James Sharman’s mailbag: A Premier League salary cap?

Linda O'Brien reports from Leicester where captain Wes Morgan and his squad are preparing for an emotional fixture on their home pitch for the first time since the tragic passing of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Ahead of every weekend this season, I will answer questions from Sportsnet.ca readers on a variety of topics on the Premier League. If you’d like to ask me a question, hit me up on Twitter at @jamessharman, and be sure to use the hashtag #SNAskSharman.

Let’s dive into this week’s mailbag…

From @bigkeeper13: It’s tedious with the same five teams challenging for the Premier League title (Leicester City notwithstanding). Can you ever see a type of hard salary cap coming to Europe or the Premier League?
 
Sharman: Who wants parity, right?  A hard salary cap would be a non-starter, as the Premier League is governed by European labour law. As a result, you cannot put a cap on wages, therefore leagues cannot force its teams to adhere to a salary cap.  

For many years clubs took liberties with their players by owning their rights even when they were out of contract. The Mark Bosman came along and to took his former team to court, thus changing the face of pro soccer in Europe with its version of free agency.  

To be honest, having the same few teams challenging for the title is nothing new. It’s always been this way – only the financial gap is just bigger now than ever. It has never really bothered me, but then I like dynasties in sports, so I suppose I am just a corporate monster.

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From @jmia19: Do you feel it is time for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to move away from a 4-3-3 formation to a 4-2-3-1? This would accommodate Fabinho.

Sharman: I am hardly an expert on tactics and formations. In fact, I have long admitted I find it all a bit boring. Having said that, Liverpool is an interesting topic, as Jurgen Klopp has long been a 4-3-3 coach, but this season we have seen him experiment with a 4-2-3-1. In fact it looked very good in the 4-0 drubbing of Red Star at Anfield. The return leg this week was an unmitigated disaster of course, a disaster that came in the shape of the old 4-3-3.  

The difference in selection was no Fabinho in midfield, and no Xherdan Shaqiri. You are right about Fabinho. He certainly fits better in the 4-2-3-1, and it also allows the inclusion of the big three up front, as well as Shaqiri on the right side, with Mohamed Salah playing centrally. 

I think we’ll see Klopp use the 4-2-3-1 more often this season depending on the opponents, as well as who is available and in form. But like any good coach, there should be a willingness to change during a game.

From @mlward54: What’s the likelihood of this rumoured European Super League actually forming? And exactly how bad would it be for each of the leagues around Europe?

Sharman: At some point I am sure we will see a European Super League. If the numbers being bandied around are to be believed, it is hard to argue why there shouldn’t be a breakaway league. Why should teams play for 70 million euros when you can play for 400 million? Why not sit comfortably in a controlled environment where you cannot get relegated?  It all makes so much sense, but I despise it. 

Sure, the idea of playing Manchester City or Barcelona or PSG each week is more palatable than playing Cardiff, West Brom and Stoke, but that is oversimplifying it. When a match against Barcelona becomes normal, the sport suffers. We need the drama of relegation and promotion, and the concept of the best teams in Europe playing each other in a bi-weekly Champions League.  

A European Super League could happen very soon, although I see this as more of a leverage play by the big clubs to get more from their FAs.  A breakaway league would not be as simple as it seems, with the British Government already being reported to be against it.  What I do see happening at some point is a second tier European Super League, where clubs from the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Belgium play each other. 

From @caesar_dallas: If both Man United and Man City put on concerts by bands who support them, which show would you go to? It has to be realistic – no Oasis for Man City, but Noel and/or Liam as solo acts are okay, while Stone Roses for Man United is plausible.

Sharman: This is an absolutely brilliant question, and I have actually spent way too much time thinking about it. Whichever way I go, it would be an amazing gig, and there really isn’t a wrong answer.  

I have been listening to a lot of the Stone Roses recently, and their comeback album is excellent. If you could assure me they’d be joined on stage by Thom Yorke (who brings Radiohead with him) and Morrissey (who brings The Smiths with him) I would be a happy fan.    

But I have to side with the blue half of Manchester on this one. I am an Oasis fanatic, and have seen both Liam and Noel several times with Beady Eye and the High Flying Birds. Now I understand what you’re saying, it has to be realistic. But what if they both showed up independently, started chatting back stage, and realized what the rest of the world knows – that they are brothers who love each other, and that they have to reform Oasis. The Etihad would be rocking, and I’d be there to watch it.

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