By J Hutcherson (May 4, 2021) US Soccer Players - One of the obvious issues with any concept of a super league is who gets left out. The quick demise of The Super League means we never learned the names of the remaining clubs. We don't know who might have been enticed by a new version of European soccer. Bayern Munich and PSG were quick to distance themselves. So was AS Roma, releasing a statement . . .
Will The Super League collapse change European soccer?
By J Hutcherson (Apr 27, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's hard to believe that something that seemed crucial just a week ago is now not much more than a punchline. Imagine the business school instructor trying to use The Super League as a case study a few years from now. "So after an initial leak during Sunday's games, the whole thing was over in 48 hours. Somehow, it involved governments, fans, and . . .
Finally, it’s a Super League
By J Hutcherson (Apr 20, 2021) US Soccer Players - As so many have pointed out over the last 48 hours, the European club soccer model has been in extended flux since the early 90s. The creation of the Premier League and UEFA turning the European Cup into the Champions League started a direct path to what's happening right now. I once wrote a multi-part series called "The Shadow of the Super . . .
MLS and the money league
By J Hutcherson (Apr 13, 2021) US Soccer Players - The idea of a league constantly changing is still relatively new, but it quickly became the hallmark for Major League Soccer. Whether or not you wanted to buy into the league of the future, league of choice, or whatever else officials pushed, there was no doubting change. MLS moves forward with the idea that nothing is off the table, at least in . . .
Squad rotation, fixture congestion, and competitive imbalance
By J Hutcherson (Apr 6, 2021) US Soccer Players - Speaking after the Premier League win at Leicester City on Saturday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola became the latest to ask a simple question. Why is it alright to compress the schedule and obligate players across multiple competitions for club and country? In Guardiola's more concise version, it's a simple statement. "They are human . . .
UEFA may be pushing for even more change
By J Hutcherson (Mar 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's probably easier to look at what might not be changing in the way European club soccer runs. We already knew about the various ideas for revamping the Champions League, the threat of a super league, and FIFA's push for a bigger Club World Cup. Now, there are reports that UEFA is considering doing away with Financial Fair Play. That comes at a . . .
This strange season continues to trip up Europe’s top clubs
By J Hutcherson (Mar 23, 2021) US Soccer Players - The response to Juventus losing 1-0 at home to Benevento was about what you'd expect from one of soccer's "passionate" fan bases. You can pile whatever you want into "passionate" since it normally applies to supporters of clubs large and small. What it normally means in an elite European club context is extremely unhappy with the spreadsheet to . . .
The BeNe League as an answer
By J Hutcherson (Mar 16, 2021) US Soccer Players - Since what sounds like fairy tales should start with "once upon a time," why not? Once upon a time, the Belgian and Dutch leagues produced some of the most competitive teams in Europe. That time all but ended when Ajax lost to Juventus as defending champions in the 1996 Champions League final. Belgium didn't get that far, with Royal Antwerp's loss . . .
The Deutsche Fussball Liga’s pandemic finances
By J Hutcherson (Mar 9, 2021) US Soccer Players - The Deutsche Fussball Liga released its 2021 financial report highlighting exactly what you, me, and pretty much anybody paying attention would expect. The pandemic has had a sizable influence on Bundesliga money and empty stadiums drag finances down. That's the new truism across sports and countries. The only question is how much of an impact it's . . .
Is European club soccer set for this much change?
By J Hutcherson (Mar 2, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's easy enough to start with the Barcelona situation, but it already runs deeper than that. Barca has become the calling card for European super clubs in trouble at a time when multiple parties seem to want significant changes to the game at the highest level. This may not be hitting the reset button that a breakaway European super league . . .
