Tim

I think the Red Cartel is a myth used by underachieving club supporters. Liverpool didn't win a league for 30 years. United similar Arsenal 22 and never won a European Champions Cup Chelsea were a run down shitheap run by a man putting barbed wire up. City were a club you just had to beat to get where you needed to go. Villa finished second in the early Prem and never capitalised despite always been run prudently Newcastle won nothing for 70 years with plenty of fans and Prem money. Leeds spent half of their existence outside of the top flight Yes, there are romantic and historic reasons why Liverpool, United and Arsenal "caught fire" and imaginations of huge numbers. It's why people buy iphones, Ferraris, want to live in London, New York or Paris. Some things transcend the normal. The 3 big clubs aren't all wine and roses either. Glazers are a cancer on the club, FSG and LFC fans butt heads often, likewise Kroenkes. But to suggest they have some golden key to unlock corrupt practice over 5 decades on their favour, there just isn't the evidence for it. Do I believe every club should start a season having a capable squad which I'm theory could win the league? Yes. Do I think the current financial rules punish some clubs because of the corruption of others? Yes. Do I think every club should spend whatever they like? No, because of the shitshow we're seeing today. City and Chelsea when I was a kid were second division also rans and a Steve Mackenzie thunderbastard v Spurs. And that's cool, loved both. But the "Red Cartel" trophy cabinet is real, and won fairly and squarely at home and abroad. Rome, Barcelona, White Hart Lane, etc etc. Chelsea, City ( and other clubs now) feel 60 years of being crap entitles them to a turbo charged catch up programme based on state ownership, oligarchy and alleged serious financial wrongdoing. Those clubs should all come together and force the Prem to change all sorts of rules. They don't. Why? They all look after number 1.