Angell555666

such a ridiculous post. </BLOCKQUOTE>

How is it? It's the exact same logic that people use when talking about the CL.

retired_anneduck

such a ridiculous post. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Nah, he has a point - by the logic of some, what's the point of letting anyone into the World Cup/Champions League if they're never going to win it?

retired_khabmth

A quick look at the last 15 years of CL shows that Chelsea only managed to enter one time before the Abramovic money (and that Liverpool have missed out occasionally too).

So does Chelsea getting a sugar-daddy and the magpies and spurs imploding mean the PL is a bit more predictable? Probably but as it isn't the CL that has messed up the PL but rather the other way round I really can't see how that could be an argument for messing with the CL format.

retired_khabmth

As I did argue before I do think that UEFA's allocation for the WC's should be bigger. But that doesn't mean that all other teams should be banned.

The format should be based on strength but still allow for "weaker" nations/leagues to out-perform expectations. And if they do they should be rewarded in the coming WC's/seasons.



No he has no point at all as no-one has proposed a complete stop on small/weaker teams/nations.

retired_heidus17

such a ridiculous post. </BLOCKQUOTE>

How is it? It's the exact same logic that people use when talking about the CL. </BLOCKQUOTE>

a) No one is saying smaller teams shouldnt be allowed in the CL

b) Cameron/Nigeria/Ivory Coast/Ghana all get as much chance of winning the world cup as the lower half of the top 30 european countries. not to mention usa/mexico/uruguay/paraguay

a quick look at the top 32 ranked fifa countries (and yes i know the rankings are rubbish) shows only 21 european countries.

retired_heidus17

also, the same logic applied to the cl would see a lot more than 4 teams from england/spain/italy in the competition

retired_anneduck

A quick look at the last 15 years of CL shows that Chelsea only managed to enter one time before the Abramovic money (and that Liverpool have missed out occasionally too).

So does Chelsea getting a sugar-daddy and the magpies and spurs imploding mean the PL is a bit more predictable? Probably but as it isn't the CL that has messed up the PL but rather the other way round I really can't see how that could be an argument for messing with the CL format. </BLOCKQUOTE>

15 years isn't a fair timescale, since the four places have only been here for 7 seasons now. The fact that everyone and his dog can tell you what our top 4 will be before the season has even started is a big problem.

Quite a few people have, why have any 'weaker' teams whatsoever if they're only apparently going to bring down the standard of the competition? Apparently noone wants to see them anyway and we'd just like to see the big teams playing each other year after year, so why bother having them in there at all?

Angell555666

Does nobody think that these smaller nation clubs eg: Champs of Romania, Ukraine, Scandinavia etc have been cut off because of the introduction of 4 and 3 teams getting through from big nations. Team like Gothenburg used to beat Man Utd, Steau Bucharest got to the final, Dinamo Kiew to the semi's, Ajax winning it. The potential was there for a competitive competion, and nothing has changed in terms of competitivness just the location of the teams in it.

Basically the introduction of more teams from England, Spain and Italy etc has stop the growth of these smaller nations football teams IMO. Should never of changed it. But to counter this, they need more chances. Reduce the Big 3 leagues to 3 entries.

retired_anneduck

Basically what it comes down to, is the more you limit the appearance of teams from outside the usual 'top' leagues, the worse these teams are obviosuly going to get, as we have seen. The gap grows quickly and more should be done to close it again, rather than filling the group stage with fourth placed teams. It needs cutting back to three

retired_rinkjustice

Here's a question, people bemoan the lack of competition in the top leagues (same few teams always winning)

If you gave more leagues guaranteed spots, wouldn't that just increase the number of leagues where the top teams permanently separate themselves from the pack?