Man Utd

[Robches]

The Europa League is indeed a God awful tournament. No-one is interested in it until it gets to the knock out stage, and that takes forever. Platini certainly thought up a lemon with this one.

[Milk Tray Man]

Robches wrote:

> The Europa League is indeed a God awful tournament. No-one is
> interested in it until it gets to the knock out stage, and that
> takes forever. Platini certainly thought up a lemon with this
> one.


Platini is a cunt who sold European football out to the moneymen and turned the European club competitions into a crass commercial circus. From a purely footballing aspect it was far more enjoyable (IMO) in the days of the UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners Cup.

it may not have been as "lucrative" then but hey, the competitions actually meant something to the teams and fans, and crucially to neutrals too. Now the Europa League is just a burden for the most part that no-one really gives a fuck about.

Same when the CL was just the the European Cup. Like the other two comps, straight knockout over 2 legs, no seeding and so always the chance of real upsets and something crazy happening like Forest winning it twice. Or even Steaua Bucharest.

all that was ruined by the introduction of the seeding system and the "group stages", which was always intended to load the dice in favour of the "big" clubs so as to always ensure a "glamour" final between two "big name" teams in order to maximise global TV revenue and commercial potential. The football's just a means to an end now, money and "brand" is all that matters. I still follow it, but I find it all rather soulless these days, and with each passing season I find myself caring less and less about who wins either tournament, be it the CL or the EL. Even the concept of having an 'English" team to root for (even if it is ManUre) is virtually meaningless now, what with all the foreign owners and all those mercenary overseas players with no genuine affinity whatsoever to their clubs aside from all the money on offer.

[JamesW]

Sam Slater wrote:

> I think Man Utd would rather miss out on the Europa League. It
> fucks up your season before it's even started.
>
> Man Utd are better off finishing 8th, trying to recoup some of
> that money lost with pre-season friendlies and having all week
> off on European weeks to plan for weekend league games.


Man Utd don't agree with you. They wouldn't rather miss out on the Europa League at all. They feel that European football is a must for them. Moyes has been told that qualification for the Europa League is a priority to maintain the club's international profile.

If the unthinkable happens and they miss out on the Europa League, Man Utd will reject your advice to plan for weekend games and will arrange "glamour friendlies" to replace the lost European nights. These would probably take place in the Middle East.

Your suggestion of recouping lost European money with pre-season friendlies is a non-starter, as Man Utd's next pre-season schedule is already full with money-spinning friendlies, as it is every year. There is no room to add anything else pre-season.

[JamesW]

Milk Tray Man wrote:

> Platini is a cunt who sold European football out to the
> moneymen and turned the European club competitions into a crass
> commercial circus. From a purely footballing aspect it was far
> more enjoyable (IMO) in the days of the UEFA Cup and the Cup
> Winners Cup.
>
> Same when the CL was just the the European Cup. Like the other
> two comps, straight knockout over 2 legs, no seeding and so
> always the chance of real upsets and something crazy happening
> like Forest winning it twice. Or even Steaua Bucharest.
>
> all that was ruined by the introduction of the seeding system
> and the "group stages"


The Cup Winners Cup was last played in 1999. The "group stages" you refer to above are even older and go back to 1992. It follows that Platini is not the person who sold European football out, as you maintain, as he did not take office until 2006.

[Milk Tray Man]

JamesW wrote:

> The Cup Winners Cup was last played in 1999.

I know that. Hence my referring to "the days of the Uefa Cup and Cup Winners Cup" (do try and keep up!)


> The "group stages"
> you refer to above are even older and go back to 1992.

I know that as well. Which is when the European Cup was rebranded as the CL and group stages were introduced.


football out, as you maintain, as he did not take office until
> 2006.

True enough, and fair enough it wasn't just him alone. But Platini has been involved with UEFA since the late '80s and the UEFA Cup was rebranded the "Europa League" on his watch in 2009, with its current unwieldy format as a competition that most clubs don't take really take seriously any more - certainly not as seriously as they used to take the UEFA and Cup Winners' Cups back in the day.

There was talk about a year or so ago of the EL being abolished altogether and the CL being expended still further, but I've not heard any more on that for a while.

[JamesW]

Milk Tray Man wrote:

> a competition that
> most clubs don't take really take seriously any more


They should take it seriously.

Winners now gain entry to the (lucrative) Champions League.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Still can't see Manure qualifying....by mid April half the squad will be more interested in getting out of the club and lining their own pockets...

[JamesW]

Arginald Valleywater wrote:

> by mid April half the
> squad will be more interested in getting out of the club


Judging by recent performances they will be no great loss.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Very true. Moyes, assuming he is still there and Mr Purplenose hasn't come back, has three issues. The first is getting rid of the deadwood and the likes of Giggs and Rio who think they are unsackable. The second is filling their places to keep the squad at the same skill level. That will cost money. The third issue is strengthening the squad with genuinely superior players who will agree to take a punt on one or more seasons of non CL football. That will be extemely hard and stupidly expensive.

[JamesW]

Arginald Valleywater wrote:

> Giggs and Rio who think they are
> unsackable.


They are both out of contract at the end of the season, so therefore are finished anyway won't need sacking.