UEFA Trophy (third tier competition after CL and UEFA Cup)

[pc4th]

Would it work and be successful?

Would clubs in Europe want to see such a competition happen?

I would suggest no group stage. Just knockout with 32 teams (home and away). The final is also 2 legged. 3 max clubs for each country. No qualification.

So typically, teams in #7-10 position in England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany would get to participate along with other 'lesser' clubs in other UEFA leagues.

A quick look at possible participants from last year standing:

England: 7 Blackburn, 10 West Ham, 12 Newcastle
Spain: Mallorca (7) Almería (8) Athletic Bilbao (11)
Italy: 9 Atalanta, 10 Genoa, 11 Palermo
and so on with Germany, France, Russia, Holland, Portugal, Turkey..etc

The most a team will play is 10 games. The least is 2 games and out.

[Duck Manson]

I'd be all for it, except for the two legged final. That's been tried and it's terrible. Why not just let the team that scores the most goals host the final.

[Excape Goat]

The mid-table teams does not have a squad big enough to play an extra 10 games. Their depth will be tested.

For La Liga clubs, the gap between the mid-table team and the bottom team is only a few point. The extra pressure on those teams could make the difference on some clubs at the end of the season. This trophy will send someone down to 2nd division.

[Duck Manson]

Of course they have squads big enough to endure 10 more games. It's rediculous to suggest otherwise. If teams don't want to participate then they don't have to.

[pc4th]

The mid-table teams does not have a squad big enough to play an extra 10 games. Their depth will be tested.


If those teams are not good enough, they will play 2 games and get eliminated. It's that simple.

For 16 teams, they will play only 2 games and then out.

Only 2 out of 32 teams will play 10 games.
Only 4 out of 32 teams will play 8 games.

So on average, you are looking at 4-6 games. Half will only play 2 games and be out of the competition.

[SportBoy333]

Yes I'd like to see a new competition. The current UEFA Cup has way too many teams involved.

[lost]

bring back the cup winners cup!

[blanc]

Intertoto?

[lost]

intertoto gone forever now, we await to see the final ever winners, ie the side that qualified for europe this season via intertoto that gets the furtherst in europe.

[BocaFan]

No thanks.

If you're going to have a third competition it has to have some meaning. Like cup winners' cup or a true Champions League involving only league champions.

[SportBoy333]

I would like to stop seeing the Champions League teams that finish 3rd parachuting into the UEFA Cup. Its not fair and Im tired of that and it devalues the UEFA Cup IMO.

[Excape Goat]

If those teams are not good enough, they will play 2 games and get eliminated. It's that simple.

For 16 teams, they will play only 2 games and then out.

Only 2 out of 32 teams will play 10 games.
Only 4 out of 32 teams will play 8 games.

So on average, you are looking at 4-6 games. Half will only play 2 games and be out of the competition.

No, even some CL & UEFA Cup teams could not handle the domestic and European football on the same season. Some CL teams went very far in the CL, but their domestic season was completely in chaos as a result. And those CL teams are more financial stable than the teams that would be the 3rd tier competition.

[IASocFan]

Would it work and be successful?

Would clubs in Europe want to see such a competition happen?

I would suggest no group stage. Just knockout with 32 teams (home and away). The final is also 2 legged. 3 max clubs for each country. No qualification.

So typically, teams in #7-10 position in England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany would get to participate along with other 'lesser' clubs in other UEFA leagues.
...
The most a team will play is 10 games. The least is 2 games and out.

With 50+ leagues in Europe and up to 3 teams per country, how do you get 32 teams??? :eek:

Another Intertoto perhaps!

If a few more teams want more International matches, they could schedule an informal tournament. Most teams have enough games with fixture congestion, and draw better for league matches than an international match against a 3rd Euro competition team.

Get ManU, Real or Barca they'll get people, but what's the draw against the 5th place Ukrainian team?

[pc4th]

With 50+ leagues in Europe and up to 3 teams per country, how do you get 32 teams??? :eek:


top 6 leagues get 3 each: = 18 clubs
league 7,8,9,10,11 get 2 each = 10 clubs
league 12,13,14,15 get 1 each = 4 clubs

total: 32 clubs


Also, maybe a two legged final isn't a good idea. How about one game final at the club with the best goal differential?

So the most a club has to play is 9 games. For many clubs, they will play at most 2-4 games and eliminated. Only the top 8 teams get to play 6 games or more.