Blackburn Rovers blog: Big clubs must break away to give the rest a chance

3:30pm Thursday 23rd June 2011 in Andy Cryer's Blackburn Rovers blog Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

Blackburn Rovers blog: Big clubs must break away to give the rest a chance Blackburn Rovers blog: Big clubs must break away to give the rest a chance

THE release of the new season’s fixture lists used to be one of the most exciting days for a football fan as they scanned down the forthcoming games and dreamt of glory.

Now, it passes with an almost boring predictability as, with the exception of the Premier League new comers, the glamour of trips to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield and the Emirates has completely disappeared.

The average fan doesn’t look forward to these days any more, in fact a lot mark it down in their diary as a day to do something else.

Now is the time to get rid of the division’s big guns and let them join their European super league – which is ultimately inevitable anyway – and bring some competitiveness back to our once great game.

It may sound controversial but surely Rovers’ away following to places like this these days tells the whole story. No one wants to pay ridiculous prices just to see their team outclassed.

We all know United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea – perhaps Liverpool – will be challenging for the title next season and the rest will just be fighting for Premier League survival. Where is the fun in that?

I can already hear the arguments about being deprived of watching the world’s best footballers, some are a joy to watch, but we can watch them on television.

As a football fan, I would prefer to see my team being able to challenge for silverware on a consistent basis rather than just making up the numbers while getting the chance to pull of a shock result once in a blue moon.

The Premier League, in its current format, is also killing our national team. The top team are driving up the prices and more and more foreign players are arriving.

An English-player quota needs to be introduced – none of this home grown rubbish they are trying at the moment – and it needs to be a significant number in each team as well, certainly no less than six.

Then we might just have a chance of producing the players needed to challenge on the world stage, because at the moment we are so far away it is ridiculous.

People will argue a European breakaway would ruin the beautiful game but that was ruined a long time ago.

It now depends on what we all want.

If you are happy with your team merely surviving, while watching the best players then, fine, leave it as it is.

But if you want a league where anyone can win it and all start on a level-ish playing field, then changes have to be made.

I know the end to last season was exciting for a lot but do we really want to be excited about who is the best out of a bad bunch?

Comments (14)

3:53pm Thu 23 Jun 11

ASHY38 says...

cannot disagree more with this as a concept, although I accept changes should be made, to take the best teams out of the league would result in massive revenue drops for the remaing clubs and a deserrtion from our shores of not only the foreign players but the best of our english talent. The problem for me is that despiting attracting some of the best players in the world to our shores in recent years , the english FA has failed to use that to increase the quality of the english players, if you want to get better then usually it makes sense to play against better players. Why has the english FA failed, because it has now working relationship with th epremier league, surely if the FA could engage the premier league in helping to develop the lower leagues to produce better players to feed into premier league, ( this could be done through academy schemes and training centers sponsored by the premier league). With a greater array of talent would come a more even league, each team can only have 25 players in its sqaud so more good players and we get a better distribution.

In short dont take away the good to make it fairer, make the bad better.
cannot disagree more with this as a concept, although I accept changes should be made, to take the best teams out of the league would result in massive revenue drops for the remaing clubs and a deserrtion from our shores of not only the foreign players but the best of our english talent. The problem for me is that despiting attracting some of the best players in the world to our shores in recent years , the english FA has failed to use that to increase the quality of the english players, if you want to get better then usually it makes sense to play against better players. Why has the english FA failed, because it has now working relationship with th epremier league, surely if the FA could engage the premier league in helping to develop the lower leagues to produce better players to feed into premier league, ( this could be done through academy schemes and training centers sponsored by the premier league). With a greater array of talent would come a more even league, each team can only have 25 players in its sqaud so more good players and we get a better distribution. In short dont take away the good to make it fairer, make the bad better. ASHY38

3:53pm Thu 23 Jun 11

NorthcoteRover says...

I disagree with this as absolute dribble.

Players must strive against their betters in order to improve.

What better challenge can their be for a young aspiring player to play against their heroes.

Phil Jones, Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsen, Grant Hanley and all the other Academy players are there to be seen in the company of stars and challenging against them.

Equally the players coming to Rovers do so in able to also play against the superclubs.

Sorry Andy but I cannot read this without challenging your viewpoint.
I disagree with this as absolute dribble. Players must strive against their betters in order to improve. What better challenge can their be for a young aspiring player to play against their heroes. Phil Jones, Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsen, Grant Hanley and all the other Academy players are there to be seen in the company of stars and challenging against them. Equally the players coming to Rovers do so in able to also play against the superclubs. Sorry Andy but I cannot read this without challenging your viewpoint. NorthcoteRover

3:58pm Thu 23 Jun 11

phia012 says...

This is perhaps the most pathetic excuse for an article I have ever read. A European Superleague is not a certainty and I'm sure it will be rejected for decades yet... perhaps even another century! The idea of allowing the teams that attract the most TV money to the league is so short-sighted I am dumbfounded that a person who calls himself a sports journalist has even bothered to suggest it. It would bankrupt Blackburn Rovers, we only survive because of the TV money that comes in and we only get so much because those big teams with famous players attract worldwide attention. If Superleague was made then worldwide attention would no longer follow our 'Premier' league, and to be honest calling it a 'Premier' league when none of the premier teams are in it would be absolutely ridiculous.

Perhaps Mr. Cryer should learn how to write a well considered and researched story and stop serving us up this utter tripe.
This is perhaps the most pathetic excuse for an article I have ever read. A European Superleague is not a certainty and I'm sure it will be rejected for decades yet... perhaps even another century! The idea of allowing the teams that attract the most TV money to the league is so short-sighted I am dumbfounded that a person who calls himself a sports journalist has even bothered to suggest it. It would bankrupt Blackburn Rovers, we only survive because of the TV money that comes in and we only get so much because those big teams with famous players attract worldwide attention. If Superleague was made then worldwide attention would no longer follow our 'Premier' league, and to be honest calling it a 'Premier' league when none of the premier teams are in it would be absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps Mr. Cryer should learn how to write a well considered and researched story and stop serving us up this utter tripe. phia012

4:06pm Thu 23 Jun 11

J.C - Rishton says...

I'm soory but I also completely disagree with utter rubbish - if you make this arguament for the PL you could make it for EVERY EU top flight league (Scotland, Spain, Holland etc) - and a European super league is NOT a definate - but if it did happen, would the teams that dominate that year in year out break away again and create a SUPER SUPER league ????
.
We are in the top flight now, why would we want to, effectively demote ourselves to the 2nd tear of English football - which we would be doing ??
I'm soory but I also completely disagree with utter rubbish - if you make this arguament for the PL you could make it for EVERY EU top flight league (Scotland, Spain, Holland etc) - and a European super league is NOT a definate - but if it did happen, would the teams that dominate that year in year out break away again and create a SUPER SUPER league ???? . We are in the top flight now, why would we want to, effectively demote ourselves to the 2nd tear of English football - which we would be doing ?? J.C - Rishton

4:31pm Thu 23 Jun 11

StLedge says...

What rubbish!! I recall Liverpool dominating for a long period in the 70's to 80's, I don't recall people shouting for them to leave the top flight because they were so good.
What rubbish!! I recall Liverpool dominating for a long period in the 70's to 80's, I don't recall people shouting for them to leave the top flight because they were so good. StLedge

4:53pm Thu 23 Jun 11

granty says...

Andy, the term 'think before you speak' comes to mind here.

You are doing nothing to help your case to get your place in the 'footballing guru' list of names!

I'm not sure i've ever heard such drivel from a so called footballing analysist /reporter.

Some ideas are best left in the pub mate.

Maybe you should move over to the advertising dept at let, as you reporting skills, re rovers are a disgrace.

Everything you write is copied and pasted virtually, from the net or the early morning reports on the news.

Then , when you do decide to put over some of your thoughts, you come up with this garbage.

Words almost fail me.......
Andy, the term 'think before you speak' comes to mind here. You are doing nothing to help your case to get your place in the 'footballing guru' list of names! I'm not sure i've ever heard such drivel from a so called footballing analysist /reporter. Some ideas are best left in the pub mate. Maybe you should move over to the advertising dept at let, as you reporting skills, re rovers are a disgrace. Everything you write is copied and pasted virtually, from the net or the early morning reports on the news. Then , when you do decide to put over some of your thoughts, you come up with this garbage. Words almost fail me....... granty

5:03pm Thu 23 Jun 11

granty says...

GRANTY
S NEW CONCEPT.

I'll tell you what Andy, why don't we just relegate 16 teams next season to the championship, and don't allow any to come up.

Problem solved!!!


You really should have given this some thought before posting it. Surely now, reading back through it you must be able to see the flaws, all 7 million of them!
GRANTY S NEW CONCEPT. I'll tell you what Andy, why don't we just relegate 16 teams next season to the championship, and don't allow any to come up. Problem solved!!! You really should have given this some thought before posting it. Surely now, reading back through it you must be able to see the flaws, all 7 million of them! granty

9:03pm Thu 23 Jun 11

bluenwhite says...

total rubbish cryer. shows just how little of a rovers supporter you really are. whats the point of winning silverware in a league without the best teams?? Pratt
A super league was going to happen 20 years ago apparently, so where is it??
total rubbish cryer. shows just how little of a rovers supporter you really are. whats the point of winning silverware in a league without the best teams?? Pratt A super league was going to happen 20 years ago apparently, so where is it?? bluenwhite

11:42pm Thu 23 Jun 11

Keep Darwen Green says...

So how long have city and chelsea been in this elite group you talk about about five minutes?. Maybe you were still at primary school when abramovich took over a no-hope chelsea outfit. Get a grip man and write some sense.
So how long have city and chelsea been in this elite group you talk about about five minutes?. Maybe you were still at primary school when abramovich took over a no-hope chelsea outfit. Get a grip man and write some sense. Keep Darwen Green

12:45am Fri 24 Jun 11

granty says...

well andy, that went well didnt it?
well andy, that went well didnt it? granty

7:48am Fri 24 Jun 11

bluenwhite says...

ps and its rovers over the national team any day. The premier league hasnt made england worse, they have been rubbish for years
ps and its rovers over the national team any day. The premier league hasnt made england worse, they have been rubbish for years bluenwhite

12:54pm Sat 25 Jun 11

Reg Rover says...

Southern Bias

Reg has come in for some criticism for quoting some sections of the National Press who like Reg are not in favour of the way Blackburn Rovers are being run.
Not all comments have been by Southern based journalist’s however as stated by one Reader! Who was very scathing regarding Southern sports writers stating they had a agenda against the Rover’s. I do not agree with that view point, today’s journalist are very well informed and usually uncannily accurate, as they have to be.
Many sources of information can come from “within” a club, usually players who have contracts with the press for their own interest.
With regard to the scathing comment’s regarding Southerners, let’s not forget Blackburn Rovers are being run by a Southern based sports agency, Kentaro and their Chairman, Chief Executive Jerome Anderson, a Londoner!
No comments about that so far!
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk/a-f/blackburn-r
overs.html
Southern Bias Reg has come in for some criticism for quoting some sections of the National Press who like Reg are not in favour of the way Blackburn Rovers are being run. Not all comments have been by Southern based journalist’s however as stated by one Reader! Who was very scathing regarding Southern sports writers stating they had a agenda against the Rover’s. I do not agree with that view point, today’s journalist are very well informed and usually uncannily accurate, as they have to be. Many sources of information can come from “within” a club, usually players who have contracts with the press for their own interest. With regard to the scathing comment’s regarding Southerners, let’s not forget Blackburn Rovers are being run by a Southern based sports agency, Kentaro and their Chairman, Chief Executive Jerome Anderson, a Londoner! No comments about that so far! Reg www.regoftherovers.c o.uk/a-f/blackburn-r overs.html Reg Rover

10:13pm Sat 25 Jun 11

blueette says...

Yeat more ill-thought out drivel from a pathetic excuse of a a sportswriter with no understanding of the club's tradition or recent history
How many Rovers fans were bleating about financial dsisparities or level playing fields from 92-97 when we bossed the market
The listing of potential transfer targets/Possible outgoings was tantamount to the Telegraph saying sorry we haven't a clue but this article just hammers home the utter clulessness of the bloke charged with the not exactly demanding task of filling a few columns over summer
UTTERLY PATHETIC
Yeat more ill-thought out drivel from a pathetic excuse of a a sportswriter with no understanding of the club's tradition or recent history How many Rovers fans were bleating about financial dsisparities or level playing fields from 92-97 when we bossed the market The listing of potential transfer targets/Possible outgoings was tantamount to the Telegraph saying sorry we haven't a clue but this article just hammers home the utter clulessness of the bloke charged with the not exactly demanding task of filling a few columns over summer UTTERLY PATHETIC blueette

6:35am Mon 11 Jul 11

wind2170 says...

Cryer wat planet do you live on.....how does the et employ such a dickhead of a reporter....the fixtures are as exciting as ever, looking foward to the big games is more exciting, without the big clubs the league would be so boring and without the big clubs we would never fill ewood...i cant stand reading such nonsense from a nonsense reporter...et shud employ a decent sports reporter not a fruitcake of a reporter
Cryer wat planet do you live on.....how does the et employ such a dickhead of a reporter....the fixtures are as exciting as ever, looking foward to the big games is more exciting, without the big clubs the league would be so boring and without the big clubs we would never fill ewood...i cant stand reading such nonsense from a nonsense reporter...et shud employ a decent sports reporter not a fruitcake of a reporter wind2170

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