Champions League revamp

[Thomasc]

I'd quite like to see this, but only if it resulted in Scottish clubs all earning more money - being distributed into lower leagues (which would also have to be part of the radical reform)

Instead of this, why not scrap the Carabao Cup, make it the British Cup and dip toes into the water with the idea? Similar format just including scottish league teams, will inevitably have Celtic/Rangers vs PL teams and would be a good - non damaging = spectable.

Well first of all they’d have to work their way through the leagues, starting in the national league, unless the “earn it” campaign meant nothing at all.

secondly, no thanks! They can keep their medieval religious garbage north of the border thanks.

 

[allen]

Perez sounds like a man about to set fire to himself, either metaphorically or literally.

 

[number4.]

All they need to do, as said above is stop the crazy transfer fees and wages, cut agents and start up management teams that don't take 30% of transfers. Greedy people have caused football to get this way, the very clubs proposing this ESL are the very clubs who have been to blame for crazy money. I don't see clubs our size paying £500k per week to players, it was never ever going to be sustainable.

Their arguement (Real, Barca, Liverpool, Italian clubs & Man United) would be that they cant when they are trying to compete with Arab states and Oligarchs.

It's hypocrisy of the highest order, but that's their party line & the catalyst for Superleague in many ways

 

[barneygumble]

I can think we would reduce the league to 18 teams, the European competitions from 2024 will require 4 more games, so they need room in the schedule.

Adding Celtic and Rangers to that seems wrong and I doubt it would get voted through by the Premier league. I remember when the Premier league was reduced to 20 teams, in 1995, 4 teams were relegated and only 2 promoted. They could do that again. But how would they add Celtic and Rangers and reduce by 2? Do we relegate 6, promote 2 and add Celtic and Rangers? Or Relegate 4, promote 0 and add Rangers and Celtic?

I don't think either of those would be palatable. If Celtic and Rangers want to join the league, they should start at the bottom and work their way through. It wouldn't actually take them that long in the grand scheme of things.

I mean, in a truly hypocritical sense, the Premier League has managed its product well, and earned the money it has, by being the best league in the world.

Meanwhile Scottish football, has gone ruined itself, and Celtic and Rangers aren't necessarily at fault, but why should they gain from what teams like West Brom, Burnley, Southampton have helped build up, whilst they are asked to leave?

I'm all for a more competitive league, but if Celtic and Rangers want in t the Premier League, then they need to earn their place like everyone else. Get yourself in non-league and work your way up.

 

[Magus]

I'd quite like to see this, but only if it resulted in Scottish clubs all earning more money - being distributed into lower leagues (which would also have to be part of the radical reform)

Instead of this, why not scrap the Carabao Cup, make it the British Cup and dip toes into the water with the idea? Similar format just including scottish league teams, will inevitably have Celtic/Rangers vs PL teams and would be a good - non damaging = spectable.

Have you ever encountered the Tartan Hordes?

 

[BlueToff]

At least he was honest here - this is what his (and the 12’s, and ironically enough loads of these clubs fans) problem is, that many “smaller” clubs can compete now, that they’ve remembered that running a club properly and rationally off the pitch can help get success on it.

Being beaten by a team of free transfers and hone grown kids is like the medieval Catholic Church being shown up by some Bohemian priest, you know someone is going to end up on the pyre if it keeps happening because it’s such a threat to their existence.

It’s also why he was lying elsewhere in this interview when he said this wasn’t a threat to domestic leagues - thats who it was aimed at, clearly. They weren’t making money out of the CL (except when CL clubs bought players) anyway.

100%

How can a competition that basically replaces the Champions League, not be a direct threat to the national leagues?

I'm no fan of UEFA or the new reforms and the CL can get stale (but that's from too many teams qualifying IMO). But the draw of it, the possibility that if you finish 4th you can get to play these teams and compete, is what it's about.

Because as much as they've tried to make it a closed-shop at the top in England, they haven't managed it yet.

 

[BlueToff]

The government threat of legislation is what stopped it.

Yeah that was the main factor. What finished it off was the players saying they didn't want it.

 

[jamieni]

RM perez still saying it will return and not dead but on standby.they must all be severely punished.or it will just come back.relegate them all now.they are a disgrace.

It’s an idea that has been floating around football for a very long time. It will happen at some point inevitably unless there is more regulation in the game.

I’m in favour of extremely harsh punishments for those 12 clubs but I appreciate that UEFA and the domestic leagues risk slaughtering their own cash cows in the process.

 

[mightymoyes]

Perez sounds like a man about to set fire to himself, either metaphorically or literally.

i'm happy to provide a match

 

[tsubaki]

The government threat of legislation is what stopped it.

TBF I don't think it was, at least by itself - there was a lot that the government could have done (tied them up in court over not granting safety certificates, work permits, not policing games etc) but legislation would have been really difficult to frame and easy to lobby against.

Not being in the PL next season was probably what spooked City and Chelsea - for the others, they'd probably accepted it as a reality of what was going to happen (hence the 400m welcome package, probably meant to offset that loss) but if City and Chelsea had been promised that it wouldn't happen (yet) only to be confronted with the 14 clubs saying that yes it will and here is all the support we've got (including from the government) to help us do it, then that was probably enough to peel them off. The rest are probably still working on it though, hence all the coordinated non-apologies.

 

[Magus]

It’s an idea that has been floating around football for a very long time. It will happen at some point inevitably unless there is more regulation in the game.

I’m in favour of extremely harsh punishments for those 12 clubs but I appreciate that UEFA and the domestic leagues risk slaughtering their own cash cows in the process.

Like you, I think this is coming anyway, but they can't be allowed to stay in the domestic leagues with a guaranteed financial advantage and no incentive to compete other than bragging rights. I'd rather bite the bullet now and manage the fallout.
If a viable league structure comes out of it, I would be more engaged even without the Big 6.

 

[Tubey]

Their arguement (Real, Barca, Liverpool, Italian clubs & Man United) would be that they cant when they are trying to compete with Arab states and Oligarchs.

It's hypocrisy of the highest order, but that's their party line & the catalyst for Superleague in many ways

Should argue for a salary cap then shouldn't he.

 

[Nymzee]

 

[GwladysBlue]

They can’t help themselves, can they?

Captain of Hindsight more like. It was already collapsing before he put his statement out there.

These stories are exactly why these clubs feel untouchable.

 

[tsubaki]

They can’t help themselves, can they?

Captain of Hindsight more like. It was already collapsing before he put his statement out there.

These stories are exactly why these clubs feel untouchable.

nearly 24 hours after Milner said something publicly against it too