Tag Archives: football

The Super League

Posted by Ryan Mark Elliott Music on

This is what happens when you live in a Tower of Babel society.

Make no mistake about this, the proposed super league that teams have signed up to (including the one I support) are a symptom of the rife and outright grotesque levels of inequality that have run amok across society for far too long.

The privileged, the 1%s, the billionaire owners are all on a self entitled hedonic treadmill where they are completely in it for themselves. They govern based on their own interests, greed and that is in spite of everyone else.

It’s so obvious, but nothing gets done about it, accountability is out of the window, the ignorant are satiated and those at the top can do whatever the hell they like and get away with it.

Football is a universal sport, the sport I grew up with, the sport I enjoy playing and creating a social life out of and at the heart of that are clubs that operate on a community and grass roots based level. Football brings communities together and when done right, Sport is about competition that is held with integrity and respect and dignity for one another.

Football is however a commodity and one to which business tycoons have jumped on the opportunity to rip off all fans and followers and laugh their way to the bank. Tickets are too expensive, TV broadcasting is too expensive, merchandise is too expensive, not to mention the exploitation that goes on in poorer countries in the production line! Furthermore, the game has seen huge takeovers from owners, who are overseas and throwing huge amounts of money at selected clubs.

It would be hard not to think of victories in the sporting world as being bought.

It’s why I consider Leicester’s victory in 2015-16 to be one of the best things to have happened in the Premier League, because the underdogs fought hard against all odds and won!

Sport needs to have a levelled out playing field and allow for the surprises, the comebacks, the tactical minefields that make the game so good!

Instead, we have poor financial fair play rules and now this super league, which everyone’s reaction quite rightly is one of outright anger and disgust.

Exclusivity, the lack of funds to see clubs at smaller levels being able to properly function, especially during a pandemic and finally, the betrayal towards fans that have supported clubs.

My grandfather used to attend Manchester United games and he has grown up to the see the team transform to a city, fan driven club into a global corporate power house.

The ‘Big Six’…what a concept when three of the teams aren’t currently in a Champions league qualifying spot. The super league offers nothing other than brand names.

It is an absolute joke and a day of shame for the people behind these decisions.

Fans, history, heritage, cultures and local communities have been trampled on as a result of this decision.

And those responsible need to seriously reflect and consider the fact that some things should come before money.

‘You’ll always walk alone’.

An interesting challenge

Posted by Ryan Mark Elliott Music on

What a concept!

Football would be nowhere near as interesting if you’re team was winning all the time.

That’s why the Premier League is considered one of the best in the world because different teams can win it, (compared to the rest of Europe’s top leagues).

One of the crutches of the game however, is this incessant need to create a media storm of rumours when things aren’t going well for a team. The seeking of short term solutions when progress and development takes time.

No true follower of Liverpool would in their right mind want Klopp out of the door. Besides the pandemic, there are an extraordinary set of circumstances that has inhibited my team’s chance of retaining the title. Injuries have run amok, and losing Van Dijk was a game changer as his role in the team is not only key for defence, but our attack as well (as was brilliantly explained in a video by TIFO).

After being bombarded by inane questions at a press conference today, some which were stupid, others to be quite frank outright disrespectful, Klopp described the situation as an ‘interesting challenge’.

That kind of attitude and outlook is to be admired. Things aren’t going well, there have been mistakes mixed with a string of bad luck.

Going forward, there are choices, you can stick to your guns or change tact, you can pivot, you can reflect, evaluate and steer forward.

If you’re in the limelight, undoubtedly you’ll always get the flood of negative nonsense thrown your way to which you can shun it with dignity and focus on the interesting challenge.