With these rumours of the new "Golden Cup" ( For more info, see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...pe/2718283.stm ) to be direct competition
to the Champions' League, as well a the North Atlantic Cup (a tournament to involve
some Scottish, Danish, Belgian and Dutch teams), etc - I came up with the following
idea. Let me know what you think!!!
==============================================
Regarding the restructuring of the UEFA Cup, I propose the following:
Let all teams that WANT to play in Europe and can afford to play in Europe, do so.
All teams that announce that they want to play in Europe, should be divided into
leagues of 32 teams (based on their league positions at the end of a certain
season, say 2004/05, as well as the current UEFA coefficients). For example, if
800 teams throughout Europe decide they want to play in this "UEFA League", put
them in 25 divisions of 32 teams, with the "better" teams in the Premier Division,
down to the champions of San Marino in division 24.
Within each division, split teams into 4 groups of 8, let them play a league
home and away against the other teams in the group (i.e. 14 games in total), with
the top teams in each group playing off against each other for the league
championship.
Basically, it would look something like this:
Premier Division
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
1. Team A101 1. Team A201 1. Team A301 1. Team A401
2. Team A102 2. Team A202 2. Team A302 2. Team A402
3. Team A103 3. Team A203 3. Team A303 3. Team A403
4. Team A104 4. Team A204 4. Team A304 4. Team A404
5. Team A105 5. Team A205 5. Team A305 5. Team A405
6. Team A106 6. Team A206 6. Team A306 6. Team A406
7. Team A107 7. Team A207 7. Team A307 7. Team A407
8. Team A108 8. Team A208 8. Team A308 8. Team A408
Division 1
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4
1. Team B101 1. Team B201 1. Team B301 1. Team B401
2. Team B102 2. Team B202 2. Team B302 2. Team B402
3. Team B103 3. Team B203 3. Team B303 3. Team B403
4. Team B104 4. Team B204 4. Team B304 4. Team B404
5. Team B105 5. Team B205 5. Team B305 5. Team B405
6. Team B106 6. Team B206 6. Team B306 6. Team B406
7. Team B107 7. Team B207 7. Team B307 7. Team B407
8. Team B108 8. Team B208 8. Team B308 8. Team B408
etc...
Teams A101, A201, A301 and A401 would then play-off for the Premier Division title
(basically the equivalent of the current Champions' League).
Also, there would be straight promotion and relegation : 8 teams go down from each
division (positions 7 and 8 in each group) and 8 come up from lower divisions.
Something like this:
Premier Division : 8 teams relegated
Division 1 : 6 teams promoted, 8 teams relegated
Division 2 : 2 teams promoted to Premier, 6 teams to Division 1, 8 teams relegated
Division 3 : 2 teams promoted to Division 1, 6 teams to Division 2, 8 teams relegated
etc.
(I would like to see teams be promoted more than one division at a time, especially
for the first few years until the league has a more settled look about it, for the
first few years, a few teams would be in a "false" division - lower divisions might
even have their winners promoted 3 or 4 divisions).
Teams in the lower divisions should be divided into the groups based on geography -
i.e. maybe have groups from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Northern Europe and
Central Europe. This will cut down on costs, as well as provide more potential
"derby"-type games - Irish teams will typically be teamed up with other teams from
the English and Scottish leagues.
I think this will generate more interest in European competition for the smaller
teams - normally, they'll be knocked out of Europe before the domestic season even
starts, now they might be in with a shout of promotion - and European silverware -
come the end of the season!
Also, just imagine a crucial relegation dog-fight in the Premier League between
Juventus and Barcelona! (it might just happen)
I really think the benefits of this system is immense :
- There will be more money-generating games for the teams
- Teams from smaller countries can go into Europe and might actually still be
involved 8 months later
- A better indication of who truly is the best team in Europe will exist
- Teams will play against teams of neighbouring countries which will be a great
atmosphere
Obviously there are a few drawbacks, the main one being the financial situation -
whether or not a team will be able to play 7 away games is questionable. But
maybe some lower divisions might have 4 leagues of 6 teams only or so. Also, it's
up to the teams to enter the competition or not - if they feel they can afford it,
they can enter, else they can simply stick to the domestic game.
And then there'll also be the good old argument about players playing too many
games - again, teams can choose whether to enter this league or to concentrate on
the domestic league. The bigger teams - like Arsenal, Manchester United, etc -
already expect to play in some 14 European games a season anyway, so they will be
unaffected. Smaller teams have to weigh up the potential financial gain with
squad depth and decide for themselves.
OK, now feel free to e-mail UEFA with these suggestions or to tell me that it's
the most idiotic idea you've ever heard... :-)
FJJ.
