James.Clench

From here on in European Super League will be referred to as E.S.L and European Super League Cup will be referred to as E.S.L.C. (Equivalent to a domestic cup like the F.A Cup)

I know that they are many posts about a E.S.L, but they are usually based on the premise that there would be 3 or 4 divisions to it, whereas my idea for a E.S.L has only one division.

I personally would love there to be an option to run a E.S.L on FM. but, as in real life, it probably won’t happen, no doubt due to licensing or something like that. Anyway that hasn’t stopped me wasting my Sunday on working out how a E.S.L could be done, and I would like your input.

First for the main rules.

Entry to the E.S.L would be through the Champions League. i.e. if 3 teams are to be promoted/relegated from the E.S.L, then the teams would be the 2 finalists and 3rd place (decided by a playoff between the 2 losing semi finalists.)

Teams relegated from the E.S.L. would go back into their Countries top division to start the next season.

Teams in the E.S.L would still compete in their respective countries domestic cup. i.e. Chelsea would still play in the F.A. Cup

The UEFA Cup would run as usual

Now for your input

Q1. How many teams should there be in the E.S.L?

a.16 teams - - - - - (go to Q2)
b.18 teams - - - - - (go to Q3)
c.20 teams - - - - - (go to Q4)
d.22 teams - - - - - (go to Q5)

Q2. With 16 teams how would the E.S.L.C be best done?

a.Straight Knockout. (Home and Away)

b.4 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

c.4 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

d.4 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top teams progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

e.4 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group placed in 2 groups of 4 Teams playing home and away, top teams play in Final. (Neutral Venue)

Q3. With 18 Teams how would the E.S.L.C be best done?

a.6 groups of 3 teams playing home and away, top team from each group and 2 best runners up, progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

b.6 groups of 3 teams playing home and away, top team from each group and 2 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

c.6 groups of 3 teams playing home and away, top team from each group and 2 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top teams play each other in Final. (Neutral Venue)

d.3 groups of 6 teams playing home and away, top team from each group and best runner up progress to the knockout round (Home and Away)

e.3 groups of 6 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group, and the two best 3rd placed teams, placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams in each group progress to the knockout rounds. (Home and Away)

f.3 groups of 6 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group, and the two best 3rd placed teams progress to the knockout round (Home and Away)

g.3 groups of 6 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group, and the two best 3rd placed teams, placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top teams play each other in Final. (Neutral Venue)

Q4. With 20 Teams how would the E.S.L.C be best done?

a.5 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group placed in 2 groups of 5 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group progress to the knockout round. (Home and Away)

b.5 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group placed in 2 groups of 5 teams playing home and away, top team from each group play each other in the Final. (Neutral Venue)

c.5 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus 3 best runners up progress to the knockout round (Home and Away)

d.5 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus 3 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams from each group progress to knockout round (Home and Away)

e.5 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus 3 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top team from each group play each other in the Final. (Neutral Venue)

Q5. With 22 Teams how would the E.S.L.C be best done?

a.3 groups of 4 teams and 2 groups of 5 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus the 3 best runners up progress to the knockout round (Home and Away)

b.3 groups of 4 teams and 2 groups of 5 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus the 3 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top 2 teams progress to the knockout round (Home and Away)

c.3 groups of 4 teams and 2 groups of 5 teams playing home and away, top team from each group plus the 3 best runners up placed in 2 groups of 4 teams playing home and away, top team from each group play each other in the final (Neutral Venue)

In determining the rank of second-placed teams, only results against those finishing in 1st , 3rd and 4th will be counted.

Q6. How many teams would you promote to, and relegate from the E.S.L?

1.1 team
2.2 teams
3.3 teams
4.4 teams

Q7. Changes to be made to the domestic league, when the change in the number of teams competing is +/- 1. i.e. The premiership will either be missing a team because one gained promotion to the E.S.L, or have an extra team because one team was relegated from the E.S.L back into the premiership (choose 2 answers)

a.Promote one extra team from each of the subsequent divisions when a team is promoted to the E.S.L

b.Relegate one less team from each of the subsequent divisions when a team is promoted to the E.S.L

c.Promote one less team from each of the subsequent divisions when a team is relegated from the E.S.L

d.Relegate one more team from each of the subsequent divisions when a team is relegated from the E.S.L

e.If one team is promoted to the E.S.L, don’t change anything.

f.If one team is relegated from the E.S.L don’t change anything.

Q8. Changes to be made to the domestic league, when the change in the number of teams competing is +/- 2. i.e. The premiership will either be missing two teams because they both gained promotion to the E.S.L, or have an extra two teams because they were both relegated from the E.S.L back into the premiership in the same season. (choose 2 answers)

a.Promote two extra teams from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are promoted to the E.S.L

b.Relegate two less teams from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are promoted to the E.S.L

c.Promote two less teams from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are relegated from the E.S.L

d.Relegate two more teams from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are relegated from the E.S.L

e.Promote one more and relegate one less team from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are promoted to the E.S.L

f.Promote one less and relegate one more team from each of the subsequent divisions when two teams are relegated from the E.S.L

g.If two teams are promoted to the E.S.L, don’t change anything.

h.If two teams are relegated from the E.S.L, don’t change anything.

Q9. Champions league (choose any)

a.All teams relegated from the E.S.L should be allowed to compete in the Champions League in the next season. i.e. teams relegated from the E.S.L in 2007/8 would be allowed to compete in the Champions league in 2008/9

b.No teams that are relegated from the E.S.L should be allowed to compete in the Champions League in the next season.

c.If the team that is relegated from the E.S.L originally gained entry to the E.S.L by winning the Champions League, then they should be allowed to compete in the Champions League in the next season.

d.The winner of a nations domestic cup should be allow entry to the champions league, hence E.S.L teams could enter the Champions League if they are relegated by winning their nations domestic cup

e.The bottom X amount of teams in the E.S.L would play the best X amount of teams from the Champions League, in a playoff to decide next seasons entrants. i.e. in a 20 team E.S.L where 3 teams are to be promoted/relegated a 2 leg playoff between; 18th place in the E.S.L and the 3rd placed team in the Champions league, 19th placed team in the E.S.L and the losing finalist in the Champions league, 20th placed team in the E.S.L and the winner of the Champions league would decide the next seasons entrants (or a variation on this theme i.e. only the 17th placed team would play in a playoff with the 3rd placed Champions league team)

f.Original teams voted to the E.S.L would be allowed to enter the Champions league in the next season the first time they are relegated.

g.Every European country should have the opportunity to have at least 1 or 2 teams represented in the Champions league (inc qualifying)

h.Should the 3rd place playoff in the Champions league be held at a Neutral Venue or be a two legged game?

Q10. Miscellaneous

a.The UEFA Cup winner would play the Champions league winner to contest the European Super Cup (as usual), then the winner of this match would play the winner of the match between the E.S.L champion and the E.S.L.C. winner (normal double winners rules apply)

b.E.S.L teams entering their nations domestic cup competition would have to play away from home unless drawn together

Notes

Total Games Played for Option;

2a. League 240, Cup 30, Total 270, Min 32, Max 37
2b. League 240, Cup 61, Total 301, Min 36, Max 41
2c. League 240, Cup 77, Total 317, Min 36, Max 45
2d. League 240, Cup 53, Total 293, Min 36, Max 39
2e. League 240, Cup 73, Total 313, Min 36, Max 43

3a. League 306, Cup 49, Total 355, Min 38, Max 43
3b. League 306, Cup 65, Total 371, Min 38, Max 47
3c. League 306, Cup 61, Total 367, Min 38, Max 45
3d. League 306, Cup 95, Total 401, Min 44, Max 47
3e. League 306, Cup 119, Total 425, Min 44, Max 53
3f. League 306, Cup 103, Total 409, Min 44, Max 49
3g. League 306, Cup 115, Total 421, Min 44, Max 51

4a. League 380, Cup 105, Total 485, Min 44, Max 55
4b. League 380, Cup 101, Total 481, Min 44, Max 53
4c. League 380, Cup 73, Total 453, Min 44, Max 49
4d. League 380, Cup 89, Total 469, Min 44, Max 53
4e. League 380, Cup 85, Total 465, Min 44, Max 51

5a. League 462, Cup 69, Total 531, Min 50, Max 55
5b. League 462, Cup 85, Total 547, Min 50, Max 59
5c. League 462, Cup 81, Total 543, Min 50, Max 57