Going Overseas

Its been a while!

Perhaps the biggest story for UK sport has been the plans by the premiership to play an extra game overseas.

Let me first say that I think this is fundamentaly wrong but inevitable.

Why wrong? Well the current league is based on each team playing each other twice home and away. A 39th game makes a mockery of that especially as the top 5 would be seeded. Can you imagine the outrage if Wigan were relegated by a point whne their extra game was Man united and Birmingham survived and their extra game was Derby?

Why wrong? Historically clubs have been strongly linked with their local area. With the exception of the MK Dons/Wimbledon fiasco we have yet to see a move (well not in my life time). Football is not like American sports where teams are franchises.

But I think its inevitable. Lets ignore Sepp Blater (even though for once he's right) it will happen. Why? The premiership has marketed itself all over the world. So people in the middle east, Japan, Korea etc watch the premiership and support British teams. Are they true supporters? Well how many of us "support" a team but never go to a game.

The premiership can see the vast sums of money available and they want their share.

Fans need to understand that it is no longer really their club, the fans no longer pay the wages of the players. Since the advent of Sky clubs are becoming richer and richer paying higher transfer fees and wages, this has attracted foreign owners who don't have the same emotional tie in.

I think with the rise of countrys like China and India it is inevitable that games will be played overseas. The reason? Money mate, money.

I often read that the premiership is the best league in the world. Well is it in when was the last time that someone other than Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea one it? Or one of 4 clubs finished in the top 3. The FA Cup has not been won by anyone other than the "big four" for years.

When I was a lad the cup was magical, Wimbledon could slay mighty Liverpool, Sunderland could humiliate Leeds etc. The likes of Derby and Nottingham Forest could win the league. Today money talks.