retired_sedimohasel

Fair point, let's say that it's been proven that human beings are too selfish to actually implement the real utopian idea that is communism.
Better worded this time?

retired_heidus17

you can do socialist things to make european football financially more even, no need for commie-mew-nism

retired_nini59

put much better, maybe one day things will change... yeah right.

Anyway football is like politics/economics tbh, those at the top want to maintain their position and thus would like to stick with the system that got them their in the first place, or indeed kick away the ladder and make it more difficult for those below to threaten their position. Those at the bottom want some kind of revolution in order to produce equality, whether deserved or not, and ofc once they get it they'll change their minds and decide that some people should be more equal than others.

retired_khabmth

And the fact that is is more predictable has absolutely nothing to do with the CL. It is because of the domestic leagues (and their respective countries economies) so trying to solve it through the CL is just plain stupid.



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? </BLOCKQUOTE>

And that is, again, your interpretation of peoples opinion and it is wrong. There is no one here (not even methisman) that is arguing that smaller teams/leagues should be banned, only that they shouldn't get any special favours either.



But the gap isn't because of the CL. It is because of some clubs in some countries being far more marketable than clubs from the "smaller" leagues. Man U, Real or Milan haven't become some of the best teams in europe due to the CL but rather due to consistent domestic success over the last 25 years, them doing good in europe is a side effect not the cause.



Ahh so the poor little crap team couldn't beat a better team but you still think the weaker team deserves to play in the CL. That's mostly BS IMO.



But I do agree that the seeding system and qual format ain't perfect. I could very well see a change making every all teams play a big qual round before the group stage like for the UEFA cup (wit some teams doing earlier qual rounds to and possibly the holder going straight through). And even maybe (a big maybe though) just seed some of the teams (maybe those that now goes directly into the groups?). The main point is IMO that strong team should have an advantage but weaker teams should still have a possibility to do better than expected.

Angell555666

The smaller nations already get their chance, through the qualifs. If they don't make it then it means they're not good enough. What I don't understand is why you'd rather have a proven weaker team in the CL just because it's based out of another country. </BLOCKQUOTE>

No they don't.

Previously Steaua and Red Star Belgrade won the European Cup. How are teams like that suposed to build and grow when they just get beat by Liverpool or Sevilla or Lazio in qualifiers. Previously before all these other English, Italian etc teams came into it, clubs could build and progress. Hence Steaua and Red Star winning the tournement.

All I'm saying is that there is potential to have a world class tournement without pandering to the big 4 in England, Italy and Spain.

retired_v_meenucancer

must have missed the bit where lenin said that a crucial tenet of communism was ensuring the slovenian champions didn't have to play against a seeded team from italy

in fact, i have no idea what communism has to do with this thread at all, but it was none other than HITLER HIMSELF who said that the third placed teams in the big leagues should automatically get into the group stages without a qualifier

retired_heidus17

i would have no problem with more of the automatic entrants being the league winners, and more of the 2nd/3rd/4th place teams ahving to got hrough the qualifiers.

retired_ashc21

Communism? What does that have to do with anything? Football should be more of a sport rather than a business or an economical aspect, and a country's ability to produce good footballers should mean a little more club-wise than it does now.

Not even on international level it seems to matter anymore since it looks like you just can naturalize your way to glory now..

retired_sedimohasel

Agree. And with the current system it still is possible for a team to climb up the ladder even if it isn't in one of the top 3 leagues. Look at Lyon ffs they got in the CL for the first time 7-8 years ago and now they're regularly in the top 8 at the end.
If Lyon did it it's not because UEFA favored them or anything it's because they slowly built a stronger team over the years, like Sevilla is doing in Spain with much lower TV rights than Madrid and Barcelona.

retired_nini59

well unless you want to force players to play for lower wages in countries with lower living standards then stop idly dreaming would you. Having lesser teams in the competition won't allow them to keep hold of their better players at all, in fact they'll just have an even better shop window to use to get out of there.