What a perfect advert for the prosperous Premier League, the league leaders changed a record 32 times throughout the season, the title decided on the final day, Liverpool achieve the third highest Premier League points total in history and are still the bridesmaids, not the bride. So everything is rosy in the garden, or is it?
Let’s take the first statistic, the lead changing 32 times. This was engineered by TV companies who scheduled Liverpool to play before Man City, especially in the latter stages, but if both teams had kicked off simultaneously then Liverpool would have taken the lead after 3 games and the lead would then only have changed 3 times, with no change at all after game 29. The TV companies have become expert over the years at manipulating their audiences to maximum advantage, with so much money riding on TV rights of course this has become the new science. As for the drama of the final day climax, well how many people would have bet their month’s salary on Man City failing to beat a Brighton team that was now safe from relegation?
So what makes this season a disaster, and before you assume I support Huddersfield, Fulham or Cardiff, let me explain some financial facts. Domestic broadcasting rights are viewed as being at a saturation point making the Premier League increasingly dependent upon foreign rights. Overall, foreign rights are to make up 46 per cent of the total broadcasting rights for 2019-2022. That number was 39 per cent in 2016-2019 and just 11 per cent from 2001-2004. The money made from foreign rights depends on 4 teams dominating, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool, because those teams can claim 99.9% of the support from outside of England. Now in England we talk of a Big 6, but that 6 dominate on a financial stage, but when it comes to overseas support Man City and Spurs are dwarfed by the other 4. That is why this season was a disaster, because none of the Big 4 won the league and because the 2 top supported teams, Arsenal and Man Utd, didn’t qualify for the Champions League (though of course Arsenal still can by winning the Europa). When the Big 4 are playing bars are packed throughout Africa, America and Asia, and that is primarily why the TV rights sell for such a high price.
In 2016, when Liverpool finished eighth, the bars were empty when they played, the Liverpool foreign army doesn’t support losers, some defected to other teams but most just stayed at home. This is the conundrum, we need a competitive league for the home-based fans, but we need the Big 4 to dominate to bring in the money to keep the Premiership from slipping behind La Liga or the Bundesliga, so this season’s failure by Arsenal and Man Utd. will have financial repercussions on the next overseas TV deal unless they can improve, and a way is found to remove Man City and Spurs who are the spanners in the works. It’s a shame because although I don’t support any of the Big 6, I do actually appreciate the football played by Man City and especially Spurs, and have a deep loathing for Liverpool and the Klippity Klopp media circus that they have become.
With the introduction of VAR next season things will get even tougher for the Big 4, as the bias referees undoubtedly show towards them will be tempered somewhat, and particularly Man Utd’s home record could be so bad as to push them into a relegation battle, something the Silent Assassin will probably not have planned for. Take this season’s match at Old Trafford against Southampton, won 3-2 by the home team. Watching the post-match analysis an ex-referee said Southampton should have had 2 penalties, and replays showed United’s second goal to be offside. Yes, VAR would certainly have made a difference then, and it will next season for sure.
Let’s take the first statistic, the lead changing 32 times. This was engineered by TV companies who scheduled Liverpool to play before Man City, especially in the latter stages, but if both teams had kicked off simultaneously then Liverpool would have taken the lead after 3 games and the lead would then only have changed 3 times, with no change at all after game 29. The TV companies have become expert over the years at manipulating their audiences to maximum advantage, with so much money riding on TV rights of course this has become the new science. As for the drama of the final day climax, well how many people would have bet their month’s salary on Man City failing to beat a Brighton team that was now safe from relegation?
So what makes this season a disaster, and before you assume I support Huddersfield, Fulham or Cardiff, let me explain some financial facts. Domestic broadcasting rights are viewed as being at a saturation point making the Premier League increasingly dependent upon foreign rights. Overall, foreign rights are to make up 46 per cent of the total broadcasting rights for 2019-2022. That number was 39 per cent in 2016-2019 and just 11 per cent from 2001-2004. The money made from foreign rights depends on 4 teams dominating, Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool, because those teams can claim 99.9% of the support from outside of England. Now in England we talk of a Big 6, but that 6 dominate on a financial stage, but when it comes to overseas support Man City and Spurs are dwarfed by the other 4. That is why this season was a disaster, because none of the Big 4 won the league and because the 2 top supported teams, Arsenal and Man Utd, didn’t qualify for the Champions League (though of course Arsenal still can by winning the Europa). When the Big 4 are playing bars are packed throughout Africa, America and Asia, and that is primarily why the TV rights sell for such a high price.
In 2016, when Liverpool finished eighth, the bars were empty when they played, the Liverpool foreign army doesn’t support losers, some defected to other teams but most just stayed at home. This is the conundrum, we need a competitive league for the home-based fans, but we need the Big 4 to dominate to bring in the money to keep the Premiership from slipping behind La Liga or the Bundesliga, so this season’s failure by Arsenal and Man Utd. will have financial repercussions on the next overseas TV deal unless they can improve, and a way is found to remove Man City and Spurs who are the spanners in the works. It’s a shame because although I don’t support any of the Big 6, I do actually appreciate the football played by Man City and especially Spurs, and have a deep loathing for Liverpool and the Klippity Klopp media circus that they have become.
With the introduction of VAR next season things will get even tougher for the Big 4, as the bias referees undoubtedly show towards them will be tempered somewhat, and particularly Man Utd’s home record could be so bad as to push them into a relegation battle, something the Silent Assassin will probably not have planned for. Take this season’s match at Old Trafford against Southampton, won 3-2 by the home team. Watching the post-match analysis an ex-referee said Southampton should have had 2 penalties, and replays showed United’s second goal to be offside. Yes, VAR would certainly have made a difference then, and it will next season for sure.
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