Does the Europa League need changed?

**Begbie** · #1 15-09-2011, 11:01 PM

The Europa League (Thursday Cup) is becoming a farce. Spurs can put out what is practically a reserve team in the knowledge that they will progress no matter what the result, if they want to. With all due respect to some, eg. Shamrock Rovers, there are quite a few teams that shouldn't still be involved if UEFA want the competition to be taken seriously. The old UEFA Cup had more kudos than the present competition.

I reckon that the competition should be reduced to 24 teams before it enters the group stage, giving 6 groups of 4 better quality teams. The top 2 teams from each group should progress to the next round, 12 teams in total. The 8 teams finishing 3rd in the Champions League should go into a draw and play a qualifier, home and away against the team that they are drawn against. The winning 4 teams would then go into the Europa League, meaning that there are 16 teams still left in when the knock-out stages begin, not 32 as at present.

A lot more interest for the neutral and would result in better quality games.

**imperial109** · #2 15-09-2011, 11:11 PM

I think it started going pear shaped when they introduced the group stages. I don't know if they were hoping for a Champions League mk2, and the money that goes with it but like you have mentioned its now becoming saturated with sub standard teams, like Tottenham.

**Begbie** · #3 15-09-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperial109

its now becoming saturated with sub standard teams, like Tottenham.

...... and Arsenal next season.

**imperial109** · #4 15-09-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Begbie

...... and Arsenal next season.

Thats why I'm getting the digs in now whilst I can.

**goodison** · #5 16-09-2011, 01:41 AM

The problem is, with the huge desire to play in the Champions League, most top sides field a virtual reserve teams now for their domestic cup competitions (not only in England) - with winners qualifying for the Europa.

Also, with top 3 and 4 finishes equivalent to Champions League qualifications, and the dominance of the same 2-3 teams in most of Europe's top leagues (or 2 if you're Spanish or Scottish), the Europa will always be considered the Johnstone's Paint Trophy of Europe - for the also rans.

With rare exceptions, the big teams won't play in the Europa League, and without the big names, the Europa League will never generate the interest and sponsorship to attract the fans, and wannabe big clubs.

I still prefer the old days of the European Cup being just for the champions, the Cup Winners Cup for the Cup winners and the UEFA cup for runners up and third placed teams. It made all three competitions more competitive, allowed for smaller teams to have one off chance and made it more interesting, instead of the same teams playing each other every bloody year.

**Harry Hotspur** · #6 16-09-2011, 02:29 AM

Don't think CL teams should get rewarded for failure in one competition, getting another bite at a cherry, if ya can call the (thursday Cup) a cherry!

**mfc1876** · #7 16-09-2011, 11:15 AM

Was gonna say the same thing as the two posts above me. Champions League should be for champions. Rather than go back to a cup winners cup though I think I'd prefer it to stay as 2 European competitions.

It could keep it's name of Champions League (as it wouldn't be false advertising then) and go to group stages either at 16 or 8 teams left once all the shite has been eliminated as there'll be less entrants in it than the UEFA Cup, and then go back to knockout stage after that at quarter/semi final stage. You could even have the 'inferior teams' (champions of Wales, Estonia, Albania etc) play a preliminary round first and then go to a group stage earlier as it would be a Champions LEAGUE after all.

Change the name of the Europa League back to the UEFA Cup and only allow 2nd and 3rd placed teams from each country's top flight and the cup winners (or runners up if the winners also finish in the top 3 in the league) to enter.

I'd like to see the group format come into effect when there are 16 teams left when you'd expect the 'better teams' to be left in it and then the winners of the groups go into the semi final.

**mfc1876** · #8 16-09-2011, 11:17 AM

Oh yeah and Champions League losers should DEFINATELY NOT go into the UEFA Cup as that's what started devaluating it in the first place.

**imperial109** · #9 16-09-2011, 11:20 AM

Do you think having the Europa League winners being automatically entered into next years Champions League would encourage teams to take it more seriously?

**mfc1876** · #10 16-09-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperial109

Do you think having the Europa League winners being automatically entered into next years Champions League would encourage teams to take it more seriously?

Yeah I think that's a good idea that mate.

**Greenman** · #11 16-09-2011, 11:49 AM

I'd agree we goodison, cut the number of teams in the Champions League to league winners & cup winners from all countries that are entitles to play in the tournament, that would give them enough teams to make a competitions out of it with no 2nd bit of the cherry, a straight 2 leg knock out when your out thats it.

BUT ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY, the more you play the more the club rakes in, thats why they added more teams.

I'd say make the Europa tournament just as tough to get into, you'd have to be League runners up and I'd give the other cup finalist a place to, but that would be it with the same 2 leg knock out.

If you put out a team that is considered not to be of your first team players as Tottenham did, I'd impose a big find or remove them from the tournament altogether, that would ensure the team put out was the best the club had available.

If your teams is from the Shamrock Rovers of this world as long as it's their Premier League and cups in their country, or what ever they call it, thats would be fine with me, they've earned the right to compete and make some extra cash for their club.

**mfc1876** · #12 16-09-2011, 11:55 AM

Putting the cup winners in the Champions League is a good idea also, keeps in with 'Champions' name. There'd still be enough teams for the UEFA with 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the league. The competitions would be about the same size then.

**mfc1876** · #13 16-09-2011, 11:58 AM

It would stop teams devaluing the cups. FA Cup winners into Champions League along with the league champions. League Cup winners into the UEFA Cup along with 2nd and 3rd placed league teams.

Could even just keep UEFA Cup to league runners up and League Cup winners.

**Begbie** · #14 16-09-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imperial109

Do you think having the Europa League winners being automatically entered into next years Champions League would encourage teams to take it more seriously?

Excellent idea. It makes it well worth trying to win the Europa League, in terms of guaranteed future income for the winners.

**snappie** · #15 16-09-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hotspur

Don't think CL teams should get rewarded for failure in one competition, getting another bite at a cherry, if ya can call the (thursday Cup) a cherry!

Much as i hate to agree with a spud, I've been saying that for years. A Cl loser could win a trophy, whilst a better team which progresses further gets nothing. I also think the CL should be for champions only.

**Begbie** · #16 16-09-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappie

Much as i hate to agree with a spud, I've been saying that for years. A Cl loser could win a trophy, whilst a better team which progresses further gets nothing.

By the same token, a team which isn't in the CL could win a trophy whilst a better team from the CL wins nothing. The argument doesn't hold water.

**Begbie** · #17 16-09-2011, 10:05 PM

OK. A working compromise, there is no way that the Champions League will revert to Champions only. Too much money involved.

Reduce the number of teams in the Europa League to 24 before it enters the group stage. The top 2 teams from each group progress to the next round, 12 teams in total. The 8 teams finishing 3rd in the Champions League should go into a draw and play a qualifier, home and away against the team that they are drawn against. The winning 4 teams would then go into the Europa League, meaning that there are 16 teams still left in when the knock-out stages begin, not 32 as at present. (OK that's what I said in the first post

)

Award the winner of the Europa League a straight entry to the following season's Champions League group stage.

That would provide a lot more interest in the Thursday Cup. Let's face it. Very few of Thursday's games were 'crowd-pullers'.

**goodison** · #18 17-09-2011, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Begbie

Let's face it. Very few of Thursday's games were 'crowd-pullers'.

OMG .. how dare you!! Maccabi Haifi vs AEK Larnaca - how did that match not fire the imagination!