The European Competitions Thread

[Superblue 6,372]

Just now, Jason said:

The hilarious thing now is the reformed Champions League is not any better than the Super League either. It still seeks to protect the interest of the big clubs. 

Honestly the Champions League in its current format is fine. The way it's now ranked in terms of league champions being pooled in pot 1 is fairer than it used to be and helps throw up some more exciting groups (some poor ones too though). 

This one big league sounds rubbish, especially when you don't play everyone in it - how is that expected to work for fairness and integrity?

It sounds worse than the format when we first played in 99/00 when you had to get through two group stages to reach the knockouts!

The only other viable option in my opinion would be a full league format, say 10 teams in each league and you could have 4, 5, 6, 10 leagues that could be worked up and down. I actually though initially this may be the type of format these breakaway teams may look to do but obviously not! I don't really see an issue with the current Champions League format though, I think the mix of groups then knockouts is good.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

11 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

More information will follow but legally binding has come from Perez's interview yesterday. There's lots of speculation it was a letter of intention. I'm sure we'll see in due course.

If there are financial repercussions then it teaches a lesson. 

I'd be very surprised though if there are European bans. UEFA would secretly probably love to make an example, but they will not want to water down their premier competition to that degree next season. At the end of the day that's the whole reason this has kicked off in the first place! 

I think the biggest punishments will come politically from UEFA. PSG and Bayern will be the big dogs now in terms of positions of power and quite frankly rightly so. 

Lot of rumours of a god knows pages long document. Graeme Souness mentioned it on sky also IIRC.

And also the process to get this off the ground and in motion would have required more than a letter of intent you’d think? Who knows, anyway if we get out unscathed and it buries this super league shit once and for all its all that matters. 

Now just to reform the CL in a way that also does the clubs who win leagues in Scotland, Holland, Austria etc a favour should be the next step. Hopefully this can be the kick start of UEFA trying to make amends and reintroduce these clubs to the fold in these roles, big clubs like Ajax, Celtic, Rangers historically speaking, have had to go through 3/4 rounds of qualification to get into the CL despite winning their domestic trophies. All it would take is for them to give the top leagues champions and maybe 2 other places CL spots. This guarantees for big clubs who finish 4th in England, Spain, Germany, Italy or whatever is a bit of a joke also whilst we are being completely honest and transparent about making football fair for others. 

Edited April 20, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[Superblue 6,372]

3 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

And also the process to get this off the ground and in motion would have required more than a letter of intent you’d think? Who knows, anyway if we get out unscathed and it buries this super league shit once and for all its all that matters. 

Perhaps but that may have been enough as a collective to announce this plan.

The league always seemed at least a couple of seasons away (I think an exit was likely planned at the point of the Champions League reforms), so its possible that such legal bindings would have come in at a later date.

Either way, the fact everyone seems to be bailing out now on it will probably help any potential legal matters should there be any.

[Jase 43,479]

11 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Honestly the Champions League in its current format is fine. The way it's now ranked in terms of league champions being pooled in pot 1 is fairer than it used to be and helps throw up some more exciting groups (some poor ones too though). 

This one big league sounds rubbish, especially when you don't play everyone in it - how is that expected to work for fairness and integrity?

It sounds worse than the format when we first played in 99/00 when you had to get through two group stages to reach the knockouts!

The only other viable option in my opinion would be a full league format, say 10 teams in each league and you could have 4, 5, 6, 10 leagues that could be worked up and down. I actually though initially this may be the type of format these breakaway teams may look to do but obviously not! I don't really see an issue with the current Champions League format though, I think the mix of groups then knockouts is good.

But there's a new format coming and look at that second point...

 

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

Who knows what happened behind closed doors? Ceferin is godfather to Agnelli daughter. Maybe they are all playing the game. Even Perez sounded like that last night we he said we will speak with UEFA.

And today this news. UEFA increases the budget dramatically so clubs get what they wanted from the start. It is all the game and this played major part not fans protesting. Also it is interesting how fans are much more angry in England. Very quiet in Spain and Italy.

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

 

[Superblue 6,372]

4 minutes ago, Jason said:

But there's a new format coming and look at that second point...

 

Yep, like I said before, one league of 36 teams so you won't even play everybody. How is that remotely fair? If you're competing against teams in a league format you have to play everybody in it for fairness.

And I saw point 2 the other day. That was UEFA's pathetic attempt to pander to these elite clubs. Like has been argued over the last couple of days everything should be achieved on merit. I hope they retract that one.

[Fernando 6,585]

7 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Who knows what happened behind closed doors? Ceferin is godfather to Agnelli daughter. Maybe they are all playing the game. Even Perez sounded like that last night we he said we will speak with UEFA.

And today this news. UEFA increases the budget dramatically so clubs get what they wanted from the start. It is all the game and this played major part not fans protesting. Also it is interesting how fans are much more angry in England. Very quiet in Spain and Italy.

I agree something does not sit well with all this. The way it came out is so suspicious. 

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

Privileged always want more privilege. Take @Jason for example. He as a admin made himself invincible and we cannot see when was he last time online. We regular hard working people cannot do this. Match thread for WH still not open, cannot vote for MOTM anymore. Surely worth protesting? 🤣

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

23 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Who knows what happened behind closed doors? Ceferin is godfather to Agnelli daughter. Maybe they are all playing the game. Even Perez sounded like that last night we he said we will speak with UEFA.

And today this news. UEFA increases the budget dramatically so clubs get what they wanted from the start. It is all the game and this played major part not fans protesting. Also it is interesting how fans are much more angry in England. Very quiet in Spain and Italy.

 Ceferin has called Agnelli everything under the sun in the last 2/3 days, I think that bridge is burned. Rumours are he is also considering resigning from Juventus heavily after this.

Tbf if Juventus come out of the super league, if they want their say to be heard now they may need to remove that gobshite from his position and appoint someone else. Same with all these clubs. These guys are effectively tainted now. Woodward is the first to go, Agnelli could be next, dont rule out changes in the 6 PL clubs board rooms yet either.

Fans are definitely not happy in other leagues, don’t know where you heard that they are quiet from. Particularly Spain where they have always been fed up of Perez and his constant scheming and plotting. 

It is disappointing that its money orientated again but not breaking off and keeping the CL and domestic leagues is a step in the right direction. I do not like the reform though again it gives more assurances and opportunities to bigger clubs, the fact that the likes of clubs like Celtic, Rangers, Ajax, PSV etc. will undoubtedly get shafted for money is not ideal. Its again based on reputation and UEFA coefficient. I don’t believe anyone who doesnt finish in the top slots to qualify for the CL in all the corresponding leagues should have to risk missing out because Arsenal and Spurs had bad seasons. Or Roma or whoever: Or clubs like Celtic in the past had to play 3/4 rounds of qualification despite winning the league trophy. It will come into play in 2024 and I would think there will be more changes proppsed prior to that. I mean I get the bigger leagues having more slots maybe but why should 4th place in a PL warrant an automatic qualification spot ahead of actual league champions in some countries!? Why not make 4th place teams play off against other teams who are in qualification places in other leagues prior? Your still going to have the spectacle of big games but your also going to manage to fairly include some of these clubs who are winners and get fucked over so 4/5th place teams can get in for nothing.

Edited April 20, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[Jase 43,479]

2 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Privileged always want more privilege. Take @Jason for example. He as a admin made himself invincible and we cannot see when was he last time online. We regular hard working people cannot do this. Match thread for WH still not open, cannot vote for MOTM anymore. Surely worth protesting? 🤣

Nobody is stopping you from forming your own Chelsea Super Forum...

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

6 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

 It will come into play in 2024 and I would think there will be more changes proppsed prior to that. I mean I get the bigger leagues having more slots maybe but why should 4th place in a PL warrant an automatic qualification spot ahead of actual league champions in some countries!? 

Yes, also after 3rd UEFA competition start next season just clubs from 15 best ranked countries will play in Europa League. So this is bad for +30 European countries.

[Superblue 6,372]

Statement has just come in from the club. "As reported earlier this evening..."

@Jason must have checked our conversation first I guess?!

Pretty poor effort to be honest. The "Having joined late last week" has been spun out already and seems to be an attempt to try and wash our hands of the set up of this (which I still think us and City will be forgiven much easier than the others).

I'd like to hope something a bit more detailed is released tomorrow which is less formal and a genuine apology to our fanbase and the wider football community. I said it earlier, to be fair to Arsenal, they're the only ones currently to really apologise properly.

[NikkiCFC 8,318]

As reported earlier this evening, Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it has begun the formal procedures for withdrawal from the group developing plans for a European Super League.

Having joined the group late last week, we have now had time to consider the matter fully and have decided that our continued participation in these plans would not be in the best interests of the Club, our supporters or the wider football community.

[Jase 43,479]

4 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Statement has just come in from the club. "As reported earlier this evening..."

@Jason must have checked our conversation first I guess?!

Pretty poor effort to be honest. The "Having joined late last week" has been spun out already and seems to be an attempt to try and wash our hands of the set up of this (which I still think us and City will be forgiven much easier than the others).

I'd like to hope something a bit more detailed is released tomorrow which is less formal and a genuine apology to our fanbase and the wider football community. I said it earlier, to be fair to Arsenal, they're the only ones currently to really apologise properly.

Just saw the statement. It’s pathetic!

Didn’t even acknowledge the mistake and didn’t even fucking apologize! 

And they only considered the matter fully after joining the ESL? Like WTF?!?!

[Superblue 6,372]

Just now, Jason said:

Just saw the statement. It’s pathetic!

Didn’t even acknowledge the mistake and didn’t even fucking apologize! 

And they only considered the matter fully after joining the ESL? Like WTF?!?!

On one hand they're statement is no different to everyone else's besides Arsenal's and as I've mentioned before, I think us and City have leaked/briefed the press pretty well the last couple of days to try and navigate this mess and exonerate our involvements as best as humanly possible.

But I'd love the club to just own the mistake and make a proper apology. Maybe there's something to come tomorrow, it's incredibly late and maybe they felt they just needed something put out there. Ultimately though the feeling is somebody needs to be held accountable within the club for this...and it won't be Roman!

[chippy 342]

For me personally, the statement is enough. Just want to move on from this sorry shambles.

Having said that, I do now genuinely think the time is now right for Roman to sell up. We're stagnating or even going backwards as a club now and I cannot see us ever seriously challenging for the title again with Roman in charge. Just making  more wrong decisions than right ones these days, with his team making far too many crap signings and managers who are not up to it for one reason or another. Also the collapse of the new stadium and his problems with our government. 

Would be forever grateful for everything he's done for our club, but nothing lasts forever and now is as good a time as any for a fresh start for our club.

 

[DDA 9,938]

3 hours ago, chippy said:

For me personally, the statement is enough. Just want to move on from this sorry shambles.

Having said that, I do now genuinely think the time is now right for Roman to sell up. We're stagnating or even going backwards as a club now and I cannot see us ever seriously challenging for the title again with Roman in charge. Just making  more wrong decisions than right ones these days, with his team making far too many crap signings and managers who are not up to it for one reason or another. Also the collapse of the new stadium and his problems with our government. 

Would be forever grateful for everything he's done for our club, but nothing lasts forever and now is as good a time as any for a fresh start for our club.

 

Be careful what you wish for. Just look at Arsenal. That's all I'm going to say.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

[Blues Forever 1,232]

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Edited April 21, 2021 by Blues Forever