How long until a Euro Super League?

[TightEnd]

the NFL (in salary cap, free agency, draft etc) gets competitive balance very right. its at the core of the product they put out. that a team can go from the bottom to the top in 2-3 years if they draft well, construct a roster well, get the right free agents etc

they reinforce this in scheduling such that the weaker teams in year one play weaker teams in year two while stronger teams in year one play similarly stronger teams in year two

clearly english football doesn't have the ability to construct salary caps, drafts etc etc

but competitive balance is a big issue for the premier league, imo, albeit one that is not reflected in tv deals or attendances yet

[DungBeetle]

the NFL (in salary cap, free agency, draft etc) gets competitive balance very right. its at the core of the product they put out. that a team can go from the bottom to the top in 2-3 years if they draft well, construct a roster well, get the right free agents etc

they reinforce this in scheduling such that the weaker teams in year one play weaker teams in year two while stronger teams in year one play similarly stronger teams in year two

clearly english football doesn't have the ability to construct salary caps, drafts etc etc

but competitive balance is a big issue for the premier league, imo, albeit one that is not reflected in tv deals or attendances yet

Well the whole premise of the TV deal is to allow teams to be competitive with one another.  Appreciate Man Utd's large stadium and global branding give them a massive advantage but I still think they are mindful that having a reasonably competitive league is better for their own long term profitability. 

Haven't Spanish clubs just concluded the same thing after many years?  As far as I know the TV split is far more even from next season.

[DungBeetle]

What I don't really buy is that a Man Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea senior squad member like Carrick/Oxlade Chamberlain/Cahill is somehow worth a million per week while other teams' first team players are being vastly overpaid and holding them back. 

Also seems funny how the overpaid carthorse thieves are at Norwich/Watford and not Stoke

[The Camel]

Leicester are absolutely flying at the moment.

But as soon as they have a player who looks genuine international quality, the question isn't "Have Leicester got a genuine chance of making the Champions League?" it is "Who will Jamie Vardy join in the transfer window?"

I think it's very sad.

If QPR unearthed Gerry Francis, Dave Thomas, Stan Bowles, Don Givens, Ian Gillard and Phil Parkes today, they would never have had the opportunity to play togther. They would have all been sold before they had the chance.

The last three promising youth team players we've cultivated, Liam O'Brien, Dean Parrett and Raheem Sterling, never even played for the first team before they were sold!

[DungBeetle]

Leicester are absolutely flying at the moment.

But as soon as they have a player who looks genuine international quality, the question isn't "Have Leicester got a genuine chance of making the Champions League?" it is "Who will Jamie Vardy join in the transfer window?"

I think it's very sad.

If QPR unearthed Gerry Francis, Dave Thomas, Stan Bowles, Don Givens, Ian Gillard and Phil Parkes today, they would never have had the opportunity to play togther. They would have all been sold before they had the chance.

The last three promising youth team players we've cultivated, Liam O'Brien, Dean Parrett and Raheem Sterling, never even played for the first team before they were sold!

Indeed - the biggest outrage is the way the youth team stealing works.  Sterling being the best example of course, but Watford supposedly had an absolute superstar in Javon Sanchez aged 14.  He went off to Man City for £500k compensation or whatever.  Pointless.

The other 2 bring things were promptly transferred to Udinese to keep them out of the clutches of the vultures.

[TightEnd]

wouldn't be so fussed if vardy, at 28 years old, gets a big move. bit disappointed if it was liverpool or spurs but if its higher than that, fair dos

good luck to him if a big club come in. he's under contract to 2018 so we'll get a good lump.

I would be far more upset if our England U19 left back Ben Chilwell who looks like he could be the dogs nuts on the evidence of a few friendlies and U21 games goes to arsenal or man u as is rumoured before i see him play a couple of seasons for the first team

[Ironside]

Just look at saints every window is a grit teeth time can only go to the cupboard so many times before it needs refilling

[DungBeetle]

Just look at saints every window is a grit teeth time can only go to the cupboard so many times before it needs refilling

At least Saints get top dollar though and get a chance to see their guys in action.  The thing that really winds me up is youngsters being poached before they are even 16.  It happens to Premier League teams as well - didn't Chelsea nick West Brom's big starlet Izzy Brown?  No idea why these youngsters want to leave reasonably high flying teams where they have a chance of getting a run in the first team.

[The Camel]

Just look at saints every window is a grit teeth time can only go to the cupboard so many times before it needs refilling

At least Saints get top dollar though and get a chance to see their guys in action.  The thing that really winds me up is youngsters being poached before they are even 16.  It happens to Premier League teams as well - didn't Chelsea nick West Brom's big starlet Izzy Brown?  No idea why these youngsters want to leave reasonably high flying teams where they have a chance of getting a run in the first team.

Obviously Raheem Sterling has had a stellar start to his career and won't regret leaving QPR.

But have a look at the other two.

Dean Parrett was England U16 capatin when he joined Totteham for £1.5 million aged 15. He played a couple of meaningless Europa Cup dead rubbers before being farmed out on loan and eventually released. Now playing for Stevenage.

Liam O'Brien's fall was even worse. A keeper who was in the England U16s squad, he joined Portsmouth when they were flying under Redknapp for two million. Never ever featured in a first team at Pompey before being released aged 19.

Floated around at a few clubs making a couple of appearences for Barnet. Joined Dagenham last season and seems to share first team duties there.

[Royal Flush]

Spanish league going the other way. I agree with Camel that unless a new competitive league forms football will never be as popular as it could be. I would love to see a transfer limit in the prem, a salary cap would be even better.