Time to change the system

Rather play in the Championship than move from Goodison?? - sorry pal, you’re living in the dark ages.

There are many things I don’t like about today’s game, but to stick our heads in the sand and wish it all away will only lead Everton to collapse - then the history you speak of will be all we have.

I love Goodison, but the fact is that in it’s current state, it’s an embarrasment - our ground used to be something to be proud of, something that other teams around the country (and the world) were jealous of.

Change is never easy, but there’s no doubt we need to move.

Allan, you?ve hit the nail on the head. The current system is the problem. If we want some good examples of what can happen when you have a proper democratic system look at the NFL which is somewhat ironic given the current influx of American ownership and also the system in Rugby League in this country. It?s pretty simple really but if we want a competitive league then we have to introduce some rules and regulations to make that happen. Here are what I think should be the basis of a revamped system:

• A salary cap.
• A set squad size which would be the same for each club.
• The distribution of TV money to be split equally between all of the clubs in the league. A percentage of income from each club?s home game to go to the opposition.
• And (if we want to get really radical) a limit on the number of players you can sign at the end of each season based on where you finished in the league.

Clubs could then start to compete on an equal basis and the main factor involved in winning the league title would be good managerial ability.

Interesting comment, I "love" to hear those reds moan about how Chelsea bought success. Perhaps their new rich owners will allow funds so it can be their turn to buy success. I can’t help but wish that WE had a rich owner who wants to buy success for our club. Let’s face it, if Man City get taken over and have a huge injection of cash, then they will join Newcastle, Villa, Portsmouth, Reading as well as the so called "Big Four," also Spurs have never been shy with their money. We could easily fall behind that lot, indeed you say you would rather that happens and we end up in the Championship? Get real, what true Evertonian wants that, Nil Satis remember? I don’t think most working class supporters like to see all the money in the game going into the pockets of a few, but what else can we do? Competing at the top means big money these days. I hope my dreams of chanting "Champions" at Everton come true again and I’d just about sell my soul to see that.

Perhaps what will happen is the G14 break away. Along with the compensation for playing internationals we will soon have 2 games - the G14 game and the rest. I can see the European League of 18 teams - franchises in the same way as NFL, no relegation just a cosy set of teams.

All we need is solidarity. Anybody who plays for a G14 club will not be allowed to play in a non-G14 fixture or for their country. Leave Blackburn to join Chelsea - when you are no longer good enough, your career is over. Sign for Arsenal schoolboys, play one game for the 1st team at 18 and that could be it.

Soon, it would be a gamble to join a G14 club and it would fold. And there would be nothing teh EU court of human rights could do about it.

Spot on article. Football has moved on even in the last 10 years. We don?t need to ?break? the big 4 by joining them, we need to break it by helping to introduce equality back into the game. Years ago there was talk of the G14 setting up a breakaway European league. Well, they now have it via the Champions League. Nothing else matters. The Cup Winner?s Cup has gone, and if we?re honest the Uefa Cup is not worth entering for the money it generates ? how many clubs combine a successful Uefa run and league season? For many clubs, the domestic league and cups run a poor second to the Champions League (and the Uefa Cup ? as a poor second). Finishing fourth or higher is everything. The ?whole? game from grassroots up needs a complete overhaul. I?m lucky if I get to Goodison once or twice a season with my three kids - due to the price. Look to Italy to see where it all ends (and I know AC Milan won the Champions League ? but they hardly played ?you know who? off the park). This may seem pessimistic but it's not. I genuinely think that the system needs to change ? and this would be a really positive move for the whole of football.

The system cannot be changed , but as in every arms race there are always those who pay a heavy price. Leeds United and dare I say (especially having read Patrick Barclay’s piece) our wonderful neighbours. Benitez has spent 100 million quid for what (Champions League apart) imagine what Moyes might have done with that sort of dosh. Everton could if they really wanted to, be a bastion for hard-work bringing its own rewards. But the one thing that will bring sucess is good football. Open , adventurous attacking football, it doesn’t necessarily come with money, but it can be made to happen with the right attitude. I’m sure that in the early days of the league , people were saying PNE and Blackburn are holding all the aces whilst in the 1930s fans would be moaning about the domination of Huddersfield and Arsenal. Wolves in the fifties and our neighbours in the 1970s. Nothing lasts forever except hope. Who knows we may witness Everton dominate for a decade in the near future. Well it’s about time our club did have a prolonged period at the top rather than the usual boom and bust we have been saddled with in the past.

It is essential that football has a revolution. A player earning 120 grand a week will soon be the norm. There should be a workers wage in football, ok, say a measly 10k a week to start with, 6k in championship, 4k in league 1, 2k in league 2 or however it could be. This for one would stop the need for players to leave their ’smaller’ club for a bigger one, apart from wanting to move for one reason only - football. I may also get rid of the ego’s in football, too often players think they are gods gift. Also, maybe each team should have a necessity to develop youngsters e.g max squad 22, 7 players must be from youth system. Then a team with good coaches and management would prosper, not ones with fat wallets. Then prices would come down, imagine goodison full to the brim every single game with passionate fans. It can be done, needs to be done but it probably wont

Having lived in the states the last few years and observed how much of a leveller the salary cap and some form of a draft can be, I have to say that change is definitely required in the premiership.

However, even if the league and the FA see the light on this, and try to restore some level of fairness amongst english clubs in the various divisions, I still see two problems.

1) The american sports where the worst finishing clubs get first pick in the draft do not have multiple leagues and relegation/promotion issues

2) How do you restore fairness to english football without doing it on a europe wide basis or handicapping our clubs in the CL, UEFA Cup etc

Get your head out of the sand,that is the worst piece of defeatist appeasement I have heard since a certain Neville Chamberlain said peace in our time. Everton were one of the instigators of the arms race, first 100 pound per week footballer I think was Alan Ball, Bob Latchford broke the transfer record at 350,000 pounds. We never complained when we where the Mersey Millionaires and John Moores bankrolled the club, I never heard anyone complain when Bob Latchford completed 30 goals with a brace in the 6-1 defeat of Chelsea back in 1977 when we had the pick of the players. I get sick of people saying the game has changed for the worse. The game is faster more competitive and skilful than ever. Go to Asia and ask them what the think of the premier league, compare it to all but the top five or six in Italy or Spain and you will see that it represents quality football. I clearly remember the good old days of the seventies and eighties when every team had their enforcer and skilful players were hacked down time and time again.
Your comment about sooner be in the championship that leave Goodison and the salary cap nonsense makes sick to the bone that there are Evertonians with kind of attitude, you will go to hell for those comments (or a least a decent spell in purgatory).

It’s true Peter P that we rode the wave at the top for a long time. Yours is a good argument for why we shouldn’t whinge about the current malaise from a purely Everton perspective.

It’s for the good of the game, the spectacle that changes ’in the system’ need to be made.

As I’ve said before, Australian Football only made changes in the late 80’s and it only took 5-7 yrs for the changes to take effect. Squad limited to 39 (diff team sizes), 5 man rookie list, salary cap, veterans list with salary cap discount, draft based on performance, equal TV rights split etc etc. Currently, after 9 games the top 12 of 16 teams are within 2 wins of each other. That’s competition.

It’s an affluent and sustainable ’business’ where the rich clubs have an advantage off field with player and member facilities and backroom staff but with skill, intensity and work anyone can rise to the top.

James B, I take your point but as you know Aussie football was bankrupt two or three years ago. The Premier League survives on the basis of its competitiveness. We as Evertonian?s are against big four concept and the G14 simply because we are not involved and that rabble across the park are. We wouldn?t care one iota for any other premiership club if we were accepted into these elite clubs. Football at this level is a very high risk venture for club owners, they can make decisions that can be disastrous as has happened at our beloved club for all but three years out of the last thirty seven they can make decisions like West Ham and get Carlos Tevez for nothing and on sell him half a season later for twenty million quid. This is what makes English Football what it is, its exciting and ruthless and if you don?t have a top management team on and off the field you are basically consigned to mediocrity. This is what we have had for all these years, we are currently a product of the skills and ambitions of Kenwright, Wyness and Moyes nothing more or less. Clubs with ambitious Directors and managers will always survive and prosper. Arsenal and Liverpool are classic examples. In 1970 it could have been argued that there was little between the clubs in stadium quality, attendance at matches, trophies won, ambition at directorial and managerial level Fast forward 37 years and look at the difference again in stadia attendance, trophies and directorial ambition. The point I am trying make is no matter what you do, you will not change a thing unless the controlling management have ambition a salary cap is as useless blunt soviet style tool that will only see players drift oversees if not to Europe then America will start opening their arms within a few years for Europe?s best.

It is highly unlikely that the so called big 4 turkeys will ever vote for the ’Christmas’ of a level playing field.
It is just as unlikely that the remaining 16 ’cats in a bag’ will even agree to agree, because 2 or 3 or 4 of them will fancy themselves to pick off one of the stragglers in the event of a form slump / financial meltdown.
This is the big question, ala Dirty Harry ’you have to ask yourself, do you feel lucky? well do ya?’ and ties in with Lyndons to move or not to move.
In 2004-05 TV averaged 42% of turn over for EPL clubs, Match Day 31% and Commercial ’only’ 26%. I would hazard a guess that the only big change 2007-08 would be the TV money. There are only so many people who will turn out to watch 6th place and it will need a lot of off field / in ground conferences / merchanding to pay for say one Barton never mind a Fernandes.
Without a decent team to fill it the new ground will be more white elephant than jumbo cash cow and the only way that will happen and it pains me to say it, the Moyes baby steps way...you never know one day I WILL get lucky AND IT WILL MAKE MY DAY. Until then all I can hope for is more joined up football per game than we have previously had
Unless there is a massive pan Euro ’seachange’ UEFA WILL DO NOTHING so don’t hold your breath, use it to blow on your soon to be even more expensive pie.

I have been of the opinion for a long time now, that it is inevitable that we will see the birth of a true European League with the G14 clubs and a few invited clubs participating in a league format. When that happens, what of the Premiership or what will be left of it? My theory goes along the lines of a complete re-vamp of club football in England whereby the founder members will be those clubs that can demonstrate fanbase, ground facilities, financial resources and so on. Of course Everton will be among those clubs. Others will include those teams with as illustrious histories as ours. My other belief is that when the G14 et al get fed up of playing in half empty stadia due to the novelty having worn off, and with minimal travelling support, they will look to coming back to a thriving league were there is atmosphere and competition. It is then that we tell them to foxtrot oscar. I have gone a long way around the block to get to my point which is basically to agree with the article, but just as to some people football was invented in 1992, we maybe have to accept that a massive change is once again needed to address the present imbalance.

Of all the ideas put forth above, the one that would be the most transforming in achieving a more level playing field would be, in my opinion would be would be that all clubs have the same number of professional players on their books. That coupled with complete ban on the potentially corrupt practice of the loan of players within the same league. This would have a great positive effect on the market for quality players. I can imagine the managers of the big four not looking quite so great if they were forced to actually either play or sell some of their ’mistake signings’. Cisse for Beatty anyone

It’s always the same old story. When more money pours into a system than it was designed to contain, it results in exactly this kind of economical Wild West. The gold rush of today’s football is no exception.

But history has shown us that self-accelerating surges like the dotcom bubble or the economic boom of the 1920’s are short-lived. What’s important is what’s left behind.

So I think our aim should be to weather the storm, keeping our heads above water. Sinking to the Championship is just as bad as mortgaging our future.

Allan, you have started a good debate. The salary cap, is it not the maximum wage of the sixties that you are asking for a return? We live in a capatilist society were greed and hype is the order of the day. In rugby league the system was brought into disrepute within a couple of years, aka Wigan. Do we really think the fools in the FA or the corrupt leaders in EUFA and FIFA (not to mention the shite and manure)could really police this.

The answer lies in the youth policy’s of the clubs and sport attitude in the country. We would be better served having a moratorium on the number of players a team could buy each season, especially foreign imports which the premeirship is so dependant.We all want to watch the best so lets build the infrastructure which will benefit all.Regarding Goodison Park, it is now a relic which desparetly needs addressing. The debate should be about where it is built.

I beleive in the local economy so my first choice would be to build it in the dock area of the city.The boost this would have on the north end would be brilliant.

We lost our chance of emulating Liverpool in the near future when the opporunity to build in Kings Dock was passed. I still dream of that riverside picture all the history of Liverpool(the city port not the shite)and Everton enshrined for another century.All is not lost, we are biulding a decent side , if we can keep the momemtum going and get the stadium the people deserve it will be the so-called big four who will be trying to change the rules not the decent clubs and fans.

Its simple, impose a salary cap.
Can you imagine if Abramovich left Chelsea, they would fold up thats how far in debt they would be. A salary cap would not only benifit all teams but it would also promote English youth (I?m Aussie so I dont care:-))to fill many of the squad positions (like AVDM, Pistone). I think Everton has stuck to a pretty shrewd wage structure in recent times and that is (regardless of what we think) sound economic management.
The only thing regarding the salary cap is what do clubs do with windfalls from Champions league football / UEFA etc etc. If this gets passed on to players then we are back to square 1.
Cheers
Steve (Aussie Blue)

Firstly, a salary caps only work in sports like NFL & Super League cos no other county plays them, so the top players have no option. With football you would have to get the top all the football playing nations to agree otherwise it would be farcical. If England introduced it all our top players would be off to Spain or Italy in a shot. the quality of football would worsen, the sponsors would leave, the tv money would drop & you would see a big team doing a Leeds every quarter. Take the blinkers off mate.....We all love goodison, but we support Everton. I’d watch them in Stanly Park if they played there but a new stadium is going ahead. we should spend our energy making sure its in the right place & its a high quality. Not like the identi-kit stadiums everywhere else. all designed by the same prat. Innovation with success.....a school of science

I’ve seen it said in a couple of posts above, but will repeat it anyway. Some sort of a salary cap would be good, but only if adopted by UEFA or maybe FIFA altogether. Doing it in England only would cause the collapse of English football. But I don’t see this current set up of teams like Chelsea buying all the players and in turn buying championships continuing for much longer. It has only been recently that this got completely out of control and I think a lot of the young players coming up now have seen the likes of Wright Phillips sign at Chelsea only to struggle to find a place on the bench. I think Sidwell will find this out now, as getting that big pay check is great, but every player deep down wants to be able to show their stuff on the pitch. I really do think it will back fire. Could Andy Johnson demand a transfer to Arsenal knowing there is some interest? Yeah, probably, but I think he knows that to do so would mean that he would be behind Henry, Adebayor, Van Persie, Walcott. He doesn’t want to sit on the bench and sacrifice his England chances. I believe this type of thinking will spread to more young stars coming up. Everton needs to stay competitive on the pitch, get a new stadium to attract those talented footballers and a little extra revenue, and the fans need to make more noise than any other group of supporters in the Premiership!!! This will attract those players who are very good and could sign with Chelsea or Man U to sit the bench, but would rather show that they have what it takes to be on the pitch and take it to those "Top Four" by scoring goals against them, just as Johnson did against Arsenal. If UEFA adopted some sort of wage structure I would be all for it, but if not, I think it is only a matter of time before these types of players who have signed to sit the bench for the "big four" will realize this is not in their best interest and the "footballer wealth" will be spread to the most appealing clubs with the best supporters.

Having read the above with great interest. I can not see any wage cap really helping. We are forgetting one thing here human greed and corruption. As the West Ham Treves farce has shown us clubs will break rules if they can gain a large enough advantage.
So let?s say we have wage cap. Instead of the players getting paid directly they would instead be paid indirectly. Cash in hand sweeteners. Lucrative sponsorship deals for players. Additional perks cars houses etc. All the cap would do would make the an already tainted sport even dirtier.
So how do we change this. First step is to get rid of the G14. Next step should be back to basics. The champions league should be for champions only. No 1st 2nd 3rd 4th or even 5th if you are part of the G14 and your mates get you back in after failing to qualify.
Next step is to beef up the UEFA and bring back the Cup Winners Cup. . This would make the FA cup a more appealing prospect again. If we look back in history money was more evenly spread out this has to happen again.
Final step would be the television money is split equally amongst all clubs and all clubs to be shown an equal amount of times. Not only will this spread the wealth it will also give the so called lesser clubs a worldwide stage to show their stuff and maybe generate a foreign fan base which in turn will bring in more money.

This is probably the biggest load of rubbish I have ever read, go and support Tranmere, its where your ambitions lie

Andy, I mostly agree with what you wrote, but find a few faults with it. Clubs couldn’t just pay players millions in cash under the table, that would break the tax laws such as money laundering, leading to charges being brought by the real legal authorities, let alone the toothless FA. And being given cars and houses, again would require taxes to be paid, creating a public record of the transaction. Salary caps are in place in other sports, like those in the U.S. and these issues have not surfaced at all. The sponsorship deals are already done. I also don’t agree with mandating that all teams are shown on the TV an equal amount of time. You just can’t mandate this. I don’t want to see Wigan on the TV as much as the likes of Spurs, who play an exciting brand of football for the most part. Levelling it a bit would be okay and probably good, but putting Wigan on the television for an equal amount as better teams would suck and further decrease ratings, which we get a portion of and pretty much rely on these days. The Champions League recommendation would be great as well, but I don’t think we should hold our breath for the break up of the G-14. But in an ideal world, it would be great.

Salary cap and all that goes with it.

Emulating current practices within the USA, and I live there, sound like good ideas - in theory. Mixed in with all that are television rights, currently part of the debate and, some say, the crux of the problem. Currently "Bigger" teams receive more of the pie for right or wrong. I live in deep South Texas and I use the MLB (baseball) as an example of what could happen to the TV viewing in the UK.

The nearest city to where I could turn up to watch a game live is Houston, 330 miles away or around a 12 hour round trip. Because the "Astros" are my nearest "home" team I am classified within their catchment area. This means I cannot watch a home game when shown on the networks, BBC and ITV in the UK. Unless, of course, I subscribe to satellite or cable TV. However, the local feeds also have regional satellite/cable feeds and I still cannot watch a game. Unless, of course, I pay extra to subscribe to premuim channels and this is a BIG extra payment. I do not follow baseball but if I did it would double my monthly satellite bill.

Here is a potential scenario: I live in Lancaster and for whatever reason I cannot attend Everton’s next home game. I can still watch it on the TV though - not. I am in EFC’s catchment area and it is blocked out! My options?

Get to the ground an watch but I already know I cannot make it.

Pay extra for satellite/cable service. Great I can watch it at home! Sorry it is being broadcast by BBC/ITV satellite feed and is blocked.

Pay even more for the premium package and finally I get to see the game - but at what cost? I am now paying for a service I use once, at best twice a week for the same thing that costs a lot less currently! Add to the fact my TV services are costing me twice as much and I have less disposable income. I have less money to attend a "live" game.

Sky already offer different packages, don’t believe they will not split the current content further if it will improve profits.

To cloud the issue further, I am also in the catchlist of the Texas Rangers in Dallas, 550 miles away. Those games are also blocked in the same way. I live in Lancaster. Where do you define boundaries? I could follow a number of clubs in the northwest, all within a relatively paltry 70 miles. Following the US lead any team’s game within the set boundaries could be blocked unless premium fees are paid. Again, filling the pockets of the television companies. I could not watch EFC, BRFC, LFC, MCFC, MUFC, BWFC games and/or any other NW team in the PL at that time unless I paid up.

So what do you say to the Evertonian who had to work nightshift and cannot watch the game at home - even if he lives within shouting distance of Goodison/Kirkby?

Be careful of what you wish for.

PS. David Barks - I read all of your posts. All are very insightful and well thought out. Thanks.

This topic brings forward many points.
How do Evertonians measure success?
What do Evertonians regard as ambition?
Whilst we differ in our view on ground moves, there are two scenarios I think we should all consider.
1. Should we drop all aspirations of overtaking the best teams that money can buy - We nearly beat a decent Chelsea team and we didn’t lose to Liverpool or Arsenal at Goodison.
2. Could we live with similar circumstances as Birmingham and Sunderland fans in yo-yo mode.
Everton cannot draw on the conscience of the teams in the Premiership to do ’the right thing’ and therefore cannot affect change.
If Kenwright seeks to sell his train set, who’s to say we won’t end up with another Peter Johnson!!
If moving means competing, then let’s move.
If staying means we still afford to compete with the good manager we have, then let’s stay.
But to capitulate and advocate a G14 League surrenders our ability to compete.

I disagree with Allan Hounsgaard. I believe Evertonians in general have more desire to win than to resign ourselves to mediocrity.

John Burquest: I don’t think there’s a tangible tendency among supporters in either direction.

Some of us are more adventurous, others (like myself) try to be cautious, some say "At least we went down fighting." and others might say "Survive first and everything else is a bonus."


I can accept both views but surrendering our Premiership status simply because the system is crap and we want to be rebels is a bit too much for me.