I don't watch Sky.... I can however see the actual massive progress that has been made from grassroots level upwards and the fact that our league structure remains resilient and strong, despite some of the issues you raise. Like I said, your comment was throw away, a Tony Blaire-like soundbite and slipped off the tongue as if it were true... It simply isn't... So why purvey that kind of lie, rather than be honest and simply challenge some of the real issues at face value?
And that (along with the lies about Bury, similar lies about our own situation, which reflect a totally skewed version of reality) being presented to some nodding dog type MP, from a party desperate to clean up on votes from the common man, does make me feel a bit concerned. 'Saving Football' or at least posturing about it is just the ticket as far as they are concerned and I wonder if this is a case of some backward thinking individuals seizing the opportunity to force their agenda...
In these conversations and also from the promoters of the legislation, I see little evidence of any recognition of the massive positives in football and that makes me wonder and question whether balance exists at all.... Easy to pick fault, but maybe not so easy to acknowledge the reality and positives.... Similar to Bury and Oyston.... Fans can spin a great yarn about the bad bits, but are extremely reticent to engage with some of the hard truths...
The positives in football are expressed very clearly by the multi million pound publicity campaigns of the EPL and the media that are largely in thrall to them.
As someone who sees problems in football it's not logical to start by celebrating what is already celebrated, especially when so little attention is given to the problems by the media. That doesn't mean I'm incapable of seeing those positives but why do the EPL's job for them cos they sure as hell aren't going to acknowledge any validity in my argument.
Football is in rude health on one level but it's also more financially unstable than previous eras.
Football is more popular but it's also declining in popularity with younger supporters/players
Football is very rich but football is also saddled in lots of debt.
English clubs are dominant in Europe but overall the relative strengths of many European leagues is weaker than in previous eras because of the financial impact of TV money elevating some leagues spending power above others.
Gary is big but he's not very fast. Jerry is fast but he's not very big.
It's equally simplistic as anything anyone else has said to say 'but trickle down economics is the only way' because it palpably isn't. History, both sporting and social says so. It's not about ideology. Different contexts can require different approaches.
I see a lot of unthinking defence of what amounts to football colonialism where we look at the riches on our our doorstep and declare it 'good' and ignore how that effects football globally or even across Europe, let alone in our own backyard.
I want to discuss sport, not the ** importance of the next TV deal. Literally couldn't give a fuck. I don't give shit about marketing. I don't care about content strategy or any of that. I just like people kicking a ball about. In that I agree.
Where I also agree with you is that it's a global/continental issue that needs much bigger consideration. I also agree that it is complicated and declaring the fan led review a triumph and an end game is too simplistic.
However, I believe it contains *some* important ideas that can be positive in the further evolution of football.
I've had enough of this now. I've written reams on what I think and I still think it and I think very few people (if any) are still reading. The book linked below is quite dull but contains some very well researched and objective analysis of a lot of the stuff on this thread.
It's sort of what I'd like to write if I didn't have to earn a living and eat and sleep and speak to my family from time to time. The bits between the evidence are bland but the evidence is excellent.
I'd also highly recommend 'and the sun shines now' by Adrian Tempany in terms of an exploration of the impact of clubs social value, the value of community work and an exploration of how the premier league came to be what it was through political will.
NB, Gary wasn't the problem.
More Than a Game: Saving Football From Itself : Gregory, Mark: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk