It appears that a European Super League is now inevitable according to the owner of Galatassary and could even happen within the next five years. The idea is to have the 20 biggest clubs from around the continent competing in a 'closed shop' tournament with no promotion or relegation. So who would those 20 clubs be? Who would miss out? I would suggest that no more than 4 possibly 5 English clubs maximum would be invited to take part, so where would that leave everyone else. Basically IMO it would be like turkeys voting for Christmas after all, think about it, there are arguably far more than five English clubs who would want to be part of this elite league. Manure, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Citeh, Tottenham, that's six for a start and what about the likes of Newcastle, Everton and the fallen giants Feeds United ? Some may say that an English top flight without 4 or 5 of the big boys would make for a better competition but I reckon it would kill football as a spectacle. The money would dry up for a start and after all, whether your team could ever realistically reach the pinnacle of competing in the top European league doesn't matter, you have to be able to dream the dream IMO it's a given. The English football pyramid is the world's greatest competition and the fact that a Wigan or Wimbledon can make it to the top is what makes our game what it is. I don't welcome a European Super League under any circumstance even if promotion and relegation was part of the plan. Association Football RIP ...........
I really doubt this would ever happen and if it did it would most likely not involve the top teams leaving their leagues. I could see the biggest 32 European teams playing a knockout invite only tournament over the summer as an exhibition played in a large number of countries in places such as Asia and North and South America. Would have 5 rounds but the final could be played after the season started like the super cup. i think that would be quite exciting to watch and certainly would make the preseason more interesting.
My issue would be how would relegation and promotion work? Presumably a bottom 3 go down, but where do you replace them from? Is it the winner of a relegated countries domestic league, or do you have some kind of Europa League competition where the winners get entry into the super league? That'll also lead to a fluctuating number of teams in the top domestic leagues, so do you then accept the "Prem" could have ~18-23 teams for a particular season, or do you relegate/promote extra teams all the way down the league pyramid to compensate for the top teams folly? I think a better solution would be to replace the current Champions League format with an actual league. To win the CL, it's a minimum of 13 European ties at the moment, and if you did away with Home and Away games against each team, a 20-team league isn't too many extra games over a season. Then you keep domestic football (relatively) strong, and the top teams get their extra European nights and cash.
Never going to happen, is this not what the champions league has become? I just cant see there being any appetite for it from the supporters, to throw away years of tradition and history for a closed shop league would kill all interest in the game. If it were to happen, and as i said i cant see it, then i would hope all national fa's would tell the clubs if they leave there is no way back and that their players will not be chosen for their countrys.
And all this is sourced to the "owner of Galatasaray"..? Excellent stuff, KIO, what's your views on the faked American moon-landings, and the crashed "UFO" at Roswell?
I hate these International weekends, no Prem or Champ matches, and Northampton Town, (who I occasionally watch on weekends such as these) were away today (and lost). How do you think you'll do at The Emirates next weekend?
I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that is 'pie-in-the-sky' thinking on behalf of the owner of Galatasary. Iagree that it would leave the PL (and similar leagues in ither European countries as compettitions for 'also-rans') and virtually kill off football and the money it makes. A VERY sad day indeed if it ever happened.
The Premier League is by far the richest and most powerful football league in the world and there is no way that the powers that be will ever allow this to happen! It is just fanciful nonsense in my opinion. I hate and despise what SKY has done to our domestic game but even they would not allow this to happen.
I'm alright Kempy just bored 5h**eless with the lack of domestic football this weekend like the rest of you I would imagine!
Yep indeed JWM! Bored as hell! My wife is polish so I'm looking forward to Tuesday! And as for Arsenal Welly I think we will get ripped a newun. But who out of the top 6 wouldn't?
Indeed, but haven't you lot done well at The Emirates in the last couple of seasons? If memory serves, certainly given them a game there? There won't be many teams leaving there with any points this season, I'd have thought that it's a match that you could afford to lose, if you know what I mean...
I was all up for going to watch Cambridge Utd today only to discover that they were away at Chester City! God I hate these international breaks.... They totally feck up your routine!
It's always nice to get something against the top teams but I am a realist. Arsenal look the real deal this year and now is not a good time to play them at home. Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshire are clicking and they are world class, but we will go there and give it a go. They are still weak on the wings defensivley. Who have you boys got next week?
I was so desperate for my football "fix" this weekend that I was even considering going to Sixfields tomorrow for Coventry v Sheffield United, but at £18 a ticket I thought that I'd give it a miss...
