The draw for this season's Champions League was made earlier today and, as normal, it generated some interesting match ups. However, foar more interesting was UEFA President Michel Platini's vision for the future. He unveiled his proposal to revamp the competition from the 2009/10 onwards.
One of comments made by Platini is that "We need to ensure football is more balanced so that the rich do not become much richer. If another proposal is better than my philosophy that is fine but I doubt they will come up with something better. Unless someone comes up with a fabulous proposal we will decide on mine."
So can you come up with something better?
Personally I don't see anything wrong with using the domestic cup competitions as a qualifier for the Champions League. After all it's not so long ago that we had the European Cup Winners Cup competition that was normally regarded as second only to the European Cup.
When it was scrapped seven seasons ago the Cup Winners spots were tipped into the unwieldy UEFA Cup. I see Platini's proposal as righting a wrong. The proposal could also boost domestic cup competitions across Europe which I can't see being a bad thing. Guaranteeing a group spot for the sixteen top European leagues also gets two thumbs up from me.
The Saturday final idea I really like as well as the stadium size and capacity. The suggestion for the UEFA Cup gives it a more dominant knock out flavour rather than the dominant and unbalanced round robin.
As for scrapping the bookmaker inspired Inter Toto Cup - would anyone notice if it was scrapped? It doesn't even serve a purpose for bookies anymore as technology has brought games from other parts of the globe "closer".
When I first heard about it, I was at first pessimistic, but after thinking it through I must say I like it. One it will make the league even more exciting because of that oh so important third spot. And two who doesn't enjoy an underdog winning say the FA cup and making it to the champs league.
I am also a fan of the 75% fan occupancy to insure that the true fans can go to the game.
And really who can complain about a Saturday final? I had already planned on making it a sick day come May, but now you can get your friends and watch it almost like the Super Bowl.
I definatley like the line from Platini, it isn't a revolution, it is an evolution.
I think Platini should take the opposition from the big clubs as a clue he is doing something right, because it is in their best interest to keep things as they are.
If Platini wants to make his mark on the European competitions it should not be to further devalue what was originally designed to be a league champions knockout competition.
It was broadened from first placed league champions, to include two or three runners up and turned into a mini Eupopean league. To bring mere cup winners into the competition is to bring it down to a suped-up cup winners cup rather than the elite playing the elite of the European leagues.
It only needs a Southampton or a West Brom in the Championship to win the FA cup and you have the cup winners of a lower league, totally out of their class, playing the country's champions! This could occur anywhere among the large European footballing countries. A LUDICROUS thought.
In my opinion the Champions league is now a league, not a knock out cup comp and has been tinkered with too much already, so should now be left alone. Ask Everton or Tottenham (or their European equivalents) if they would support this. Some how I doubt this will ever be accepted by any club that traditionally finshes 3rd, 4th or 5th, in any league nor by G14, not to forget the present powers among the European elite.
If Platini wants something special for cup winners he should resurrect the cup winners cup.
Lets face it the teams who win domestic cup finals and their home league cannot play in two competitions, so the cup winners cup games could be played alongside the Uefa cup leagues.
The mistake was to scrap the Cup Winners Cup and to resurrect it would also help unclog the Eufa cup.
Last edited by redfan2000 on August 30th at 1:30 PM.
I, have no problem with the proposed change. I think it will put pressure on clubs to be that much more competitive.
Seeing how I just saw the draw, I'm gonna go out on a limb and give my predictions for how each group will finish... (why not?)
Group A: Liverpool wins the group, Porto second, Besiktas 3rd, Marseille 4th...
Group B: Valencia wins the group, Chelsea (putting only as much as they have to into advancing into teh group stage) second, Schalke 3rd, Rosenborg 4th...
Group C: Real Madrid wins, Lazio (surprisingly) second, Bremen 3rd, and Olympiakos 4th
Group D: Milan first, Benfica second, Celtic 3rd, Shaktar 4th
Group E: Barcelona first, Lyon second, Rangers 3rd, Stuttgart 4th
Group F: United first, Roma 2nd, Dynamo 3rd, Sporting 4th
Group G: Inter first, PSV second, Fenerbahce 3rd, CSKA 4th
Group H: Arsenal first, Sevilla/AEK 2nd, Slavia 3rd, Steau 4th... Obviously this last group is hardest to pick, but I think both Sevilla and AEK are stronger than Slavia and Steau and either would advance... That being said, I think Sevilla will beat AEK in Greece, to qualify anyway
I really am dubious about this proposal. For England at least, it will mean nothing will change since the same top 4 clubs always win the FA cup. Certainly it will mean that the domestic cups in other countries will become more prestigious instead of the discredited competitions they are now, which is all to the good. But the inevitable result of this is that the same top teams will simply put much more commitment than they already do to the domestic cup. Instead of fielding weaker sides in cup games, they'll make them stronger. Which means the same top teams will win and get into the CL all over again.
If an upset happens and, say, Everton manages to win the FA cup again. That means putting a mid-ranked team with limited quality (that has won maybe 6 games against the likes of Macclesfield and Milwall) into the CL while a 3rd or 4th place team that has played 38 games in one long season against top flight clubs does not get into the CL.
I can understand eliminating the 4th place team from England, Italy and Spain and I understand the need to reform the CL but I don't think this is the way to do it.
Why not create a Cup competition where the Champion of each UEFA Country plays a 2-leg knock out competition over the course of the season.
For teams who win their domestic Cup, why not let them into Europe in a similar competition named...I dunno, the Cup Winners Cup or something like that.
Perhaps give the 2nd and 3rd place team in the domestic competition their own chance in Europe. Name it the UEFA Cup or something.
Once you are out, you focus on domestic competition (none of this, you're outta of the Champs Cup so have a go at the UEFA Cup)
Everyone else can then just focus on their domestic competiton and if they have a great season, then they can play in Europe next season.
If it where up to me I`d go back to the way it used to be.
European Cup - champions only - straight knock-out.
Cup-Winners-Cup - self explanatory.
UEFA Cup - 2nd ,3rd and 4th place teams - straight knockout.
But of course it will never happen...too much money involved.
Trouble is that everytime we get a new boy in the hot seat, he wants to make his mark.
Platini could easily make his mark by sorting out the ticket problems, set better standards for any ground seeking to host a final and, implement the Saturday final. The latter makes so much sense it makes me wonder why the tv companies have not pushed this through sooner.
I like the proposal from Platini. The domestic cup competitions need a boost even the FA Cup has become second fiddle in England.
But more importantly this will spread the wealth a little. It gives top teams from small countries more chances to make it into the competition and smaller teams from larger countries another avenue to make it into Europe top competition.
It is next to impossible for teams like Portsmouth or Blackburn to make it through the league into CL. But through the Cup they have a better chance.
At the end of the day the same top teams will be fighting for the CL trophy but at least the benefits would have been spread out to more teams and more countries.
Money is obviously are very good reason why we will never go back to the old system. But I think it is worth taking a moment and considering another reason - the fans. I'm willing to bet that 99% of us are hooked on the more expansive European action we get each season and we would be up in arms if the the number of game days were cut. Under the old system the finalists played only nine games played in a maximum of 5 "rounds"- now it is minimum of 13 games over 10 rounds.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on August 30th at 2:54 PM.
I am to be honest kind of mixed on some of Platini's ideas.
I could see the idea of having the Cup winners in the Champions League as a potential good thing, but their is also the potential of having some low end club like a West Brom, Charlton Atheltic or gasp... Livorno winning their nations cup and then going to the Champions League. It might lower the quality. Not sure yet...
As for a Saturday final, about time. Makes more sense. Why should I have to miss work to watch the UEFA Champions League final. Goofy.
reading leche's last two comments leaves me scratching my head about how he "won" LAFC's prediction game last week. Does he realize that he has the German champions finishing behind the Scottish runners-up (by a large distance).
Anyway, I don't think Platini's ideas are perfect (whose are?!). As mentioned, he's just trying to tinker for the sake of it. He (and we) would be better served by making the small changes that are needed (such as Sat or Sun for the final). One thing that I would get rid of is the 3rd place CL teams going into the Round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. In fact, the CL needs far less tinkering than the UEFA Cup. Nobody watches it unless their team is in it. I say scrap the UEFA Cup as it is, and re-tool it as a combo Cup Winners Cup and give one extra spot for league placement as races for UEFA Cup spots aren't usually decided before the end of season. But as it is, it's like deciding who gets the title of "tallest midget"
In the end the cream rises to the top, any team that does not deserve to be in the champions league will be quickly knocked out. Examples FC Copenhagen, Rosenberg(I think that is the name)and Real Betis. If they aren't good enough to stay then they will get eliminated, and tell me Everton is not as good or better than those teams I listed. This change really won't affect anything as far as lowering the level of the competition.
Bobby- I heard Platini's comments concerning "American Ownership" in the EPL. He even suggested the British Parliment pass a law against foriegn ownership in the EPL. With these comments coupled with his view of "leveling the playing field" in the CL are you not concerned that he may be allowing his personal "Socialist" views affect his vision for UEFA?
In that interview he also revealed he deep dislike for Americans. As a possible candidate for a future FIFA president do you think this could negatively impact US soccer in the future?
One more question about Platinnis Anti American comments, does his remarks fly in the face of the "No Tolerance policy" about racial and ethnic comments?
Maybe I took his comments the wrong way, but having British heritage I might be Anti French!
rico, I seem to remember Everton had their day in the sun recently and it went very, very badly for them. But you're right, why even have FC Copenhagen, Rosenberg, etc. in the CL. In fact, why not just have members of the G14 slug it out (sarcasm alert).
Gabemar:
"It is next to impossible for teams like Portsmouth or Blackburn to make it through the league into CL. But through the Cup they have a better chance."
No, they won't. The FA cup winners are always the same teams who are in the top 4. And increasingly those top 4 teams have used 2nd string teams in FA cup games as the competition has been devalued in favor of the league and the CL. With Platini's proposal, teams outside the top 4 will now have an even HARDER time winning the FA cup because the top 4 will now dedicate more 1st string teams in their FA cup games--in other words, the top 4 will take the competition much more seriously and work much harder to win it than they do now. So the same top 4 teams will win the cup, there will be no change.
The affect of money on the CL is much more complex than saying just "cream rises to the top" --- the best players go where they can get more money, so Eastern European clubs lose their best players to Italy, Spain and England. It's a vicious circle. The same exact teams always wind up in the last rounds of the CL because they're the ones with the most money and can buy the best players. Other clubs from countries will never be able to compete because of this. The CL is forever closed to them not because they lack quality players but because they will never be allowed to earn enough money to keep their best players. The CL is now a very predictable, boring competition because we all know who will get eliminated and who will last the longest.
Also--FulhamRoad, chill out and stop being so sensitive. Platini
Also--FulhamRoad, chill out and stop being so sensitive. Platini did not only mention American owners, he also mentioned Russian owners. I've seen/read him comment on foreign ownership before, it has NOTHING to do with "anti-Americanism" it has everything to do with having a country's top clubs being sold to foreign owners.
His concerns are entirely correct. I'm a gooner and I'm disgusted with the English gov't and the English FA for just letting their sports patrimony be bought up by foreign owners. I'm appalled at what Dein has done this week. Platini's sentiments are shared by people all over Europe who care about football--they're appalled at what is happening in England. People go on and on about too many foreign players in England but what matters is OWNERSHIP and 10 PL clubs now are not owned by English owners. Soon we will have the entire English top flight clubs owned by foreign owners. We will not be able to call it the "English Premier League" anymore. It's a farce to call it that even now.
Unlike Italy, France, Spain, Holland, Germany and the rest of Europe, England doesn't give a damn about its national patrimony. They'll sell it to the highest bidder, no matter their background. England's authorities don't even give a damn that one of their greatest cultural institutions--their top football clubs--are now in the hands of gangsters and human rights abusers, and shady businessmen with no roots in the sport's traditions or connections to the communities the clubs are located in.
Platini is correct--the foreign owners of these clubs (American,
Platini is correct--the foreign owners of these clubs (American, Russian, etc.) don't give a damn about the traditions of these clubs, they're in it for the money. It's disgusting that the English authorities simply don't care enuf to stop this loss of their own national patrimony. Thank god other European countries do care--throughout England is now a laughing stock because of all this.
danielgregg - I agree with you that it is not likely that teams like Blackburn or Portsmouth will win the FA Cup. But it is easier to do it than to finish top 4 in the league. That's what I meant. At least they have more than one option now.
Please make the distinction between Platini criticizing a deplorable part of American culture like corporatism (nothing close to free market capitalism) which buys up anything it can squeeze a profit from and then leaves it changed and broken and socialism or anti-Americanism. That is a false dichotomy and only makes you sound naive and somewhat dense.
I like the idea of the cup 'champion' going to the champions league. They are more deserving than the third or fourth place team in league play. Theoretically, the best 'cup' team will then be going to the worlds most competitive cup. I do, however, believe the third or fourth place team trump the cup runner-up.
I think it's about time they scheduled the CL final on a weekend. What have they been thinking all these years? As far as the qualification process, I don't know there seems to be some many matches and at some point someone needs to start thinking about the players. I agree with Bobby though as long as there is a demand Fifa will supply it.
As far as Platini's comments? I did not read the interview (where can one get it?) but it won't be the last time a Frenchman slams anything having to do with any American policy.
I don't think that we should be that concerned about American investment in the EPL. What we should be concerned about is how Thaksin Shinawatra bought Man City like he walked into a corner liquor store and bought a case of beer.
I can't see why anyone in the top half of the EPL would want to pay more than a few million (let alone $40m) for Defoe. I've always thought him wildly overrated.
I think that giving some more meaning to the FA Cup is potentially good and will probably keep the final UCL spot open till the last game. It would add an intersting twist to the teams vieing for third and fourth spot and their desire to keep in contention for the FA Cup. There's way too many th rate teams in it anyway. This year's FA Cup final was kind of a yawn in terms of the significance of the result ... that wouldn't happen again. Apparently it would also mean scrapping the league cups - that would be very good.
Personally, I'd like to see a full blown European league with the domestic leagues as feeders - maybe with an end of season play off. (There goes a flying pig)
Finally I thought Platini's comments about English fans needing to defend their country against American's buying their clubs completely idiotic for someone supposedly taking a European if not worldwide perspective. Hardly a view that leads to raising standards, but not surprising given who he is ... Welcome to the 19th century.
Last edited by LosAngelesChelseaFan on August 31st at 9:43 AM.
I agree with Bobby as long as he doesn't mess with the Champs league too much I don't care, it is by far the coolest annual sporting event in the world. Obviously a weekend match would be better, but I think having dring the week gives it more prestige. I love the guilty pleasure of sneaking away to watch the game.
-I don't care if the 4th spot goes to the 4th placed team or the Domestic Cup winner, maybe this will force some of the English teams to be better cup teams, as of now Liverpool can only be considered a great knock-out team.
-Platini can do whatever he wants with UEFA as long as it is smaller and they ay less garbage matches.
-Yes a European SUper League, that sounds awesome!
Platini's idea has merit, the G14 will prvovide resistance. Platini was actually elected with support from the smaller European Leagues so he can implement changes like the one he's proposing.
And if he won the election it's a good bet that this idea will be voted through.
I think you'd say Red Star Belgrade in 1990/91 would be the last small league team to win Europe's best competition.
His comments on the Premier League are valid. Could anyone see the NFL being almost half owned by foreign investors?
The club takeovers are investments, which is all about money and doesn't really give a toss about the fans. This new breed of suggar daddy are a far cry from Jack Walker. And two are basically crooks anyway; Abramovich and Shinawatra.
UEFA Champions League Groups stages have got pretty dull and predictable. I agree with Ringo.
I maybe watch one or three games until the knockout stages.
Saturday final would be so much better.
Things about European competiton is this,
we all love the matches and remember the top ones, the spine tingling games.
As the European Cup morphed into the Champions League the spine-tinglers still got remembered but the extra padding gets forgotten.
Group games in the Champions League are half dull & meaniningless, quarter OK and Quarter good.
Teams playing for a point = shiite football.
TV revenues are better and the clubs are happier but the fan get F.U.B.A.R.
The G14 have wet dreams about a European Super League!
Personally I like things the way they are. Even when Arsenal are kicked out of the competition I still watch every game of the C.L. coz it's one of the most entertaining sports events in the world.
Putting cup winners in the C.L. will only mean the other clubs having no chance of winning a cup. Look the big clubs play 2nd teams for this games (except Chelski)and still win them so imagine if they became prestigious to them. It will only make them as predictable as the Leagues are. 4 teams that we all excpect to win. Now at least there is a better chance of them winning.
And leave the final and other C.L games on Wed and Tue. it gives tough weeks when I have School and work to deal with some enjoyment and a breather. And since it's only adults in the stands it's crazier. I like MasMaz reason too. But if they want it on the weekend it's all good with me I'll still watch it.
RINGO Arsenal is still very much British ayaa the Russian bustard only owns 30% and I hope that's all he will own. But that Dein really stubbed us in the back. Only thing that is keeping from talking alot of #### about him is because of what he did for Arsenal in his years as a TRUE GUNNER now he is turning into a CAshley Cole.
Atleti so do Seville have a weekend game or do they have the weekend off. Hope they win today for Puerta.
1.Bobby you did not make a prediction for la liga this season. Therefore what do you think the top ten will look like at the end of the season?
2.The preferred central defence pairing of Toure and Gallas at Arsenal has seemed suspect at times.Should Wenger drop one of them and bring in Senderos for the good of the team?
I wonder if Platini has a bigger agenda. So much comment on so many issues he has raised I wonder what his deep ambitions and ideals are?
I do suspect somewhere down the line he is targeting the power of G14, now 18 European clubs strong. To change the CL will affect all the clubs in G14 and I am waiting to hear their considered response.
I suspect Platini is seeking a head to head and trying to rally public opinion ahead of any clash. What other reason can he have for so much comment and pointed criticism?
Just thought I would add this conspiratorial thread into the discussion. Who was it said that thruth is stranger than fiction?
Re the domestic cup winners going into CL, I like Rafa's comment today that you want the best players playing in the CL. This echoes my point that any team can potentially win a domestic cup.
Craigyf, I remember the European Cup. I saw Liverpool beat Bruges at Wembley in one of the most boring finals ever. We won though!
Re the FA cup winners, I read somewhere this week that two of the last 19 finals were won by teams other than the named top four. This makes the chance of less successful or able teams and players, entering a league type competition they could not compete for in their domestic season, a real likelyhood anytime soon.
As I have said just restart the cup winners cup and lessen the games in the Uefa cup. Leave the CL alone.
Re the 'other' domestc cups: Anyone who supports the abandonment of such competitions might want to consider where the lower league clubs who play in these cups, will otherwise find the money they would lose.
Such a loss would lead to yet more, many more bankruptcies in the English leagues. When Man Utd goes to play a Wrexham or a Leighton Orient the money the little club earns helps keep them running. It is one key way the bigger clubs help the lower leagues.
CL is set just like any domestic cup in which they are disegned to be knockout competitions. That said, with redfan2000's theories in mind, any team could essentially win the CL. Maybe that is how Liverpool won a couple years back...
However, if you check Atleti's blog you will see that at least in England it has been the same 4 teams that won during the past 10 years.
With the proposed changes, teams like Everton and Spurs will now have build up to try and get a UEFA cup spot and compete in the domestic cup to see their way to a CL spot. I think once the change is past through you will see a lot more upsets, which makes for great football. So if that means my team didn't make it into the CL, so be it... They should have played better, hence maybe they don't deserve to be in the CL that year. Case in point Bayern, had a horrible time last year, didn't make a CL spot. So they rebuilt and they will be sure to be in the CL next year. Meanwhile, we get the plessure of watching them win the UEFA cup.
Also for those that question Rosenburg's participation in the knockout stage. They actually won their domestic league, so they should be there.
I like that inter-toto is being eliminated. There is no need to crowd the schedule of useless games.
Maybe Platini's agenda is simple. Maybe it is just to bring top Euro entertaining football to you and I... On a slightly more even playing field for all team alike by boosting the imporatance of domestic cups.
I don't see why everyone is against the fourth placed teams place in the Champions League going to the domestic cup winner.
All it does is make the domestic Cups more valuable. What it will do is make sure the Barcas, Real Madrids, Milans and other big teams focus on their domestic cup competitions and not just on the league and Europe.
Someonoe wrongly said on here that teams play their second string sides in the FA Cup and thats just not true. Its in the Carling Cup that teams do that by plugging in youth and reserve players.
danielgregg: After all that you wrote about my comments I am not sure I am the one who needs to chill out. I appreciate your comments though they were fun to read.
With Platini in charge it won't be long before UEFA finally have what they have always wanted, one super league. If you think the superclubs have it all their own way now, just stop foriegn investment and see what you end up with. Domestic leagues and ruling bodies will cease to exist. The UEFA elites will be the rich and powerful owners of an exclusive league. If Platini thinks Americans are the only ones in it for the money, he really needs to take a closer look in the mirror.
Last edited by Fulham Road on August 31st at 2:11 PM.
You may not remember me but at the TFC game against DC united(at BMO) you sighned my hat and asked u who would win the premiership you said Chelsea fc why do you think they are going to win it? they have not had very good performances.
From Brandon Gillespie
Last edited by gol4united on August 31st at 2:25 PM.
Danny Szetela just signed for Racing Santander in Spain La Liga. Making him the first American to play for a La Liga team since Kasey Keller patrolled the area for Rayo Vallecano.
Bobby - How do you think he will do there? Being a skilled player going to a league that's not as physical but more technical oriented than MLS.
Comrade ohph - Diarra is an excellent addition to the Arseski.
I think his best position is in the Maka role ,on the few occasions he played there I thought he looked just as good ,if not better than the original.
Although comrade LACF wont agree! I think.
Btw - welcome to the revolution comrade ,and come the glorious day ,the scousers and mancs will be the first up against the wall!
lol thx ringo ive only noticed him at rb for chelsea and he didnt seem all that impressive to me. i guess hell ne bert's replacement.
once the ref blows the whistle and they kick to start the game, id be hard press to tell you what i think of less maradanas thoughts on the geopolitical reality of the day, platinis views on just about anything, or who signs the checks for my guys.
makes interesting reading though, ussually have to go to a mensa mtg to get such indeoth and fleshed out thoughts though.
Last edited by ohphuque on August 31st at 6:34 PM.
Mensa? doesn`t he play for boca?
As for my political leanings ,i`m a disciple of the legendary Wolfie Smith of The Tooting Popular Front...POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
l think diarra was the signings arsenal need someone needed in the north east and he is the kind of guy arsenal need with diaby, gilberto and flamster will add steel
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site.
And one more thing. If you have questions or complaints or compliments about programming please contact Fox Soccer Channel or Fox Sports World Canada directly. I have no control over what the stations televise.
