The end of football as we know it or the re-birth?

[oldtimernow]

Interesting piece , are we about to wave byebye to the SKY$4
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/27/european-clubs-breakaway-fifa-uefa

Would this be an opportunity to re-establish a new order?

Step up a new McGregor I think

[Mazrim]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

[oldtimernow]

Absolutely agree we should be included but would we want to?

What about Manciteh's claims too?

[maidstonevillain]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

We only just crept into the top 20 on the basis of the season before last. I guess we are back out of the top 20 now. It may be in any event that additional places will be allocated to other Countries not already represented, such as France and Holland.

But could we be better off as the best of the rest?

[Billy Walker]

Absolutely agree we should be included but would we want to?

What about Manciteh's claims too?

This is the interesting thing. If it came to be a straight choice between Villa and Man City, who would they choose?  The club with the history, tradition and the honours or the richest club on the planet?

If it did come down to them choosing us or Man City and they chose City it would tell you all you need to know about the game as it stands today.

[German James]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

The Champions League has more or less established a closed shop of top (=richest) teams in Europe already. This isn't going to change any time soon, so those that have been able to perpetuate the "qualify - get money - strengthen - qualify - get more money - strengthen - qualify..." cycle, might as well piss off on a full-time basis, they have their super-league already.

[dave.woodhall]

Bye.

[not3bad]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

The Champions League has more or less established a closed shop of top (=richest) teams in Europe alreday. This isn't going to change any time soon, so those that have been able to perpetuate the "qualify - get money - strengthen - qualify - get more money - strengthen - qualify..." cycle, might as well piss off on a full-time basis, they have their super-league already.

Haven't Liverpool fallen out of that closed shop though?  And aren't Arsenal looking increasingly vulnerable?

[Iago]

Let them have their European Super League; it may enhance domestic competitions without the money whores.

[German James]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

The Champions League has more or less established a closed shop of top (=richest) teams in Europe alreday. This isn't going to change any time soon, so those that have been able to perpetuate the "qualify - get money - strengthen - qualify - get more money - strengthen - qualify..." cycle, might as well piss off on a full-time basis, they have their super-league already.

Haven't Liverpool fallen out of that closed shop though?  And aren't Arsenal looking increasingly vulnerable?

That's a couple of good points... Probably why they're specifically named as being interested parties. Pulling the ladder up, before they're chucked out of the club. Liverpool just talk as if they're still in the top four! Quite odd!

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

So, no mancs, possibly half the scousers, hardly any cockneys from west london and half of them from north london,  never coming to Villa Park again ? Crikey, we would only need the geordies to get relegated again and what visitors from what areas of England will I be left with to take the piss out of ? 

[RonBurgundy]

Liverpool and Arsenal have big global fanbases which is probably as important to those planning this as anything else.

Looks like this would signal the deathknell of international football as we know it.

Could also see matches being played in America and Asia - the 39th Game plan in another name

[pauliewalnuts]

As one of the top 20 clubs in Europe, why wouldn't we be joining them?.

We're one of the 20 richest clubs in Europe, but that list is probably at least 50 percent English clubs.

A European league is going to be about television revenues, and for that reason there won't be 9 or 10 English clubs in it.

There's no way we'd be one of them.

[villa_oldie]

Yep... bye bye.

be interesting to see how man ure fans etc. like it, having to watch them possibly finish 10th some years. As, you put the top 3 clubs in England against the REAL CREAM of europe ie. Barca, Real, Bayern, Inter etc. and they'll come up short. especially over 30 odd games.

So, good riddence to those lot, time for an introduction of a £50k wage cap like the US.

[Billy Walker]

Liverpool and Arsenal have big global fanbases which is probably as important to those planning this as anything else.

Looks like this would signal the deathknell of international football as we know it.

Could also see matches being played in America and Asia - the 39th Game plan in another name

These big global fan bases have only been built up on the back of the Champs League over these past few years, they're pretty easy to muster up with the right media strategy and PR.  I'm sure if AFC Wimbledon were asked to join this new league they would pretty soon amass a hefty fan base,  too.  I think the point I'm trying to make is that people would watch such a league on the basis of hype as much as the clubs that are involved.