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SO many things wrong with the ESL, it's obvious. But sticking purely to numbers: it doesn't even stack up & the 6 English clubs who embarrassed themselves so cringingly with statements on Sun should ask J Glazer to explain the back of his fag packet. 1/n
This fabled €3.5bn pile of cash that's going to be divided by the 15 cartel clubs, for a £202m sweetener on day one. A) Do you think it's coming from a magic unicorn? B) Or are you, as owners of ESL, just lending yourselves this?
Clue: it's not A. 2/n
Clue: it's not A. 2/n
Maybe you think JP Morgan are 'gifting' you the €3.5bn, gratis, and you won't need to pay it back in the future. In which case maybe you believe in unicorns after all.
So what about tournament revenues?
3/n
So what about tournament revenues?
3/n
Champions League, according to the latest official financial data, brings UEFA €3.3bn in revs annually, of which €2.4bn comes from media / broadcasting. Joel Glazer's numbers say the ESL will have revenues of €5bn.
Broadcasting will HAVE to drive it.
4/n
Broadcasting will HAVE to drive it.
4/n
So, ESL: where is the broadcaster or collective of broadcasters who will commit to perhaps €12bn for initial three-year contracts to show your product that might well be massively boycotted? That's one hell of a gamble. Any answer?
5/n
5/n
Even if 6 PL clubs stay in PL when ESL starts, value of PL will've been damaged due to lack of jeopardy. So PL clubs will need even more money from an ESL with (currently) zero fleshed-out rev guarantees. Do they exist? Or have they leapt in the dark?
6/6
6/6
"Joel Glazer's fag packet" - great name for a fanzine. Worth pointing out his equally hooky numbers underpinned the doomed Project Big Picture. This is part of an October thread that exposed the gaping holes in that, economically 6/7 https://twitter.com/sportingintel/status/1317581817122258949
The ESL: flying on Sunday night, staggering as Monday went on, hanging onto the ropes by Tue lunchtime. Now Pep Guardiola has smashed it over the head with a frying pan.
Not dead yet, but lumbering, shambolic, wounded, humiliated.
Not dead yet, but lumbering, shambolic, wounded, humiliated.
Well that didn't take long. Whole thing could be done by the end of the week. https://twitter.com/JacobSteinberg/status/1384565074652803080
And it seems Man City are also about to pull out, following in the wake of Chelsea.
The spin-doctors are already hard at work to claim which of the shambolic pair decided to get out first. Shame on both of them. This won't be forgotten.
The spin-doctors are already hard at work to claim which of the shambolic pair decided to get out first. Shame on both of them. This won't be forgotten.
Atletico are in a race with Barça, to be the third to leave the ESL. Atleti might pip Barça if the latter ask their fans to vote on it.
Amazing scenes: possible that ALL the clubs could be knocked out of the ESL several months or even years before it BEGINS.
Amazing scenes: possible that ALL the clubs could be knocked out of the ESL several months or even years before it BEGINS.
Thoughts and prayers with Man Utd's share price.
With Man Utd and Arsenal also reluctantly heading for the ESL door, the future is becoming clearer.
Real Madrid will play Real Madrid B, or maybe a broke Serie A team, home and away 10 times each season. The top 2 will progress to the final. In Saudi Arabia.
Real Madrid will play Real Madrid B, or maybe a broke Serie A team, home and away 10 times each season. The top 2 will progress to the final. In Saudi Arabia.
Fond memories of this tournament. It involved some of the biggest clubs in Europe. And Tottenham. https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1383909222895603716
ED WOODWARD HAS RESIGNED !?
Confirmed that Ed Woodward gone as Man Utd executive vice-chairman. Served the Glazers well. Brought down in the end by an ESL that was too greedy even for those rapacious owners to get away with.
Tomorrow morning: plans for World Super League unveiled.
Tomorrow tea-time: WSL in tatters as leading clubs see error of their ways.
Stay tuned: it's more exciting than the group stages of the revamped CL ever will be.
Tomorrow tea-time: WSL in tatters as leading clubs see error of their ways.
Stay tuned: it's more exciting than the group stages of the revamped CL ever will be.
As more directors fall, as more clubs exit the ESL before it ever got started, let's revisit ancient, ancient history.
Or 10.17am this morning as it's otherwise known. https://twitter.com/sportingintel/status/1384436044683173889
Or 10.17am this morning as it's otherwise known. https://twitter.com/sportingintel/status/1384436044683173889
