Businessman Todd Boehly, who recently took over Chelsea Football Club, has suggested that the Premier League should take more inspiration from across the pond and consider a North vs South All-Star game.
Speaking at the annual SALT conference in New York earlier this week, the US entrepreneur said, “I hope the Premier League takes “a little bit of a lesson from American sports”, posing the questions: “Why wouldn’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams? Why isn’t there an All-Star game?”
#𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗡𝗬 has got a bit of everything. #ChelseaFC chairman Todd Boehly offers a fascinating glimpse into his global vision for the English Premier League club. pic.twitter.com/wa9aBHuGKe
Aside from the immediate whiplash reaction to the comments, many football fans online have been left divided, and although some instantly rejected the idea for simply not aligning with the identity of UK football, others are now debating the pros and cons.
Whether they had specific reasons in mind or not, it’s clear that plenty have been allured by the Hollywood-esque appeal of the proposal.
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Some already have suggestions as to how it could work.
North vs. South isn't the answer though. Just tweak the current NBA formula — vote for the top 30 or whatever (maybe put some limit on players per club), two top vote getters become captains and they pick the teams playground style.
How could a North vs South All-Star game benefit the football pyramid?
Boehly’s foremost argument was the revenue it would generate for the league and all the way down to grassroots football, insisting that “you could do a North vs South All-Star game in the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily”.
He cited Major League Baseball’s (MLB) recent All-Star game which generated $200 million in just two days. In addition to the increased parachute payments which would benefit lower league teams, it goes without saying that special events like these would no doubt bring more eyes to the Premier League – especially from the US, where the popularity of football is growing every year.
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Moreover, not only could this present the possibility of more American investment and sponsorships, but some people believe the annual exhibition would be more interesting that the FA Community Shield – which many already see as a largely inconsequential pre-season friendly.
So what are your teams north vs south? Scrap the community shield and have it as a curtain raiser for the season. Semi competitive with players showing flair. What would the football version of a slam dunk and 3 point shootout contest be though?😂
All that being said, it’s worth noting that US sporting culture is very much based around franchising – a model which has seen teams go so far as to uproot and move cities entirely and simply would not fly in the UK given how closely linked clubs are to our local communities.
Of course, this is not to say that more transatlantic investors would necessarily mean football would be Americanised in this way, but if the Super League has taught us anything, it’s that we need to proceed with caution.
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Both Manchester United and Liverpool’s American owners were two of the biggest ringleaders behind the failed proposal which threatened not only the spirit of competition, but the footballing pyramid as a whole and could have led to entire clubs, north or south, ceasing to exist.
With that in mind, many on social media are much more hesitant, regardless of how tempting it might be to see how quickly a team full of the best United, City, Liverpool, Everton players and more would turn over a southern side.
Spoilers: they would.
I am very much against the Americanisation of our game but there’s no denying a North vs South Premier League all-star game would be a fantastic watch.
Love Todd Boehly telling us the Premier League needs to learn from American sports. The last time American owners decided to teach us about American sports, they tried to drag us into a European Super League and we needed a fan uprising to stop it.
Several have also noted that even beyond messy details like TV rights and the corporate scramble to see who gets the next blockbuster fixture, events like this could also create significant scheduling conflicts in a season already overly-congested compared to much of Europe and the US.
At best, he's very naive but I find it a bit arrogant to assume that because something works in the US you can do the same thing in a completely different country and sporting culture. It'd be best for him if he just kept his head down for a while and stopped talking
Following their Champions League victory on Wednesday night, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp laid out his feelings on the idea in no uncertain terms, quipping: “He hasn’t waited long!… Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?”
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As he went on to argue: “It’s completely different in America… they have four-month breaks’ and while it might be commonplace among their sports franchising model, he’s ‘not sure people want to see that.”
🗣 "He forgets in the big sports in America, they have four month breaks. Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well?"
Jurgen Klopp's response to Todd Boehly's idea of a north vs south "All Star" game pic.twitter.com/hpb03mUMFU
It will be interesting to see what the likes of Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag have to say on the matter as the two will undoubtedly face similar questions as the two Manchester clubs prepare for their European games in the next 48 hours.
Gary Neville, who has long called for an independent regulator to vet potential takeover bids, believes that rumblings like this only further pay further credence, adding that US investors ‘just don’t get it’ and won’t stop until they get what they want.
I keep saying it but the quicker we get the Regulator in the better. US investment into English football is a clear and present danger to the pyramid and fabric of the game. They just don’t get it and think differently. They also don’t stop till they get what they want! 🛑
Would a North vs South match be a worthwhile watch, or would it signify football as we know it moving even further away from its roots than perhaps it already has?
Featured Image: Premier League
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With bonuses, Erling Haaland is earning over £865,000 a week at Manchester City
Danny Jones
This doesn’t exactly make for comfortable reading in the middle of a cost of living crisis, but a report claims to have broken down how much Erling Haaland is on a week at Manchester City. It’s a lot.
According to Mail Plus’ Mike Keegan, the 22-year-old striker is earning nearly £900,000 a week and while this might sound like a ridiculous amount even for a footballer, there is a quite an easy explanation as to why the approximate figure is so massive: bonuses.
In case you have noticed, the Norwegian goal machine is absolutely hammering the Prem already with 14 goals and three assists in just eight games. He’s also on five goals from three appearances in the Champions League. The way it’s going, he could break all kinds of records.
More poignantly, although he is said to be on a ‘basic’ wage of around £375,000 a week, his incredible return has already seen him earn a number of goal bonuses and is inevitably going to secure several others by the end of the season.
While Keegan could not break down the specifics of how much his add-ons are worth individually, he stated that Haaland is effectively earning over £865,000 a week and on track to net a cool £45 million for the year.
Despite the cost of living crisis, following the most recent government budget, footballers are actually set to make an estimated £240,000 extra a year following tax cuts – not that Haaland, or any of them need it.
But, seriously, what is it with this guy and ridiculous numbers? It’s genuinely got to the point where joking or not, people are creating petitions to have him banned from competitive football.
City have managed to tie down a truly generational talent for five years, meaning he will almost certainly be at the club until 2027 at the very least. Chances are, given their chronic success over the past decade, he will probably stay long past then.
That’s the league done and dusted for the foreseeable then.
He could go down as one of the greatest to ever do it, at least in front of goal anyway and whether you’re a blue or not, we should just be grateful we get to watch a player of his calibre in our lifetime.
Man City star Ilkay Gundogan’s wife blasted after calling Manchester’s restaurants ‘horrible’
Emily Sergeant
The wife of one of Manchester City‘s star players has come under fire after taking a hit at the city’s restaurants and branding them “horrible”.
Sara Arfaoui – who is the wife of Manchester City midfielder and club captain, İlkay Gündoğan – took to social media this week to give her opinion on Manchester‘s thriving, ever-expanding, and much-loved hospitality community in response to a fan who asked her to list some of her favourite places to grab a bite to eat in the city.
The model and TV presenter is known for being a keen foodie herself, so it’s no surprise that fans want to hear what she has to say about the food and drink scene in her new home city.
What does seem to have shocked people, though, is that she’s not really a fan of what’s on offer here.
In response to a question during a Q&A on her Instagram Stories yesterday, Sara explained: “Sorry… I’m sad to be honest but nothing.
“I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but… horrible food everywhere.
Ilkay Gundogan’s wife has received backlash after calling Manchester’s restaurants ‘horrible’ / Credit: Sara Gundogan (via Instagram)
“Can’t find a real Italian or good sushi or just fresh food… everything frozen. Restaurants here are just focus on making money with drinks and shot like night clubs not quality food.
“Maybe in London but in Manchester nothing. I’m sorry.”
Given the fact that us Mancs don’t take too kindly to those hitting out our beloved city, Sara’s comments have been met with a wave of backlash from Manchester’s restaurant owners, leading industry figures, and legion of dedicated foodies – who have all hit back online with their own views throughout today, and have urged the public figure to reconsider what she said.
Not only that, but renowned food critic Jay Rayner has even waded into the argument.
“This is a ludicrous point of view,” Rayner said.
“Manchester’s packed full of brilliant, independent restaurants. It’s an absolute gem of a place to eat and comments like this during difficult economic times are not helpful to businesses struggling to make ends meet.”
“I tried so bad to find a good restaurant but… horrible food everywhere.” / Credit: Sara Gundogan (via Instagram)
One local un-named restaurant owner apparently even contacted Sara herself to ask her to clarify some of the comments she made, according to reports in The Sun, saying: “There’s so many great restaurants in Manchester. I suggest you do research before you speak. And only because your husband is a footballer and you have money and you have everything probably paid for and a great life given to you here in Manchester.
“You should be grateful for that, instead of slagging off restaurants.”
At this challenge though, the 27-year-old model – who married the footballer earlier this year in May – likely didn’t give the response the restaurant owner was looking for, and deciding to double down on her comments, explaining: “So because we are successful people we can’t give an honest opinion?
“I tried all the best restaurants here but for me it’s a no. I can’t lie. Unfortunately I’m used to Italy so you can imagine it’s hard to compare.”
She did, however, add that Manchester is “a great city” with “great people” – but “not for restaurants.”
Danny Jones -
14th September 2022 
