Do we deserve 4 champions league places?

[Ravids]

Yes, English clubs have just had a dodgy if not unlucky year that's all. Chelsea didn't even lose a game and Arsenal just had a horrendous 90 minutes at the Emirates where they pulled off the cock ups of all cock ups. City were drawn in the same group as the best team in the world, and then were drawn against probably the second best team in the world in the next round! The only proper disappointment were Liverpool.

About 7 or 8 years ago English clubs were the top dogs, now there are 3 or 4 teams out there who are just simply better with very special players and managers in their midsts.

 

[W.C.]

I'd rather the CL changed it's format, but as it is, of course we do. It always goes in cycles. For a few years Spanish teams dominate, then Italian, then German, then English. It's normal.

 

[withdeanwombat]

It's the money. The Premier League's likely clubs for this comp would cry and cry if this money pot was capped. The other Premier League teams hopes of getting anything out of it is if they get a home game against a CL team the weekend after the CL round of matches. As for the other professional clubs in England ? Well, they can pretty much rugger off, can't they.


Though it should be Champions and holders in a knockout, unseeded competition (like the FA Cup from the first round proper) it never will be because of the cash involved. However, it might reinvigorate our other competitions, and stop silly-bugger managers from moaning about too many games to play whilst arranging friendlies and warm weather training.

Or, more radical perhaps, the " top, top" clubs could slope off and form a European League and play to their hearts content without the bother of the domestic cups, and mid February visits to Hull or Stoke.

I'm sure that Sky would love that.

And as BHA fans it wouldn't really change things for us that much, apart from the rare 3rd or 4th round draw in the cups.

 

[Cian]

I suspect it's not going to be 4 for long - 3 is probably imminent based on current coefficients.