The BeNeLiga - a Merged Dutch and Belgian League

[Dutch Toffee]

I wasn’t aware of Belgian corruption, how bad is it? I’m not even aware of any situations.

Im right, you’re a Fortuna fan aren’t you? That was my original point, it’s all well and good having Club Brugge Vs. Ajax, but with due respect to yourselves, would you rather play a local rival like Roda or play someone like Zulte-Waregem?

If you weren’t in the chosen 10, can Dutch football realistically be sustainable?

Well tbh, Belgian football has been known for it for years.

This being the latest, from 2 years ago. But fraud, money laundering and even accustions of human trafficking are not unknown to Belgian football over the years.

2017–2019 Belgian football fraud scandal - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

As for your quesion of who I would rather play, local rivals Roda or someone like Zulte Waregem? Well, football rivalries form no doubt one of the main ingredients for any football fan to support a club. Of course I'd be more excited playing Roda or MVV Maastricht, as opposed to Zulte Waregem. Travelling to Belgium to watch my team play would probably be a nice experience for one or two years, because it would be new. Think it would lose a lot of its appeal after that.

But as I said, atm it are mainly the Belgian clubs talking about it. Their top teams desperately want it to happen. Their Dutch counterparts are a lot more reserved about it all though.

Me, speaking as a Fortuna fan, I guess I'd be worried my club would be in danger of getting left behind. Just when after a few very very dark decades, our future looks very promising and sunny. A BeNeLiga at this moment in time could put all of that in jeopardy. Or at least that's what I'm afraid of.

 

[barneygumble]

The trouble with Rangers and Celtic coming into the English league system would be what happens if they aren't up at the top end? Coming mid or lower table in England would soon become much more boring than battling it out between themselves for a Scottish title.

Add into the mix the possibility of no European games and it becomes even less appealing. A trophy winning Scottish side competing in Europe is a stronger brand than being Burnley.

The constant propositions of Euro super leagues all fall down on the same criteria. It all sounds very exciting until you realise your side is coming 15th every season instead of going for a title.

Oh no, I completely understand, but I refuse to believe they wouldn’t be a tempting prospect for some billionaire to touch.

8 years of steady, not over the top investment before being in the top flight. Then you’re talking multi million pounds, even billions. They’ve got historically huge canvases, a huge draw, I think they’d come good.

Personally, I’d want to test it out, because if you conquer England you’re automatically one of the biggest clubs in World Football.

Just can’t but think players would want to go to Celtic or Rangers regardless.

would be amusing seeing Celtic playing the likes of Southport and Marine though.

 

[Yank]

It's not a terrible idea.

The same thing has been floated over here for years now about a joint MLS/Liga MX merger. I'd also like to see that because then we'd get the start of some promotion/relegation in the US biggest league.

Still won't watch though.

 

[TheBigIguana]

It's not a terrible idea.

The same thing has been floated over here for years now about a joint MLS/Liga MX merger. I'd also like to see that because then we'd get the start of some promotion/relegation in the US biggest league.

Still won't watch though.

Over/under 10 years before the MLS teams are competitive?

 

[Yank]

Over/under 10 years before the MLS teams are competitive?

I'd think far under 10. The gap isn't as big as people think. And there's been a lot of talk of Mexican clubs making it difficult for players to transfer to european clubs at the prime of their career. And it's already starting to get younger players who have the choice to go to an MLS academy.

Something that wasn't remotely the choice 10 years ago.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I'd think far under 10. The gap isn't as big as people think. And there's been a lot of talk of Mexican clubs making it difficult for players to transfer to european clubs at the prime of their career. And it's already starting to get younger players who have the choice to go to an MLS academy.

Something that wasn't remotely the choice 10 years ago.

My concern is that the median player in Liga MX is well better than in MLS. So while MLS still has the higher talent players mostly, Vela and Nani would dominate Liga MX too, they have a lot of guys that clubs rely on that wouldn't even make Liga MX reserve teams.

But the academies do figure to raise that in time, I'm just not sure how much time.