rights for the live games has to return a healthy profit. This naturally puts pressure on the Premier League to find out the answers, and if stats continue to show a drop in viewers, they will not hang around expecting the problem to resolve itself, so expect change to follow!
Embed from Getty ImagesFootball’s Nice Guys
In a world of money, mansions and flash cars, footballers often have a very negative stereotype placed on them, mainly influenced by the media. This weekend, we saw Alexis Sanchez take selfies with the excited West Ham ball boys, and even give his shirt to one of the lucky lads after his hat-trick at the London Stadium, which showed that despite the way many are portrayed in the media, there are certainly some nice guys in football. Here are some of the more kind hearted footballers around.
Embed from Getty ImagesJack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere has received his fair share of negative press down the years. He’s been kicked out of nightclubs, caught spitting, and caught smoking during his injury plagued career. But the side of Jack Wilshere that the media don’t always show is a positive one. In 2011 he struck up a friendship with six year old football fan Jack Marshall, who was suffering with a brain tumour. He frequently visited the youngster in hospital and even invited Jack and his family to his house for barbecues. Later that year, Wilshere became a St John Ambulance ambassador, taking part in a series of short films which encourages viewers to learn basic first aid skills that could save lives.
Embed from Getty ImagesJuan Mata
Juan Mata is certainly one of the more well-known nice guys in football, and has shown great maturity on and off the pitch during his time in England, a trait that has gained him huge popularity amongst Manchester United fans and players. He is one of the rare few that openly speak about his views on the money footballers earn, he recently said, “it’s like we live in a bubble. Compared to the rest of society, we earn a ridiculous amount. It’s unfathomable… compared to 99.9% of Spain and the rest of the world, I earn a silly amount.” Back in October, as the United players trudged out of Old Trafford to board their team bus after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Stoke City, Mata made the bus wait as the Spaniard spotted young United fan Jon Nield, who has cerebral palsy. Mata spoke to the lad and posed for a photo with him before getting on the bus, but that wasn’t the end as the Midfielder then contacted the club the next day to arrange free tickets to a match for Jon and his family.
Embed from Getty ImagesMario Balotelli
Despite the never ending list of controversial incidents Mario Balotelli has been involved in, he certainly has a nice side behind his ‘bad boy’ persona. He is a huge dog lover and during his time in Manchester, adopted two strays and donated a five figure sum to a Manchester dogs home that saw 60 dogs killed in a fire at the home. He was also said to have been walking past a school in Manchester when he stepped in to defend a young lad who was being bullied, and he also once walked into a pub and paid for everyone’s drinks.
Embed from Getty ImagesJonas Olsson
During his eight years at West Brom, Jonas Olsson has established himself as one of the most popular characters amongst players and fans alike. In 2012, after his daughter Iris survived being born seven weeks early, Olsson auctioned off a variety of his match shirts and boots, which raised over £15,000 which he donated to the Winnicott Foundation, which helps raise awareness for premature births.
Embed from Getty ImagesJohn Terry
John Terry has certainly been involved in a variety of high profile incidents during his time at Chelsea, but it’s his charitable side that rarely gets a mention. He has done lots of work for charities such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Small Steps Project, and earlier this year, paid for the costs of young Chelsea fan Tommi Miller’s funeral, after he lost his battle with leukaemia.
Embed from Getty ImagesIs Karius Really To Blame?
This weekend saw Loris Karius once again involved in a moment to forget as he failed to keep out a Dimitri Payet free-kick that he seemed to have covered. It came just 7 days after the German spilled a tame Steve Cook effort that led to Bournemouth completing a miraculous comeback, condemning Liverpool to their first league defeat since August. So with two blunders in as many games, Karius has come under a lot of criticism from fans and pundits alike. It hasn’t been the most convincing start to the Liverpool career of the young keeper, who was signed off the back of a Bundesliga season that saw him high praise from experts of the German league. So why the sudden dip in form? I personally look the one man, John Achterberg. When the former Tranmere keeper became first team in 2011, he described it as a dream, but the reality for all Liverpool goalkeepers since that year has been nothing short of a nightmare. Let’s take a look at how the men between the sticks at Anfield have fared since Achterberg was brought.
Embed from Getty ImagesPepe Reina
Pepe Reina will go down as one of the best keepers in Liverpool history. The Spanish stopper was truly outstanding in a 5 year period that saw him win 3 golden gloves, a European Championship, a World Cup, and ultimately become a Liverpool legend. His success at Liverpool was partly down to his great relationship with his goalkeeper coach, fellow Spaniard Xavi Valero. When Valero left and was replaced with Achterberg, it was beginning of a major dip in form for Reina that eventually lead to his departure from Merseyside just 2 years later.
Embed from Getty ImagesSimon Mignolet
It was a convincing start to the career of Simon Mignolet, as he made a debut 90th minute penalty save which was followed by a string of clean sheets. But as time went on, questions started to be asked of the Belgian keeper as he gradually started making regular mistakes as Liverpool’s failed title bid was put down to their leaky defence. He lasted just two more years as first choice keeper at Anfield. In that time, he made a blunder in the League Cup final, was dropped temporarily for Brad Jones, and continued to look like a keeper lacking in confidence and ability. The biggest issue with Mignolet is that in his 3 years at Anfield, he has barely improved, gaining him the standard cliché title of ‘a good shot-stopper’. For a keeper to show little sign of improvement in 3 years, there has to be questions asked of the man who coaches him week in, week out.
Embed from Getty ImagesLoris Karius
After a highly successful spell at Mainz 05, Loris Karius was brought in with Jürgen Klopp believing he had found the long term solution to Liverpool’s keeper problem. Karius made a shaky start to his Anfield career, with a few unconvincing displays that had fans scratching their heads. But it wasn’t until the trip to Bournemouth that Karius made his first major mistake, which was then followed up with this weekend’s blunder that has seen the German come under scrutiny.
Embed from Getty ImagesIs this is all just a coincidence? I think not. Even Liverpool reserve goalkeepers have seen success since leaving Anfield. Brad Jones has just been awarded the Eredivisie Goalkeeper of the Year, whilst Péter Gulácsi is thriving in Bundesliga with RB Leipzig who are taking the league by storm. I get the opportunity to watch John Achterberg warm up the Liverpool keepers most weeks, and it is not an enjoyable experience. He struggles to kick accurately and he is not the most agile of men, which makes the pre match warm up look very awkward for Karius and Mignolet. With no European football to distract them, Liverpool have a genuine chance at their first league title since 1991. But with their keepers performing the way they are under the guidance of John Achterberg, they stand little chance. Surely it’s only a matter of time before Jürgen Klopp brings in a German goalkeeping coach he trusts to communicate with and guide Loris Karius to become the keeper he believe he can be.
Merseyside Derbies
Down the years, meetings between Liverpool and Everton have produced late drama, red cards and incredible goals. Despite the clash being dubbed ‘The Friendly Derby’, there is certainly no love lost between the two clubs, with the fight for bragging rights in the city a big factor when the teams meet.
Ahead of Monday night’s 227th Merseyside derby, I wanted to take a look at the top 5 greatest clashes between Merseyside’s two great clubs.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 4-0 Everton – 28 January 2014
On a chilly night at Anfield, Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners to record their biggest win at home over their great rivals since 1972. It took 21 minutes for the reds to get off the mark as captain Steven Gerrard headed home from a Luis Suarez corner. This was then followed up with two fantastic Daniel Sturridge goals within three minutes of each other just after the half hour mark to send Liverpool into the break with a three goal lead. 5 minutes into the 2nd half, and the home side had a fourth thanks to a wonderful breakaway goal by Luis Suarez.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton 3-0 Liverpool – 9 September 2006
On a disastrous evening for the reds, Everton recorded their biggest win over their rivals in 42 years. It was a day of defensive struggles for Liverpool as Tim Cahill took advantage of a struggling backline
to finish from close range just 12 minutes before Andy Johnson doubled Everton’s lead after a Jamie Carragher mistake. The away side’s misery was confirmed with just minutes to go as Pepe Reina fumbled a long range Lee Carsley effort to allow Andy Johnson to grab his second of the day.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 2-1 Everton – 14 April 2012
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Wembley, it was the Liverpool that emerged victorious as Merseyside’s two great clubs met for the first time since the stadium reopened. It wasn’t always looking that way though, as Everton took an early through Nikica Jelavić who slid a tidy finish past Liverpool third choice keeper Brad Jones. It took Liverpool until the hour to get the equaliser, which came courtesy of Sylvain Distin’s weak backpass that saw Luis Suarez run through on goal and beat Tim Howard. The winner came with three minutes to go as Andy Carroll glanced home Craig Bellamy’s inswinging free-kick to send the red half of the stadium into delirium.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton 4-4 Liverpool – 20 February 1991
In complete contrast to the 0-0 the two sides endured just 3 days earlier, this FA Cup fifth round replay saw fans enjoy an absolute goal fest. A last minute equaliser from substitute Tony Cottee took the game into extra-time before John Barnes curled in a screamer from 30-yards. With only five minutes remaining in added time, it was Cottee who beat Bruce Grobbelaar for the second time to force another replay and ultimately end Kenny Dalglish’s first reign at Anfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 3-2 Everton – 20 May 1989
It was an emotional time for Merseyside as almost the whole city descended on London just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster. After much debate about whether the match would even go ahead, it was decided the fixture would enable a unique opportunity for the healing process of the great footballing city. It took just four minutes for Liverpool to take the lead through John Aldridge but it wouldn’t be until stoppage time that Stuart McCall would pop up to send the final into extra time. Ian Rush came off the bench to score two goals either side of a McCall screamer to send the cup to Anfield.
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