Zatman Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 AC Milan want European places for past glories League form should be ignored for "prestige" teams 16 October ~ In the 1990s AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi complained that it did not make economic sense that the European season of top clubs such as his Milan could be over by the beginning of November, or even earlier. Those were still the days of European competitions with straight knockout rounds and no seedings. So, in 1988-89, Napoli found themselves up against Real Madrid in the first round and promptly went out, a fate which also befell Inter two years later against the much more modest Malmo. Berlusconi's wish was soon granted as the European Champions Cup became the Champions League. But some people are never satisfied, and so now, again from Milan, has come another suggestion. The author is Umberto Gandini, a director of the club who is little-known outside Rossoneri circles. No doubt influenced by the fact that Milan are not in Europe this season, he has come up with the idea that in order to improve the prestige of the Champions League certain clubs who have had the misfortune not to qualify due to poor league campaigns should be granted wild card entry to the competition. He named seven Italian and six English clubs who fight for, respectively, three and four places, and his argument seems to be that they should all be in the Champions League ex officio. He says: "Every year two or three miss out and either go into the Europa League or 'have to' go without European football." And of course he could not fail to mention the importance to the clubs of revenue from European football, though it seems to have escaped his notice that for most clubs "going without" European football is the norm. That this suggestion should come from Italy, a country where the national cup competition is programmed to ensure that two of the top clubs reach the final, should not come as a surprise. If its wider implications, the idea is clearly outlandish. Imagine that a medium-sized club, say Verona or Sampdoria, finish above Milan but out of the European placings. Gandini seems to be saying that Milan should leapfrog over them simply because of their past glories. So some Serie A clubs would be in Europe whatever their final league position, while others knew that no matter how well they performed they would never be allowed in. Yet most small- to medium-sized top division clubs manage to survive without any of the European money that Gandini seems to think is indispensable. According to Gandini's logic clubs such as Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Derby and Nottingham Forest should be in the Premier League at the expense of five of the current members with less "sporting merit" or support. That is without mentioning all the former League clubs in the Conference and the often smaller clubs that have replaced them. Gianni Infantino, UEFA general secretary, has said that there is no chance of Gandini's proposals being adopted, but the power that the top clubs now wield suggests caution. It is not inconceivable that it could happen. And if it does it will be another nail in the coffin of the idea of football as an exercise in meritocracy and a sport which, more than almost any other, sometimes sees little triumph over large and be rewarded for doing so. horrible idea which will probably be adopted in the end if United and a few others miss out regularly. Could mean Villa get in with our victory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avfc96 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Horrible idea, if you can't compete with the best in your league then you certainly don't deserve to compete among Europe's elite. I think United will get back in this season anyway, especially with their attacking force. But it's just the sort of stupid shit I can see Uefa using. But it won't even be clubs like Nottingham Forest and Villa that have both won the competition before that are given those wild cards, it will be clubs like Arsenal who have never even won the **** thing, Man City etc who have the money rather than the prestige who would be granted the wild cards should they fail to qualify in the domestic league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 worst idea ever 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa89 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Up there with the there should be "daylight" for an offside decision nonsense that Blatter spouted a few years ago. Ideas like this really show up everything that's wrong with football. It's not about fair competition, it's just about money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted October 16, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted October 16, 2014 **** terrible idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG_Villa_Fan Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 This idea isn't worth even commenting on. UEFA have been throwing a whole lot of new ideas lately, including the removal of the importance of the away goal, which is much more worthy of a discussion tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoelVilla Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 The only interesting thing about Champions League is Malmo FF It is ruining football a little bit more for every year and this idea would just speed things along. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 The only interesting thing about Champions League is Malmo FF It is ruining football a little bit more for every year and this idea would just speed things along. they are my team for this season but Liverpool struggling in it is an added bonus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Shit idea that allows now shit owners to perform shit,and offer shit finances and still get their shitty hands on the Champions League revenue. Here's an idea, you want CL football spend some **** money on your team you word removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsimonw Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 This is such a Milan thing to do. As Rodders says, why bother spending money on the team when you can get in the CL with no effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimzk5 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Here's my proposal Its called the champions league, ergo only the league champions should take part. Or call it the champions league + other teams that finished 4th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GENTLEMAN Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Woeful concept. I do have a feeling that they will eventually scrap the Europa League and place more teams in the CL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 thats about a week old, obviously nonsense from a big club feeling sorry for themselves, it'll never happen its the same arguement that will arise if the european super league ever actually happens (it wont, and if it ever did lawyers all over europe would see it as their retirement plan) what would actually qualify a club? prestige? who quantifies that? milan should automatically qualify because of what they have brought to the competition previously, on that basis so should juve and inter, that's Italy's 3 places wrapped up then... milan could play utd in shanghai on a wednesday night though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Great idea if it means Villa get in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen. They basically did the same to that next gen bullshit CL version and if you had told people years ago that 4 teams from the PL would be entered into the CHAMPIONS league then they would have laughed at you. I mean, seriously, how much money have the Arsenal owners raked in from their utter failure, and second is nowhere. Anything other than 1st for a league with their resources is a failure. The system is already broken, we are just blind to it through it being gradually altered. it is all about revenue, and if a shit Milan side who finished mid table can generate more interest, ticket sales, and Tv money than the champions of a minor league, then there is every chance this will get implemented. Edited October 16, 2014 by rodders0223 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Lol, dumb idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted October 16, 2014 Moderator Share Posted October 16, 2014 I knew as soon as I saw the thread title I'd hate whatever idea it was about. When was the last time the powers that be in European football made a change to the game for the good of the game? I'm damned if I can recall it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) I hate the Champions League anyway, so my stance is let them do it. The sooner they form a European super league the better, and this would be a step in that direction. Then we might go back to having a fairer domestic league, where it's not only the mega rich clubs who have the chance of winning it. Plus having a game where finishing fourth in your league, is better than winning a cup makes me feel sick. Edited October 16, 2014 by dAVe80 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentVilla Posted October 16, 2014 Moderator Share Posted October 16, 2014 The sooner they form a European super league the better, and this would be a step in that direction. Then we might go back to having a fairer domestic league, They already have it, its a two tier European league its been here for a few years now there is even promotion and relegation between the two. Only they aren't going to leave the domestic competitions as they hoover up the money from there as well. Football is broken. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dAVe80 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 The sooner they form a European super league the better, and this would be a step in that direction. Then we might go back to having a fairer domestic league, They already have it, its a two tier European league its been here for a few years now there is even promotion and relegation between the two. Only they aren't going to leave the domestic competitions as they hoover up the money from there as well. Football is broken. I fear you are right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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