Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Monty]

Well, firstly this hypothetical Yugoslav league does depend on the (yes rather optimistic) idea that they don't hate each other - hence the continued existence of the country.

But it's a very complex set of dynamics which has led to our current league inequalities, one of which is prosperity of the country, another of which is just sheer size. There's no reason why Russia or Turkey can't compete now, actually, except for incompetence and disaster at governmental and sporting body level. On the other hand, Scotland is quite prosperous but just too small. So I don't think you need a former USSR league, but reform in Russia and Ukraine from pretty much top to bottom.

I do like the idea of other cross-border leagues though. Belgium + the Netherlands? Why not. More controversially, Austria+Hungary+Switzerland in a kind of Mitteleuropean megaracists' league? Of course, big clubs in those countries would be the major blockers, as they'd no longer be guaranteed top 3 finishes.

[cdbearsfan]

I quite like the idea of cross border leagues to increase competition, so long as you could be relegated from them and the choice of founder members was based on league position and not some arbitrary, European Super League style idea, that teams should be in because they "deserve it".

Be-Ne-League seems likely to happen. There has been talk of a Scandinavian equivalent, too.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11906/12248000/eredivisie-belgian-clubs-vote-in-favour-of-cross-border-league-with-teams-from-the-netherlands

[Brazilian Villain]

Be-Ne-League seems likely to happen. There has been talk of a Scandinavian equivalent, too.

Think there already is a Swe-Den league.

[Small Rodent]

Corinthians could play in a League of Gentlemen

[paul_e]

A scandinavian league was being heavily discussed when I was living in Norway 9 years ago. The biggest problem with it is that Norway and Sweden play summer leagues but Denmark is a winter league. The Danes prefer theirs as is because it lines up better for internationals, etc whereas the other 2 need to play a summer league because a number of clubs would struggle to put games on November-March.

Belgium-Netherlands would be much simpler to set up.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

They'd be shit because they'd all hate each other.

If I was drinking coffee it would probably be all over my screen right now.

[dave shelley]

I seem to recall that there was initially some concern that there could be problems between Savo Milosevic and Mark Bosnich when Savo joined Villa.  Savo being Serbian and Bosnich being of Croatian origin.  Thankfully no such problems arose.  I don't think I imagined that.

[Monty]

I quite like the idea of cross border leagues to increase competition, so long as you could be relegated from them and the choice of founder members was based on league position and not some arbitrary, European Super League style idea, that teams should be in because they "deserve it".

Be-Ne-League seems likely to happen. There has been talk of a Scandinavian equivalent, too.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11906/12248000/eredivisie-belgian-clubs-vote-in-favour-of-cross-border-league-with-teams-from-the-netherlands

Good stuff, I'd be well up for this. Football is a game based on cities, and it's a bit ridiculous that cities like Brussels and Amsterdam can't pay for as good players as Burnley or Southampton. Not that I'm against the underdog of course, but come on.

[KevinGage]

I seem to recall that there was initially some concern that there could be problems between Savo Milosevic and Mark Bosnich when Savo joined Villa.  Savo being Serbian and Bosnich being of Croatian origin.  Thankfully no such problems arose.  I don't think I imagined that.

Well there's dogma.

And then there's people.

McGrath and Stormin' Norman Whiteside got on like a house on fire, for example.

[Hockley Lion]

They'd be shit because they'd all hate each other. In any case, we were talking about club football. No theoretical post-Communist Czechoslovak or Yugoslav League would be able to hold onto their players if Premier League, La Liga or Serie A clubs wanted them any more than Sparta Prague and Red Star can now.

A massive former USSR League might have a better chance, but I can't see the Russians and Ukrainians sitting down to discuss it any time soon. The Armenians and Azeris might not be too keen, either.

Yeah, it wouldn't be the first war started over a football result.

[N'ZMAV]

I think he could maybe be a makeweight for someone else as well, maybe Cantwell?

Make weight? El Ghazi is far better than Cantwell.

in a side that is pushing for top 6 then neither make the starting eleven.

[Drummond]

Be-Ne-League seems likely to happen. There has been talk of a Scandinavian equivalent, too.

Think there already is a Swe-Den league.

Nor way would that work.

[Risso]

South American club football is rubbish since they got rid of all the dictatorships. See also: Eastern Europe.

We were much better before women got the vote.

[Richard E]

South American club football is rubbish since they got rid of all the dictatorships. See also: Eastern Europe.

We were much better before women got the vote.

I often say to Mrs E that married men should have two votes, because their wife will vote as instructed anyway.

I will end my days as the victim of a domestic homicide.

[Londonvilla]

I always like to look at other fans points of view

Norwich can extend Todd Cantwell contract by a year......so he would have 2 years left