italian dave Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Interesting proposal from Belgium/Netherlands. Wonder what our friends from Tilburg make of it https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/16/football-clubs-in-belgium-vote-to-merge-with-dutch-league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoystonFoote'snephew Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 The article doesn't say whether the Dutch clubs are in favour but assuming they are the next step would presumably obtaining UEFA sanction. Given that other nations clubs play in non-domestic leagues this shouldn't be a problem. Economically I can see the attraction. While both nations have produced a plethora of world class players over the years, they have nearly all drifted away from their home country as there is no money in either the Jupiler League or Eredivisie. A BeNe league should enable better TV and sponsorship deals. Interesting to see if European qualification will be solely on league placings or whether there will be any compunction to ensure both nations are represented. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
054123 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Will UEFA allow it? I always thought they were a big hurdle for Scottish teams to merge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 He’s in favour . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 12 hours ago, italian dave said: Interesting proposal from Belgium/Netherlands. Wonder what our friends from Tilburg make of it https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/16/football-clubs-in-belgium-vote-to-merge-with-dutch-league If this gets the go ahead expect a Celtic league proposal very soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 12 hours ago, italian dave said: Interesting proposal from Belgium/Netherlands. Wonder what our friends from Tilburg make of it https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/16/football-clubs-in-belgium-vote-to-merge-with-dutch-league Willem are also ‘friends’ with Royal Antwerp. Wonder what would happen to that relationship if they suddenly become rivals?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 I can see there being various regional leagues now. I'd be quite happy for Cardiff and Swansea to go to a Celtic League. Do not get why they are a separate nation but allowed clubs in the English league. Not sure they could resurrect the Yugoslav league given how central football was to the outbreak of the civil war. Could also see some kind of central european league working - Hungary, Czechs, Slovaks, Austria or maybe a Balkan league with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 1 hour ago, The Bard said: I can see there being various regional leagues now. I'd be quite happy for Cardiff and Swansea to go to a Celtic League. Do not get why they are a separate nation but allowed clubs in the English league. Not sure they could resurrect the Yugoslav league given how central football was to the outbreak of the civil war. Could also see some kind of central european league working - Hungary, Czechs, Slovaks, Austria or maybe a Balkan league with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia etc. I suggest Rovers should join the Bristol & District League Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Harry said: I suggest Rovers should join the Bristol & District League I’m not having that. Let them start at their proper level and work up to the Bristol and District League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 This makes sense, and there is a key difference between it and any Celtic/Rangers etc proposal. Per UEFA coefficients, the Dutch and Belgian leagues are ranked 7 and 9. I.e they’re seen as having an overall broadly similar strength. By comparison, England vs Scotland is 2 vs 11. If you have two leagues with broadly similar strength, then merging becomes easier. If you have 20 in each top division, then the top 10 in each form new division 1, bottom 10 new division 2 etc. I’d imagine they’d want guarantees from UEFA over European places, but that seems the biggest hurdle here. Compare that with England/Scotland. Could you jettison Aston Villa for St Johnstone for example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 57 minutes ago, Major Isewater said: I’m not having that. Let them start at their proper level and work up to the Bristol and District League. Bit unfair , couple of signings and I think they could be solid mid table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoystonFoote'snephew Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 I seem to recollect some talk about merging the Austrian and Swiss leagues but don't know how far this got or, given Silvio's post, how they might stack up UEFA coefficient wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leveller Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 8 hours ago, The Bard said: I can see there being various regional leagues now. I'd be quite happy for Cardiff and Swansea to go to a Celtic League. Do not get why they are a separate nation but allowed clubs in the English league. Not sure they could resurrect the Yugoslav league given how central football was to the outbreak of the civil war. Could also see some kind of central european league working - Hungary, Czechs, Slovaks, Austria or maybe a Balkan league with Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia etc. Berwick Rangers from England also play in the Scottish system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 There was talk some years back of forming "the Atlantic League". Dunno why they chose that name, but it was argued that there's only two decent teams in Holland, Belgium, Scotland and Portugal etc. Therefore the competition would be better if they left their domestic leagues and joined in this new one. At the time UEFA said no, but these days who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC RISK77 Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 Great idea- hopefully improves the performance of some really romantic teams in Europe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olé Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 Can't work this out at all - surely if you merge UEFA doesn't simply combine their coefficients and give them the combined number of European places, so in effect they're signing up to compete for less European places, and which of the bigger teams in either country is going to agree to that? Unless very long term thinking. In case anyone is wondering, Portugal and Spain will not be doing this. For one thing it would make it much harder to know who to bribe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Red Cyril Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 13 hours ago, Harry said: I suggest Rovers should join the Bristol & District League Can we just not wipe them existence. Why should the Bristol & District league have to put up with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTRFTG Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 15 hours ago, Olé said: Can't work this out at all - surely if you merge UEFA doesn't simply combine their coefficients and give them the combined number of European places, so in effect they're signing up to compete for less European places, and which of the bigger teams in either country is going to agree to that? Unless very long term thinking. In case anyone is wondering, Portugal and Spain will not be doing this. For one thing it would make it much harder to know who to bribe. Exactly, and what happens if individual associations have different opinions on releasing players for international duty, who has final say? What if one nation has different regulation re work permits than another, or tax breaks, or..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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