Record-Breaking Transfer Spending in English Premier League.
Record breaking spend
Script:
The English Premier League has set a new record for transfer spending during the 2022-23 season. Clubs spent a total of £2.8 billion, breaking the previous British transfer record. The top spending club was Chelsea, who spent £107 million on Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
On the Deadline Day of the January transfer window, the total expenditure was more than £275 million. This was an increase of 83% compared to the previous record of £150 million set in 2018.
The Premier League clubs' spending was much higher than the other big European football leagues, accounting for 79% of the total spent across the "big five" leagues. Chelsea spent more in January than all the clubs in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 combined.The total spending this season was double the previous record of £1.4 billion in 2017 and 90% more than the 2018 winter record of £430 million. The English Football League clubs also spent more, with a total of £25 million compared to £20 million in the previous winter window.
"shows their dominance"
Tim Bridge, from Deloitte's Sports Business Group, said that the record spending by Premier League clubs shows their financial dominance in Europe. He added that while investing in the squad is important for success, it is also important to maintain financial stability.
Questions:
Part 1: Comprehension
Read and summarize the article thinking of who, what, when, where & why.
Part 2: True or False Questions
a) True or False - The transfer spending by the English Premier League clubs in the 2022-23 season broke the previous British transfer record. T/F
b) True or False - The top-spending club in the Premier League was Arsenal. T/F
c) True or False - The Premier League clubs' spending accounted for only 50% of the total spent across Europe's big five football leagues. T/F
d) True or False - The article mentions the importance of maintaining financial stability while investing in the squad for success on the pitch. T/F
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary/phrases.
a) "Breaking"
b) "Expenditure"
c) "Accounting for"
d) "Dominance”
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a.
a) Breaking:
b) Expenditure:
c) Accounting for:
d) Dominance:
Part 5: Talking Points
1. What drove the huge increase in Premier League transfer spending in 2022-23?
2. Is the record-breaking spending by football clubs sustainable in the long term?
3. What motivates clubs to invest heavily in player transfers, and what are the pros and cons?
4. How does the financial dominance of the Premier League impact other European leagues?
5. Why is financial stability important for football clubs, and how can they balance investments?
6. What sports did you play in school?
7. Can you recommend a new sports for me to try?
8. How does Premier League spending affect the development of young talent in football?
9. Have you ever been to a soccer game? Describe your experience.
10. What sports are popular in your country?
Part 6: Role play Scenarios
1: Role 1: Chairman of a Premier League club Role 2: Manager of the club
The chairman and manager of a Premier League club have just finished reviewing the club's budget for the 2022-23 season. They are discussing the club's transfer spending and the manager's plans for the January transfer window. The chairman is concerned about the club's financial stability, while the manager wants to invest in the squad to improve their chances of success.
2: Role 1: Fan of the Premier League Role 2: Fan of a European football league
Two fans are discussing the recent transfer spending in the Premier League and comparing it to spending in other European football leagues. The fan of the Premier League is proud of the league's financial dominance, while the fan of a European league is surprised by the high spending and wonders if it is sustainable.
3: Role 1: Financial analyst Role 2: Sports analyst:
A financial analyst and a sports analyst are having a debate about the recent transfer spending in the Premier League. The financial analyst is concerned about the impact this spending will have on the clubs' financial stability, while the sports analyst believes that investing in the squad is necessary for success. The two analysts will discuss the pros and cons of transfer spending and try to come to a conclusion about its impact on the league and its clubs.
Part 7: Writing Activity:
Present tense - What is your favorite sport and why & when do you like to play it?
Part 8: Critical Thinking - Big Spenders!
Statement - “There is too much money in football and its destroying the game”.
In groups think of the advantages and disadvantages of having so much money in football. Then come back as a class then reach a consensus on whether you think their should be more restrictions or caps on how much clubs can spend and how much players can earn.
Answers:
Part 1: Comprehension
The main idea of the article is about the record-breaking transfer spending by the English Premier League clubs during the 2022-23 season. The clubs spent a total of £2.8 billion, breaking the previous British transfer record. The top spending club was Chelsea, who spent £107 million on Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez. The Premier League clubs' spending was higher compared to other European leagues and accounted for 79% of the total spent. The article highlights the importance of investing in the squad for success on the pitch, but also maintaining financial stability. The article was written to inform the public and fans of the sport about the record-breaking transfer spending by the English Premier League clubs during the 2022-23 season. It is also intended to provide insight into the financial aspect of football and the impact of transfer spending on the sport.
Part 2: True or False
A: True B: False C: False D: True
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases.
A) "Breaking" Answer: I think this means surpassing or exceeding a previous record or barrier, because in the article they talk about how this is this biggest ever spean in one transfer window.
b) "Expenditure" Answer: I think expenditure refers to the amount of money spent by the Premier League clubs during the 2022-23 season because the article talks about how much money clubs are spending.
c) "Accounting for" Answer: I think it means taking into consideration or factoring in. For example, when it says, "The English Premier League clubs' spending was much higher than the other big European football leagues, accounting for 79% of the total spent across the 'big five' leagues," it means that the spending of Premier League clubs made up 79% of the total spending in the five major European football leagues when you consider or account for all the leagues combined.
d) "Dominance" Answer: In the context of the article, "dominance" denotes the commanding position of Premier League clubs, particularly in terms of financial influence and spending capability, within European football.
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a. (examples)
a) Breaking: The athlete set a new world record, breaking the previous mark by a significant margin.
b) Expenditure: The company's expenditure on research and development increased substantially as they invested in innovation.
c) Accounting for: When calculating the company's profits, they had to consider accounting for all the various expenses, including overhead costs and taxes.
d) Dominance: The team's dominance in the league was evident as they won the championship for the third consecutive year.
Part 7 Writing: (sample)
I really enjoy playing golf. It's a sport I've loved for a long time. I like it because it's peaceful on the golf course, and it's a good challenge. I usually play on the weekends with friends, and it's a great way to relax and be outside. I find it very satisfying when I hit the ball just right and see it go far. Golf is a sport that needs both physical and mental strength, which makes it very interesting.
