LoI in Europe 2018

**legendz** · 31/08/2018, 10:01 PM

UEFA are reportedly set to introduce a new 32-team competition from 2021 to run alongside the Champions League and Europa League.

According to the plans outlined in German publication Bild, the Champions League will remain in its current structure, while the Europa League will condense.

The group stages of Europe's second-tier competition currently includes 48 teams, but will apparently be reduced to 32 teams.

Sides from smaller nations will allegedly instead compete in the new tournament, which is reportedly set to be shown largely on online platforms.

They mooted this idea a few years ago. Seems to be back on the agenda again.

If UEFA reduce the Europa League to 32, it should also exclude Champions League 3rd placed teams parachuting in at the knockout stage.

**EatYerGreens** · 01/09/2018, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Dudelange get AC Milan, Real Betis and Olympiakos.

Hell of an incentive for Irish clubs. Though you would imagine the worst group performance record is under threat

The two Red Bulls will meet too.

Bohs' draw is Tuesday I think

Crazy stuff. How big is the stadium they play in ?

**EatYerGreens** · 01/09/2018, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

They mooted this idea a few years ago. Seems to be back on the agenda again.

If UEFA reduce the Europa League to 32, it should also exclude Champions League 3rd placed teams parachuting in at the knockout stage.

Hard to view this as a positive. It's just another way to keep little clubs ghettoised in their corner. The Champions League keeps them away from the big boys, and now they'll also be kept away from the mid-ranking and wannabe big clubs in the Europa League with this new format. Probably be thrown a few extra quid for it to keep participants happy, whilst the real riches continue to go towards the larger clubs.

Hard to feel positive about the broad direction European club football continues to move in. It continues to be about pandering to the big clubs and using relatively smaller sums of money to buy the quiet acquiescence of the small frogs whilst the water is gently boiled around them.

**pineapple stu** · 01/09/2018, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Crazy stuff. How big is the stadium they play in ?

LoI size.

They played Cluj in the national stadium, presumably for licencing reasons

**Kiki Balboa** · 01/09/2018, 4:27 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Hard to view this as a positive. It's just another way to keep little clubs ghettoised in their corner. The Champions League keeps them away from the big boys, and now they'll also be kept away from the mid-ranking and wannabe big clubs in the Europa League with this new format. Probably be thrown a few extra quid for it to keep participants happy, whilst the real riches continue to go towards the larger clubs.

Hard to feel positive about the broad direction European club football continues to move in. It continues to be about pandering to the big clubs and using relatively smaller sums of money to buy the quiet acquiescence of the small frogs whilst the water is gently boiled around them.

Unfortunately, it will only get worse. UEFA has to give in to the big clubs or they will break away. The money the big leagues generate is incredible and they do not need UEFA anymore.

Personally, I think it is only a matter of time till we see such a break away, especially with the amount of foreign owners and foreign fans. They dont need local support at all and dont care what happens on the pitch, just once they exhaust all ways to make money. I hate american sports with their Franchises, blackmailing cities, plastic support and lack of competition, but this is what top level Football is becoming.

Just like in real life, The rich get richer......

**legendz** · 01/09/2018, 9:06 AM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

Unfortunately, it will only get worse. UEFA has to give in to the big clubs or they will break away. The money the big leagues generate is incredible and they do not need UEFA anymore.

Personally, I think it is only a matter of time till we see such a break away, especially with the amount of foreign owners and foreign fans. They dont need local support at all and dont care what happens on the pitch, just once they exhaust all ways to make money. I hate american sports with their Franchises, blackmailing cities, plastic support and lack of competition, but this is what top level Football is becoming.

Just like in real life, The rich get richer......

There is surely only so far they can push it as well before it becomes a switch off for supporters? Remember the second group stage in the Champions League? The noises suggest the top 4 leagues seem happy enough with having 4 direct spots each in the CL group stage.

Reducing the EL to 32 will be appeasing that next group in the pecking order. I would like to see the EL expanded to 64, without CL 3rd placed teams parachuting in. It's not really a surprise however when presented with that idea of 64 that UEFA are instead looking at splitting that into two separate competitions.

There has been a history of three European competitions. There might be an inevitable place for it.

**marinobohs** · 03/09/2018, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

Hard to view this as a positive. It's just another way to keep little clubs ghettoised in their corner. The Champions League keeps them away from the big boys, and now they'll also be kept away from the mid-ranking and wannabe big clubs in the Europa League with this new format. Probably be thrown a few extra quid for it to keep participants happy, whilst the real riches continue to go towards the larger clubs.

Hard to feel positive about the broad direction European club football continues to move in. It continues to be about pandering to the big clubs and using relatively smaller sums of money to buy the quiet acquiescence of the small frogs whilst the water is gently boiled around them.

It has been going that way for some time. the Champions league structure was introduced to prevent a European super league but seems to be mutating towards that anyway. the number of places 'reserved' for the big 5 Leagues leave pretty meagre pickings for the rest. unfortunately this latest proposal appears to be marginalizing smaller nations even more. The current hope of an attractive draw (and big pay day) will almost be completed eradicated and the hovering up of resources by bigger leagues will ensure minimal 'gate crashers'.

**legendz** · 03/09/2018, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

It has been going that way for some time. the Champions league structure was introduced to prevent a European super league but seems to be mutating towards that anyway. the number of places 'reserved' for the big 5 Leagues leave pretty meagre pickings for the rest. unfortunately this latest proposal appears to be marginalizing smaller nations even more. The current hope of an attractive draw (and big pay day) will almost be completed eradicated and the hovering up of resources by bigger leagues will ensure minimal 'gate crashers'.

Big pay days do seem to be gone. Celtic and PSV Eindhoven were possibly the only big name teams in the Champions League Champions Route Qualifiers.

The Europa League playoffs main path did offer a few big names. Many so-called top teams had already been given direct access to the Europa League group stage as well.

**sidewayspasser** · 03/09/2018, 5:36 PM

UEFA have created groups for the Youth League draw. Potential opponents for Bohs:
Chelsea (ENG)
Anderlecht (BEL)
FC Admira (AUT)
Midtjylland (DEN)
Elfsborg (SWE)
Molde (NOR)
KR (ISL)

**ger121** · 04/09/2018, 2:35 PM

Midtjylland it is. Winners to play winners of Basel and Hamilton in the next round.

**Dalymountrower** · 04/09/2018, 8:56 PM

Bohs under 18's come from behind to beat Pats 2-1 in Ends Mc Guill cup final.Excellent performance, some real prospects.

**Dalymountrower** · 04/09/2018, 8:57 PM

Under 19's

**Ezeikial** · 04/09/2018, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Bohs under 18's come from behind to beat Pats 2-1 in Ends Mc Guill cup final.Excellent performance, some real prospects.

I thought the Rovers lads were saying that Shamrock Rovers were the top team in every underage group. Were they in this competition or did they get knocked out?

**sullanefc** · 05/09/2018, 6:26 AM

*rolls eyes*

**Mr A** · 05/09/2018, 8:31 AM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

I thought the Rovers lads were saying that Shamrock Rovers were the top team in every underage group. Were they in this competition or did they get knocked out?

They said they were top of their leagues, which they are. Now cut this nonsense out. The vast majority of people on here are heartily sick of it.

**marinobohs** · 05/09/2018, 9:29 AM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Under 19's

Great win for Bohs U 19s, following up last years league win. Great work by Craig Sexton and all involved. Often by necessity, given our financial woes Bohs have unearthed some real players in recent years through developing young players and recruiting good young players. Austerity is not all bad, but we call it necessity not a 'project'

**sbgawa** · 05/09/2018, 9:58 AM

Hopefully they will do well and get a bit of support.
It strikes me that it must be a difficult job keeping the 19's motivated as the season comes to an end.
The better under 19's will have already transitioned into the first team squad so the bulk of the team are playing out time.
Argument for an under 21 league I suppose but is it just kicking the can down the road.

**Burnsie** · 05/09/2018, 10:09 AM

are any Bohs first-teamers likely to feature in the UEFA matches?

The rules permit three players born in 1999 and otherwise 2000 and younger. The Bohs website lists Magerusan and Hamilton who were born in 99 - nobody in 2000 (without scrolling through to the youth team pages)

**Poor Student** · 05/09/2018, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Hopefully they will do well and get a bit of support.
It strikes me that it must be a difficult job keeping the 19's motivated as the season comes to an end.
The better under 19's will have already transitioned into the first team squad so the bulk of the team are playing out time.
Argument for an under 21 league I suppose but is it just kicking the can down the road.

Every level you add on is a huge cost to the strained LOI budgets. You add on coaching staff, transport costs, insurance, possible additional pitch rentals. I say this as a supporter of one of the clubs able to bear this cost.

**marinobohs** · 05/09/2018, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Hopefully they will do well and get a bit of support.
It strikes me that it must be a difficult job keeping the 19's motivated as the season comes to an end.
The better under 19's will have already transitioned into the first team squad so the bulk of the team are playing out time.
Argument for an under 21 league I suppose but is it just kicking the can down the road.

I think the generally held view is that anyone over 19 should be able to 'hack it' in the full set up or are never going to. The primary argument for under age is physical development etc but this should have evened out by 19/20. Probably a fair enough cut off age in most cases.