We can forget any idea that the interests of football have played any part in the creation of this project. As David Bernstein said this morning football is controlled by people who know a lot about money but who have no understanding of football at all. I cannot imagine, however, what has persuaded City to get into bed with precisely those sharks who did their damnedest only last summer to try and stiff the club forever. And all this to create a kind of American style non tournament which will mirror the NFL absolutely. But, of course, it will ensure that those "elite" clubs will be protected from their chronic overspending, despite Khaldoon's assertion that City would not pay for their bad investment decisions. The PL, FA cup etc etc will be tournaments our "Big Six" can safely ignore to chase the big bucks of the SL which in itself will involve relatively few clubs all season. No wonder Barca were one of the first clubs to come out in favour in public. For the rest of us this is a criminally high price to pay just to keep Messi at Barcelona.