European super league

[shemnel]

Although it's only a possibility at the moment there's no indication that there'll be more teams in the competition and there's less teams in the group stages (a good thing in my mind). Can't see how that's closer to a European Super League.

personally i have no idea if a European Super League will ever exist or not but i reckon they'll be trying to organise an annual comptetion (i.e. change the CL) in which Europe's biggest 16 teams (for example) will play each other more. Instead of just Barca and Bayern facing 2 or 3 top teams bcos they progress furthest, you'll have Barca, Bayern, Real, Dortmund, City, Chelsea, PSG, Juve etc ALL facing perhaps 3 or 4 big guns every season guaranteed. it's a money spinner, the TV money would be phenomenal.

 

[Shaelumstash]

So much for the European Super League speculation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35888818

More knockout rounds early on followed by 2 leagues of 8 teams (14 games in total) rather than the present 8 groups of 4 which is generally a snorefest as you can pretty much predict the results.

Personally I think restricting the group stage to the top 16 teams in Europe will be a good thing.

Of course give all the teams the opportity to get there, it shouldn't be a closed shop. But there should be a knock out stage before the groups, with the losers going in to the Europa.

The bit I disagree with is the format after that. Two leagues of 8 with the top two of each going to a semi final would be boring. If only the top 2 progress, the last 5 or 6 games would become irrelevant to the bottom 4 or 5 clubs, they'd just put out second string teams, and no fans or TV viewers are going to be arsed about watching dead rubbers.

A better way would be to keep the group format, but have no seedings. So 4 groups of 4, top 2 teams go through to the quarters. Yes it's less games, but every game would matter, every gamd would be between 2 top sides which is what the advertisers and the clubs want. But you wouldn't get a load of meaningless and boring games.

I've always thought the European Championships is a higher standard at the group stage than the world cup. Because it only has 16 teams instead of 32, every match matters. Every team can realistically get out of the group. The world cup group stage of 32 is usually pretty boring. UEFA in their wisdom have expanded it this year, and the quality of the tournament will suffer.

 

[shemnel]

I've always thought the European Championships was a higher standard at the group stage than the world cup. Because it only has 16 teams instead of 32, every match matters. Every team can realistically get out of the group. The world cup group stage of 32 is usually pretty boring. UEFA in their wisdom have expanded it this year, and the quality of the tournament will suffer.

i've made the unfortunate correction to your last bit (which i agree with), Euro's will be 24 teams, starting this summer

 

[Shaelumstash]

i've made the unfortunate correction to your last bit (which i agree with), Euro's will be 24 teams, starting this summer

Yeh you're probably right, this year's tournament will be a snore fest at the group stage. It's one of Infantino's brain childs and he's now the head of FIFA. Looking forward to the World Cup having 64 teams at Qatar :-(

 

[bellsouth]

Sport all around the globe is maximising its commercial revenue at the cost of unpredictability, romantic stories of underdogs winning and the general love of sport from fans.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I fancy it might be a Euro League for teams sporting any red in their kit!

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Sport all around the globe is maximising its commercial revenue at the cost of unpredictability, romantic stories of underdogs winning and the general love of sport from fans.

Not sure they'll share that view in Leicester, but I get your point.

 

[mat]

TV audiences will go down if it's the same teams playing each other every year in a mini league.

Plus more fixtures will hamper domestic progress.

 

[Bayblue]

Crap format. Interminable leagues and less knock out. Hope it doesn't happen

 

[Blue Mist]

But this revamp will still exclude teams with Istree so it will have to be revamped or certain clubs will be very unhapy.