several years ago there was talk about creating an atlantic league of teams from Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, to provide a bigger TV market and revenue for smaller nations in order for them to compete with the big 5. the SPL said that they wouldn't do anything until their tv contract runs out in 2014. what do you think? what about other multi-national leagues like an ex-soviet or ex-yugoslav league or a nordic league?
Haven't at times Portugal and Norway been also considered in such proposals? In any case, UEFA will fight such league mergers. It'd set off a string of such mergers and eventually end up with some form of European megaclub league as a replacement of the UEFA CL. It'd be opening Pandora's box. And much as UEFA, I'd hate to see us ending up with a megaclub league. Besides, the Atlantic League would mix a near arbitrary list of countries together. An ex-Yugo or Nordic league would be built on historical and cultural commonality. Those would make sense in that respect. But as said, I share UEFA's fears and misgivings as to what such mergers would ultimately lead to.
Uefa is actually encouraging smaller countries to combine leagues, they've changed 180 degrees on that point.
Small like Liechtenstein and Switzerland? Or like Belgium and the Netherlands? Or small like Portugal and Spain? Or small like Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark? Or small like Germany and France and the UK? I don't mean to be contrarion, but I tend to agree that it could open a Pandora's box of absurd mergers.
"Small" European competitions. They're very positive towards a Dutch/Belgian league. But also Swiss-Austrian, Scandinavian etc. as long as there's already a closer bond between some countries. They (uefa) were never really for this but they've completely changed their p.o.v. Not that it's probably going to happen anyways. Maybe the Scandinavian countries have the biggest chance of actually starting such a league after already experimenting a bit. (royal league) Belgium and the Netherlands are starting a women's league together this season b.t.w. but the Dutch FA is absolutely not convinced of something simular for the men.
I think Scotland would disagree. I think it'd make more sense for Ireland and Northern Ireland to merge, but don't see that happening...
Yes that's probably much more likely, but the SPL could add a couple teams like Shamrock Rovers or Linfield FC
Yeah, but those might be the only two that Scotland would let in lol. But then both Ireland and Northern Ireland's premier leagues would be pissed at losing their champions...
i'm not so sure they would. linfield may as well be sponsored by the ifa, making them financially untouchable. the rest can't afford to keep up, so the other clubs might be glad to see some sort of decent competitiveness return if linfield left. an all-ireland league may work (and quite well if done right), but there's a lot of anger towards the fai over the player poaching for the international team.
What if they took the 22 teams from the LOI and 14 teams from the IFA premiership and championship, and merged them into a three tiered league system. the top 4 teams in the IFA and top 8 teams from the LOI premier division in the top league, then the rest of the teams in each premier league into the second league, and the 10 seams in the LOI second division and the top 2 teams in the IFA championship.
Possibly, or they could just end it at the 3rd division like the LOI does at the 2nd division. but each of the 4 provinces could have their own local leagues.
Another idea i had for a merger. SPL-EPL. Probably not going to happen but here's my plan. two leagues of 18. top 6 teams in SPL and top 12 from the EPL in the premier league. bottom 6 teams in SPL, the top team in the Scottish first division, the bottom 8 teams in the SPL and the top 3 teams in the FL Championship in the second league.
Ok I know it won't happen but here's a potential North Sea League (teams were chosen by success, popularity, and stadium capacity of at least 15,000) Aberdeen (Scotland) AFC Ajax (Holland) AGF (Denmark) AIK (Sweden) Brondby IF (Denmark) Celtic (Scotland) Esbjerg FB (Denmark) FC Copenhagen (Denmark) FC Twente (Holland) Feyenoord (Holland) Fram Reykjavik (Iceland) Hibernian (Scotland) IF Elfsburg (Sweden) IFK Goteborg (Sweden) Linfield (Northern Ireland)* Malmo FF (Sweden) ODD (Norway)** PSV Eindhoven (Holland) Rangers (Scotland) Rosenborg (Norway) Valerenga Fotball (Norway) Viking FK (Norway) * pending stadium upgrades to safely seat approx 24k instead of current 14k **current seating approx 14.5k if not upgraded to 15k replace with SK Brann No this will never happen, but that's what FIFA 12 is for.
If you're going to put Hibs in there, you better put Hearts (never mind their recent results), or Scotland will hunt you down lol
True, but then I'd feel like I need to put Killie in there are well. Guess I could and take out Linfield and Rejkjavik
lol might as well.. especially if you consider the number of people outside of Iceland and Ireland that would notice...
Okay here's a revised list taking into account UEFA coefficiency rankings: AaB Fodbold Denmark* Aberdeen Scotland AFC Ajax Holland AIK Sweden AZ Holland Brondby IF Denmark Celtic Scotland FC Coppenhagen Denmark FC Twente Holland FC Utrecht Holland Feyenoord Holland Hearts Scotland Helsingborgs Sweden IF Elfsborg Sweden IFK Goteborg Sweden Malmo FF Sweden OB Denmark PSV Eindhoven Holland Rangers Scotland Rosenborg Norway sc Heerenveen Holland SK Brann Norway Valerenga Fotball Norway Viking FK Norway and if you go from 24 to 28 teams add in Kilmarnick Scotland ODD Norway* Dundee Scotland* Esberg FB Denmark *stadium upgrades needed.
And who is paying the travelling costs of these teams? I don't know the financial situations of these teams but I doubt everyone of them is willing to pay for two planes a week (asuming there'd be league + cup)
This is one reason why I said "this will never happen". Although, these are essentially the biggest teams outside of Europe’s "big 4" leagues, so most are more or less financially sound. Also this "super league" would undoubtedly sign a massive TV deal and massive sponsorship deals to follow. Would this be enough to offset the travel costs? I have no idea but keep in mind that the furthest distance theoretically travelled would be approximately 1199 miles between Belfast and Helsinki. Meanwhile in MLS (operating on an infinitely smaller budget) Vancouver and New England must travel 3180 miles to play one another and the average distance between teams is 1382 (greater than the greatest distance in the hypothetical NSL). Does this mean this league would happen? Absolutely not, but that is mostly due to bigger hindrances than travel costs.