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The Footie Thread

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Swango1980 said:
In order to legitimately get the Saudis in, could UEFA try and work with the other continental bodies. Change the Champions League into a World Club League (getting rid of the gimmicky World one they have now). So, instead of having rubbish European Clubs like Celtic in the Champions League ;), they could have slightly less European Teams, but then have about 4 teams from South America, 2 from North America, 4 from Africa, 4 from the Middle East, 4 from Asia and 2 from Oceania

There would be some long travel distances there, but if there is a lot of money involved, I'm sure it won't be a problem to the governing bodies
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I actually wouldn't be against that. I do think it's stupid that 4th place teams are getting into the so-called 'Champion's League'. If it was a world event but only the actual champions got in. And people cared about it, unlike the club world cup thing as you mentioned. Would probably be decent. Keep the Europa league for 2nd-4th placed teams in European leagues. 5th & 6th can go in the Conference League.
 
Orikoru said:
I actually wouldn't be against that. I do think it's stupid that 4th place teams are getting into the so-called 'Champion's League'. If it was a world event but only the actual champions got in. And people cared about it, unlike the club world cup thing as you mentioned. Would probably be decent. Keep the Europa league for 2nd-4th placed teams in European leagues. 5th & 6th can go in the Conference League.
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The premier league would never agree to give up that 4th place spot. My agree to a set of extended qualification rounds i guess.

If you reduce the number of qualification slots, you would end up, I suspect, with spots for a number of legacy teams to ensure those eating at the top table get in every year.
 
Orikoru said:
I actually wouldn't be against that. I do think it's stupid that 4th place teams are getting into the so-called 'Champion's League'. If it was a world event but only the actual champions got in. And people cared about it, unlike the club world cup thing as you mentioned. Would probably be decent. Keep the Europa league for 2nd-4th placed teams in European leagues. 5th & 6th can go in the Conference League.
Click to expand...
I don't mind that several of the top sides in the big leagues play in the biggest European tournament. I want the biggest European Tournament to have the likes of both Real Madrid AND Barcelona. I want them to have the biggest clubs in the PL. Just because a club were champions of their league the previous season, doesn't mean they'll be the best club in that league the following season. By giving the leagues with the best clubs several places, you increase the odds that you'll have the best of those clubs at the time of the tournament actually playing. Besides, even in the UK, there is far more interest in the Champions League if several English clubs are in it. If it was just Man City, it could be pretty dull relatively speaking. There is an English side we can watch on most game nights, especially the first part of the tournament. So you have more fans of those clubs that are interested. But it also interests fans from other clubs. A few might generally like watching English teams do well. But there are also many interested just to watch some of the English clubs fail.

The key problem is simply the name. It probably shouldn't be called the Champions League. Maybe the Elite European Cup or something.
 
Swango1980 said:
I don't mind that several of the top sides in the big leagues play in the biggest European tournament. I want the biggest European Tournament to have the likes of both Real Madrid AND Barcelona. I want them to have the biggest clubs in the PL. Just because a club were champions of their league the previous season, doesn't mean they'll be the best club in that league the following season. By giving the leagues with the best clubs several places, you increase the odds that you'll have the best of those clubs at the time of the tournament actually playing. Besides, even in the UK, there is far more interest in the Champions League if several English clubs are in it. If it was just Man City, it could be pretty dull relatively speaking. There is an English side we can watch on most game nights, especially the first part of the tournament. So you have more fans of those clubs that are interested. But it also interests fans from other clubs. A few might generally like watching English teams do well. But there are also many interested just to watch some of the English clubs fail.

The key problem is simply the name. It probably shouldn't be called the Champions League. Maybe the Elite European Cup or something.
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Yeah exactly... change the name then. 😆 Call it the Cash Cow Cup. Has a nice alliteration to it.
 
Rlburnside said:
It’s been an open secret for awhile that the Saudis are looking long term after their oil runs out , and given that sport especially football generates billions it’s not surprising they are doing so.

I think the champs league will look very different in a few years they will do the equivalent to LIV in golf set up their own tournament with the big European clubs jumping at the chance to join the two founding members Man City and Newcastle.
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Newcastle deffo, but City are owned by Sheik Mansoor who is from Untied Arab emirates.

I was going to do a long ramble but this link from last year sums it up quite well.

 
Tashyboy said:
I always try to look for a positive, last years spurs would not be in the cash cow cup. This year they would 😂👍
Click to expand...

That is before the backers of the Cash Cow Cup decide that Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal deserve automatic entry irrespective of performance and Newcastle get in due to ownership and so a high league position now gets you a Europa League sport.
 
GB72 said:
That is before the backers of the Cash Cow Cup decide that Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal deserve automatic entry irrespective of performance and Newcastle get in due to ownership and so a high league position now gets you a Europa League sport.
Click to expand...
It sounds perfectly legit to me 😁👍
 
GB72 said:
That is before the backers of the Cash Cow Cup decide that Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Arsenal deserve automatic entry irrespective of performance and Newcastle get in due to ownership and so a high league position now gets you a Europa League sport.
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Are we not just talking about the European Super League again?

That idea didn't work so well last time. Maybe they'll try it on again, but it might take some convincing. As a Man Utd fan, I'd personally be embarrassed if we had a guaranteed slot in such a prestigious competition when we are abysmal. And it becomes much worse if 2 or 3 of those teams are shocking, and teams like Villa are fighting high domestically and not getting in.
 
Swango1980 said:
Are we not just talking about the European Super League again?

That idea didn't work so well last time. Maybe they'll try it on again, but it might take some convincing. As a Man Utd fan, I'd personally be embarrassed if we had a guaranteed slot in such a prestigious competition when we are abysmal. And it becomes much worse if 2 or 3 of those teams are shocking, and teams like Villa are fighting high domestically and not getting in.
Click to expand...

Sadly I think we are.

Am I right in thinking that the Champions League is changing the rules already to allow some 'legacy' clubs in every year
 
GB72 said:
Sadly I think we are.

Am I right in thinking that the Champions League is changing the rules already to allow some 'legacy' clubs in every year
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I think UEFA are fighting a few battles on several fronts. Before I waffle on I think UEFA is corrupt anyway. But if UEFA do not pander to the “ legacy” clubs and fans of said clubs. They/ clubs will find it easier to join said Saudi super league. My problem is how far back do you go for a legacy club. The Royal engineers might just miss out, but for me Legacy means big club. 15 years ago the big four were Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. The first two teams mentioned couldn’t put 11 decent players together to challenge for the EUROPA Cup never mind a Saudi champs league.
If the Saudis had a couple of teams in the Champs league. How do you control FFP. Stevie Gs Saudi team Al Givitamiss played in front of 700 ish fans last week. That wouldn’t fund a decent Sunday league team.
I think football is in for a massive change over the next few years and it don’t look pretty.
 
Last edited:
Tashyboy said:
Newcastle deffo, but City are owned by Sheik Mansoor who is from Untied Arab emirates.

I was going to do a long ramble but this link from last year sums it up quite well.

Click to expand...

Of course we all know who bankrolles City, City will be the equivalent of Phil Mickelson going to LIV when the Saudis recruit them. 😉
 
Tashyboy said:
I think UEFA are fighting a few battles on several fronts. Before I waffle on I think UEFA is corrupt anyway. But if UEFA do not pander to the “ legacy” clubs and fans of said clubs. They/ clubs will find it easier to join said Saudi super league. My problem is how far back do you go for a legacy club. The Royal engineers might just miss out, but for me Legacy means big club. 15 years ago the big four were Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. The first two teams mentioned couldn’t put 11 decent players together to challenge for the EUROPA Cup never mins a Saudi champs league.
If the Saudis had a couple of teams in the Champs league. How do you control FFP. Stevie Gs Saudi team Al Givitamiss played in front of 700 ish fans last week. That wouldn’t fund a decent Sunday league team.
I think football is in for a massive change over the next few years and it don’t look pretty.
Click to expand...

Gotta laugh at a city fan asking how they control FFP Tashy

The same way they do now......................
 
Tashyboy said:
I think UEFA are fighting a few battles on several fronts. Before I waffle on I think UEFA is corrupt anyway. But if UEFA do not pander to the “ legacy” clubs and fans of said clubs. They/ clubs will find it easier to join said Saudi super league. My problem is how far back do you go for a legacy club. The Royal engineers might just miss out, but for me Legacy means big club. 15 years ago the big four were Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. The first two teams mentioned couldn’t put 11 decent players together to challenge for the EUROPA Cup never mins a Saudi champs league.
If the Saudis had a couple of teams in the Champs league. How do you control FFP. Stevie Gs Saudi team Al Givitamiss played in front of 700 ish fans last week. That wouldn’t fund a decent Sunday league team.
I think football is in for a massive change over the next few years and it don’t look pretty.
Click to expand...

I think that we are a few steps away from the bubble bursting or at least deflating a bit. Anything that finally kills off all tradition and alienates the fans could be the straw that breaks the camels back.
 
GB72 said:
Sadly I think we are.

Am I right in thinking that the Champions League is changing the rules already to allow some 'legacy' clubs in every year
Click to expand...
I know it was changing, but not really looked into exactly what will change. I've heard a bit of chat about it, and that the Top 5 may qualify, rather than the Top 4. I certainly hadn't heard that certain clubs would qualify regardless. Are we saying clubs like Man Utd could qualify even if they finish bottom half of PL? I wouldn't like the sound of that, but I suspect that can't be the case otherwise I'd have thought there'd be even more chat about how bad Utd are yet they'll get into Europe. Or are different clubs legacy clubs, like Real and Barcelona?

I just thought they were having one big league, but each team only plays a certain number of other teams. All feels a bit random to me.
 
Swango1980 said:
I know it was changing, but not really looked into exactly what will change. I've heard a bit of chat about it, and that the Top 5 may qualify, rather than the Top 4. I certainly hadn't heard that certain clubs would qualify regardless. Are we saying clubs like Man Utd could qualify even if they finish bottom half of PL? I wouldn't like the sound of that, but I suspect that can't be the case otherwise I'd have thought there'd be even more chat about how bad Utd are yet they'll get into Europe. Or are different clubs legacy clubs, like Real and Barcelona?

I just thought they were having one big league, but each team only plays a certain number of other teams. All feels a bit random to me.
Click to expand...

You know me on here, I only have a passing football knowledge but I am sure I remember hearing that the threat of a European Super League was partially headed off by talk of legacy clubs being invited into the champions league if they do not qualify. I could be totally wrong but, yes, that was what I thought was being discussed, that certain teams would effectively be guaranteed champions league football.
 
GB72 said:
You know me on here, I only have a passing football knowledge but I am sure I remember hearing that the threat of a European Super League was partially headed off by talk of legacy clubs being invited into the champions league if they do not qualify. I could be totally wrong but, yes, that was what I thought was being discussed, that certain teams would effectively be guaranteed champions league football.
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www.espn.co.uk

Champions League format: How it will work from 2024-25

UEFA has confirmed how the Champions League (UCL) will look from the 2024-25 season. Here's a full breakdown of what it means.
www.espn.co.uk www.espn.co.uk

Sounds confusing as hell.

Maybe this is what you were thinking off re: extra teams getting in?
"2 places will go to the best performing leagues in Europe in this current season. The place goes to the next team in the league which has not automatically qualified. Last season, that would have been Liverpool and Atalanta. These places are most likely go to clubs from the top leagues."
​
It sounds like there is strong potential to have five English teams in the Champion's League, which is mental.
 
Orikoru said:
www.espn.co.uk

Champions League format: How it will work from 2024-25

UEFA has confirmed how the Champions League (UCL) will look from the 2024-25 season. Here's a full breakdown of what it means.
www.espn.co.uk www.espn.co.uk

Sounds confusing as hell.

Maybe this is what you were thinking off re: extra teams getting in?
"2 places will go to the best performing leagues in Europe in this current season. The place goes to the next team in the league which has not automatically qualified. Last season, that would have been Liverpool and Atalanta. These places are most likely go to clubs from the top leagues."
​
It sounds like there is strong potential to have five English teams in the Champion's League, which is mental.
Click to expand...

Looks like the plan was changed as originally there were going to be 2 spots that could be awarded to teams for their historic performance in the champions league so basically 2 get of jail free cards if a big team did not qualify. Those places are now being awarded as above.
 
GB72 said:
Looks like the plan was changed as originally there were going to be 2 spots that could be awarded to teams for their historic performance in the champions league so basically 2 get of jail free cards if a big team did not qualify. Those places are now being awarded as above.
Click to expand...
Yeah, in the words of that article, they changed it because it would benefit Shakhtar who I guess they have no interest in helping.
 
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