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Dunno what to make of this....
PREM TOLD: DUMP FOUR CLUBS
EXCLUSIVE: 16-team league by 2008 or we face Euro ban
By Martin Lipton
THE PREMIERSHIP faces calls from UEFA to cut the number of clubs to 16 after the big guns of Europe were all blown out of the Euro 2004 water early.
England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France were all eliminated before the semi-final stage to cause concern at the highest levels of the European game.
UEFA needs the countries with the largest television and advertising markets to be in at the business end of tournaments to ensure the multi-billion pound cash cow can still be milked.
But after a Champions League season which saw Porto play Monaco in the final, senior UEFA figures have decided that radical action is needed.
And that could mean the Premiership being forced to slash FOUR clubs over the next three seasons or risk being barred from entering clubs in the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
One senior UEFA source told Mirror Sport last night: "There are great lessons here in this tournament. We now have to act according to those lessons."
UEFA President and Arsenal fan Lennart Johansson has already indicated that the demands of club commitments have to be reduced. Johansson said: "International football is very important but so is the health of the players. They should play fewer matches for their clubs.
"That is why we changed the Champions League format so there were only 13 games this season rather than 17. But maybe that action is not enough."
UEFA are now drafting proposals that will demand all the major footballing powers cut the number of clubs in their top leagues to 16 before the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.
The plans are expected to be announced by new chief executive Lars Christer Olsson in August, with the warning that UEFA will be willing to deny access to its two club competitions to countries that do not promise to fall into line. That would cause indignation among Premiership clubs, where only Arsenal and Manchester United have shown any interest in calls for a reduction to 18 clubs. Coca-Cola League bosses would be furious too, with the third promotion spot under threat.
Premier League spokesman Phil French maintained last night: "There are absolutely no plans for a change in the format of the Premier League competition and we have had no contact from UEFA suggesting that they wish to do so."
But now it seems that UEFA has decided that action is needed and that the proposals will be dropped on the doormats of the major leagues at the end of the summer.
Such a move will bring outrage from the majority of Premiership clubs, who are guaranteed around £15million each year from TV revenues and who would fear a potentially crippling loss of cash from such an enforced cut in the number of top-flight teams.
The Premiership and Spain's La Liga would be hit hardest, as both have 20 clubs, while Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga feature 18 sides.
But Bayern Munich president and chairman of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer, signalled that Germany would be willing to fall into line, said: "UEFA has to take action on this. There are just too many matches.
"It's not just been here in Portugal that the big countries have failed. Look at the World Cup, when France, Italy and Spain went out so early, and the Champions League this season.
"Players are arriving at the major tournaments very tired. UEFA must act to cut the leagues from 20 to a maximum of 16 teams."
New Spurs boss Jacques Santini, whose France side never got out of second gear before their quarter-final exit, added: "The number of matches the players play must be an element of the explanation for what has happened in this tournament.
"A number of the coaches have complained about how many games their players have to play before they turn up for a tournament like this.
"I do not think we should use this as an excuse, but if you ask all the coaches who have gone out early, they would tell you we need to have better preparation time for a tournament like this if you have players who play in the biggest leagues."
SUFFERING FROM FIXTURE FATIGUEGERMANY20-team top league. Knocked out by Portugal, which has 18 teams in its top flightFRANCESPAIN20-team domestic league. Knocked out by Greece, which has 16 teams in its top flightENGLAND20-team top league. Players had played four more domestic games than counterparts from PortugalGERMANY18-team top league. KO'd by Czech Republic, which has only 16 teams in its top flightITALY18-team top league. Ended behind Sweden and Denmark, who have top leagues of 14 and 12 respectively.
PREM TOLD: DUMP FOUR CLUBS
EXCLUSIVE: 16-team league by 2008 or we face Euro ban
By Martin Lipton
THE PREMIERSHIP faces calls from UEFA to cut the number of clubs to 16 after the big guns of Europe were all blown out of the Euro 2004 water early.
England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France were all eliminated before the semi-final stage to cause concern at the highest levels of the European game.
UEFA needs the countries with the largest television and advertising markets to be in at the business end of tournaments to ensure the multi-billion pound cash cow can still be milked.
But after a Champions League season which saw Porto play Monaco in the final, senior UEFA figures have decided that radical action is needed.
And that could mean the Premiership being forced to slash FOUR clubs over the next three seasons or risk being barred from entering clubs in the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
One senior UEFA source told Mirror Sport last night: "There are great lessons here in this tournament. We now have to act according to those lessons."
UEFA President and Arsenal fan Lennart Johansson has already indicated that the demands of club commitments have to be reduced. Johansson said: "International football is very important but so is the health of the players. They should play fewer matches for their clubs.
"That is why we changed the Champions League format so there were only 13 games this season rather than 17. But maybe that action is not enough."
UEFA are now drafting proposals that will demand all the major footballing powers cut the number of clubs in their top leagues to 16 before the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.
The plans are expected to be announced by new chief executive Lars Christer Olsson in August, with the warning that UEFA will be willing to deny access to its two club competitions to countries that do not promise to fall into line. That would cause indignation among Premiership clubs, where only Arsenal and Manchester United have shown any interest in calls for a reduction to 18 clubs. Coca-Cola League bosses would be furious too, with the third promotion spot under threat.
Premier League spokesman Phil French maintained last night: "There are absolutely no plans for a change in the format of the Premier League competition and we have had no contact from UEFA suggesting that they wish to do so."
But now it seems that UEFA has decided that action is needed and that the proposals will be dropped on the doormats of the major leagues at the end of the summer.
Such a move will bring outrage from the majority of Premiership clubs, who are guaranteed around £15million each year from TV revenues and who would fear a potentially crippling loss of cash from such an enforced cut in the number of top-flight teams.
The Premiership and Spain's La Liga would be hit hardest, as both have 20 clubs, while Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga feature 18 sides.
But Bayern Munich president and chairman of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer, signalled that Germany would be willing to fall into line, said: "UEFA has to take action on this. There are just too many matches.
"It's not just been here in Portugal that the big countries have failed. Look at the World Cup, when France, Italy and Spain went out so early, and the Champions League this season.
"Players are arriving at the major tournaments very tired. UEFA must act to cut the leagues from 20 to a maximum of 16 teams."
New Spurs boss Jacques Santini, whose France side never got out of second gear before their quarter-final exit, added: "The number of matches the players play must be an element of the explanation for what has happened in this tournament.
"A number of the coaches have complained about how many games their players have to play before they turn up for a tournament like this.
"I do not think we should use this as an excuse, but if you ask all the coaches who have gone out early, they would tell you we need to have better preparation time for a tournament like this if you have players who play in the biggest leagues."
SUFFERING FROM FIXTURE FATIGUEGERMANY20-team top league. Knocked out by Portugal, which has 18 teams in its top flightFRANCESPAIN20-team domestic league. Knocked out by Greece, which has 16 teams in its top flightENGLAND20-team top league. Players had played four more domestic games than counterparts from PortugalGERMANY18-team top league. KO'd by Czech Republic, which has only 16 teams in its top flightITALY18-team top league. Ended behind Sweden and Denmark, who have top leagues of 14 and 12 respectively.
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Dunno what to make of this....
PREM TOLD: DUMP FOUR CLUBS
EXCLUSIVE: 16-team league by 2008 or we face Euro ban
By Martin Lipton
THE PREMIERSHIP faces calls from UEFA to cut the number of clubs to 16 after the big guns of Europe were all blown out of the Euro 2004 water early.
England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France were all eliminated before the semi-final stage to cause concern at the highest levels of the European game.
UEFA needs the countries with the largest television and advertising markets to be in at the business end of tournaments to ensure the multi-billion pound cash cow can still be milked.
But after a Champions League season which saw Porto play Monaco in the final, senior UEFA figures have decided that radical action is needed.
And that could mean the Premiership being forced to slash FOUR clubs over the next three seasons or risk being barred from entering clubs in the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
One senior UEFA source told Mirror Sport last night: "There are great lessons here in this tournament. We now have to act according to those lessons."
UEFA President and Arsenal fan Lennart Johansson has already indicated that the demands of club commitments have to be reduced. Johansson said: "International football is very important but so is the health of the players. They should play fewer matches for their clubs.
"That is why we changed the Champions League format so there were only 13 games this season rather than 17. But maybe that action is not enough."
UEFA are now drafting proposals that will demand all the major footballing powers cut the number of clubs in their top leagues to 16 before the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.
The plans are expected to be announced by new chief executive Lars Christer Olsson in August, with the warning that UEFA will be willing to deny access to its two club competitions to countries that do not promise to fall into line. That would cause indignation among Premiership clubs, where only Arsenal and Manchester United have shown any interest in calls for a reduction to 18 clubs. Coca-Cola League bosses would be furious too, with the third promotion spot under threat.
Premier League spokesman Phil French maintained last night: "There are absolutely no plans for a change in the format of the Premier League competition and we have had no contact from UEFA suggesting that they wish to do so."
But now it seems that UEFA has decided that action is needed and that the proposals will be dropped on the doormats of the major leagues at the end of the summer.
Such a move will bring outrage from the majority of Premiership clubs, who are guaranteed around £15million each year from TV revenues and who would fear a potentially crippling loss of cash from such an enforced cut in the number of top-flight teams.
The Premiership and Spain's La Liga would be hit hardest, as both have 20 clubs, while Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga feature 18 sides.
But Bayern Munich president and chairman of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer, signalled that Germany would be willing to fall into line, said: "UEFA has to take action on this. There are just too many matches.
"It's not just been here in Portugal that the big countries have failed. Look at the World Cup, when France, Italy and Spain went out so early, and the Champions League this season.
"Players are arriving at the major tournaments very tired. UEFA must act to cut the leagues from 20 to a maximum of 16 teams."
New Spurs boss Jacques Santini, whose France side never got out of second gear before their quarter-final exit, added: "The number of matches the players play must be an element of the explanation for what has happened in this tournament.
"A number of the coaches have complained about how many games their players have to play before they turn up for a tournament like this.
"I do not think we should use this as an excuse, but if you ask all the coaches who have gone out early, they would tell you we need to have better preparation time for a tournament like this if you have players who play in the biggest leagues."
SUFFERING FROM FIXTURE FATIGUEGERMANY20-team top league. Knocked out by Portugal, which has 18 teams in its top flightFRANCESPAIN20-team domestic league. Knocked out by Greece, which has 16 teams in its top flightENGLAND20-team top league. Players had played four more domestic games than counterparts from PortugalGERMANY18-team top league. KO'd by Czech Republic, which has only 16 teams in its top flightITALY18-team top league. Ended behind Sweden and Denmark, who have top leagues of 14 and 12 respectively.
PREM TOLD: DUMP FOUR CLUBS
EXCLUSIVE: 16-team league by 2008 or we face Euro ban
By Martin Lipton
THE PREMIERSHIP faces calls from UEFA to cut the number of clubs to 16 after the big guns of Europe were all blown out of the Euro 2004 water early.
England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France were all eliminated before the semi-final stage to cause concern at the highest levels of the European game.
UEFA needs the countries with the largest television and advertising markets to be in at the business end of tournaments to ensure the multi-billion pound cash cow can still be milked.
But after a Champions League season which saw Porto play Monaco in the final, senior UEFA figures have decided that radical action is needed.
And that could mean the Premiership being forced to slash FOUR clubs over the next three seasons or risk being barred from entering clubs in the Champions League or UEFA Cup.
One senior UEFA source told Mirror Sport last night: "There are great lessons here in this tournament. We now have to act according to those lessons."
UEFA President and Arsenal fan Lennart Johansson has already indicated that the demands of club commitments have to be reduced. Johansson said: "International football is very important but so is the health of the players. They should play fewer matches for their clubs.
"That is why we changed the Champions League format so there were only 13 games this season rather than 17. But maybe that action is not enough."
UEFA are now drafting proposals that will demand all the major footballing powers cut the number of clubs in their top leagues to 16 before the Euro 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria.
The plans are expected to be announced by new chief executive Lars Christer Olsson in August, with the warning that UEFA will be willing to deny access to its two club competitions to countries that do not promise to fall into line. That would cause indignation among Premiership clubs, where only Arsenal and Manchester United have shown any interest in calls for a reduction to 18 clubs. Coca-Cola League bosses would be furious too, with the third promotion spot under threat.
Premier League spokesman Phil French maintained last night: "There are absolutely no plans for a change in the format of the Premier League competition and we have had no contact from UEFA suggesting that they wish to do so."
But now it seems that UEFA has decided that action is needed and that the proposals will be dropped on the doormats of the major leagues at the end of the summer.
Such a move will bring outrage from the majority of Premiership clubs, who are guaranteed around £15million each year from TV revenues and who would fear a potentially crippling loss of cash from such an enforced cut in the number of top-flight teams.
The Premiership and Spain's La Liga would be hit hardest, as both have 20 clubs, while Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga feature 18 sides.
But Bayern Munich president and chairman of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee Franz Beckenbauer, signalled that Germany would be willing to fall into line, said: "UEFA has to take action on this. There are just too many matches.
"It's not just been here in Portugal that the big countries have failed. Look at the World Cup, when France, Italy and Spain went out so early, and the Champions League this season.
"Players are arriving at the major tournaments very tired. UEFA must act to cut the leagues from 20 to a maximum of 16 teams."
New Spurs boss Jacques Santini, whose France side never got out of second gear before their quarter-final exit, added: "The number of matches the players play must be an element of the explanation for what has happened in this tournament.
"A number of the coaches have complained about how many games their players have to play before they turn up for a tournament like this.
"I do not think we should use this as an excuse, but if you ask all the coaches who have gone out early, they would tell you we need to have better preparation time for a tournament like this if you have players who play in the biggest leagues."
SUFFERING FROM FIXTURE FATIGUEGERMANY20-team top league. Knocked out by Portugal, which has 18 teams in its top flightFRANCESPAIN20-team domestic league. Knocked out by Greece, which has 16 teams in its top flightENGLAND20-team top league. Players had played four more domestic games than counterparts from PortugalGERMANY18-team top league. KO'd by Czech Republic, which has only 16 teams in its top flightITALY18-team top league. Ended behind Sweden and Denmark, who have top leagues of 14 and 12 respectively.
Get rid of Crystal Palace, West Brom, Norwich City and Spurs
Wow you is so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obviously it'll be the worst teams, thus not Spurs. They'll probably just relegate 4 each year and only promote 3. Over 4 years, voila!
Obviously it'll be the worst teams, thus not Spurs. They'll probably just relegate 4 each year and only promote 3. Over 4 years, voila!
Lil Bro wrote:
> Wow you is so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Obviously it'll be the worst teams, thus not Spurs. They'll probably
> just relegate 4 each year and only promote 3. Over 4 years, voila!
That wouldnt work to have it done by the 2008/2009 season because when that season starts there'd still be 17 teams because they're not doing it this season.
> Wow you is so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Obviously it'll be the worst teams, thus not Spurs. They'll probably
> just relegate 4 each year and only promote 3. Over 4 years, voila!
That wouldnt work to have it done by the 2008/2009 season because when that season starts there'd still be 17 teams because they're not doing it this season.
Then they'd have to speed up the process!!
Anonymous wrote:
> Get rid of Crystal Palace, West Brom, Norwich City and Spurs\
Yes, because that is perfectly fair on three teams that have battled their way up, isn't it? I'm sure you wouldn't have said that if you were a fan of any one of those clubs.
Think before you post, that is quite possibly one of the most laughably idiotic ideas I've ever heard.
> Get rid of Crystal Palace, West Brom, Norwich City and Spurs\
Yes, because that is perfectly fair on three teams that have battled their way up, isn't it? I'm sure you wouldn't have said that if you were a fan of any one of those clubs.
Think before you post, that is quite possibly one of the most laughably idiotic ideas I've ever heard.
Ashman wrote:
> Anonymous wrote:
> Get rid of Crystal Palace, West Brom, Norwich City and Spurs\
>
> Yes, because that is perfectly fair on three teams that have battled
> their way up, isn't it? I'm sure you wouldn't have said that if you
> were a fan of any one of those clubs.
>
> Think before you post, that is quite possibly one of the most
> laughably idiotic ideas I've ever heard.
Why is it...they're the favorites to get relegated
> Anonymous wrote:
> Get rid of Crystal Palace, West Brom, Norwich City and Spurs\
>
> Yes, because that is perfectly fair on three teams that have battled
> their way up, isn't it? I'm sure you wouldn't have said that if you
> were a fan of any one of those clubs.
>
> Think before you post, that is quite possibly one of the most
> laughably idiotic ideas I've ever heard.
Why is it...they're the favorites to get relegated
Anonymous wrote:
> Why is it...they're the favorites to get relegated
So? Serena Williams was favourite to win Wimbledon this afternoon but she got thrashed. Ipswich Town were favourites to go down a handful of seasons ago but they made Europe.
As I said, you can't just say they aren't allowed in the Premiership after they've just come up, that's just not on.
> Why is it...they're the favorites to get relegated
So? Serena Williams was favourite to win Wimbledon this afternoon but she got thrashed. Ipswich Town were favourites to go down a handful of seasons ago but they made Europe.
As I said, you can't just say they aren't allowed in the Premiership after they've just come up, that's just not on.
Look at Pompey, they came up and their first season (well, half of it) they were in Europe, even the CL spot for a bit.
Don't count yer chickens before they've hatched.
Don't count yer chickens before they've hatched.
Pathetic suggestion in my opinion, we get told each week how these are 'extremely fit athletes' and yet the poor dears can't manage, at worst, a couple of games a week? Tell that to Ronaldo who's running like a steam train at the end of every game at the moment, he doesn't look like he needs a rest. Just because some supposedly high quality teams get knocked out of Euro 2004 there's mass panic and we should start relegating teams that have earned the right to play at the highest domestic level? Maybe someone can tell Mr Blatter that Euro 2004 is mostly a knock out tournament and anyone can have a great game on a given day, hell back in the Year 9 sports day my tutor had the worst football team there with only 2 decent players and the rest were geeks who didn't get to the ping pong sign up in time, yet i had an absolute stormer and the other decent guy got us the goals we needed each game and we won the whole thing. Shocked everyone, especially myself and my mate, yet everyone just gave us our dues and said we played great that day. There was no let's cut down the sports day games down to stop this happening again.
More meddling from the higher footballing bodies when it's not needed, just keep their noses out and leave it as it is, if the players can't manage 2 games a week when people in other sports are having to play games virtually every day then that's their problem and they don't really deserve to be playing at the highest level if that's the case.
More meddling from the higher footballing bodies when it's not needed, just keep their noses out and leave it as it is, if the players can't manage 2 games a week when people in other sports are having to play games virtually every day then that's their problem and they don't really deserve to be playing at the highest level if that's the case.
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