Champions League restructuring

[KevinGage]

After 25 years of expansion and commercialisation, and with TV audiences now more important to most of these clubs than the fans who actually turn up, their success (ie winning games almost every week) has become an important element of their identities. Losing that could result in a pretty radical reimagining of the football landscape and a given club's perceived place within it.

Take the 'glory' away and you're left with quite a few clubs who are little more than fairly non-descript businesses with identikit stadia, bland colours and a dwindling connection to their local communities. All in my opinion, of course.

You've sold it to me.

Let them go.

[dave.woodhall]

I understand your point, but just don't want to resign myself to us losing any good player we produce ever again, reduced to Small Heath style vicarious thrills through our former players playing for "big" clubs.

I'm certainly onboard with the other clubs threatening to kick them out of the Premier League as leverage if they try to abolish the League Cup or move the FA Cup to a midweek competition or any other horrific idea I've seen mooted.

That sends me off on a wild tangent. Who was the last player who came through our ranks and stayed with us until he retired, apart from injuries and Gabby, who was only here that long because we couldn't get rid of him?

[LeeB]

After 25 years of expansion and commercialisation, and with TV audiences now more important to most of these clubs than the fans who actually turn up, their success (ie winning games almost every week) has become an important element of their identities. Losing that could result in a pretty radical reimagining of the football landscape and a given club's perceived place within it.

Take the 'glory' away and you're left with quite a few clubs who are little more than fairly non-descript businesses with identikit stadia, bland colours and a dwindling connection to their local communities. All in my opinion, of course.

You've sold it to me.

Let them go.

Let them go and tell them there is zero chance of ever returning. Offer financial support to local supporters to start phoenix clubs to replace them.

[cdbearsfan]

I understand your point, but just don't want to resign myself to us losing any good player we produce ever again, reduced to Small Heath style vicarious thrills through our former players playing for "big" clubs.

I'm certainly onboard with the other clubs threatening to kick them out of the Premier League as leverage if they try to abolish the League Cup or move the FA Cup to a midweek competition or any other horrific idea I've seen mooted.

That sends me off on a wild tangent. Who was the last player who came through our ranks and stayed with us until he retired, apart from injuries and Gabby, who was only here that long because we couldn't get rid of him?

Buggered if know, I was thinking Charlie Aitken but according to Wikipedia he finished his career at New York Cosmos.

[olaftab]

Other than Brian Little I can't think of anyone else.

[cdbearsfan]

"apart from injuries".

[Exeter 77]

I think Brian Little might be right. Every one I've managed to come up - Gary Shaw, Tony Daley, Gary Williams, Paul Birch, Lee Hendrie etc.- all finished their careers at lower levels.

[SaddVillan]

Financial shithousery?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/04/01/europes-biggest-clubs-accused-stitch-champions-league-revamp/?WT.mc_id=tmgliveapp_androidshare_Aw5mLJBLPq6S

[Pete3206]

Isn't the Champions League drab enough? It doesn't even get interesting until the knock outs.

[Clive W]

Slightly off topic....but do we really want to be in the Europa League?

Matches against teams we’ve never heard of from countries we’ve never heard of either

Play about 30 games only to get knocked out in the last 16

Just seems such a distraction with very little interest - unless the money makes it worthwhile

The old UEFA Cup was another matter

[cdbearsfan]

I'd rather be in the Champions League. But would be delighted with any European football. We need to win trophies, having an extra one to go for is a great help. I think most people have heard of all the European countries and Liverpool, Juventus, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and a few other clubs of a similar stature who look likely to be involved next season.

In any case, I've seen us play the likes of Man U and Chelsea a million times. A tie against some mysterious unknowns from the continent is far more interesting.

It would be a sign of our development, and allow us to attract a higher quality level of player.

[AV82EC]

Slightly off topic....but do we really want to be in the Europa League?

Matches against teams we’ve never heard of from countries we’ve never heard of either

Play about 30 games only to get knocked out in the last 16

Just seems such a distraction with very little interest - unless the money makes it worthwhile

The old UEFA Cup was another matter

Completely disagree with this. The Europa League last 8

Arsenal
Man U
Granada
Villareal
Slavia Prague
Roma
Ajax
Dinamo Zagreb

And the clubs that got knocked out in the last round were no slouches either. Yes its changed since the UEFA Cup was changed and teams finsihing in 2/3/4 were in it but thats where we are. I can't understand anyone not wanting their team to be playing in Europe. It just goes counter to everything you should be striving for as a football club.

[algy]

I'd rather be in the Champions League. But would be delighted with any European football. We need to win trophies, having an extra one to go for is a great help. I think most people have heard of all the European countries and Liverpool, Juventus, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and a few other clubs of a similar stature who look likely to be involved next season.

In any case, I've seen us play the likes of Man U and Chelsea a million times. A tie against some mysterious unknowns from the continent is far more interesting.

It would be a sign of our development, and allow us to attract a higher quality level of player.

Yeah, this pretty much echoes my thoughts. We're now at a stage where our first 11 is arguably pushing on top 4/6 standard, but we don't have the squad depth to sustain that push through injuries or bad form. The Europa League will give us enough extra games - and meaningful ones - that we clos realistically look at having 2 strong players in every position, with each if them getting a decent enough number of games so they're still in contention for their respective national teams.

[ChicagoLion]

My concern is that it inhibits progress to the Champions League which should be our focus.

[cdbearsfan]

You literally qualify for the Champions League if you win it. You also attract better players and are forced to have a deeper squad. Both of these things increase your chances of finishing in the top four.