A thread...my overview of the ESL, how, why and where it may go. I may ramble a bit, and this is only an opinion based on a few facts I know, observation and conjecture.
I will mostly stick with Liverpool, as I know most about them.

1) FSG didn't purchase LFC with an ESL in mind. Their idea was always to make the club self-sustaining, and in this a strongly applied FFP system from UEFA was a key factor. With various Platini corrupt practices and wheezes (esp. after Qatar got the WC) this did not happen.

2) UEFA have already changed the European Cup into the CL, changed and expanded it several times, owning all the rights and deciding who gets what and what a club's 'coefficient' is. On top of this, FIFA have since reframed and expanded the Club World Cup - even more games.

3) On top of this UEFA have their new European Nations League - more games = more money for the governing bodies, more strain on a club's players, who are expected to absorb this, even if a £100m player suffers an ACL playing against the Faroe Islands.

4) The clubs of course still have to pay the damaged player's wages and sort his recovery while UEFA and FIFA count the broadcast cash.
And here I think is the crux of it...big clubs generally feel that they and their players make most of the governing bodies cash.

5) The fact that the governing bodies have been riddled with corruption and embezzlement cases for decades doesn't help their perceptions of their 'partners'. The clubs - especially the big ones - want more direct say and a more guaranteed slice of the big pie.

6) Look at it this way...most big clubs have large, talented squads they have spent time, lots of money and energy recruiting, training and developing. UEFA and FIFA have no players, run no clubs, but feel they effectively 'own' them all as organising middlemen.

7) They threaten any club taking part will not be eligible for any of our competitions (overlooking the fact that without the big clubs their competitions are near worthless). Both the big clubs and the organising bodies rely on broadcasting rights for their serious money.

8) So here we are...unstoppable force, immovable object. It would have been mad for the big clubs not to announce this without having all the moving parts in order - it would be taken as bluff (which in part, I believe it is). Brinkmanship dressed as business on both sides.

9) The German and French big clubs don't want it; Neither so far do the Dutch and Portuguese. This weakens the big clubs position a bit, but the fact UEFA went straight to threats shows their position is if anything weaker. Shutting big clubs and players out is financial suicide;

10) The big clubs are tooled up and have caught UEFA out a bit, but so far they are little more than a rump and they will be worried, despite what you think, about fan reaction. The pitch is set for very heated negotiations, only this time on all parts, very serious negotiations.

11) I believe the nuclear option will be eased off the table in the coming weeks and months. The clubs will get more say, more cash and UEFA will get future guaranteed participation from said clubs. But it will get nasty, petty and messy. They dare not fuck it up.
ENDS