Once more the issue of the Old Firm, Celtic and Rangers for the uninitiated, joining the Premier League has been raised and subsequently shot down. Not surprising really as it is not exactly in the self interest of the majority of the Premier League clubs to add two more clubs into the mix that could divert revenue even if this time the idea was broached in the context of adding a Premier League 2.
And once again here comes your handy dandy Manchester City correspondent to tell them how they should do it and make everyone happy (ahem!).
Let's start with the presumptions. Such a move is a non starter for the majority of Premier League sides, not to mention Championship sides wanting into the Premier League.
Second, at least in the short term, such a move which significantly weaken the Scottish leagues.
Third UEFA and FIFA would no doubt have a fit although I'd support the Old Firm joining the Premier League if only to see Platini and Blatter spout their absurdities once more.
The solution. The League Cup. England has one; so does Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is in each case the third most important competition in the country.
Create a British Cup which is an amalgamation of all four League Cups. Set up tiers as there are now in the English League Cup with the Premier League teams and the Old Firm, possibly with a couple of other Scottish sides, coming in after a couple of rounds. Currently as I understand it only the English League Cup has a Europa League spot. Approach UEFA to add an additional qualifying spot which is given to the highest finishing non English team.
In one swoop you give value to the teams, fans and crucially the sponsors and tv rights holders. The additional revenue that such a Cup would bring could be plowed back into the leagues around Britain. Ultimately strong leagues in each country is supportive of the game in helping to unearth talent.
Yeah I know, makes too much sense. Will never happen.
Comments
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Posted by AlexC83 on 11/13/2009
Not a bad idea at all although im sure there's some legislative reason against it...
Also it probably isn't enough to placate Rangers/Celtic cos they're already guaranteed to qualify for the Europa League each season.
I don't really have that much sympathy for either's wishes to move out of the scottish league though because it appears that they've wasted all the champions league money they've both accumulated over the years by not investing in their youth development.
Luckily our club leads the way (and will continue to) in that department!
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Posted by lex on 11/22/2009
City can't last the final 8 minutes at Old Trafford, after equalizing three times.
City throw away 2 goal lead at home to Fuham.
City can't preserve lead against Burnley, after going two behind.
City blow the chance to win at Liverpool, mere seconds after it came.
Typical City. They couldn't hold on to a favorable position with ten defenders, let alone four!
Still:
I believe Hughes picked the right team today, and made the right substitutions. If the team hadn't switched off after the goal, I believe they would have won. City slowly eased into the game, and were the better team. Ireland was good- always trying to pick the lock, and Adebayor showed just how precise a header could be. I was a little wary of having both Barry and DeJong on the pitch, but they did fine. I wish SWP wouldn't try to beat people as often...
6 draws isn't so great, but they are 6 draws, and three were entirely winnable. City are getting hard to beat. Once they tighten up, they'll be fine.
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Posted by Stan on 11/22/2009
Yes, it's vital that City continue to scout and develop young talent that can then be options for real contributions on the pitch.
This run of draws is frustrating, particularly when you see how City took over the 2nd half and grabbed the lead at Anfield, only to immediately give up the lead again. I still sense the squad is just-this-close to going on a lengthy pile-up of points. 6th seems eminently achievable, and higher hardly out of the question.
Isn't it interesting that the ownership set 6th as a target, but now the media is trying to paint Hughes as a failure if City doesn't get 4th? Preposterous.
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Posted by t on 11/28/2009
yeah yeah yeah, another draw today to another garbage team!(Hull) Look, watch this team implode as the results continue to be neg. Ade was fired by Arsenal because he can't get along with anyone! He will destroy that team as the draws and soon losing continues, and it will cost the manager his job, Why? becuase Man City will not qualify for the Champions League, and what a joke that would be considering all the $$$$$$$$$$$$ they spent(wasted) on players!!!!!
Posted by Micky-2-Times on 12/10/2009
Regarding the old firm teams it will happen, and you know why? Because a certain R Murdock will demand it, its all about Sky and what they want!
Its make or break in December for City. We really need the points in a fairly easy month. Time to turn the draws into wins.
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Wallace Poulter is an award winning video game producer, designer, industry consultant and writer. He has been a football fanatic since the day he moved in next door to Brian Clough. "Cloughie" being the acknowledged genius that he was promptly moved out and went to manage Derby. A serviceable senior school left-back in his youth, Poulter played one season of Sunday league football as a striker proving conclusively that he was a serviceable senior school left-back! Today Poulter remains involved with football as a licensed referee and most recently as a consultant on a Football MMO.
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