[Syncope]

G14 is getting fat, and has added four new members:

- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany)
- Valencia CF (Spain)
- Olympique Lyonnais (France)
- Arsenal FC (England)

It will still be knows as the G14 (www.g14.com, www.g14clubs.com), however. I'm guessing that's because g18.com is a site leading to pictures of naked people (the back-button has been cleverly hijacked), although the page itself has no pictures on it.

The G14's official motto is:

"G-14 is the outcome of the determination of the chairmen of the leading football clubs in Europe to join forces. They chose to ally the power of their experience and the legitimacy of their professional and operational abilities to form the best ever synergy of skills that will actively help to secure the future of football and the necessary changes it has to pass through.

There is no denying that the collective achievements, experience and financial weight and influence of the principal European Football Clubs deserve to be heard as the voice of this sport's "excellence.""

They seem to be whoring themselves pretty well, however. Why not add a team with actual accomplishments, like Benfica?

[Wide Boy]

Sadly, the reason is that G14 is an organisation devoted wholly to commerce, success on the field only being valued as a contribution to profits.

In spite of its great playing history, Benfica is a basket case as far as finance goes.

After the admission of these four new members, and the busting of the apparent 14-club limit, I think we will see a lot more of the financially robust European clubs joining.

In due course they will either hi-jack the existing UEFA competions or start their own.

[AFCA]

Ajax is missing a Cupwinner's Cup.

[olafgb]

G14 is surely a commercial organisation, but what can you expect? I mean, it's clear that these clubs have interests and don't want to give up their position on the market - that's fully okay and understandable. The problem is that they got so much power that the gaps between them and the rest of the soccer world is growing larger and faster. As all teams in the G14 have such a strong position that they aren't really endangered to play bad seasons in the national competitions, it would make sense for them to open up their own league. They are also thinking about it, but for two reasons they aren't doing it: a) the fans prefer the national competition and it would be questionable if the fans like a new league that's breaking with traditions, and b) most of the G14 clubs like to fill the heads of their letters with title after title - something that isn't possible in a strong league where everybody could win the championship.

Add further 10 to 12 clubs to G14 and you'll see plans of an own league starting to get reality.

[Matt Clark]

No you won't. Adding clubs to the pile is not what's needed. Adding numbers in the football finance ledger is.

Which is what G-14 exists to do. They are ready to pounce the instant a breakaway Super League makes financial sense.

It doesn't. Hasn't so far, won't again - the football bubble is thankfully finally bursting.

[olafgb]

Originally posted by Matt Clark

the football bubble is thankfully finally bursting.

That exactly is accelerating the Euro league movement. There's less money for everyone, but the small clubs are the ones being really hit by that. This increases the gap between rich and poor clubs even more. Money is still available, even enough - but it's only paid for quality.

[AFCA]

************ the euroleague! NEVER!!!