I think that SKY money has improved the stadiums significantly from the dirty run down holes many of them used to be and matches are much more family friendly than they used to be but that aside there are more negatives for me. This is after all The English Premier League. A ***** component of that - the supporters, are treated with complete indifference as fixtures get switched to satisy TV schedules so I fail to see any real positives for those that go through the turnstyles.
Agents fees were up 38% in 2016-17 with £220Million being paid in commissions by PL clubs alone. Seems the biggest benefactors in this stand to be the agents and the players with the supporters seeing next to nothing. One wonders what the legacy will be aside from richer agents and players given so much is creamed off at the top with lower league clubs and the grass roots level seeing so little.
Personally, I preferred it pre PL as the old First Division was more competative. The season we got promoted away at Oldham, not long after we were playing and beating Galatasaray and Valencia. Wouldn't happen now as newly promoted teams today just want to stay in the division end of. It suits the PL to have a cartel of the top 5 or so clubs as they create the most revenue. Scudamore himself said it was 'bad for business' having UTD outside the top 6. Says it all. We and others like us re just making the numbers up as the PL is really about the top 5 or 6. That is the reality of SKY. It's all about flogging a product to every corner of the planet.
The biggest negative for me is that many supporters feel completely disenfranchised with the modern game. What do supporters have in common with the modern game where average squad players earn tens of thousands a week? I can see why the true supporters are turning elsewhere. I went to Kiddy Harriers v Chester last week in the FA Cup and its was more entertaining than the Bournmouth, West Ham and Watford games (not hard) and it was clear the supporters all identified with their respective players. Maybe what football should be about.
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