the predictions are that with the emergence of another USA Pro womens league that the best players over here will be lured away to the US....will they?

Most of them are settled with jobs/families etc... Unless one of the clubs asks for a specific player the league here will be fine. I can't see any on the Arsenal girls going over if what Emma B said during the world cup is anything to go by.

Some may wait to see how good this league is going to be and if it's here to stay.

a recent report I read, indicates that our womens league is heading for a shake up to make it more competitive ( 8 teams only in the PL ) and a limit of internationals a club can have....Arsenal have 15 at the moment!! ish....

If they limit the Internationals than Arsenal are in big trouble. The only problem with the league in my book is when it is played. Going up against the men is costing them , if they put to the summer , say April til August/September it would be better.

is one of the options but its not for me..its a winter sport and there should be an opportunity for the women to play in winter.....my mission is to get the average home gates up to at least 400...maybe , they can build their own stadium, now that would be great eh..

If some of them do go the USA for a while , there will always be new young talent coming up to fill their places and play at the highest domestic level. England is full of great young players who could become the stars of an English Premier League. The U-19 and U-17 teams are full of quality and the National Acdemy at Loughboro is a facility which will help produce more and more of these players. I think the Premier League will continue to grow in this country.

me.....

I don't see the EPL crumbling due to the new US league. We have to remember that football in America is not a big sport (granted it's growing currently, but how long will that last for and how big will it get?). The previous women's professional league failed once before after 3 years which isn't anything to be proud of. That league was also riding the coattails of the massive success in the 1999 Women's World Cup. This time around they will be riding the coattails of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. A big difference this time around though, is that the US Women's are not as strong as they were in 1999. If they win the Gold, I could see the popularity increasing (for the time being); however, if they fail to win the Gold, I don't see much change in form from the current fan base.

Who's to say that this league will not fold in a similar fashion to the previous after a couple years? Of course now they have the backing of Major League Soccer (MLS), but MLS isn't doing too well in their own right either (when it comes to profits). Profits and fan base will be the key to keeping this league operational. It's a long ways away before this league will be able to compete with the EPL and/or other leagues in Europe.

To further put the US league below the EPL is that it's not as organized as it is in Europe. There isn't a 'UEFA cup among leagues in different countries', there isn't the support from the fans like there is over in Europe and so forth. There probably won't be any cup tournaments either like the League Cup or FA Cup (maybe one, to include the lower league).

If I was an established player in an established league, I wouldn't jump ship to a league that has just arisen from ashes. There's no guarantee that the new US league will last 3 or 5 or even more years. It's folded once due to loss in profits and a fan base that dwindled through the years. Unfortunately, it can happen again.

money might talk.....remember the shed loads of British players that came towards the end of their careers over here and cashed in...along with Pele, Cruyff....Becks.............some of our 'older' players who have done it all, eaten all the pies, seen the movies, got all the t-shirts...might be tempted to make a fast buck and an extra large cheeseburger...with fries..have a nice day , ma'am........no?

I doubt the money will be there like it is for the men's. Even the men's don't really have the money. The days of Pele in the North American Soccer League (NASL) brought death to the league. Owners were getting carried away with their spending to bring these big name players into the league, and the fan base dwindled after a couple years and the league folded due to financial debt.

With the current MLS, there is a salary cap where the wages of the players can not exceed (it's currently at around $2.2m. However, they brought in a designator player slot (aka Beckham rule) in order to bring players of larger salaries into the fold. (Each club starts with 1 slot, but they can trade for additional slots), $400,000 of their salary goes towards the salary cap, the rest of it is exempt.

I could maybe see some of the older women players coming over to the new league, but in no way, will that cause the EPL to crumble.

sounds very re-assuring to me......i do think they will learn from the mistakes made the last time though.....

Here is some more info that will re-assure you.

The original league, Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was initially given a $40 million budget to last for 5 years. That budget was blown after the first year. Players took salary cuts of up to 30% for the final season, with the founding players (who also held an equity stake in the league) taking the largest cuts, that was not enough to bring expenses under control.

That being said, I doubt they'll make the same mistake this time around. They will most likely follow in the footsteps of the MLS when it comes to financial terms and building the league. (The MLS is also in debt of around $350 million since it's first season in 1996.) But the main cause of the financial debt they got into was due to lack of a strong fan base. The mens struggle to keep a fan base, the women will have an even harder time to keep a fan base.

I read an article in the Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/18/womensfootball called, "New US league targeting our players, Arsenal warn." Personally I feel quite strongly that competitive and competing women's pro leagues will help to develop the global game, so I posted a response to the article here if you're interested to read it: http://www.amandavandervort.com/blog/2008/08/competitive-and-competing-womens-professional-soccer/ In the article, I discuss WUSA and its demise, the differences that WPS brings, and I break down some statements made in the article that I think deserve further evaluation.

Very good read, I think there are loads of different interests that are not compatible between in other and that creates thoses clashes : the FA, England, the clubs, the players etc. Will put a proper answer later when I finish work

Thanks, I'm looking forward to reading your post. -Amanda

Here are a few things I have been told, read and know about the footie most of them well known, some of them a little less.

The new format has been worked underhand by the FA for more than a year but was not advertised at all to media and supporters for while but put to the clubs and players mainly.
The FA has been preparing to lauch the new summer league and the threat they see is obviously the main players to go to the WPS, which is a bit stupid because as you staed there will be only 35 foreign players in there.
Considering the amount of talent available worldwide and the actual quality of English players, I would personally be surprised to see 10 English players go there. Maybe 5 or 6 are really good enough, if I want to be realistic only one actually is a world class player.
I think the FA has been trying to develop some new generations of players via the center of excellence , academies and the NPDC based at Loughbrough where most of the england youth players for couple of years. I believe the fact most youth team end up qualifying for world cups like the U17 U20 is a proof of an improvement. tbc later tonight

Thank you for sharing your response. Like shlj I am a passionate supporter of womens football and was delighted to read an article which explained the huge benefits of the professional league and a rationale as to how it might succeed. The English F A were talking about a pro league in 2000 and indeed Fulham F C tried to make it happen but no other club took the plunge. They are about to try and launch a summer Elite league with tenders for the franchises due in January 2009. Most people I speak to are worried by the lack of detail in the talks which the F A have had with the clubs...it sounds a bit like the first incarnation of the US pro league. You are SO right about the attitude of mens clubs - I could name 5 other teams which have had funding withdrawn in the last 4 years apart from Charlton (who are starting to revive as a viable club ) We have 36 clubs playing in the Womens Premier League but most survive through charity and very active fundraising and the players paying to play. In one sense it a testament to the love of the game that so many clubs can aspire to play at a high level but in reality about 3 or 4 clubs have the backing at the moment to gather in the elite players. Tony Leighton is a rarity - The Guardian allows him to write seriously about womens football every Monday and he is a supporter of the womens game. The remark about the loss of 5-8 british players setting the English game back ten years should read in my opinion ...will set 2-3 clubs back 10 years but will allow other clubs and players to shine. I enjoyed your response and wish you success in your endeavours. The wonderful scenes in Beiing today can only strenghen your position. Maybe in 2012 we over here will have a womens Olympic team which can play a credible part in challenging the USA!

How dare Vic Akers & the Guardian
Firstly about his four players who obviously told the club and done this honestly - why did Vic Akers have to bring their names to the newspapers? His he trying to make it there fault that they have been reckonised to play proffessional Would he have asked their permission to put their names in public ? They might play for Arsenal but he does not own them lock stock & barrel. What goes on in the dressing room should stay there.Saying unless those four players leave it will bring the game back ten years in England? Be honest, the WPL it’s not going forward. Maybe four players leaving will be setting your team back ten years don't you mean? .......... Arsenal Ladies Vic.
Below is a list of personel Arsenal LFC signed recently they are from far and wide




EMMA BYRNE PROFILE
Previous Club(s)St Patricks Fortuna Hjorring Joined ArsenalAugust 01, 2000
YVONNE TRACY PROFILE
Yvonne Tracy Previous Club(s) St Patricks Lifford Joined Arsenal August 01, 2000
KIM LITTLE PROFILE
Kim Little Previous Club(s) Hibernian Joined Arsenal August 01, 2008
NATALIE ROSS PROFILE
previous Club(s) Hibernian Joined Arsenal July 28, 2008
KELLY SMITH PROFILE
Previous Club(s)
Philadelphia Charge New Jersey Wildcats Joined Arsenal August 01, 2005
TONY GERVAISE PROFILE
Position Academy director / First-team assistant coach Born May 10, 1955. Paisley, Scotland Joined Arsenal Summer 2008
CIARA GRANT PROFILE
Previous Club(s)Benfica (Waterford) Joined Arsenal August 01, 1998
JULIE FLEETING PROFILE
Julie Fleeting Born Ross County San Diego Spirit Ayr United Joined Arsenal August 01, 2004
NIAMH FAHEY PROFILE
Born Galway October 13, 1987 Previous Club(s) Salthill Devon Joined Arsenal July 28, 2008

All these personel are helping Arsenal win trophys.Our did you get these players Did you ask their Footall Association to see if it will affect their League.If your so worried about the English game why as Everton LFC got more English Internationals than Arsenal.Maybe its because you prefer other countries elite players
Tony Leighton
• The Guardian,
• Monday August 18 2008
• Article history
The Premier League has entered what will almost certainly be the final season of its current format with an ominous warning from the Arsenal manager, Vic Akers, that American predators could rob the proposed new Super League of its top players.
The Football Association board is expected to rubber-stamp proposals for an eight-team summer league, projected to start in March 2010, at its meeting on Wednesday. But in the US the Women's Professional Soccer League, the successor to the ill-fated Women's United Soccer Association that folded in 2003, kicks off next summer and several England internationals are being headhunted with the carrot of professional contracts.
Akers believes four of his players - Kelly Smith, Karen Carney, Katie Chapman and Alex Scott - are being targeted. "If these girls and other England players go to America," said Akers, "it could set the game here back 10 years."
Peter Hough, the Premier League chairman, says measures are being taken to head off the possibility of players crossing the Atlantic. "There's obviously potential danger," said Hough, "but we are hoping to create full-time opportunities for girls in English clubs and we will do all we can to retain the players."
Smith spent seven years in America before returning to England after the demise of WUSA. "I love being back home and playing for Arsenal," she said, "but if a big offer came in from America I'd have to consider it."
Smith underlined her importance to the Gunners with a hat-trick in yesterday's 4-0 win against Blackburn Rovers.

Thanks for your response, Honda. I do think it was a shame the girls' names were called out in public, as though the onus is on them to salvage English football (which by this thread's response it doesn't seem like it needs salvaging - just growth and direction).

Instead, if the FA is able to organize a successful competitive league, it seems Arsenal may be the team that'll need help. Parity in the FA will surely be a difficult lump of coal for Vic Akers to swallow - we'll get to see how good a manager he really is I suppose.

And about the players being from all over the globe, it's been a remarkable feat that Arsenal has drawn the best from Ireland, Scotland, England, etc. But now that America will be trying to do the same (with the limit of 35 let's never forget), I agree that it's not fair to criticize WPS for something Vic Akers has been doing for years.

Sadly the love of the game only allows for 40 pounds/day pay at the National Team level too, right? If you're interested, http://www.amandavandervort.com/blog/2008/03/the-chicken-and-the-egg-of-womens-soccer here's a post I wrote back in March called "The Chicken and the Egg of Women's Soccer". It references a BBC video report: "Low Pay Hits England's Women", and an interesting list of the Top Football Salaries around the world.



Well said, thanks for that. I do hope that happens - I wish you nothing but success in England. I think the continued growth of women's soccer will be driven by international-level competition like the World Cup, the Olympics, and UEFA, and the more games & exposure we create will force organizations to accept internal development. What do you think about a World Club Tournament? The best of WPS vs. the best of the FA vs. the best of the Bundesliga vs. the best of China?

Also, just as an interesting aside, here in Chicago we had a viewing party for the US National Team vs Brazil, if anybody's interested in the news clip about it, check out Peter Wilt's (Red Stars CEO) blog at http://womensprosoccer.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2136787%3ABlogPost%3A7375 I especially thought it was cool to hear from Emma Hayes (Arsenal's former Assistant, now a WPS Head Coach) and a Brazilian supporter at the event.