So I know you all love Robbie Savage, and therefore will have all watched this weeks episode of Savage says on the BBC. One thing Savage was asked about was the proposed changes to the Champions League, adding a load of extra teams to the Tournement. Savage had this to say. He also said most group stage matches are boring. If that structure was in place this seaon the European Cup would not contain Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. What are your thoughts on this? It could pretty much de-establish the top 4 of the PL. But could put even more focus on wining the title. Personally, I like it how it is. Edit: Should have proof read the title.
Wouldn't want to put your reputation in jeopardy, JaKe. I'm sure the powers-that-be hang off every word that Robbie Savage says. Unfortunately, it is all about money. The CL is over-inflated, imo, but as you say, the old way would exclude some huge names and they're the ones people want to see.
Only having the champions is boring. For example this year's Champions League would have Real Madrid but not Barcelona, even though Barcelona have effectively won the league this year already. The group stages are dull because of seeding. If you know the big teams are being protected then why bother watching a fixed fight? Making it a fair draw, i.e. a genuine competition, would be the best move.
I like the current format but like to see the seedings scrapped, make it a free for all. It would be fantastic to see Barca, Real, Bayern and Juventus drawn in the same group. Plus, how much encouragement would it give other teams if they knew two of those were going out? Opposite side is you could get a group made up of Cruj, Young Boys, Molde and Hearts but I think that would be equally great, unfortunately it wouldn't attract the money that UEFA want I would also like the qualification spots to change: we currently get three automatic spots and one qualifying place, let the league and cup winners qualify, the league runners-up play the qualifying game. Will see a vast improvement in interest in the two domestic cups AND give some of the less fashionable sides a chance of CL football too (and no, I am not saying this because were Liverpool are now, I have been saying it for years). I also think the winners of the Europa League should be given an automatic CL spot to increase interest
personally i fully agree that the gorup stages are indeed boring as they are set up to get the same old teams through easily. honeslty i'd MUCH perfer them to scrap the uefa as staged, roll all the "big" clubs into a european super league and set it up where you must perform all year to collect points to reach say a play off top 8 or something. that'd sharpen the thinking of a lot of people right up. then we'd see EPL having to drop to 18 teams, less rubbish at the bottom and more competitive fights there too.
Savage is once again demonstrating the intelligence of a gnat. The CL IS all about money. However maybe as importantly it acts as a bulwark for both UEFA and national FAs against a breakaway by the big clubs.
With a return to the EC the EL would go up in profile. The EL this year would have Barca Athletico Bayern United Chelsea amongst others so the money from that comp would go up no doubt, the teams playing in Europe no matter what tourney are what generates the cash. I'd like the EC to return and all others go into the EL
the fact is clubs would also implode (arsenal for example) I simply don't think anyone will accept anything other than a big super league, the genie is out of the bottle! 4 spanish is enough but they could easily put in 7 or 8 and be competitive 4 english is enough but we could send 6 that wouldn't be a total disgrace unless everton go of course 4 italian is actually too many! 3 german is fair but it could be 4. their fans are well up for it over there. the rest sending 1/2 is more than enough frankly. nobody wants to see them we can easily see an 18 team league established. if the EPl is then cut to 18 thats stil ltoo many games! something will have to give so the very worst thing would be a 6 or 8 team group phase (14 boring games v 6 now) to give us the elite phase in europe. I think changs are inevitable.
indeed... are all london clubs AIMING for 4th? chelsea seem to be trying their best to slow thier point tally to get 45h while arsneal are sitting back hoping for a end of seaosn run to get there and the spuds are going their usual just enough to be there or there abouts. 3rd is it seems up for grabs for anyone who's got ambition (obviously not newcastle after giving parew 8 years)
Arsene stated that "4th is now a cup" so along with the Spuds they don't actually want to be Champions or win a domestic cup, 4th is the be all and end all.
As soon as Wenger declared getting 4th place was like winning a cup, Arsenal dropped out of contention
the old format would kill off the European Cup in this day and age. I mean nobody wants to watch the champions of Latvia or Scotland or some other tiny miniscule insignificant country get smashed 400-0 by the champions of any decent league. Make it top 2 and cup winners so there are still 4. That way the FA Cup and League cup get a much needed boost and the Champions League actually is the Champions League ( plus runners up ). Make the europa league straight knockout again for teams placed 3rd and below depending on the uefa ranking of the league. 3rd to 7th for PL/La Liga etc. Also give the EL winners a CL place the following season. I would keep seeding in the CL but review it. Have 2 seeds. League Champions and Runners up/cup winners. Simple and means each year all League champions avoid each other until the knock out stages.
Finalists of Europa league both get a CL spot, that would increase interest in it. Plus stop dropping CL failures into it and also make it smaller as I suspect a lot of smaller clubs with small clubs are put off trying to win it because it'd take around 19 games to win the thing, which is half a league campaign. That's a massive strain on a teams like Newcastle, Udinese or Napoli for example who aren't blessed with quality in depth. I disagree with FA cup/League cup winners getting into the CL though, because it would just devalue the competition if someone like Portsmouth or Birmingham qualified for it, as examples.
They wouldnt win the cups though too often as bigger teams would give more of a **** as it would be a potential CL spot.
