Platini Proposals Suggest Parity....but maybe not Practicality

With the first group stage draw of the Champions League taking place in a few hours, we'd like to draw attention, as supporters of a fair and honest sport, to UEFA President Michel Platini's proposals for reforming the Champions League. He should be applauded for trying to even out the spoils across more European countries than at present, thereby creating better competition in the longer term. Since his election to the presidency, he has made several suggestions such as reducing the number of clubs entering from each country (reducing the number in England from four to three), and is now proposing the inclusion of the national cup winners at the expense of the last qualifying place (i.e. only first second and third would qualify in England).

In the short-term at least, the quality and financial attraction of the competition could be diminished. In addition, his proposals for allowing cup competition winners as the last qualifying berth would also potentially create more issues.

We believe there needs to be a concerted effort to increase the importance of national cup competitions especially for the lower leagues. Much depends upon the details of his plans, but we can only point to one example in the last five years, assuming the strict interpretation of "cup winners only", where this would have made a difference for English qualification. If, however, we use the same interpretation as for the former cup winners cup competition, we would have had, in 2001/2002, Tottenham playing off against Wycombe Wanderers for the last spot. And, in 2004, Millwall would have been one of our representatives in the Champions League purely on the strength of a good cup run involving easy draws and a bit of luck (Manchester United in the final was their only Premiership opposition). No disrespect to Millwall and Wycombe Wanderers but you get our point.

Our philosophy has always been that football should attempt to be a fair and level playing field as far as is possible and in that respect Platini is at least thinking in those terms rather than being led by the financial considerations. We wholeheartedly support this sentiment, with the reservations stated above, but doubt whether the big clubs will support his proposals (planned for implementation in 2009). Above all we finally have an administrator who is prepared to tackle the inequities in football and we believe he deserves the opportunity to debate these issues as a starting point; not just for football, but for sport in general.

Beckham Bullshit Leaves McClaren High and Dry

Following our previous post concerning the value of international friendlies, news emerges from a Galaxy far away that Beckham is injured and is unlikely to play any part in England's next two qualifiers. Steve McClaren, as we pointed out, had to pick him due to his travelling 6,000 miles and the media expectations that surrounded his first appearance under the new management. While we should have been looking at options available wide right from a more practical (and maybe longer term) perspective, we are now in the situation where McClaren must fill that position with somebody who has not played that role with England for some time. Once again, short-term accommodations have messed up long-term goals.

Beckham chose to spend his autumn years in LA - nobody else. So he, and his employers, should live with that decision even if it means not playing a part in the England team and Steve McClaren has to have the courage to make that clear to all. Note Beckham's LA Galaxy record since joining: played five, lost four.

Reclaim the Game - The Week's Events

• City of Grief Part III. Liverpool FC's minute silence etc for Rhys Jones (Everton fan) last Tuesday. OK, it's still not politic but enough's enough. If the effort expended in collective grief were actually put into catching the perpertrators of this awful crime they might now be behind bars. Over to you Everton (or Tranmere?).
• Future England Gaffer? John Terry, at the prospect of Ronaldhino joining the Chelsea cash cow, showed us his true insight and tactical awareness by identifying Ronnie's prime role as the world's most gifted and exciting footballer. He must be prepared to track back and develop the Chelsea "workaholic" ethic according to JT. Leave the creative stuff to our Frank and our Sean (if playing) we think he is trying to say. If JT can chew gum and punch the air with the best of them, we have a future England boss in the making.
• Martin Allen (as of yesterday ex-Leicester boss) commenting on the influx of 14 new squad members said that Leicester training sessions were sometimes like "scenes from Zulu". What does he mean? Loads of Welshmen in red jackets being put to the spear? I think we should know. We were going to suggest he invite us to a training session but that's sadly not now possible.
• Not that we want to start vicious rumours, or are in any position to judge, but Tony Adams commenting on ITV4's coverage of the Arsenal v Sparta Prague game last night: any bad habits returning?