Liverpool, you are on your own!

This week has seen the Premier League potentially paint itself in a GOOD light! Believe it or not. 2 money related issues have cropped up, only for many of the current League management to step up, and decry them. The first was an attempt by Liverpool's managing director, Ian Ayre, to spark the debate over TV rights.

To be fair, he was not pushing for ALL TV rights to be altered, but his idea was to skew the agreement to allow the bigger clubs a larger share. His argument was that overseas, when people tune in to watch the Premier League, they wanted to watch Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. Not Bolton, Wigan, Fulham, or Blackburn.

His argument on the surface does seem to hold water. In Spain, TV rights are negotiated by the clubs, not collectively. This has allowed Barcelona and Real to really rake in the money. However, it has come at the expense of the rest of the Spanish league, with the other clubs having a far smaller cut.

However, many have already come out against such an idea. Sir Alex Ferguson came out, actually, BEFORE all this. His angle was that the overseas TV deal was too small, and the Premier League was worth much more. However, because it is all about the league, the fairness aspect does work. At the moment.

Also, Geoff Mesher of the accountancy firm Grant Thornton has also come out against this idea. His point is that in Spain, Barcelona and Real earn 12 times more than the lowest club in La Liga. But really, in La Liga, there is only 2 teams that are in with a shout of winning.

It is Geoff Meshers belief that the current system affords more parity in England, making the Premier League a lot more competitive. Whilst many say that in England there are only a few teams that can win, its a group of 6 from which the winner will spring from. Also, the competitive edge comes from the fact that a lot of the lower clubs can and do take points off the top clubs.

This makes it a lot more exciting, and ultimately HELPS the Premier League brand, and helps the clubs to profit all together.

The second thing that has risen recently, a report from Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the League Managers Association has come out to say that there is a strong willingness on the part of the foreign owners of Premier League clubs to scrap promotion and relegation and turn the league over to a franchise system.

On the face of it, it is a positive move. Many of the foreign owners want to protect their ownership of a Premier League club, and the money it brings in for them. Not being from England, they are not really "in tune" with the way the fabric of Football in England is cut.

As it stands, 9 of Englands top flight are foreign-owned, with a 10th having a majority of its shares owned overseas.

As it is right now:

Manchester United - The Glazer family - USA

Aston Villa - Randy Lerner - USA

Blackburn Rovers - The Venky's Group - India

Chelsea - Roman Abramovich - Russia

Fulham - Mohammed Al Fayed - Egypt

Liverpool - Fenway Sports Group - USA

Manchester City - Sheikh Mansour - Abu Dhabi

Sunderland - Ellis Short - USA

QPR - Tony Fernandes - Malaysia

Arsenal - Stan Kroenke - USA (He currently holds a controlling 66.76% interest in the club)

So, at the moment, half the league is under foreign ownership. However, in order for any changes to be pushed through in the league, you need 75% to vote for it. So, if another 5 clubs go into foreign hands, then changes could happen.

I can understand it. With Americans making up the largest single group, they are coming from the US sports market which does actually run a franchise system, and the concept of promotion and relegation is an alien concept. By switching to a franchise system, they can lock the Premier league, and guarantee the revenue streams that come from it.

However, many have already come out and slammed it. Sir Alex Ferguson has already rained fire on it. And when Sir Alex speaks, many listen! Given his history in the league! He basically said that the link with the lower leagues is very, very important. And that is true. In the current Championship, 18 of the 20 have played in the Premier League.

Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackpool, Burnley, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Watford, and West Ham. And out of these 18 clubs, Birmingham, West Ham, Leeds, and Nottingham are all clubs that, in terms of size, would easily fit in the Premier League again.

It also is not limited to the Championship. You also have Charlton, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic, and Swindon Town who have also graced the Premier League. And both Sheffield clubs could easily hold a place in the Premier League, given the fanbase that both clubs have.

And to slam the door on all of these clubs really does strike at the heart of the fabric of the English game. 

Also, Dave Whelan, the chairman of Wigan has said that should such a system come forward, he would pull Wigan from the Premier League, and look at moving back to the Championship.

The franchise system does pose big problems for England. For example, the clubs who are currently knocking on the door would not be able to get in. Also, you could argue that some of the clubs currently in are not in a position to survive in the league. 

The league is at 20. There are 23 other clubs who have been there, of which 6 or 8 who could, in terms of size, hold their own.

Will this idea ever fly?

No. The public would never allow it. The public who support the current Premier League clubs would not want to see it turn into exactly the same all the time. The clubs lower down want the prospect of a doorway into the "Promised Land" to be open to them.

The prospect of a franchise system is totally alien to the public in England. It is totally unwanted. 

And the good thing is that with all the forces lining up totally opposed to such a move, the ultimate one is the FA. It is built into the Premier League that any changes to the leagues structure has to be OK'd with the FA. And the FA has said they could not ever back such an idea.

As Mr Whelan said "Its the most stupid decision in my life." 

And I agree.

We are there!

So, the qualifications are done. The initial 12 places are decided for Euro 2012. Poland and Ukraine are there as co-hosts, and joined by Germany, Russia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and England as various group winners. The final 4 slots will be granted to the winners of the playoff games. Ireland take on Estonia, Turkey take on Croatia, Bosnia play Portugal, and the runners up in Englands group Montenegro have to get past the Czech Republic.

The Dutch blew through their group, as well as Germany. England ended up in one of the easiest groups, and yes, qualified with relative ease. However, England did not gallop over the line, more of limping over wheezing at the end.

But qualify they did. However, people are not celebrating. We are talking about "The Rooney Incident." If you did not see the final game, well...

England went into the game against Montenegro 3 points clear of Montenegro, with Montenegro having a game in hand. So, just a point would see England safe. In the first half, England where in charge, and doing well. England did go out to a 2-0 lead. 

However, as is Englands way, they made life hard for themselves. Going into half time, Montenegro grabbed a goal back. However, Englands case was not helped by Rooney.

Getting marked heavily meant Rooney did not have the freedom he wanted. This led to frustrations, and in a moment of insanity, Rooney kicked out.

No idea why.

This led to him getting a straight red.However, Rooney realised he had screwed up, and did not complain.

So, England spent the second half with 10, and Montenegro grabbed a second. 

So, England got the point they needed, but it could have been much more.

And now, UEFA has announced that Rooney will serve a 3 match ban for his actions. This rules him out of Englands group stage games at Euro 2012. As to the reasoning, we will find out when UEFA release a full written reasoning behind their decision.

And so, rather than celebrating, the English are now debating Rooney. Should we take him to Euro 2012? Given that he cannot play in Englands opening group games. Rooney is a proven scorer, and probably Englands most dangerous player. He is the one all the others watch. If something happens from England, Rooney WILL be involved!

So. do we take him? Many people say no. He was an idiot for kicking out. And, unless the FA's appeal is successful given how he has shown remorse, he wont be able to play in Englands group games. so, if he goes, he will take a slot in the squad, and we have to HOPE that England progress far enough (out of the groups!) oh actually clear his suspension, and get him back on the field! And there is no guarantee in that.

However, many others say that we have to. England really should have too much to NOT get out of the groups, and by getting into the pointy end of the Championships, having Rooney there would be a bonus, given the type of player he is.

Problem for me is that it is not that easy.

1) If Englands appeal is successful, and we see his ban reduced to 1, then its a no-brainer. He goes.

2) If the ban is not reduced, but because of the appeal it is upped to 4 (which is possible) then he does NOT go. the only time we would get to use him would be the semi's and the final. And keeping him there for 4 games, unused, seems daft.

3) If the appeal is unsuccessful, but no extra punishments are handed out, then we have a quandary. However, it is not a thing to be decided now. Given how important Rooney is to England, his name is pretty much written in stone on the team list. However, with his suspension at 3 games, it hands the other candidates a chisel!

As long as Rooney keeps going with his form for United, his name will still be linked with England come the time to finalize the squad. HOWEVER, with Rooney's position under threat, it is now up to the other strikers to step up.

With Rooney in form, it is almost impossible to blast him out of the squad. However, Capello has said that it is unlikely that Rooney will be used much in the friendlies. This allows him to try alternatives. It also gives Englands "other choices" the chance to really stake a claim. If, during the course of the season, some of the other strikers available go on a tear, then it will jeopardize Rooneys slot. 

Should England take Rooney? Well, this decision is not one for now. BUT the door has not just been opened for the others, but blown right off its hinges!