A question on financial fair play....

blueshortshorts

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I know there's been multiple threads on this subject but not sure I've seen anyone throw this into the pot for discussion.

We're all in agreement that what ffp has done is pull up the drawbridge and create a rich elite in Europe, ensuring that in future there will be no appeal for a rich benefactor to come in and buy ,say,Everton.

But what happens if the stars of these elite clubs are enticed away to China,qatar or the states where money is no object, and the clubs are not restricted. So far we've only seen players at the end of their careers going over for a last big payday, but what happens if/when the brightest young talent chooses to go for the bug money over the "prestige" of the champions league could it be the case that European football ends up facing a massive talent drain,and loss of major sponsorship due to the restrictions they are operating under?
 
The very best players will stick around because they will play for the very best teams, who in turn, can afford the very best wages.

But the gravy train for those who fall below that level is likely to dry up somewhat. Teams will be looking to save wages for big game-changing players. The days of mediocre players like Joey Barton and John O'Shea earning in excess of 70k a week will hopefully soon be over.

Will players such as that take the hit in order to stay in the big leagues, or will they look to sustain their wages by moving elsewhere? It all depends on what motivates them; ambition to test themselves against the very best week in, week out, or oodles of cash. With the capability of 'smaller' teams to compete adequately already severely hampered, they may well choose to simply follow the money.

There will certainly be plenty on offer from Asia and the Middle East as they know that they need these mid-tier players to come over first if they're to ever eventually have a chance of snaring some of the big boys. Just look at the case of Asamoah Gyan and you can see that it is already happening in some respect. It will be a very long and slow transition if it does happen as described in the OP, but it's certainly a possibility.
 
We'll all be there with our FC Dalian shirts on... wandering around the club shop. Constantly on the receiving end of 'Where were you when you were shit?'
 

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