Recently read an article that suggested a shake up of European leagues, aimed at making the CL more competitive. The basis was that the smaller leagues amalgamate to make 4/5 regional competitions that would compete with the Big 4 leagues. I.e Scotland, Portugal, Holland, Belgium Scandinavian leagues Romania, Bulgaria, Greece Turkey Czech, Austrian, Swiss, Polish Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania etc... These leagues comprise of 16 teams and say 3 teams qualify for the CL. The idea being that increased competition in these leagues improves the standard of the teams and means that the CL becomes more competitive. The national leagues could run in addition to these. It's far fetched, but an idea that makes sense. How would people feel about this league format. Personally I can see merit in it, but think it would have to be carefully thought through.
May not be the best idea because some of the smaller leagues like Portugal Holland and Scotland have 2 or 3 very strong teams that compete with the big teams. If you included league of Ireland the Welsh league teams in it they would still get thrashed but the likes of any spl team. Maybe reducing the champions league places from 4 to 3 and giving 1 place to the smaller leagues and nations will help these leagues develop over time. They,ll be the whipping boys for years but once they develop their games, league and clubs they,ll be at a better standard.
This is something that Celtic have long been looking at. With the revenue, or rather lack of, that the SPL generates the Old Firm have been looking for a way out and this appears to be the answer that UEFA seem to be most happiest with, although I know the SPL/SFA probably aren't. I think it comes down to whether there would be enough revenue to keep the national leagues going. My proposal, using SPL as example, would be that Celtic and Rangers (this is purely based on support/tv interest etc) have automatic initial entry to their European league and enter their U21 sides into the SPL (U21 sides would not be promoted should they win league). The third place would be taken on a season by season basis where the lowest positioned Scottish club would play the champions of the SPL in a home/away play off. If for instance Hibernian won the SPL after the first season and Rangers finished the lowest placed Scottish club and Hibs won the play off then Rangers would go back to SPL, their U21 team would go back to U21 league and Hibs U21 would go up to SPL. I think that would increase competition in Scotland and encourage clubs to use home grown talent and better youth policies... not that there's much wrong with the likes of some of the youth policies now. Kilmarnock, Hibs, Rangers and Celtic are one's that I know are very successful. If I've missed someone out, I apologise. It's hard to see how this would be panned out to everyone's liking but I know that some fans in Scotland would like to see the Old Firm leave and personally I think it would better the Scottish game if it was properly subsidised and planned out initially.
I like the idea, anything to make the Champions League more competitive and less reptitive every year has my vote.
