Platini wants Benelux league (Belgian posters also welcome to join the discussion!)

Not interested either. I follow the ere-divisie, but I've no interest to trade the games against, say, Lokeren and Cercle for Ajax and Feyenoord. Long-standing rivalries mean a lot. And it's not like even with the increase of TV money that it would supposedly mean we'd suddenly be competitive in the CL again. It's an idea that would have little return and a very large cost imho.

Also when will Platini learn that for most of us in the smaller leagues, playing in the CL isn't the apex. Only those clubs still trapped in delusions of their glorious past think like that, the more rational ones are quite content wallowing in the obscurity of their backwater league. Why can't that French prat just leave us the feck alone.

 

http://www.nu.nl/sport/1938260/ajax-wint-nooit-meer-de-champions-league.html

I'd to love to hear mr Platini commenting on French teams and their chances of winning the CL. With their so called 'bigger market'. They've managed to win one 1CL, and if I'm not mistaken it was practically bought.

 

This post is right on the money. There's no need for a merger of leagues when talent stays just those few years longer in their home league. This has always worked. Although part of the responsibilities lays with clubs and players not choosing for the money and going abroad too soon. Drenthe for example is a prime example of how not to do it. Feyenoord not being able to keep van Persie a few more years another. Merging the Belgian and Dutch league won't solve these problems.

 

If it smells like a duck--quacks like a duck --and walks like a duck--its probably a duck

the same can be said for a bad idea--if everyone in the room thinks its bad--guess what--its bad

 

I definately agree with all whom are against a Benelux league. Visiting de kuip on a nice sunday afternoon seeing Feyenoord square off with Anderlecht does nothing for me. There is nothng wrong with our league, and it is continually rising in popularity. The real problems are highlighted in the english game.

I am a huge suporter of the 6+5 rule, as well as banning the transfers of underaged players. Leagues particularly like ours have relied on the large contribution of our youth development with a handful of older players to make up a squad.

If club success in europe is so important to platini, he would notice that our greatest success came under this model. Our players are leaving dutch clubs far too early because the money is not there and our clubs are no longer viewed as being in the elite in europe because of it. We are no longer able to hold onto the skill we have developed and nurtured.

Can you imagine a Feyenoord attack with Makaay, Kuijt and Kalou mixed with our younger talents such as Wijnaldum.

Or Ajax with van der vaart, sneijder, huntelaar and babel going forward?

20 or even 10 years ago it would not be absurd to suggest that all of these players may still play for dutch clubs. Money has pulled our players away from our clubs and in turn we are losing our identity as top performing clubs in europe (if this is what is so important in modern football) because of it.

I believe the banning of minor transfers with the addition of a 6+5 rule, protects the sanctity of club football within each country as best possible. Cruijff never left Ajax until he was 26 and still accomplished great things in barcelona and abroad

 

1 + 1 = ....

http://www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/sport/2009/03/van_praag_in_bestuur_uefa.html

 

I wouldn't mind seeing Anderlecht and Club Brugge in the Eredivisie, in fact, let's add Schalke and Borussia Dortmund as well. Now that would be mouthwatering..

The 6+5 rule is nonsense, what Uefa needs to do is implement salary caps and limit the total number of senior and youth players under contract by a club. The current situation is unsustainable, but we need a Bosman-type event to change things towards a more level playing field across Europe.

 

Salary caps are the worst idea ever. The only thing it would accomplish is making Monaco unbeatable since with the absence of income tax their cap would effectively be 40% higher than anyone else'.

I'm dead against merging the Dutch and Belgian leagues, unless Belgium were to rejoin the Kingdom, which I don't see happing in my lifetime.

The argument that it would result in more European spots seems flawed. This year both countries had a combined 10 clubs in Europe, 4 of which Champions League. England had 9. So even when the combined league would dominate Europe it would still be a step backwards in that regard.

I'd rather watch a shitty match against a rival than a high level game without any history.

Also, I think shrinking the league to 16 or 14 clubs is a bad idea. The Eredivisie has had the same format for over 50 years. There has been some tinkering with play-offs and stuff, but the basic set up has always remained the same. Why change it now? It would be destroying history. Cruijff's 30 wins in a season would be meaningless, as would Coen Dillen's 43 goals. Besides, Excelsior came in last with 27 points last year, a record high I think, which shows that the small clubs aren't getting any weaker. Current last placed Volendam has 21 points with 6 to play by the way.

 

What else is new?

 

True, different tax systems are a major problem, and I guess purchasing power is an issue as well, 100mln euro in the Netherlands is worth less than 100mln euro in Turkey. But 6+5 is a definute no-go, as that goes directly against EU laws, making salary caps the next best thing.

Not changing things is not always better, otherwise we'd all still be living in caves now. But I get your point.

 

Salary caps are probably too difficult to put into practice, but I think they are a very good idea. Soccer fans may not like American football, but there is a lesson here that in the NFL, with a short (sixteen game) season, is the most profitable sports league in the world. Part of that is because the league is extraordinarily well-run, but part of it is because the system is designed to ensure a level playing-field financially, meaning that teams have to rely on actual coaching and player development to succeed. The teams that do try to buy their way to a title tend to fail.

And it's not just about profit, either. Because there tends to be more parity in the NFL, the fans are (relatively speaking, this is America we're talking about here, where fans tend to not be as passionate as in Europe) up for every game. And it would limit foreign clubs swooping in to buy young players. I'd be all for it.

I personally am not a fan of the 6+5 rule, but I would be happy with a ban on the transfer of players under 18. And I totally support ending the pseudo-slave trade of importing young Africans and South Americans into Europe.

 

whilst agreing that this Benelux league idea is a horrible one, how would it work? would they put, say, the top 9 teams from netherlands and belguim in one league? if so wheres the 'lux' bit come from? I have no idea if Luxembourg have any teams to be honest.....

Pressumably the Dutch fans are against it, the money men/TV people must be the ones in favour. Whats the KNVB's line?

 

Luxembough National Division

Their national team is complete rubbish and is mainly made up of players from this league.