I have said for ages that Sky, and TV in general, are having far too much say in the fixture lists. I know that this weekend is a different kettle of fish to some other weekends, but generally they are having far too much input into the fixtures, making teams' fans travel hundreds of miles for a sturday lunchtime kick off, when they would normally set out a couple of hours later. Or even Monday nights. Why can't local games be played at these inconvenient kick off times for fans? I know they pump billions into the game, but they've had more of a negative effect on the game than a positive one.
As for scrapping the UEFA cup, IMHO I wouldn't want that and I like this competition
And, by the way, I wouldn't mind a Sunday being the main day for Premiership games, even if we are selling our game to the monster that is Murdoch (selling our game's soul to the devil if you like). As long as Championship games continue on a saturday. Got to have some football on a saturday
But you can't have the same 4 clubs being England's only representatives in Europe, the only English clubs likely to win a european trophy. And what about Aberdeen? If it wasn't for the UEFA Cup, they wouldn't have a sniff of Euro glory
Originally posted by AndyCardiff: But you can't have the same 4 clubs being England's only representatives in Europe, the only English clubs likely to win a european trophy. And what about Aberdeen? If it wasn't for the UEFA Cup, they wouldn't have a sniff of Euro glory
I think the UEFA cup is a hotbed for average teams at the moment. The tournament's format is mindboggling and even regular match-goers don't seem to care. There's not enough money for winning it, too much mediority and disinterested sides. Until the final I don't bother watching it at all. With Monday night footie then Tues and Weds its the CL so by the time Thursday comes along I like to do something different in the evenings I think the CL should only feature the top 2 sides, this'll mean third and fourth places going into UEFA cup. The tournament will then not have this thing of CL dropouts entering later on and be a lot more interesting and winning it might mean something.
Also it'd improve the domestic leagues since teams currently seem to settle for 3rd or fourth to guarentee the money from CL but my proposal would ensure more competition at the end of the season.
Originally posted by zeds: I think the CL should only feature the top 2 sides, this'll mean third and fourth places going into UEFA cup. The tournament will then not have this thing of CL dropouts entering later on and be a lot more interesting and winning it might mean something.
Also it'd improve the domestic leagues since teams currently seem to settle for 3rd or fourth to guarentee the money from CL but my proposal would ensure more competition at the end of the season.
So you don't want to scrap the UEFA cup, just re-format the Champions League?
I've said this many times, on here more than once. I'd go one step further and make sure the CL does exactly what it says on the tin and restrict it to the champions of each country. That would really hack off the greedsters of G14 but would ensure that the Champions League goes back to the purity of the European Cup
Its a tricky balance. It was once stupid when the UEFA cup was well known to be the harder cup to win when only champions were in the European cup. Now too many of the better sides go into the CL and the UEFA cup is no longer what it was.
I think the name of the champions league is stupid and the reason for most of the comments made about it. People have very quickly forgotten the bad things about the old European cup where you could get Real v Milan in the first round and teams like Malmo in the final. I do think that 4 teams is over the top and the UEFA cup would be better for a reduced number.
I think it should go top 2 max European cup. next 3 max UEFA cup and next 3 max again for a new trophy similar to cup winners cup in stature but obviously not called that.
I blame UEFA and FIFA for the existence of G14 and G14 for the flaws in the CL. Sep Blatter has even this week said footballers are not workers. They are still trying to bang that drum, well they certainly aren't slaves Sep though I expect you would prefer it that way. Drag yourselves into the 21st century FIFA FFS.
I've heard Michel Platini say that he wants the cup winners to enter the CL, nice sentiment, butan even more ludicrous idea. I know it will increase the interest in the domestic cup competitions, but lets draw a line somewhere.
I believe that, if Milan draw Real Madrid in the first round of acup competition, then so be it. That's what cup competitions are all about, after all. You shouldn't be able to cherry pick who you play, that's what G14 is all about after all. If man United drew Liverpool in the early stages of a cup competition over here, would you want the balls put back in the pot until an opponent who suits you is drawn out? No, of course you wouldn't.
Make it the old format again and may the best team win. And, if that means a team like Malmo, who got to the 1979 final through merit and hard work, get to another final, then great. at least it'll be a fair competition, not some money making exercise for the fat cats to get fatter and the smaller clubs to get left behind. That's what's happening in the Premiership and it's becoming one of the most predictable leagues in the world
Personally, I like the group stages of the UEFA Cup. But, I think if more big clubs came into it from the beginning (rather than gatecrash from the CL), then it would improve it. and that's why the reduction of teams in the CL would do the trick
The current group stage is ridiculous, all teams in the same group don't even play each other home and away and you don't even play every team in your group
Platini's idea of cup winners going into the CL is so absurd I can't even be bothered pointing out the million reasons why.
Originally posted by AndyCardiff: You doplay every team in your group though. 5 teams play 2 games at home and 2 teams away.
Actually you are right, but I remembered why I hate it now, in the groups of 5 THREE teams qualify to the next round They are then joined by CL rejects to lower the tone further
Originally posted by AndyCardiff: I've heard Michel Platini say that he wants the cup winners to enter the CL, nice sentiment, butan even more ludicrous idea. I know it will increase the interest in the domestic cup competitions, but lets draw a line somewhere.
I believe that, if Milan draw Real Madrid in the first round of acup competition, then so be it. That's what cup competitions are all about, after all. You shouldn't be able to cherry pick who you play, that's what G14 is all about after all. If man United drew Liverpool in the early stages of a cup competition over here, would you want the balls put back in the pot until an opponent who suits you is drawn out? No, of course you wouldn't.
Make it the old format again and may the best team win. And, if that means a team like Malmo, who got to the 1979 final through merit and hard work, get to another final, then great. at least it'll be a fair competition, not some money making exercise for the fat cats to get fatter and the smaller clubs to get left behind. That's what's happening in the Premiership and it's becoming one of the most predictable leagues in the world
The likes of Malmo was never though hard work it was more through luck.
In the first round of that year Porto played AEK Athens. Forrest played Liverpool and Rangers played Juventus. Other fixtures were Bohemians v AC Omonia and Linfield FC v Lillestrom.
Here are the Quarter finals onwards:
Quarter finals
Nottingham Forest F.C. 5 - 2 Grasshopper-Club 4 - 1 1 - 1 FC Köln 2 - 1 Rangers F.C. 1 - 0 1 - 1 FK Austria Wien 3 - 2 FC Dynamo Dresden 3 - 1 0 - 1 Wisła Kraków 3 - 5 Malmö FF 2 - 1 1 - 4
Semifinals
Nottingham Forest F.C. 4 - 3 FC Köln 3 - 3 1 - 0 FK Austria 0 - 1 Malmö FF 0 - 0 0 - 1
Final
May 30, 1979 Nottingham Forest F.C. 1 – 0 Malmö FF
It was a sh1t system and rightfully got a lot of criticism and any improvements need to be just that not go back to something that was worse.
The problem of the Sunday fixtures this weekend is not the fault of the UEFA Cup but of the media companies like Sky who have demanded that the Champions League is played over two days so they can screen more games which means shunting the UEFA Cup on to Thursdays - when traditionally no football would take place.
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Originally posted by proIix: The problem of the Sunday fixtures this weekend is not the fault of the UEFA Cup but of the media companies like Sky
Thank you for backing up my original point.
I don't think the European Cup format was an inherently bad one. It's in a cup format, as the title of the competition suggests. I think it's great and, if it draws so-called "Super Clubs" toghether in the early rounds then great, it all adds to the excitement, something the early stages of the Champions League lacks
On a serious note one would have to say that the Football world isn't exclusively a Premiership one. There are plenty of other games to go to, and other teams that need your support. It's more cost effective too.
Capitalism is not dead (malheureusment) It just smells funny.
Originally posted by Garage Joe: On a serious note one would have to say that the Football world isn't exclusively a Premiership one. There are plenty of other games to go to, and other teams that need your support. It's more cost effective too.
They are then joined by CL rejects to lower the tone further 
