JoeMercer'sWay said:bugsyblue said:tolmie's hairdoo said:Platini is clearly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Believe it or not, I don't think he gave a shit when we emerged on the block.
His is a delicate balancing act and Wenger's comments yesterday was practically a veiled threat that a potential breakaway is why Uefa still have to try and satisfy the old 'elite'.
On the flip side, you now have BT pouring hundreds of millions into UEFA coffers and the loss of a fourth English representative in the competition, due to continued failures, they cannot contemplate either.
Platini's comments the other day were ones of exasperation, of being pulled apart by old and new.
Personally, I think he knew long ago this was all doomed to failure in the courts and how it was bound to play out.
He must realise that the old elite become weaker and weaker by the minute. I mean Bayern, Barca and Madrid are still regular champs league finalists, and pretty much unrivalled (certainly financially) in their own leagues. Therefore I can't see them ever threatening to break away. This leaves disgruntled teams like United and Arsenal who have to compete with two 'sugar daddy' teams in their league at a time when they are sub par. Yes they have huge fan base but if they threatened a breakaway league who is going to join them? Any money on offer can easily be matched and bettered by UEFA and the the most important fact in all this is who has the best players. Because whoever has the best players in their league/competition is going to be the one most regularly watched. And the best players will play for the clubs that offer them the most money.
Platini doesn't need to fear the established elite. He needs to fear the new money who have been treated abhorrently so far by UEFA.
Arsenal and the Rags can't lead a breakaway.
The reality is, the unrivaled wealth of City and PSG is required to make that work.
The biggest power card City and PSG now have left, is if a situation like that arises, to say "we stick with UEFA", "here's new sponsorship, now suck up to us because we've just kept you in control."
The likes of Real, Barca and Bayern aren't going to leave the guaranteed money unless a truly irresistible offer is on the table, Arse and Rags alone can't provide that.
blueinsa said:Didsbury Dave said:blueinsa said:Shameful name dropping mate, Mr McGarry will be furious, not to mention GDM ;-)
Mate, this was nobody famous in any shape or form. And the function was a funeral, so we were very much "thrown" together. The only reason we were introduced in that my Auntie knows I support City and I think they'd run out of conversation.
I'm pulling your leg mate ;-)
gordondaviesmoustache said:DD name drops very sparingly. Well within permitted limits.blueinsa said:Didsbury Dave said:I attended a function the other week and was introduced to, and had a drink with, someone who attended the FFPP meetings between City and UEFA last year. He kept the non-disclosure up admirably but couldn't help but say "If I told you you wouldn't believe what went on and was discussed in those meetings". Every time he made similar comments (I probed of course!) his eyes lit up. When I said "Was it a case of City outlining their intentions, UEFA agreeing and then going back on their word?" the answer was a resounding and slightly gleeful "No. It was really not like that at all".
I'd love the truth to come out one day.
Shameful name dropping mate, Mr McGarry will be furious, not to mention GDM ;-)
Ducado said:Shaelumstash said:Ducado said:Come 2nd this year and we will be the most successful club for the last 5 years, which to most onlookers is not a bad record to have
Not a bad record at all. But my point still stands, the threat of restrictions has slowed down our development. We went from 10th to 1st in 3 seasons, an unprecedented rate of improvement in the modern era. Since our spending has been restricted we've dropped from winning the league to coming second by 11 points, to winning it by a point, to losing it by about 10. We have not really developed at all in the CL given the relative quality of opposition we have faced in the last 4 years.
I'm not saying we've not done well in the last 4 years, I'm saying we've not done nearly as well as we would have done if the breaks were off. Hazard instead of Navas being an illustration of my point.
I actually think we are ahead of the curve it's a long term project
Sergi0 Na5r1 said:Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
"Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
Paris St-Germain have replaced Manchester City as the best paid sports team in the world.
A survey by the Sporting Intelligence website has revealed the Ligue 1 champions have an average first-team salary of £101,898 per week.
City topped the poll last year but their average of £96,445 has seen them fall to third place behind Real Madrid.
Manchester United are sixth in the list, Chelsea are eighth, Arsenal are at 10 and Liverpool come in at 14." - BBC
It doesn't actually say its this season, or this year, and since neither have finished yet, I'd say its the 2014 calander, so only half of united's splurge would be included.BlueAnorak said:Sergi0 Na5r1 said:Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
"Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
Paris St-Germain have replaced Manchester City as the best paid sports team in the world.
A survey by the Sporting Intelligence website has revealed the Ligue 1 champions have an average first-team salary of £101,898 per week.
City topped the poll last year but their average of £96,445 has seen them fall to third place behind Real Madrid.
Manchester United are sixth in the list, Chelsea are eighth, Arsenal are at 10 and Liverpool come in at 14." - BBC
Hmmmm...
Man U overtook us with there splurge so how can they suddenly be 6th?
cleavers said:It doesn't actually say its this season, or this year, and since neither have finished yet, I'd say its the 2014 calander, so only half of united's splurge would be included.BlueAnorak said:Sergi0 Na5r1 said:Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
"Paris St-Germain topple Manchester City in wage list
Paris St-Germain have replaced Manchester City as the best paid sports team in the world.
A survey by the Sporting Intelligence website has revealed the Ligue 1 champions have an average first-team salary of £101,898 per week.
City topped the poll last year but their average of £96,445 has seen them fall to third place behind Real Madrid.
Manchester United are sixth in the list, Chelsea are eighth, Arsenal are at 10 and Liverpool come in at 14." - BBC
Hmmmm...
Man U overtook us with there splurge so how can they suddenly be 6th?