LOL at the article. Even an non-ISL fan can see what is going on, right? Lets be honest, it is so obvious that the plan is not to merge 6-7 I-League teams into the ISL... that would never happen. Again, lets look at the teams... Salgaocar and Sporting Goa won't enter over FC Goa and IMG-Reliance won't allow a second Goan team in a small (by their standards) market. Shillong Lajong has no chance against NorthEast United, same with Aizawl (potential for the revival of a planned NE Premier League though). The Pune teams are figuring it out and Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are far away from ISL with the way they operate. You really think they can just walk into the league? If that happens then I will accept that the ISL will die quick.
Bengaluru FC is the only team I can see getting in as JSW Group have the money to pay a fee to get in, they have the infrastructure, a good stadium, established brand and fans, sponsors, and they are in a market with no ISL team.
As for the All-Star idea... I am not opposed to it. I have suggested it before but not at all in this way. How could you even do an I-League All-Star team in the ISL? You are proposing Pailan Arrows on drugs. Where would they play? Who would support them? Who would play for them as the best Indians play in the ISL already? Who would fund them? This league is also driven by foreigners. You can't get marquee players for this team nor foreigners so they would be killed easily in the ISL.
This article is hilarious. Also this: "all are running into serious operating losses. Some have attributed this to the introduction of the Indian Super League (ISL)". Mate, this has been going on long-before the ISL. If the I-League was going strong then the ISL would not exist.
yeah its bcoming a fashion to blame ISL for i-league clubs going for losses or closing down operations. fact is i-league is just dieing the slow death.
Agree...i don't know how anyone can just publish an article in top newspapers without proper research & make sweeping statement....unless ofcourse its paid for...but by who? I keep wondering....i can conclude...that this is IMG trying to modulate public opinion.
@DX I hope you realise that the debate goes on because #ISL too like ileague doesn't meet ANY GOALS of indian football....unless ofcourse you count IMG return on investment as a goal. For all the generalisations in the article, its 1 good insight is that IPL succeeded in taking indian cricket a little forward because it didn't cannibalize the domestic ranji setup...something which the HI/AIFF bosses have conveniently ignored to line their pockets ASAP
The biggest question that remains now in indian football is... whichever league survives, ISL or I-league, will they end up being a successful annual tournament ??
I-league has the disadvantage of not able to attract top players and fans to the league mainly via Television which is key fact for success of league... the reason why EPL is richer than Bundesliga...
While ISL will have its biggest challenge if it becomes a 6-8 month league in having to pay the foreigners for whole year... Will they be able to attract top talents possible and pay them handsomely for whole duration.... its lot easier to pay for 2-3 months
1. Bringing me to the stadium and enjoy domestic football i-league never was able to do that. 2. bringing an average of 24k (3.5-4 times) the average of I-league. 3. pooling the central sponsership is a start which i-league could never do it since 07. 4. Bring in much needed superior coverage in tv since the days of Zee. 5. mayanti beats noel wilson hands down.
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why have ISL if i-league met its goals.
The biggest question that remains now in indian football is... whichever league survives, ISL or I-league, will they end up being a successful annual tournament ??
I-league has the disadvantage of not able to attract top players and fans to the league mainly via Television which is key fact for success of league... the reason why EPL is richer than Bundesliga...
While ISL will have its biggest challenge if it becomes a 6-8 month league in having to pay the foreigners for whole year... Will they be able to attract top talents possible and pay them handsomely for whole duration.... its lot easier to pay for 2-3 months
1. Bringing me to the stadium and enjoy domestic football i-league never was able to do that.
2. bringing an average of 24k (3.5-4 times) the average of I-league.
3. pooling the central sponsership is a start which i-league could never do it since 07.
4. Bring in much needed superior coverage in tv since the days of Zee.
5. mayanti beats noel wilson hands down.
You cant deny pt no 5 you closet ISL supporter u.