[Albionic]

So like the American league with no promotion or relegation. Can't see the point of supporting a team which can't get promoted.

They don't want you as a fan, they want the folks in India / China / Krygystan etc who will pay to watch and maybe buy a shirt every other year depending on who is currently successful and worthy of their transient "support".  Much as I have a small soft spot for the Green Bay Packers.

[SmethDan]

They don't want you as a fan, they want the folks in India / China / Krygystan etc who will pay to watch and maybe buy a shirt every other year depending on who is currently successful and worthy of their transient "support".  Much as I have a small soft spot for the Green Bay Packers.

This isn't too far away from the impression I got off Williams and Goodman (?) at a supporters do just after the pre season tour in the Far East prior to the Pulis/Pardew/Moore season. They were off before the season was out.

[Albionic]

This isn't too far away from the impression I got off Williams and Goodman (?) at a supporters do just after the pre season tour in the Far East prior to the Pulis/Pardew/Moore season. They were off before the season was out.

I think of "elite" football now like wrestlemania, the fans are there to fill the camera shot and create atmosphere, if the TV companies and franchises could get away with not having a crowd they would. Actually after the last 12 months they may actually believe that they can do without "real" fans,
A bit of piped noise and an augmented reality crowd would make Toremyass Onmywayhome's viewing experience the same without the hassle / cost of a full stadium.  Makes the franchise more 'portable" too.
Think of Wrestlemania at o2 London / Jaguars at Wembley .....   its just a matter of time !

[SmethDan]

.....   its just a matter of time !

There'll always be a place for live support in a post pandemic world, even if it means live from your settee.

[alex1]

They don't want you as a fan, they want the folks in India / China / Krygystan etc who will pay to watch and maybe buy a shirt every other year depending on who is currently successful and worthy of their transient "support".  Much as I have a small soft spot for the Green Bay Packers.

I'm not bothered who else around the world tunes in to watch English football even if they are transient 'supporters' who would switch between clubs like some people switch their favourite supermarket.  As long as the Albion don't get boxed into a league where the height of our ambition is to be better than Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town. And I bet the vast majority of Wolves and Villa fans would agree with me on that. 

And to bring it back to the CL thread, as long as teams are picked on sporting merit, and not by some 'formula' which makes sure the big clubs always take part.

[MarkW]

I'm not bothered who else around the world tunes in to watch English football even if they are transient 'supporters' who would switch between clubs like some people switch their favourite supermarket.  As long as the Albion don't get boxed into a league where the height of our ambition is to be better than Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town. And I bet the vast majority of Wolves and Villa fans would agree with me on that. 

And to bring it back to the CL thread, as long as teams are picked on sporting merit, and not by some 'formula' which makes sure the big clubs always take part.

I've got some bad news for you... that's exactly what they're doing with this Swiss model

[alex1]

I've got some bad news for you... that's exactly what they're doing with this Swiss model

Well,  I think and hope there will be a lot of opposition to it. And not just here, but all around Europe. In fact I was watching an interview with Rudi Voller, the Director of Football at Bayer Leverkusen, and he said he is 100% against it, even if it helped German clubs.