And breathe!! A five-goal thriller at St James’ Park and frankly ridiculous game of football.
After going in 2-0 up at the break against a 10-men West Ham side, we looked set to throw away two precious points and leave with a frustrating 2-2 draw…until Joe Willock’s late header secured a massive 3-2 win!
Saint-Maximin forced Diop into an early own goal and Joelinton made it two thanks to an awful Fabianski error, however a Diop header at the other end was followed by a late Lingard penalty – only for our Arsenal loanee to turn up with yet another crucial strike of his own in the 83rd minute.
The result sends us NINE clear of third bottom Fulham and sends us up to 15th, handing our survival hopes another monumental boost.
It was a nail-biting end and very nearly a disastrous result after some truly awful game management in the second half, but we showed our character in the end and hung on for a precious three points.
There was just ONE change made by Steve Bruce from last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Burnley, seeing Allan Saint-Maximin come in for Dwight Gayle – a decision that saw Callum Wilson start from the bench once again.
West Ham were without FOUR first-team players in Michail Antonio, Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku, however they were boosted by the return of Angelo Ogbonna – the Italian centre-back who’s been one of their standout performers this season.
The game kicked off at a sunny St James’ Park and it was a pretty cagey opening 10 minutes. Aside from a deflected Longstaff shot after some good work from Almiron and a burst into the box by Saint-Maximin, there was little to report.
Joelinton had started with a few nice layoffs and pounced on a loose ball to get Dawson booked 12 minutes in, beating his man before being cynically fouled. The resultant free kick came to nothing but was followed a few minutes later by a swift counter-attack that ended in a well hit strike from Murphy forcing Fabianski into his first save of the match.
A needless trip from Shelvey then got him in the referees book, and the stand-in skipper was then beaten in the air by the resultant free-kick – only for Dawson’s powerful header to fly straight at Dubravka.
20 minutes in and it’s fair to say we had shaded it. West Ham had 63% of the ball but looked laboured on it, while we were showing real intent on the break, getting shots away and seeing ASM get plenty of joy in that pocket between midfield and defence.
One criticism was the cheap free kicks we were handing to a big West Ham side who score a lot of goals from set pieces. We’d defended well on the whole in the opening 30 minutes, but began to sit deeper and deeper as the half wore on – handing confidence to a Hammers side who hadn’t really been at the races so far.
Five minutes later, the biggest moment of the first half arrived to hand us a HUGE double boost.
Joelinton reacted first to an awful touch on half-way from Dawson and was clattered by the big centre-back; who’d already been booked. Saint-Maximin latched onto the loose ball, burst past Noble and saw his shot across goal deflect in off Diop. 1-0 Newcastle AND a deserved second yellow for Dawson to put the Hammers down to 10 men!
If one up and a man up wasn’t enough, we then benefited from yet another West Ham error just a few minutes later – only this time it was Joelinton who benefited.
Ritchie floated a corner into the box and Fabianski somehow dropped the ball, gifting Joelinton a tap in! Two goals in three for the Brazilian – capping off an impressive first half from the big man – and 2-0 to the Toon!
We almost made it three before the break, with an inspired Joelinton shifting it wide and firing a shot across goal that was well saved, however we settled for two and went into the break with our trails well and truly up.
West Ham looked rattled and ragged, being well below their best and full of costly errors, but that can’t take away from the way we pounced on mistakes and hit them on the break. We’d also defended well up until this point, keeping danger man Jesse Lingard quiet and often winning first and second balls from free kicks.
The players came out for the second half and it really did feel like we were 45 minutes away from safety. I’m sure I joined every Newcastle fan in still being a tad anxious – we rarely do things the easy way – but this was a MASSIVE chance to make it back to back wins and move NINE points clear of third bottom Fulham.
West Ham continued to have more of the ball and looked eager to land an immediate response, showing the urgency they often lacked in the first 45. That said, we were the side managing to get shots away as we continued to find space on the counter.
Sitting deep and surrendering possession was a little frustrating – giving the away side belief they might be able to mount an unlikely comeback. It didn’t look like 11 vs 10 and they were still just a goal away from getting right back into this.
I’d have been tempted to take Shelvey off at this point. Not only is he about as mobile as my 87-year-old gran, he was on a booking and therefore one silly tackle away from making it 10 vs 10.
With 64 minutes on the clock, Bruce brought Wilson on – a man who has eight goals in nine career appearances against the Hammers. Worryingly, however, he replaced the outstanding Saint-Maximin who looked in a bit of pain as he limped slowly off the pitch.
At this point we were continuing to invite West Ham onto us, giving them 60% of the ball, several corners and a few half chances that fortunately didn’t find the net, with a Coufal header hit straight at Dubravka to keep it at 2-0.
We looked edgy and had gone into our shells. Our major weapon on the counter was off in Saint-Maximin and we were struggling to keep the ball. 20 minutes remaining, 2-0 up and against 10 men, yet it did feel like we were asking for trouble.
A few minutes later and we got what we were asking for. Bowen floated a ball into the box and Diop beat the offside trap to head home past Dubravka. 2-1 and a really poor goal to give away, leaving us with a needlessly nervy final 15.
Danger then turned into disaster as a careless Clark handball was checked by VAR. It looked dodgy and Kevin Friend pointed to the spot after checking the monitor. Lingard stepped up and smashed the ball in off the post. 2-2 and a complete and utter collapse from Newcastle, yet one we were asking for following such a negative and passive approach to the second half.
As if by magic, we suddenly responded like a side playing against 10 men and started to attack again, with Willock replacing Sean Longstaff.
First we had Murphy denied by an incredible goal-line clearance after Joelinton, Wilson and Almiron combined on the counter. An unbearable close shave, but we went one better just seconds later.
Ritchie swung in and inviting cross from the left and Willock arrived in the box as he so often does. He climbed highest, and powered his header in off the crossbar to make it 3-2! It shouldn’t have come to this, but it was a brilliant response and yet another decisive late goal from the Arsenal loanee.
Moments later, West Ham’s man of the moment Jesse Lingard looked in some pain and was holding his hamstring, forcing the Hammers to bring on Lanzini in his place.
To Bruce’s bemusement, the fourth official then signalled there’d be EIGHT minutes of added on time, giving West Ham time to find yet another equaliser in this frankly ridiculous game of football.
We ran down the clock expertly for the first half of stoppage time but conceded a corner that thankfully came to nothing. Two minutes remaining and you got the feeling we were 120 seconds from safety.
Andy Carroll then came on for a late cameo against his former club and we saw the game out, confirming back to back wins and a surprise double of Champions League chasing West Ham!
A crazy 98 minutes of football that involved just about every emotion, but ultimately a monumental win that moves us within touching distance of Premier League survival.
Next up, a tough-looking trip to face Liverpool at Anfield next Saturday lunchtime.
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Why is there a delay on the posts again today??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pledge only adding a little over 1,000 a day. Up to about 55k which is nowt in the scheme of things. I told you it would fizzle and my bet is this time next week it will be down to about 500 a day added.
Once it becomes clear that this is going nowhere then the direct debits will be cancelled. My guess is this will take about 3 months. If I am right that will be about 250k because the pledges are monthly. It will sit in the bank account as there will be some that wont cancel and NUST will want to save face. So there will still be additions, but it will be a drop in the bucket.
I expect the money to go to a good cause but as I have said it was always a stupid idea in the first place.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: the delay is about half an hour and has been happening to me for months.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Believe Fulham only have 5 games left
StanHardy(Quote)
AND… when this goes the way I say it will, NUST will herald it as a success because of the money that will be donated to the foodbank and SBR foundation. Both great causes but that was not what this money raising was about so ultimately it will be a damp squib by people who didnt think it through. They can try and put lipstick on a pig as much as they want, it is still a pig.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m really pleased with ex players reactions to this super league proposal – Gary Nevilles in particular.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – in answer to today’s results question.
I always thought Burnley was safe and still do really – they may need 1 or 2 points to be absolutely sure, but think reckon they’ll get them.
I think that’s Fulham defo gone. They just don’t have enough up front to win games.
I think we are highly likely safe, but WBAs upturn in form, coupled with their remaining fixtures leaves a little bit of doubt.
The last 2 games WBA have looked excellent, and if anyone can take them on a winning run it’s far Sam.
I think WBA will finish above Fulham, it’s then whether they have enough to catch us – or more likely Brighton, coz I think we finish above Brighton.
Sharpy17(Quote)
All the talk of the top 6 clubs, but if NUFC could follow the lead of any PL club I’d want it to be Leicester personally.
It seems like such a well ran club & do things the right way, whilst realising that the fans are key to it all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What I have noticed in articles on this Blog is there are a lot of references to saving Bruce’s bacon. Not just from 1 writer either. I get the impression that they are having a sly dig at his weight. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Other places keep referencing Greggs and steak bakes.
As Homer Simpson would say… Mmmmmm Bacon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I think this breakaway might be a bluff for now to get more CL money. I have no doubt they will eventually concoct some scheme to keep most of the money for the current top 20 most wealthy clubs but with a Euro and WC coming up I think they might back down this time under the threat of banning players by EUFA and FIFA.
What audience do the CL games get compared to a PL Man U – Liverpool game or North London Derby? I think they are betting the popularity of these games would maintain in a super league but I am not so sure.
You also know that the already sky high prices would go up again making football an even more elite sport.
I think an NFL ticket over here is like $200. And I know for a fact that the average price for a WC game when played here is estimated to be $350. I know because I saw an ex-MLS player last year saying he has to start saving now if he wants to take his family to some.
This breakaway is just a bad idea all round.
How many Liverpool fans are really going to go to Barcelona twice a season. It gets pretty expensive after a while. These cities are some of the most exensive in the world. I have been to most and you better take out a fcn loan for Barca, Milan and Paris. Not to mention London!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I found it difficult listening to Rio on his soap box giving it the high and might about this super league.
This is the same fella who was say it’s Ashley’s club to do with what he wants & if the fans don’t like it they should buy the club. Now he’s saying the owners of the top 6 aren’t free to do with their clubs what they want.
I disagree with the super league without question – but Rio contradicts himself without realising. Mind you, I think Jake cottons onto it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I am not sure how this will work. I am sure that hardly anybody tunes in for the first stage of the Champions League as is, even if Messi or Ronaldo are playing. Are Barca fans really going to watch games against Spurs every month or two?
I dont even get interested in the CL until the group stages.
How many away fans will they get. Are you really want to go to a freezing Turin in December?
They show Italian football over here and I think I have watched 1 game.
Then there is the FA Cup. Until this year it has been the same teams in the last 4 for years and people have lost interest. I didnt even watch the final last year.
They must have done market analysis and seen that there is a market for this, I just cannot see it unless it is all about China and the Middle East. But didnt China cancel the PL contract and their own league is in trouble.
Is it all just a conplicated bluff to get more money from the existing pot?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still dont get this. They already have the Golden Goose that is the PL so why the breakaway by these 6 teams. You are starting afresh with a breakaway. And Real and Barca get most of the TV money in Spain anyway and pretty much have a monopoly on all media, have their own TV chanels, even Newspapers. I think Marca is almost totally Real Madrid and there is one for Barca in Catalan.
The CL revamp looks stupid as well. They want 3 dedicated weeks in the season to accomodate the additional teams. Masters said that the PL schedule is already congested enough and is against it. First sensible thing I have heard him say.
This looks like a big risk to me and that is before you even consider the FIFA and UEFA bans. I doubt if you asked a Yank to name a European football/soccer player most would be able to name Messi and Ronaldo and that would be it. Those 2 are getting on now.
In my experience there is a core of football followers of the PL and some of hispanic heritage who follow Spain.
Supposedly JP Morgan is putting up cash. For what, I dont know. But if the clubs end up pulling out and this turns into a big farce how will that look. Will the big banks ever lend clubs money again? Inter got a 250 million bridge loan to keep them afloat recently. Barca are supposedly 1 billion in debt.
This has BIG RISK written all over it and that is appropriate because the funding is supposedly from Hedge Funds. Buying Sports teams has been incredibly lucrative but evenutally the Mrry Go Round has to stop. When Fenway Sports Group bought Liverpool they paid $500 million. Now it is supposed to be worth 7 Billion. That’s a 14 fold increase. Can you really see it doubling again from here?
Then there are PSG and Bayern who are not involved. They have a lot of clout so what are they going to do? Set up a mini CL with Portugal and former eastern block countries?
This just seems like a non-starter and a way to get more of the existing pie.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
New Details:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9484141/FIVE-Premier-League-teams-sign-European-Super-League-snub-UEFA.html
This is a grab for Champions League money. They all want to stay in their domestic leagues and play the same number of games there.
UEFA and FIFA are corrupt so it is hard to defend them in all of this.
The structure is to have 15 teams with no relegation but an NFL style playoff. Then 5 other teams are added and they can change each year. So, a total of 20 teams in 2 ten team leagues.
With so many new games to be played there is just no way the Champions League could continue. They would have to scrap the Europa League and have 1 competition for those not in the new super league.
I would be surprised if any of these teams enter the domestic cups either.
It is a total money and power grab but my guess is that these teams see the existing European and world football bodies as having mismanaged all of this especially when they see the success of the PL.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If Bayern and PSG do not join I cant see them being happy with this new arrangement.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anybody remember the Kerry Packer cricket circus in the 70s. This looks a lot like that but by hedge funds and debt financers rather than a TV company.
Masters has to be kicking himself that he let Spurs and Liverpool scare him off the Saudi deal. They played him for a fool. Same with BEIN I think, although I dont see what they can possibly gain from this. They just re-upped their PL deal and this may devalue their asset.
What a bloody mess and the new UEFA CL format was just as bad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It is hard to feel sorry for any of these people even though the breakaways are playing dirty tricks, BUT…
We have see first hand the conniving of Masters and Hoffman at the Premier League.
Didnt Platini get a big fine or jail for corruption at Uefa?
Then there is FIFA and the obvious bribes for the WC to Qatar.
And Sepp Blatter. He had FIFA pay $17 million for a film about his life starring Tim Roth as him. I think the total American box office was like $400. I am not making this up, you can google it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ve always had some reservations about the Saudi takeover & what that might turn our club into.
Yes I want rid of Ashley & I want us to be competitive in the PL – but done the right way.
If the Saudis came in and put us in with these sh!thouse so called top 6 clubs, then I definitely would not want that.
The more I learn about this super league the angrier I get. The PL have almost brought this on themselves & are now locking the stable door after the horse has bolted with this Saudi situation. By letting these people in & creating a situation where they need or want more money every season.
Parasites the lot of them.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Great win but over shadowed by these greed merchants.
I have to say, let them go. Please go. Within a couple of years the PL would be much more entertaining and more valuable than a Super League where stadiums are half full and competitions is non existent.
However, a penny for Richard Masters thoughts. He refused to sanction a Saudi led takeover because he wanted to protect broadcasting revenue after coming under pressure from the top 6 clubs. Then they do this….
Stuart79(Quote)
imo this will not get off the ground for a few reasons,even if they try it it will die a death after a couple of seasons then they will try and come back with their tale between their legs
icedog(Quote)
Spot on, it’s a power grab nothing less
kimtoon(Quote)
Quite
kimtoon(Quote)
Let them go i say, they won’t be missed. Even their own fans don’t want it to happen cause they can see the long term implications. This has come about for the simple fact these top clubs have gotten themselves in huge unsustainable debt and need cash cow to clear it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Henry Winter
@henrywinter
·
5m
Uefa, PL, FA, Spanish/Italian Feds & La Liga seek to kill off European Super League: “The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other competition at domestic, European or world level and their players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams
That should concentrate a few minds, imagine you couldn’t attract the best players to your club because it would mean they couldn’t play for the national team. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
“UEFA, the English Football Association and the Premier League, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga, and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Serie A have learned that a few English, Spanish and Italian clubs may be planning to announce their creation of a closed, so-called Super League,” it reads.
“If this were to happen, we wish to reiterate that we – UEFA, the English FA, RFEF, FIGC, the Premier League, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, but also FIFA and all our member associations – will remain united in our efforts to stop this cynical project, a project that is founded on the self-interest of a few clubs at a time when society needs solidarity more than ever.
kimtoon(Quote)
The French and German top clubs refused to sign up to this super league idea.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://mobile.twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1383830563300077569
Well said G Nev
kimtoon(Quote)
They are making a grab for the CL but once they get all of the money and the clout who is to say what influence they will have on the national leagues? As I said, it is not like Uefa and Fifa are angels and their proposed revamp was stupid. They wanted to expand the CL and it is already a waste of time in the group stages anyway.
You should combine the 2 proposals because the Super League had LESS teams but these clubs cannot be allowed to hoover up all of the money and there has to be some form of entry requirement. I dont see how it will work without Bayern and PSG and to a lesser extent Ajax.
For the most part though the same clubs got into the CL and won it every year. It is these clubs making a play for the broadcast rights that is the problem and also usurping Uefa and FIFA who are both corrupt anyway. Who were the last club outside the Spanish top 2, English big clubs and Bayern who won the CL. Was it Porto? Before that AC Milan were wining every year.
Anybody getting high and mighty about the current governing bodies, inc the PL, are going to look stupid in the end.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Chelsea and Man City were not fully on board with this Super League. Not too difficult to see a wedge driven into this proposal if they back off along with Bayern and PSG. If you look at it closely it is a money grab, but more than that it is bailing out clubs that are in debt like Barca, Real and Inter.
I dont think it would have that much effect on domestic leagues in term of games played. The effect would be money and power making the top clubs even more dominant than they already are. But Man City and Chelsea get whichever player they want anyway so how much more do they want?
There is the makings of a split here before it has really got off the ground. They have to see this is mainly benefitting the Spanish clubs and Spurs and Arsenal who fear falling behind.
They say it will be 20 teams but it manly benefits 4, 5 if you throw in Inter.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont even see how it benefits Man U that much as commercially they are very well run. It is a gift to Real and Barca who have messed up their finances and will mean that Man U have LESS commercial clout. They already have the disadvantage of being in Manchester.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
https://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeLeagueTable?comp_code=EPL
The Big Six
Take your pick
NB they have mistakenly spelled Wimbledon ‘Milton Keynes Dons’
PremAndUp(Quote)
I just do not see why Bayern, PSG, Man City and Chelsea would hand back power to Real and Barca who are both at the end of eras. The Real Ronaldo era ended And the Messi-Iniesta-Puyol-Ramos era is about to end. Messi cannot go on forever.
So you are handing them money to compete with you for the next generation of superstars? Why would you do that if you are Man City or PSG? And Bayern are dominant anyway so why give other clubs an advantage that they havent earned?
Still, Uefa and Fifa must be changed and maybe if this is stood down it could be the catalyst for that. As I said this CL revamp of their is just stupid as was the Qatar WC.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Seriously, a Super League for Man City, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern would be acting AGAINST their own self-interest because their owners dont need the money and it props up badly run clubs. Without these 4 and perhaps Man U I think it would all fall apart.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Manure have massive debt, it was said last year they simply had to get into top 4 or they would be in massive trouble. Guess what they got a load of dodgy pens in last few games.
kimtoon(Quote)
Clubs get £300m signing on fee for joining the super league, that should clear a few unpaid bills eh.
kimtoon(Quote)
I dont think they have any problem at all with debt. A hedge fund just bought 10% of Liverpool valuing the club at 7 Billion. The Glazers have plenty of room to borrow more money if they need it.
I am just not getting why the clubs I named want to prop up badly run clubs and create more competition for themselves. I know it is guaranteed income but if it works like baseball people lose interest when they see their teams getting beat every week and out of the playoff picture.
Taking some power from Uefa and Fifa is not a bad thing though, just not sure creating an actual cartel is the way to do it. If it was any other business there would be questions raised at a monopolies board or anti-competition agency.
But we have seen with FIFA that they can take bribes and nothing ever happens. Nobody can tell me the Qatar WC wasnt fixed. I also saw pundits/officials on the couch at the Brazil WC. One had been given a $20,000 watch by the Brazil FA and thought nothing of showing it off. No corruption there 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It makes perfect sense to reform Uefa and Fifa but is creating a cartel the way to do it? Theorretically they are in competition with each other so this sort of collusion looks bad. I really think that if Bayern and PSG hold firm then this will fall apart as it wont take much for Chelsea nd Man City to back out. And the Chairman is the President of Real Madrid. Can you really see a peace lasting with the President of Barca as Vice Chair?
This has in-fighting, politics and back stabbing written all over it. It cannot last even if it gets off the ground in the first place, no matter the money involved. At least the current football bodies have the illussion of independence even though we all know they can be coerced by the big clubs – see Richard Masters/NUFC takeover.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But we are all missing the real issue here:
WHAT DOES PIERS MORGAN THINK?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, Does Piers Morgan think?
PremAndUp(Quote)
😆 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Dan Roan
@danroan
·
7h
Am told by well-placed source;
*Man Utd & RM “ringleaders”
*3 US-owned PL clubs “really mean this”, sold on the NFL model of closed league with star clubs/players driving value
*others see it more as leverage over UEFA – unhappy new CL format means £ shared among more clubs..
Dan Roan
@danroan
·
7h
*Big clubs from struggling leagues (Spain, Italy) agitating because their domination of has produced boring football outcomes.
*All hurting due to Covid. Want control of the competition structure and of revenue distributions.
Dan Roan
@danroan
·
7h
According to source, some of those involved in ESL call traditional supporters of clubs “legacy fans” while they are focused instead on the “fans of the future” who want superstar names
*ESL insists modelling shows solidarity payments will be boosted £10bn Euros over 23 seasons)
kimtoon(Quote)
There’s a PL meeting of the 14 clubs not involved in this Super League tomorrow morning. The Media and Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden who we know from the takeover is weighing in. Boris has spoken. There are renewed calls from Neville and others to have independent oversight of the PL.
And the season goes on. There are Champions League positions to play for so they must think this isa foregone conclusion It is not. It is a distraction. There are also relegation battles.
This will inevitably lead to massive court cases, especially if the PL sanction the breakaway clubs.
It turns out Woodward was one of the main drivers. If I were Abramovich or Mansour I would be worried about that. Image the reaction from Microsoft or Google if Mark Zuckerberg was dictating to them how the tech business should be set up going forward?
I dont trust any of these people and that includes the current administrators. It is hard take sides here when they are all equally bad but the new structure such a joke then for once the status quo with a few tweeks would be better. Is this what the gang of 12 really wanted in the first place.
They are showing all this on a Sky Sports special over here. I have come to one conclusion from this – middle aged sports presenters should not wear skinny jeans.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The premier league have more power than they realise here. This goes nowhere without the 6 PL clubs and what do the clubs do if they are suspended from the PL? The PL league would suffer as well but where do the gang of 6 go?
Similarly, what do the 3 Spanish and 3 Italian clubs do without the PL clubs. A league of 6 is a waste of time.
If Bayern, Dortmund and PSG stand tough then this can be shot down, but the new Uefa proposals should also be shot down.
I remember a few years ago seeing that Fifa had billions in the bank. They are totally corrupt and you can see why these clubs who supply the product want a bigger share of the pie.
This is not a good plan though. It will have everybody against it except the owners.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I absolutely backed what Gary Neville was saying yesterday and still do to an extent.
But, what the likes of Neville & Carra have to understand is their clubs starting destroying competitive football long before yesterday – when they started paying the kind of transfer fees & the kind of wages they pay their players, they killed real competition years ago.
Look at the winners of domestic trophies over the last 10-20yrs.
I don’t want the Super League one bit. But the likes of Man Utd, City, Chelsea & Lpool have been buying trophies for years.
Wages should have been capped years ago & transfer windows?! – look how much Chelsea went out and spent the second the embargo was up.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I feel sorry for Klopp tonight as well. They are putting him in a very difficult position tonight.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If you was Mike Ashley you will be even more furious with the PL than you was before. If this happens and these clubs stop competing in the PL the value will plummet of NUFC. Oh dear.
Stuart79(Quote)
Good to see the government stepping up to the plate. Looking at possibility of higher wealth taxes for football clubs, refusing to allow them to play their home games in the UK and banning them from buying non British players.
There’s no way this will happen. The fact they thought it could be done is staggering in its naivety.
Stuart79(Quote)
The Govt are saying they will block this and they have the power and votes to do it. You know Labour will back any proposal so it would fly through. They can use anti-competition rhetoric but they can basically pass whatever they like. The whole country would support it. Even Liverpool fans who are protesting tonight.
It doesnt make any sense anyway. They are proposing 2 groups of 10. Home and away that is 18 games, then quarter, semi and final. So that is 21 games for the winner.
Then add in 38 PL games and Internationals.
You would have to kill all participation in domestic cups or play the kids. That might actually be good for the domestic cups. I didnt even watch the FA Cup final last year but I did read it was pretty much a walkover.
You also have to put the Uefa proposals on hold as well because they are just stupid. Letting everybody in devalues the whole competition.
You can see where the top clubs are coming from because the football authorities make stupid decisions (WC to 48 teams for example) and feather their own nests. But replacing one group of greedy bastards with another group of greedy bastards is not the way to go.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: they could just pass a law and say it is anti-competitive. They broke up the oil and steel Trusts in the US in the 20s for this reason.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And Stuart, There is no way this goes anywhere without the English clubs.
Who wants a mini-league of 3 Italian and 3 Spanish clubs.
They have all been exposed for their pure greed and this will hurt anything else they want to do going forward.
Uefa said that Woodward at Man U said there were no plans in a phonecall as late as last Thursday.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getting back to NUFC. Liverpool havent been very good against Leeds. We might just have a bit of a chance. Like maybe 1 in 20.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, it just can’t happen. These idiots forget that they’re are the mercy of the government. They’re so deluded it’s hilarious.
Actually tonight’s game is irrelevant isn’t it? If this starts in August then Liverpool have already qualified for their league. It’s a good reason as to why it’s such a stupid idea.
I genuinely believe if the PL didn’t have these clubs the supporters of clubs left in the PL would enjoy it much more. Other clubs would compete more and win things and get more support. It would be more competitive and therefore more attractive for broadcast rights within a couple of years. People forget the likes of Sheff Wednesday, Forest and Derby are big football clubs who would add to a brilliant PL with the likes of Newcastle, Everton, Leeds, West Ham, Wolves, Leicester, Villa and Southampton. Lots of fans, great traditions and it would be fantastic. There’s also many other big clubs in the other European leagues. The revamped Champions League minus the ESL clubs would be super competitive and attract a lot of support from the likes of Italian, French, German, UK and Spanish fans.
Stuart79(Quote)
I keep seeing people say that this power/money grab is the American franchise system. Far from it. The people who set up the leagues over here knew that allowing the big market teams to do whatever they wanted would be anticompetitive. There is not even a paid transfer system. They put in check and balances.
The first are the drafts where the worst teams get first choice of players from college or high school. That’s how the Chicago Bulls got Michael Jordan. They were second worst in the league the year before so got 2nd pick. That’s how Cleveland got Mahomes.
Then there’s a salary cap. All the teams pay roughly the same overall. They have a tax if the big market teams go over. They even have a minimum wage which is still like a million dollars.
There is also revenue sharing. This comes mainly from the TV money where they all get the same.
There are ways around some of this but usually teams dominate for a long time because the sports are set up for one star to feature – like a quaterback, point guard or star pitcher.
This is nothing like what the Super League clubs are trying to do. Theirs is a straightforward money grab and in some ways you cant blame them because of the corruption in the game’s administration for so long. If ever there was pot calling the kettle black! However, it still doesnt mean it is not disgusting.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I keep reading these people say they are creating this super league to modernise/save football.
That’s just BS. These clubs have been allowed to overspend for years. Football has got greedy long before this week – transfer fees, wages and agent fees have become greater than what clubs can earning.
This isn’t saving football, it’s chasing the money – but what these owners have to realise is the more money they make, the more players will want higher wages, agents will increase their fees & that money will quickly go again – in 10/20 years time they’ll be in the same boat.
What would save football is getting the finances in order now – bring it back to a realistic and manageable amount – cap transfer spends, cap wages & agent fees – truly punish clubs for breaking rule & reward clubs for sticking to the rules, for developing youth team players and things like that.
The PL need to acknowledge their part in all of this too though. They have stood by and allowed this to happen because the more these people have spent, the more the PL brand has grown – they have been just as greedy in a different way.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brilliant post mate and you are spot on, this began with the PL and Sky and has gotten so out of control with most top clubs overspending that it was always going to end up like this.
We do need caps on fees, wages and agents before football eats itself .
kimtoon(Quote)
Nice to see Everton board make that statement, hopefully more clubs including ours follow suit.
kimtoon(Quote)
You need to form cracks in the “big 6” and I think it will all come tumbling down. The obvious starting point is the clubs whose owners dont need the money/are arguably not in it for the money. That is Chelsea and Man City.
Something good could actually come of this by shining a light on the arrogance and corruption at the football authorities. If Uefa are raking in all of this money for their own treasure chest then we need to know the numbers. The clubs are entitled to their fair of the revenue they generate and if that is not happening it should be changed.
Maybe these clubs are playing a long game and deliberately set up a rediculous system and will settle for less. Take their 30 pieces of silver (300 million euros) from JP Morgan and then have the coefficient qualification method that has been talked about. That does not rely so heavily on where you finish in a single season. They have some powersful opposition against them now. I cannot see any way their proposal stands but it may reform Uefa whose plans are just stupid.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pleadge up to only 58k. If it cannot get traction during all this talk of greed and football finance then when will it. #DoomedtoFail
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cracks already forming among the big 6 now, Apparently one owner has said this
Alex Wickham@alexwickham
Hearing from a source with knowledge that one of the big six English clubs is now seriously considering pulling out of the Super League
They are accusing Liverpool and Manchester United — the 2 clubs leading the breakaway — of lying to them and “****ing up”
kimtoon(Quote)
I dont want to get too deep into this but Perez at Real Madrid does have a point that people are not really interested in a Man City / Posnan group game and would rather see the top teams play each other more often which would lead to more money. The CL should be restructured and also the Europa League.
You should probably have the lessor clubs in the CL in the Europa League instead with an incentive to join the CL in its latter stages. Not have 3rd place teams in the CL group join the Europa League as well. That is backwards.
And all this whining about guaranteed money. The PL guarantee ALL PL clubs at least 100 million from the TV pot. The only difference in the ESL is it is a closed shop but so is the PL for about 10 clubs anyway. Unfortunately we are not one of them 🙂
There are a lot of people on high horses who never said a word about inherently bad structures of leagues and organisations before this. The heads of Uefa, Fifa and the PL are getting upset now that their power is being challenged when they have been abusing the system for years. Hypocrites.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
By “inherently bad structures of leagues” I mean the Champions League and Europa League and not the PL, Bundesliga etc.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And the PL are ones to talk. How many subscriptions do you need now to watch the games – Sky, Amazon, BT? They have been filling their boots with no regards to fans for years.
I get all PL games included with my regular cable subscription.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It also seems that some of these clubs were bulldozered into this and given an artificial deadline. They should now be relising that no matter how bad the current system is that this new proposal is a gift to Barca and Real Madrid. Why bail them out, even if it means more money to themselves. They can reform this from within and it may have taken this to wake up Uefa. A closed shop is not the way to do it though.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
If this ESL goes ahead the. The value of PL clubs goes down. That’s obvious. It will be less competitive – in fact it won’t be competitive. The same six will be in the top six every season. What will the rest be playing for?
For this reason, the remaining 14 should boot the six clubs out, revamp the PL and start again. Yes, broadcasting rights would be lower and clubs values would be negative effected but that’s going to happen regardless. They might as well have a lower value but be masters of their own destiny than continually have to participate in a league that’s for the good of only six clubs and have to basically tow the line of whatever these six decide.
Stuart79(Quote)
Seems like Klopp and Pep are not happy with this Super League. I disagree with Stuart that they should all be kicked out, I think this will implode by itself but may be useful to wake Uefa up. Pep is saying the anticompitive nature of the new league is against the principles of sport in general.
Sport is content driven now though and global so there are changes that need to be made but not a closed shop and if they want to take a lesson from America it should be revenue sharing and salary caps. They can still make bundles of cash from the commercial stuff like shirts and sponsors.
Pep and Klopp both started off in lower divisions at Barca B and Mainz so were not handed their current positions on a plate. I think they understand the drawbacks of an entitlement culture in football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have also seen some say that having the closed shop will mean more entertaining football because the teams will be freed up to play without fear. But what if it ends up like basketball. Have you watched it? It is boring as fck until the playoffs. The only people really interested until then are the teams with the star players. I have probably watched about 20 Bulls games since Jordan and he retired 20 years ago.
There becomes a saturation point and I fear 21 Super League games plus 38 PL games plus other cups will get us there.
Plus Ronaldo and Messi are on their last legs so you cannot hang your hat on them to promote a new league.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, you can’t have these six clubs in the PL if this ESL goes ahead. What would be the point? Literally, what would the rest be playing for? 7th and what? The six clubs would likely put our reserve sides so they could save the players for the big money league and imagine if Arsenal got relegated? What then? They go and play in the Championship but also continue in the ESL?
If they stayed in the PL it would completely and utterly distort competition. Even more than now. These clubs would get 100’s of millions more than the other 14 clubs and it would be guaranteed. That’s not realistic for them to continue to play in a league they distort so much.
How much more money and advantages do these clubs need and want for Christ sake! They take more and more and the rest get less and less and then they demand more privileges.
Unbelievable
Stuart79(Quote)
It just gets more convoluted. It turns out that the dirty dozen of ESL clubs will be split into tiers and money distributed in tranches. No surprise the main drivers of this scheme are in tier 1 and get the most money. Supposedly 350 mil euros for Man U, Barca and Real. Then the money gets less the lower you go down the ladder with the qualifiers getting 100 mil. So, not a hell of a lot different for lower tier teams but massive guarantees for the most arrogant and indebted of the clubs – Man U, Barca and Real. I think something smells wrotten here.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
There’s also been broadcasting companies distancing themselves from it. Amazon are the latest. Why would any sponsor want to be involved in something so unpopular?
Stuart79(Quote)
The more that comes out about this, the more it is like Orwell’s Animal Farm except with Billionaires playing the role of the pigs. “All Animals are created equal, but some Animals are more equal than others”. This is even more evident in the tiered system I just mentioned and is only now coming out.
What a farce.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wouldnt be going up against Amazon. You will lose! Nobody knows what is happeneing over here with retail Amazon have disrupted it so much.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
This has all come about because the Spaniards can’t afford to sign Mbappe and Neymar any more. The state have reigned in funding for Madid and Barca are billions in debt.
Won’t happen anyway.
georgio(Quote)
geoegio: I dont think there is a hope of this this going through as is. Pep has just challenged his owners to clarify the situation and will be backed by Klopp I am sure of it.
It is such a stupid idea to bail out the Spanish when you have them where you want them. It is like Nelson at Trafalga saying why dont you have a few of my ships and here’s some gold for your trouble and make sure you dont build a second armada (before he died of course).
There’s also news that Uefa already has their own hedge fund backed counter plan in the works. That would be as daft as this one I am sure, but it will muddy the waters even more.
This goes nowhere. Everybody is against it. Just need one crack (Man City or Chelsea) and the walls will come tumbling down.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You see, Pep doesnt give a ****. He has all the money he will ever need and knows that if he walks from Man City he can walk into any club whether they are in this deal or not. He can say what he wants and has the ear of his bosses who are not really his bosses because he holds all the cards. Same with Klopp to an extent.
Does anybody not think Arsenal would hire Klopp even if he walks away from Liverpool on principle? Even these money grabbers know they need a top manager. Who they going to get? Bruce?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dean Smith was also very eloquent in taking about this ****. He was on Sky but I am sure there is a youtube clip.
Eric Sykes(Quote)