This is incredible. How @fortunaligacz compares to other leagues with similar coefficients re. income from TV rights:10. 🇹🇷 €376m11. 🇦🇹 €22m12. 🇳🇱 €89m---13. 🇨🇿 €4m ---14. 🇩🇰 €50m16. 🇬🇷 €32m18. 🇨🇭 €30m21. 🇳🇴 €35m23. 🇸🇪 €42m#contexthttps://t.co/YjMhwPe11o— Czech Football 🇨🇿 (@czechfooty) August 12, 2019 A staggering reminder of how much our league depends on money from UEFA competitions (last season Plzen and Slavia netted about 10x as much money as the league TV contract from UEFA) and rich owners. There is no reason for us to be that far behind other small countries in TV money. More data here: https://www.eurofotbal.cz/clanky/cesky-uspech-v-poharove-evrope-za-mene-penez-vice-muziky-440499/ The glass half-full interpretation as no league produces this much quality on this little budget (and that Turkish fans should demand better ROI), but that is not remotely sustainable.
Turkey is massive and football mad so the domestic market is lucrative, they just don't consistently develop much talent and it isn't an attractive living option compared to Western Europe (as far as buying international talent). The Netherlands have a history of developing talent and 3 fairly big clubs, but nowhere near the total fan-base... it's also simply not good enough to attract international rights. The Dutch and Belgian leagues seem to have informal talks about merging every few years, the domestic leagues don't have much mass-appeal outside of a few big clubs. While I'm not in any hurry to see it happens, I suspect that cross-border leagues is an idea that will be tried eventually as the top leagues (or a "super league") continue to separate from the rest in revenue/resources. There was talk about a Czech-Slovak merger a few years ago, but the added value wasn't enough to off-set the difficulties. As for us, I would think we could at least be closer in TV revenue to Austria...
So we've been preparing for a showdown with Celtic, but they are currently losing to a team I've never heard of called Cluj. Still 45 minutes to go, but we should really beat either of these teams. Simon Deli helped Brugge advance, man I really wish we'd held on to him.
Cluj were decent back when the Romanian league was surprisingly good (10 years ago or so they were top 10 UEFA Coefficient for several years as crazy as that seems now). I would still rather play them than Celtic, although neither team looks particularly dangerous... Celtic fans are numerous and seem to have never lost a well officiated match according to themselves. Also Celtic are ahead now after two Cluj defenders ran into each other without getting the ball...
Celtic - Cluj is turning into the same kind of flawed classic as Mlada Boleslav - Sparta last weekend... Two teams with zero composure trading goals.
Supposedly Celtic and Slavia fans get along well, so I wasn't worried about them from a fan behavior standpoint. I just assumed they would be better since they are a name club. I want to feel optimistic about Champions League, last years team would obliterate either of these 2 but this years will probably make it more difficult than it should be.
Cluj are going to be playing with the underdog mentality anyway, but Slavia may want to Tripsovsky's post-match comments about preparing for Celtic last weekend haven't been translated to Romanian...
Hlozek is healthy after an illness which is a big boost for Sparta tomorrow. In terms of first leg Europa Leagug results Mlada Boleslav is the best positioned to advance, but none were remotely decisive... it's completely feasible that all could move on or all could fail.
No Komlicenko for Mlada Boleslav today, makes it seem like Lokomotiv out bid their attempt to keep him through qualification. Boleslav started very brightly even hit the post inside 5 minutes, but now are very much trying to take a cautious approach against FCSB favoring extra numbers staying back to attacking... To be honest, Mlada Boleslav aren't really built to defend for a full match so they probably would do just as well to try and win another shootout like against Sparta last weekend.
I forgot that Novak plays for Trabzonspor. They definitely would win this match-up if home atmosphere was the decider.
Sparta match is at halftime, they brightened up as the half went on but started slow and conceded a goal. If they can continue how they finished the first half this is still a contest. It would have been very naive to think Sparta with their defense could advance with one goal today anyway. Mlada Boleslav vs FCSB continues to be goalless and looks like one moment will decide it either way.
Plzen look a fair bit better than Antwerp, but just have nothing really working in the final third. Krmencik has twice had a chance to test the keeper on a breakaway and wavered. It's as much a confidence problem for Plzen right now as a tactical one.
Limbersky just struck a lovely volley... straight into the cross bar. Plzen still afraid of scoring goals but definitely putting on the pressure Mlada Boleslav down to 10 men, but match still scoreless..
Plzen have a goal called out for off-side... correctly from the replay, but a shame the one time someone actually shoots on target the pass came from someone that was offside. That said even with bad finishing its hard not to see Plzen get a goal if this match continues this way... Antwerp look terrible
Mlada Boleslav concede in the 90th minute after twice missing would be winners in the last 10. Unlucky, and that does it for the only Czech team that has shown anything in Europe at all this season so far.
Sparta look as bad as Antwerp did in the first half against Plzen, simple passes off the mark, no urgency or cohesion. If they turn it around in the last 20 minutes it would be a complete smash and grab. Plzen seem like the best chance for 2 teams to make the group stages, but unless that happens or Slavia has a great run this will be our worst European sseason in many years.
Sparta get a goal in the 78th, great chip to the far corner by Hlozek. Sparta have looked bad, but he's had his moments. Sets up a frantic last 10 + stoppage.
Plzen just hit the post again.... I've been harsh on their overall play this season (deservedly) but so far todady they just seem unlucky.
Trabzonspor to their credit di some world class time-wasting and now have earned a penalty late. in stoppage... they missed it, but honestly they killed about 5 minutes winning corners on the same side before it. Sparta have maybe a minute... And Novak of all people scores for his club on a break after Sparta sent the keeper forward. Sparta won't even get the consolation point for coefficient. Terrible display except for Hlozek and Nita.
For Plzen Kayamba's chip beats the keeper but hits side net... they deserve a result, but they are struggling so much with goal scoring.
Plzen finally get a goal in the 81st minute, and honestly... probably should have been disallowed. Chory definitely makes contact with the keeper, but Kremencik gets the open goal from a yard out (which is about a 50-50 chance for Plzen today). Definitely a foul in my opinion, but also really Plzen have been the much better side.
Plzen still need another goal or it will go to penalties (unless Antwerp scores against the run of play). Realistically Plzen should be up at least 4-0 right now, so it will be a major disappointment still if they can't get another. They look tired, but aren't letting up as Chory heads it just over... 2-0 Plzen, Krmencik finally puts it away on a sequence of about 5 chances. Fully deserved this match has been one-way traffic for a while, if Plzen can get some finishing confidence and take this performance forward they can qualify. (they shouldn't get to comfortable just yet though, still a whole other half of extra-time and an Antwerp goal would see them through).