Reply to: What has happened to Scottish football?

[Doggy Styles]

Charlie Adam isn't bad. Isn't Darren Fletcher Scottish as well? Agreed neither of them are close to Kenny's standard.

True, they are about the best they've got, but I wonder how many fans will remember them in 20 years time.

[doodab]

If it actually happens, I suspect clubs will find all sorts of ways to get around it.

But the problems are deeper than that. Celtic lost to a Swiss team, Rangers to some Slovenians, and Dundee to a Polish team I'd never heard of. None of those have huge budgets. At least Scots should get past minnows like that.

And what exciting Scottish talent has there been in recent years? The next Dalglish or Souness? Something is badly wrong in Scottish football.

Charlie Adam isn't bad. Isn't Darren Fletcher Scottish as well? Agreed neither of them are close to Kenny's standard.

[Doggy Styles]

Financial fair play ensures football's stability ? UEFA.com

Once these plans kick in, everyone will be compelled to. We already have.............on the financial front anyway.
Brilliant Balance sheet, but to the detriment of the Team Sheet it seems.

If it actually happens, I suspect clubs will find all sorts of ways to get around it.

But the problems are deeper than that. Celtic lost to a Swiss team, Rangers to some Slovenians, and Dundee to a Polish team I'd never heard of. None of those have huge budgets. At least Scots should get past minnows like that.

And what exciting Scottish talent has there been in recent years? The next Dalglish or Souness? Something is badly wrong in Scottish football.

[shaunbhoy]

Yes. Scots would be better off sorting themselves out.

Financial fair play ensures football's stability ? UEFA.com

Once these plans kick in, everyone will be compelled to. We already have.............on the financial front anyway.
Brilliant Balance sheet, but to the detriment of the Team Sheet it seems.

[Doggy Styles]

I don't think it will ever happen to be honest, the real problem with the scottish league is that the big clubs are at the mercy of what the small clubs want, the move to pay per view was a disaster and coincided with down turn of the league's fortunes. Celtic Rangers and Aberdeen tried to stop it but were out voted 3 to one. We threw away european exposure and many of the bigger sponsors fecked off.

Yes. Scots would be better off sorting themselves out.

[minestrone]

I don't think it will ever happen to be honest, the real problem with the scottish league is that the big clubs are at the mercy of what the small clubs want, the move to pay per view was a disaster and coincided with down turn of the league's fortunes. Celtic Rangers and Aberdeen tried to stop it but were out voted 3 to one. We threw away european exposure and many of the bigger sponsors fecked off.

[gingerjedi]

FFS it's called the EPL not UKPL, we've already got a sheep shagger team now you lot want in.

[shaunbhoy]

Actually it is. The premiership is really a three tier league, those in the Champions League or close to it, those who will stay up and those who fight to stay up.
As there are already 6 teams in the first league (Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham) and membership of that league gives enough cash to stay in that league I really could not see Rangers or Celtic actually getting there.

Well if these clubs are allowed to continue with unsustainable debt levels you might be right. However, there are moves afoot by UEFA to ensure a more level playing field, and to penalise teams that are palpably living beyond their means. If they are allowed to introduce these, and there seems very little reason to suppose they will not be, then many of the teams you mention will find themselves in queer street very quickly. Just look at Leeds 10 years ago.
These moves are targeted to happen on less than 2 years time. If they appear in any guise then we will see a very different landscape in the Premiership.

Also the fact is that turkey's don't vote for Christmas so there is 0 chance the English teams would let them in.

You have much more of a point there. However, when some of the top teams find their pockets a lot lighter, they might become more amenable to the idea of enhanced travelling supports, and view them as much more valuable a commodity.

[minestrone]

Until some Thai/Russian/Yank decides to buy in and put the club in debt.

All the clubs you mention are still worth considerably more than Celtic despite the non football related debt burdens placed upon them.

Celtic are owned by 2 foreign billionaires already who have not put the club into debt.

[Doggy Styles]

Celtic and Rangers should have joined the Premiership years ago.

I disagree. Celtic and Rangers are scottish teams and should not be in an english league. It would be the final act of subservience.

If they were to join the English league, the identity of what's left up there in scotland would collapse, putting them on par with the welsh, and there would be very little argument left against UEFA and FIFA demanding the three of us combine into a GB team in tournaments.

Which would have no scots in it.

[eek]

It is difficult to imagine they would not succeed in reaching the upper echelons of the top flight relatively quickly.

Actually it is. The premiership is really a three tier league, those in the Champions League or close to it, those who will stay up and those who fight to stay up.
As there are already 6 teams in the first league (Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham) and membership of that league gives enough cash to stay in that league I really could not see Rangers or Celtic actually getting there.

Also the fact is that turkey's don't vote for Christmas so there is 0 chance the English teams would let them in.

[gingerjedi]

Considering Celtic have pretty much zero debt compared to existing teams like Arsenal (200m), Liverpool (400m), Chelsea (1500m), Man Utd (700m) Celtic could just buy a team in the first year for 150 million.

Oh, and they have said they would finish the stadium off to make it an 82,000 seater.

Until some Thai/Russian/Yank decides to buy in and put the club in debt.

All the clubs you mention are still worth considerably more than Celtic despite the non football related debt burdens placed upon them.

[shaunbhoy]

Chelsea 1500m debt? Where did you get that figure?

The exact figures are anyone's guess, but the article below makes sobering reading when you consider that new Financial Rulings will soon bite................

Premier League club accounts: how in debt are they? | News | guardian.co.uk


The point about Celtic (if not Rangers) is, many people make the incorrect assumption that if they were catapulted into the English Leagues, they would still be constrained by their current financial straitjacket. They would not, that is the whole beauty of such a move from their perspective.
Being given access to the global marketing, sponsorship, and TV rights as well as already being financially sound would put them in a very good position.
Not saying they would transform themselves into EPL winners overnight, but all the main building blocks for success would be in place from day one. They would have the financial clout, the global fanbase, the stadium, and the glamour of the EPL to attract top talent. It is difficult to imagine they would not succeed in reaching the upper echelons of the top flight relatively quickly.

[Doggy Styles]

Considering Celtic have pretty much zero debt compared to existing teams like Arsenal (200m), Liverpool (400m), Chelsea (1500m), Man Utd (700m) Celtic could just buy a team in the first year for 150 million.

Oh, and they have said they would finish the stadium off to make it an 82,000 seater.

Chelsea 1500m debt? Where did you get that figure?

[minestrone]

I honestly don't think they're that good, getting out of the Championship is no walk in the park.

Considering Celtic have pretty much zero debt compared to existing teams like Arsenal (200m), Liverpool (400m), Chelsea (1500m), Man Utd (700m) Celtic could just buy a team in the first year for 150 million.

Oh, and they have said they would finish the stadium off to make it an 82,000 seater.