The Death of Football

I can relate to a lot that's been said in here.

The one main thing that sticks out for me and will always be a harsh reminder about how the game is; football is a business these days. And in business, you can't let emotions get involved.

What a F***ing fu**ed up pile of sh*t, that is. Talk about a massive conflict.

I can relate to a lot that's been said in here.

The one main thing that sticks out for me and will always be a harsh reminder about how the game is; football is a business these days. And in business, you can't let emotions get involved.

What a F***ing fu**ed up pile of sh*t, that is. Talk about a massive conflict.

Yep, was in WHS this afternoon, and on the back page of the Echo was an image of Suarez, and sadly I felt nothing. I wish I felt enlightened because he plays for us, but alas, after the last month, I just can't.

But is that not the world all over, no loyalty, just greed.

The following is one of the first posts I made on this forum; in a thread titled "Loyalty To Liverpool": it still holds true (for me)...

In modern, money driven, football to only loyalty that's "ever-present" is the loyalty of the fans to their team.

I watched my daughter sob after we lost the 2007 final in Athens but I knew that 2 or 3 days later the vast majority of our mega-rich stars would be jetting off to a luxury holiday without a second thought. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule but we've all seen the badge kissers. If these dudes were of a loyal disposition then surely it follows that they'd still be with the clubs that made them.

I'm not saying it's wrong for players to want to better themselves or make more money. Just don't confuse this drive with loyalty. We are loyal - most players aren't.

 

The following is one of the first posts I made on this forum; in a thread titled "Loyalty To Liverpool": it still holds true (for me)...

 

My sentiments exactly,which is why I would describe MOST professional footballers as mercenaries.I go back to when a player signed for Liverpool and he was given a club house for him and his family to live in.Up to the 1960s most of the players lived in club houses in either Bowring Park or the Eaton Road area of West Derby Village.I often wonder what happened to all those club houses as L.F.C. owned quite a few.I should imagine Stevie Gerrard will be the last Liverpool one club player to wear our famous RED SHIRT and that is sad.

100% spot on, I do despair of football at times , although watching Stevie G and the likes of Messi, Iniesta and co do restore some of the faith I have lost in the game, it use to be called the glory game but now it's all about money and F**k anyone who falls by the wayside as a result.

The following is one of the first posts I made on this forum; in a thread titled "Loyalty To Liverpool": it still holds true (for me)...

 

Let's have it right though BBB - how loyal is the club to the player?

Look at Carroll - didnt want to come here - forced to put in  transfer request so the fans woul dturn against him at his boyhood club - played whilst he was injured, changed manager and turfed out to West Ham without getting a chance to prove himself and sold on at the first reasonable offer. How can the clubs expect loyalty when they show little iof it to the players?

Let's have it right though BBB - how loyal is the club to the player?

Let's have what right Carlos? 

In modern, money driven, football to only loyalty that's "ever-present" is the loyalty of the fans to their team.

That was the first line mate; I'm surprised you missed it. 

Let's have what right Carlos? 

That was the first line mate; I'm surprised you missed it. 

I agree with what your esaying I just dont think its emphasised enough that the clubs also have a duty towards the player - a duty that they (mostly) ignore when it suits them.

I agree with what your esaying I just dont think its emphasised enough that the clubs also have a duty towards the player - a duty that they (mostly) ignore when it suits them.

Hasn't football always been that way?

Only these days, the average footballer gets paid a hell of a lot more than they did back in the day.

At the end of the day, the clubs, footballer's and their agents all get a lovely cut of the dough being made in the game, the real people being ripped off and totally ignored are the fans, pay your money, sit down and shut up - that should be the motto of the Premier League these days.

Hasn't football always been that way?

Only these days, the average footballer gets paid a hell of a lot more than they did back in the day.

At the end of the day, the clubs, footballer's and their agents all get a lovely cut of the dough being made in the game, the real people being ripped off and totally ignored are the fans, pay your money, sit down and shut up - that should be the motto of the Premier League these days.

I'm not sure mate  - i certainly get the impression there was a lot more oyalty shown to the players and the clubs in the old days. maybe im just being nostalgic?

About five years or so ago I remember having a discussion with a fella about German football having embraced the 50+1 rule and its ability to maintain dramatically lower ticket prices in the context of the debt that was being acquired by PL clubs, and the argument was made then that, although it hadn't yet borne fruit in terms of CL success, ultimately it would prove a far more sustainable model than the rampant commercialisation of the game we've been seeing over here. I think the way Bayern and Dortmund in particular have developed since then, along with the development of the German national team, is proof that you can strike a sustainable balance between commercial and supporter interest.

It makes me wonder to what extent cheaper ticket prices would change people's feelings about the influence of money in the English game?

About five years or so ago I remember having a discussion with a fella about German football having embraced the 50+1 rule and its ability to maintain dramatically lower ticket prices in the context of the debt that was being acquired by PL clubs, and the argument was made then that, although it hadn't reaped the rewards of it at the time (i.e. no CL success), ultimately it was a far more sustainable model than the rampant commercialisation of the game we've been seeing over here. I think the way Bayern and Dortmund in particular have developed since then, along with the development of the German national team, is proof that you can strike a sustainable balance between commercial and supporter interest.

It makes me wonder to what extent cheaper ticket prices would change people's feelings about the influence of money in the English game?

All the likes of Scudamore and his cronies care about is the "product"

All the likes of Scudamore and his cronies care about is the "product"

What does this eventually lead to? If the TV money keeps on growing, clubs become increasingly attractive to the money men...wages will keep on growing, and ultimately the supporters will end up bearing the cost of it all. Clubs these days are run primarily -- completely? -- either as businesses or as billionaires' playthings, not as historical institutions that owe a duty to their supporters as the people who made those clubs great and keep those clubs alive. They aren't going to charge less out of the goodness of their hearts if they can get away with charging more. It's purely financial for these people and the German model proves how ridiculously short-sighted it all is.

If it's going to be brought under control there's got to be mandatory supporter (member) ownership along the lines of 50+1 -- at the very least, but again, who's going to lobby for that in the PL/FA? It's completely at odds with the interests of those who stand to gain financially from the present state of affairs -- Scudamore and his chums, amongst them. This is the bind we're in unfortunately and there seems to be little we as supporters can do about it. Meanwhile, the circus rolls along...

Let's have it right though BBB - how loyal is the club to the player?

Look at Carroll - didnt want to come here - forced to put in  transfer request so the fans woul dturn against him at his boyhood club - played whilst he was injured, changed manager and turfed out to West Ham without getting a chance to prove himself and sold on at the first reasonable offer. How can the clubs expect loyalty when they show little iof it to the players?

or Alonso ..... the guy wore his heart on his sleeve for  this club and then knowing he had been put being Barry in preference what does he do?

Plays a blinder of a season for us before he goes.

Respect.