Would be much better imo to scrap the whole thing so the EPL & EFL didnt have blank weekends which then leads to more midweek games.......which then leads to scrapping of cup replays.
The slow decline goes on. The Champions League ended the 2 leg knockout European Cup and has now denigrated to clubs having home & away games versus completely different teams.
Even you scrapped the competition, you'd still have the International Break, just FIFA slot these into the calendar so all Confederations comply with them at the same time;
- OFC - AFC - COMMEBOL are playing World Cup Qualifiers - CONCACAF have their own Nations League - CAF have their Qualifiers for the African Nations Cup
Previously it would have been a case of Confederations playing games whenever they wanted, hence why we never really got to see Bagheri for example.
Agree with what you say about the slow decline of Continental Football
But on an International level, I think they've got a decent balance (World Cup expansion aside), as at least when we're getting these games now, they're not meaningless friendlies which no one cares about
And San Marino record their first ever competitive win with a 1-0 victory over Lichtenstein.
Best example of how the Nations League works
These results should not be a shock to anyone. The Nations League is friendlies for international football.
Weak team and players putting in about 70% effort.
Take Luxembourg for example then, another side who have previously been amongst those whipping boys
Last Nations League they finished two points off promotion, which would have put them at England's level this time around, were just two games from Euro 2024 via. the Play-Offs (losing out to Georgia), and were close to qualifying directly anyway, finishing 3rd... they won five games that Euro 2024 Qualification Group, their previous best was one win... Yes they still got thumped 6-0 / 9-0 by Portugal which partly ruins my argument.
But at least the Nations League creates a "competitive" environment for the minnows where they can learn to win.
For those in the bottom rung, I'd go as far to say, they should have their own Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Like what American Samoa have just failed to get through, with the sole winners going through to where the rest of UEFA will be waiting in the usual Qualifying Tournament - Let them learn how to win games, rather than learning how to avoid getting embarrassed as best as possible.
And San Marino record their first ever competitive win with a 1-0 victory over Lichtenstein.
Best example of how the Nations League works
These results should not be a shock to anyone. The Nations League is friendlies for international football.
Weak team and players putting in about 70% effort.
Take Luxembourg for example then, another side who have previously been amongst those whipping boys
Last Nations League they finished two points off promotion, which would have put them at England's level this time around, were just two games from Euro 2024 via. the Play-Offs (losing out to Georgia), and were close to qualifying directly anyway, finishing 3rd... they won five games that Euro 2024 Qualification Group, their previous best was one win... Yes they still got thumped 6-0 / 9-0 by Portugal which partly ruins my argument.
But at least the Nations League creates a "competitive" environment for the minnows where they can learn to win.
For those in the bottom rung, I'd go as far to say, they should have their own Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Like what American Samoa have just failed to get through, with the sole winners going through to where the rest of UEFA will be waiting in the usual Qualifying Tournament - Let them learn how to win games, rather than learning how to avoid getting embarrassed as best as possible.
Should do what they do in the AFC qualifiers. The 20 lowest ranked sides go into a first round draw and they play a 2 legged tie. The 10 winners then go into the group stage with the likes of Japan, Iran, Saudi etc.
Even then you still get some very one-sided group games but at least they've cut out 10 terrible teams who'd lose by even more.
There's simply no point having the likes of San Marino, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar etc in the main group stage (unless they've earned the right to be there) where they invariably lose every single game.
And San Marino record their first ever competitive win with a 1-0 victory over Lichtenstein.
Best example of how the Nations League works
These results should not be a shock to anyone. The Nations League is friendlies for international football.
Weak team and players putting in about 70% effort.
Both San Marino and Liechtenstein played their best xi.
The lower down the Leagues you go the less it is treated like friendlies and England could really do with taking it seriously. The nations league is the basis for the seeding for Euros and the World cup qualifying. Given the latter only has one automatic space, being seeded in pot one will be key going forward and the safest way to do that is by being in the top 8 of the Nations League.
Just reading about the countries in group A of the nations league and as if there were not enough games already, i see that instead of the 4 group winners going into the finals week as previous, they've now added 2 extra games courtesy of a 2 legged quarter final round.
When will this madness of more and more games end?
Viktor Gyokeres scored 4 for Sweden tonight. That's 12 in 6 games for Sweden and 23 in 16 for Sporting so 35 goals (plus 4 assists) in 22 matches this season. Will Arsenal bite the bullet in January?
Viktor Gyokeres scored 4 for Sweden tonight. That's 12 in 6 games for Sweden and 23 in 16 for Porto so 35 goals (plus 4 assists) in 22 matches this season. Will Arsenal bite the bullet in January?
Viktor Gyokeres scored 4 for Sweden tonight. That's 12 in 6 games for Sweden and 23 in 16 for Porto so 35 goals (plus 4 assists) in 22 matches this season. Will Arsenal bite the bullet in January?
United more likely given the manager maybe?
Dan Ashworth, United's current sporting director, was the man who sanctioned, when at Brighton, the £1m deal that saw him go to Coventry. I'm sure that Tony Bloom, the Brighton owner, is not the sort of man to hold any grudges!
Viktor Gyokeres scored 4 for Sweden tonight. That's 12 in 6 games for Sweden and 23 in 16 for Sporting so 35 goals (plus 4 assists) in 22 matches this season. Will Arsenal bite the bullet in January?
Ridiculous nobody in the prem took a punt with him when he left Coventry. Think Sporting paid £15m for him, they want £70m now.
Viktor Gyokeres scored 4 for Sweden tonight. That's 12 in 6 games for Sweden and 23 in 16 for Sporting so 35 goals (plus 4 assists) in 22 matches this season. Will Arsenal bite the bullet in January?
I think it's 32 goals he has not 35, which is obviously still ridiculous considering we are not even in December yet.
He scores in practically every game, has 58 goals in the calendar year so far and yet he is still 33 goals behind Messi's all time record of 91.
Comments
Weak team and players putting in about 70% effort.
- OFC - AFC - COMMEBOL are playing World Cup Qualifiers
- CONCACAF have their own Nations League
- CAF have their Qualifiers for the African Nations Cup
Previously it would have been a case of Confederations playing games whenever they wanted, hence why we never really got to see Bagheri for example.
Agree with what you say about the slow decline of Continental Football
But on an International level, I think they've got a decent balance (World Cup expansion aside), as at least when we're getting these games now, they're not meaningless friendlies which no one cares about
Last Nations League they finished two points off promotion, which would have put them at England's level this time around, were just two games from Euro 2024 via. the Play-Offs (losing out to Georgia), and were close to qualifying directly anyway, finishing 3rd... they won five games that Euro 2024 Qualification Group, their previous best was one win... Yes they still got thumped 6-0 / 9-0 by Portugal which partly ruins my argument.
But at least the Nations League creates a "competitive" environment for the minnows where they can learn to win.
For those in the bottom rung, I'd go as far to say, they should have their own Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Like what American Samoa have just failed to get through, with the sole winners going through to where the rest of UEFA will be waiting in the usual Qualifying Tournament - Let them learn how to win games, rather than learning how to avoid getting embarrassed as best as possible.
Even then you still get some very one-sided group games but at least they've cut out 10 terrible teams who'd lose by even more.
There's simply no point having the likes of San Marino, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar etc in the main group stage (unless they've earned the right to be there) where they invariably lose every single game.
The lower down the Leagues you go the less it is treated like friendlies and England could really do with taking it seriously. The nations league is the basis for the seeding for Euros and the World cup qualifying. Given the latter only has one automatic space, being seeded in pot one will be key going forward and the safest way to do that is by being in the top 8 of the Nations League.
When will this madness of more and more games end?
Mad record nonetheless. Been a great purchase for them from Coventry if all places!
Just two years ago they had Gyokeres and Godden up front!
He scores in practically every game, has 58 goals in the calendar year so far and yet he is still 33 goals behind Messi's all time record of 91.