European Super League an inevitability
By phil osopher, 20 Oct 2011 phil osopher is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Barcelona FC, European football, European Super League, football, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League
The possibility of Europe’s biggest clubs leaving local leagues and playing in a new European league on a weekly basis – which I’m sure they’d label ‘super’ something, such is the lack of imagination in people – is gaining new momentum.
It’s also inevitable for the good of the game.
We recently saw Liverpool’s outburst – like a cranky little spoiled brat sick of sharing his toys with the poor kids – asking that TV revenue go to the big clubs because they generate the interest.
This is what they do in Spain, where Real Madrid and Barcelona take all the money and run without question. I was appalled at the statement, as I hate that Spanish model, with the end effect an inevitable two horse monopoly – a perfect manifestation of Karl Marx’s capitalistic prediction.
But then I thought, well, what’s the alternative?
Most national leagues now suffer from permanent predictability like a chronic disease anyway. And it is permanent, this is not your imagination.
This local league/capitalist mix format has simply matured now and outgrown itself.
The only thing exciting about the EPL these days is the Man City attempt at the big time. I find it interesting. Like Chelsea a few years ago, it’s due to some absurdly rich guy messiah injecting his play lunch money, and that is the only hope for interest the capitalist model as it stands has to offer.
So for more exciting things we have to wait for Bill Gates to get sick of trying to cure malaria and decide to spend his squillions on people who can kick a ball well. Otherwise, its just a big permafrost from here on in.
Alternatively, the financial plan goes bust and a Chelsea collapses, Leeds United like. That’s about the excitement you can expect.
Otherwise, get excited about whether Manchester United will come first or second until you die. Personally, as a Man United fan even, I’m struggling to do that.
Unfortunately for me, I find permanent predictability in sport very dull. Some don’t seem to mind it, but it’s all contrived and they are just pretending to find it interesting such is their lust to view sport.
Basically every national league is on a one way street to boredom-ville, that is fact, not opinion.
For hope we could wish for a communist revolution, A-League style, but that won’t happen.
We could argue about tradition and just settle for the permafrost effect – too dull.
We could place our hope in the Champions League in current format. But it’s tired, too sporadic time wise, and the good teams don’t play each other often enough in that ultimately Cup style competition format, more suited to tennis really.
In fact, the current Champions League season is a display of what Liverpool are warning against if they aren’t provided more revenue.
Madrid and Barcelona are clearly better than the rest, and this will turn to permafrost if others don’t move to compete with their insane wealth.
Most clubs basically are already just feeder clubs for the two Spanish monsters, and this needs to change somehow.
If nothing changes, European football will be as predictable as the ocean, where little fish get eaten by bigger fish, and then this shark comes along. Hmmm, what will happen next? How exciting.
The only hope of competition is to let these big clubs go, or even kick them out. Set them free. Let them play with each others Rolls Royce, and eat the others children should one get slightly poorer.
I think it’d be great to see Man United play AC Milan on a regular basis, genuine competition. Things have to evolve and it seems the obvious evolution.
But the plus is, rather than destroying local competitions, it may revitalise them.
The national leagues could adopt a sort of socialist policy of equity and enjoy a more even competition, which I’m sure the fans would like, follow and attend, while the others enjoy their European capitalistic super orgy, and let’s see what happens.
Why not? The current system is not really believable anymore.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Redemption all round as Jesus sends the Roos to Rio (228)
- Not quite Kruse-ing, but Robbie gives Roos rhythm (200)
- We need to talk about Holger Osieck (142)
- Fair result, but will Socceroos fans still turn up? (139)
- Has the A-League overtaken the Socceroos? (107)
- Five signs to gauge the Socceroos are on the right track (88)
- Osieck’s Jordan selection should be dictated by his strategy (82)
- Osieck’s job was on knife’s edge
- Redemption all round as Jesus sends the Roos to Rio (228)
- Kennedy king as Socceroos secure World Cup spot (6)
- Holger’s heroes deliver our Brazilian dream
- Time for change for Spain’s golden generation (7)
- 1-0: Socceroos clinch World Cup berth (5)
- Osieck’s subs help spark Socceroos (2)
- Kennedy king as Socceroos secure World Cup spot (6)
- Holger’s heroes deliver our Brazilian dream (0)
- Time for change for Spain’s golden generation (7)
- Australia vs. Iraq: Socceroo player ratings (21)
- Australia qualifies for 2014 World Cup despite woes in attack (7)
- Socceroos vs Iraq: 2014 World Cup Qualifier live scores, blog (187)
- To all you bagging McKay: calm down (24)
Recommend this story.
- Explore:
- Barcelona FC, European football, European Super League, football, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League

October 20th 2011 @ 4:37am
Axelv said | October 20th 2011 @ 4:37am | Report comment
Disagree strongly, there are so many battles happening in every league (except 2 horse Spain).
Take the EPL, 10 years ago it was Leeds United, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. For a long period, under Arsene’s Arsenal that featured Henry, they went an entire 38 game season unbeaten! Look at Arsenal now, they are under so much scrutiny, performing badly and are so far behind the rest of the big teams, they struggle against the smaller clubs.
Newcastle United were a top 4 EPL team before and after Leeds collapsed, Chelsea took their spot through sheer money. Look at Mourinho’s time at Chelsea, what a time that was! He’s results were amazing, yet he didn’t get along with the owner, who kept interfering and wanted certain players in there, and his team to play more attractive despite Mourinho’s near unstoppable record with Chelsea (The Champions League was 1 year away from being won by Chelsea).
Tottenham finished 4th 2 years ago, and are challenging again this year, Liverpool have not been in the top 4 for 2 years, and will have to fight hard to make it, Arsenal are 10th currently and unless they can pick it up, look like they will miss out on the top 4 for the first time, in a very long time! Outside of the top 4 you have the Europa League, which is a very high quality football league.
The mid table EPL teams are fighting for points every day, and are more than capable of drawing, and beating the giant teams of the EPL. Take Stoke city vs Manchester United! What a game that was.
One of my favourite parts is when it gets closer to the end of the season, and the relegation battle is in full swing, a team fighting to avoid relegation although being complete rubbish the whole year, can really play out of their skins like a mother lifting a car to save her baby, you have these bottom 4-7 teams pulling these super important goals out of nowhere, no matter their opposition.
We could do the same thing for all the other European leagues! (Except Spain) Netherlands, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany! Things are always changing and there are constant battles being fought every week throughout the whole table. And this is not including the Champions League and Europa Leagues. Club football is really exciting!
And for me, the most exciting club football of all is the A-League, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Central Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, I can’t wait to see these teams play every week! The best thing yet I can go and see them and hear the crowds with my own eyes and ears, full of Australian talent. Nothing beats live football! And I can’t wait especially to see how Brisbane go in the Asian Champions League! Japan and Korea are really emerging at strong footballing nations, out classing their European opposition in the World Cup, with ease as well! With many of their talent playing in some of the top clubs and leagues of the world.
PS I know the article is a joke, but still, I’m offended by it, many of your points do ring true
October 20th 2011 @ 7:11am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:11am | Report comment
I disagree with myself emotionally speaking, but I see little alternative. Of course there’s some competition, like your Stoke v Man U example, even Barca get beaten occasionally in Spain. But you might note your largely talking about history there re Newcastle etc. The EPL was a great competition, it’s not anymore. Why? Capitalistic models take time to mature, and that was the history of the EPL as you are referencing. It has now matured and it takes little time each year for the pattern of the top four in the EPL to materialise.
Capitalistic models also have anomolies which can add some interest. I agree that Arsenals stumble is interesting, last year it was Liverpool. That’s okay, but not enough to claim a genuine competitive claim to a competitive competition. Arsenal will be back, as Liverpool now are.
All your examples are also the result of money, eg Chelsea, and now Man City, which as I siad I find interesting. But thats my point, its only money that makes it interesting, and only slightly interesting too. Its also a bit odd isnt it that the most interesting thing is the relegation battle, the battle for last? I think so, and I agree, it is the most interesting thing in the EPL these days. The EPL was a great competition, its not these days.
And the A-League as a great competition? Well maybe, thats because its a pure socialist central control of capital model, and thus you never really know who is going to win from year to year. Europe is never going to adopt that model, never ever ever, so its an irrelevant point.
I dont like the idea of national competitions of all that history being broken either, not at all, I hated the idea when I first heard it, but unfortunately I like genuine competition. Mid tabel clashes are half interesting but not that great. The only thing I look forward to in football these days (and I was an EPL nut 10 years ago) is in the Champions when Man U play an Italian club or Bayern, because its a serious game. But these games of quality are not common enough, and a Euro League would make it more common and re-ignite genuine competition in football again. So I’d have to look forward to the prospect I think.
Oh, and you forgot Scotland, a serious 2 horse race which is absurd. Im sure Scotland would benefit from a Euro league.
October 20th 2011 @ 2:28pm
peeeko said | October 20th 2011 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
France? Did nt Lyon win 7 titles in a row?
October 20th 2011 @ 6:10am
nordozzz said | October 20th 2011 @ 6:10am | Report comment
boos for a euro super league from me too … yes there are predictable leagues but also ones like the Bundesliga with interest at all points of the table. Its just reason to do things better not to abandon national leagues for a weekly euro league. It would gut football at the level below euro … and then u really just will end up with a ‘closed shop’ where the big teams want to protect their status and let no one new in.
boooooooo….
October 20th 2011 @ 7:28am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:28am | Report comment
Take your point on the German League, it does retain some authenticity. Thats largely due to Bayern adopting a restrained economical strategy, as does Arsenal in the EPL. The french do to somehow apparently. But they all still have the dominating clubs, and thats okay, thats kind of unavoidable to an extent. But I miss the older European days when Ajax were a great club, when anyone could win Europe. Real dream / magic stuff. The economical models have matured and dont allow that anymore if this current system continues. Im afraid its Barcelona, maybe Madrid form here on in. Ajax is now a mere development club. This is a tragedy. Clubs like that would totally benefit from a Euro League, and so I have to let go of romatic ideas that dont equate to reality anymore.
October 20th 2011 @ 7:46am
nordozzz said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:46am | Report comment
yeah i prefer they use the ‘socialist-style’ restraints as a cap on costs at the top end, rather than contriving some sort of equality through the pack. Bigger cities should have bigger clubs … smaller and mid sized cities the opportunity to prove themselves and use the disparity as a motivating factor. Germany is a good example with their use (i think) of wage costs as a percentage to revenue (?).
By using an in-between approach of tinkering with the system rather than going completely to the other end of the scale … embracing this full-blown Euro league model … they can improve or renovate the system rather than completely knocking it down. It ain’t completely broke i don’t think.
The A-League system i like … when u factor in marquees and ASAs plus the potential to only spend 80pc of the cap … as i think it was Arnie pointing out the other day the Mariners only spend maybe 60pc of what MV or SFC would this season. All we need is a second division to end the ‘closed shop’ mentality that i think is the antithesis of a truly sporting league structure.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:34am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:34am | Report comment
to be honest I prefer the cap system too, though it does have disadvantages from a viewer perspective as well. But the big Euro clubs will never accept that. I cant see Barcelona ever being told they can now only spend so much money just to be fair to the others. They’ll just never do it.
They could implement it in the USA and in Aussie Rules and in the NRL, because whta else are the clubs going to do? There’s no where else to go. But in football there is other places to go, they can all go and have their own little party, and thats what I think will happen eventually.
October 20th 2011 @ 1:25pm
nordozzz said | October 20th 2011 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
with any luck the ‘austerity’ trend might spread to the elite football scene soon enough … thru necessity most likely!
October 20th 2011 @ 7:09am
Fussball ist unser leben said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:09am | Report comment
I don’t have any emotional attachment to any football club other than MVFC, so I no longer care how the Euro leagues organise themselves.
I find the new Champions League format tedious, to be honest. I’m currently watching Porto v APOEL and it’s an average game. There is no history b/w the clubs and the Group format of the UCL is pure revenue-raising strategy.
The UCL only gets interesting at the knock-out stage – which was the format in the old days.
October 20th 2011 @ 7:21am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:21am | Report comment
You’re right re the Champions. its not that interesting anymore. Porto, as a little club, used to win the thing. They will never win it agin. never ever, no hope. The group format is just revenue raising because there is such a huge gap between the rich and the poor now. Its just tokenism, until the knockout stage, I agree..
And thats what that Liverpool guy was saying. Barca and Real are going to take over, forever, if something doesnt change, and we’re already seeing that. Lots of people think the Champions League does the job for top level football, well it doesnt unfortuantely, it used to as you say, it doesnt anymore, a little yes, but that will all fade away in the coming years.
October 20th 2011 @ 7:37am
Fussball ist unser leben said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:37am | Report comment
I reckon, if they reverted to a pure knock-out competition that is only open to the Champions of Europe, every match would be competition would have tension and intensity.
To compensate for the reduced number of matches, UEFA could have 3 pure knock-out home and away leg competitions
1. Champions trophy: only for champions of each Association
2. UEFA cup: for runners up in each Association
3. Cup winners cup: for the winners of the cup competition in each Association
Of course, the problem for some big clubs they risk playing only 2 games if they are knocked out in the 1st round!
October 20th 2011 @ 9:11am
Football United said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:11am | Report comment
i thought you were a manchester united supporter fuss? You’re always waxing lyricals about Scholesy and Old Trafford.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:23am
Fussball ist unser leben said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Yes, of all the o/s teams, Man United is the one that I hold dearest but, since the advent of the HAL, I’ve found my emotional attachment to a club representing a city – that I’ve never visited – on the other side of the world to be pretty pointless.
I still check United’s results every week – but not with the same passion as I did as a kid and I certainly don’t get exuberant or disappointed at their results as i did in the past.
I probably get more excited about seeing Holman score for AZ Alkmaar, or any of our Utrecht boys do well. And, after Matty McKay’s MoM performance against LIverpool yesterday, I’ll be checking Rangers’ results with greater interest, henceforth.
October 20th 2011 @ 10:28am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | October 20th 2011 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Same here Fuss—I have been a passionate football follower all my life and never had a real local football club to follow in a top flight domestic national league until now—most of my life I have only had a foreign club (Chelsea) to follow and of course the Socceroos. Born in Sydney where I learnt to play all my football, SFC came too late for me. Now living on the Gold Coast, I have become attached to my local club and eagerly await home games—looking forward to attend every home match with my adult son. It’s only now I have come to realise how a home grown Chelsea supporter must feel about a club he loves. It has taken almost a life time to experience the same emotion, so let’s enjoy it with the few remaining years we have left—you with MV and I with GCU—long live the HAL.
October 20th 2011 @ 11:43am
Football United said | October 20th 2011 @ 11:43am | Report comment
can relate to that. i’m a manchester united supporter because my dad and his family are all from there but i personally have never been there. i have seen them play in friendlies in Asia back in the glory days 2001 and i will still get up at 3am with my dad to watch them on TV but it’s still nothing like the times I’ve had with MVFC and the North Terrace. I’d hope much of the next generation of football supporters will feel the same.
October 26th 2011 @ 12:33pm
PeterK said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Fiul, QsAF, and FU, spare a thought then for us in NQ — how would you feel if what you now love more than all else were to “disappear” despite your own personal best efforts!
Unlike some of our small but fiercely loyal band, I remain committed to the HAL, and follow it as best I can without Pay-TV, and there are still a few of us hoping one day to be back (better than ever). I can of course (and do) follow the ex Fury players!
I think it was a mistake to have admitted us when we were, and said so in writing at the time, but we’re hopeful of one day being properly ready. Our biggest obstacle is the small population from which to draw our fans. (And a new obstacle is the memory of “what happened last time”.)
Meanwhile keep the HAL warm for us!
October 26th 2011 @ 12:55pm
PeterK said | October 26th 2011 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
And treasure what you have!
October 20th 2011 @ 7:58am
Football United said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:58am | Report comment
it shouldn’t happen as it would be horrible for football. UEFA’s financial fairplay policy will even some bits and pieces out by ensuring that clubs will not be able to go on massive spending sprees too often as they will not be able to participate in europe if they can’t cover those losses. Cash injections from owners is not counted in this policy so it means abromavic, mansour or Qatar Group will not be able to just put 100m pounds into their clubs to make things easier, the clubs themselves will have to actually break even or make money.
October 20th 2011 @ 3:27pm
BrisbaneBhoy said | October 20th 2011 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
If you really believe that the owners such as the ones you mentioned and the like will have to stop the cash injections then you are mistaken. Yes they will be told they can’t, and will say that they will/have stopped, only to then announce a new sponsor deal (read cash injection) via themselves/their companies/whatever way they see fit – IE, they buy the Stadium naming rights per season for whatever figure they deem fit (read cash injection), or how about buying the naming rights to the training grounds, toilet seats, etc, etc.
Where there is a will there is a way. Trust me they will find ways around whatever roadblocks/rules/regulations etc are put in front of them as long as it means hey stay ahead of the others/win the silverware.
October 20th 2011 @ 7:58am
Lucan said | October 20th 2011 @ 7:58am | Report comment
“But the plus is, rather than destroying local competitions, it may revitalise them.
The national leagues could adopt a sort of socialist policy of equity and enjoy a more even competition, which I’m sure the fans would like, follow and attend, while the others enjoy their European capitalistic super orgy, and let’s see what happens.”
Great in theory, but in practicality I think it would harm the domestic competitions.
We created a somewhat similar setup here when the A-League started up. A new “super-league” with cashed up franchises, and the teams who couldn’t compete either folded or went back to their respective State Leagues. None of these State Leagues, or the clubs have thrived under this model.
October 20th 2011 @ 8:35am
The Cattery said | October 20th 2011 @ 8:35am | Report comment
There is some merit in Phil’s central argument that the laissez-faire model inevitably leads to an oligopoly. If you’re lucky, that might mean four massive clubs, but in other cases it might mean two massive clubs (within a domestic league).
Once these clubs reach a certain size relative to the rest, they are almost guaranteed to survive deep into the CL, which is where the real money is, and it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle where everyone else is completly locked out of getting to that level.
Some will try, but it’s not something that can be sustained by doing it once every three years – the cost to compete against these mega clubs is too great, if you can’t stay up there in the CL, then you are likely to go into debt big time with very little chance of recovery.
It’s not in the interests of the really big clubs to move towards a level playing field, they have it so good now, why would they support that?
If anyone tries to clip their wings, the move to a Super League becomes inevitable – the attraction obvious – you don’t need to stuff around with lowly clubs to qualify each year – you are there permanently!
October 20th 2011 @ 9:17am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:17am | Report comment
“It’s not in the interests of the really big clubs to move towards a level playing field, they have it so good now, why would they support that?”
exactly. They will never accept wing clipping, which is an option, but as they wont accept it you have to do something else. I dont see any other alternative than a euro league.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:04am
Matt said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:04am | Report comment
I agree. It astounds me beyond beleif how followers of the top 3 or 4 clubs get excited all year, sometimes its over how many goals will be scored in the win ? I solved that problem by following a team that scares me week in week out
Bolton FC so the excitement of how we will do never stops. The title race is a bore to be honest. Weather its Man U, Chelsea, Man C, Arsenal or Liverpool it doesnt matter, it just rotates year to year between them.
FIFA need to do something about it, a fifa cap on spending at all clubs could help, all be it slightly if they put the cap pretty high.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:28am
phil osopher said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Me too, I dont see how the excitement can be maintained, myself a victim to that. I try and follow Leeds struggle back to the top after the financial bust up, but forget about the top, it’s just dull. Trouble with a cap is the big guns will never accept it, never, they dont have too, they’re actually bigger than the leagues themselves, especially in Spain, where I get the impression they just dictate terms those two. Therefore I imagine if big clubs like Liverpool can see financial gain they will break and form a super league of their own if the FA or UEFA dont do something about the current bore-athon. Liverpool are clearly not happy about being made a permanent feeder club to Barcelona, and nor should they be I guess.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:50am
The Cattery said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Matt
It has been a long time since Liverpool has been there, certainly not since the formation of the Premier League in 1992-93, and of course, City’s rise is a very recent event.
Out of 19 premier league seasons, Manchester has won it 12 times, Arsenal 3 (last in 03-04), Chelsea 3 and of course Blackburn won one early on when they too were funded to the hilt for a short period.
For teams like Blackburn, Chelsea and City, their rise, in all cases, was dependent on someone wanting to plonk hundreds of millions of dollars into the club.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:44am
PaddyBoy said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:44am | Report comment
I like the idea of a European league. Gives you a chance to cap the pay to make the clubs financially viable again, and get rid of snorefests.
One league which isn’t to be fair is the Bundesliga, goals galore and upsets. Even Bayern choke hard some years.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:52am
The Cattery said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:52am | Report comment
The Bundesliga is the only one of the big six or seven leagues that has a policy in place the encourages financial prudence and attempts to make things a bit more equitable.
October 20th 2011 @ 11:12am
Ben of Phnom Penh said | October 20th 2011 @ 11:12am | Report comment
With financial austerity sweeping Europe there may be a move more towards the Bundesliga model than in the other direction towards greater largesse.
I must say I do enjoy watching the Bundesliga for the simple fact that I don’t know who is going to win at the start of every match.
October 20th 2011 @ 9:56am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | October 20th 2011 @ 9:56am | Report comment
As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing wrong with the EPL, UCL or La Liga or any other European league you mention all have marvelous leagues. The only one I wish could be better organised is the FIFA World Club Cup Championships. Although it is street ahead of the original Toyota Club Cup Intercontinental Challenge Match, and that is a good thing. But FIFA could do a lot more by giving the World Club Cup a much better profile—boost the rewards for the teams who compete in it for one. I realise there are geographical obstacles that seem to get in the way of this competition. However, the focus for every club in the world should be the FIFA World Club Championships. Hopefully one day I will get to see my club GCU FC crown champions of the world before I pass on
October 20th 2011 @ 10:34am
Futbanous said | October 20th 2011 @ 10:34am | Report comment
That I agree with(improving the WCC).
Dont think we can do much about Europe,money & power dictate the terms there & for me a European Super League is inevitable. Do I like it,not particularly, but its obvious that the trend is for money to gravitate towards money so the rich get richer.
We need to be thinking about what can be done to raise the profile of the clubs here & the only way to do that is firstly through the ACL then into the WCC.
Can it be improved(WCC) who knows FIFA’s input has been lukewarm so far so we dont know(sort of like the Confederations cup for me).
October 20th 2011 @ 11:20am
Qantas supports Australian Football said | October 20th 2011 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Futbanous—-I reckon FIFA have only touched the surface of the WCC and it has the potential to be the biggest tournament in the world behind the FIFA WC. But its needs its own window for mine and that is where the problem lies I think. How that is achieved is anyone’s guess. If a window can be found somehow by eliminating some of the outdated domestic cup tournaments—free up some space for clubs to compete in the FIFA WCC tournament that would be a good start. This should be the most important Club football tournament in the world for clubs wanting to compete against the best, or only to be involved.
October 20th 2011 @ 10:00am
Lucan said | October 20th 2011 @ 10:00am | Report comment
What would this do for the European Cup (Champions League)?
Obvioulsy reverting back to a straight H&A knock-out competition is the way to go, but do you include the winner of the Superleague along with the winners of these diluted domestic leagues?