Platini up to his old tricks again??

[Angry Dan]

What about the trouble at the Germany game then?

[paulc]

This was never a problem when all the money was in the hands of the Italians and Spanish clubs though was it?

They've had decades of taking the worlds best players and who complained then? UEFA are full of jealous and petulent europeans who've always had an issue with english football.

They've had mass violence/murders of fans, players, police, big scale match fixing with minimal punishment really. If we had seen half the amount of fan violence here that we've seen in italy at our home games we'd have had the book thrown at us.

the money involved now compared to 10 years ago is vastly different

success is finishing in the top 4 not winning the league

[barnes10]

This was never a problem when all the money was in the hands of the Italians and Spanish clubs though was it?

They've had decades of taking the worlds best players and who complained then? UEFA are full of jealous and petulent europeans who've always had an issue with english football.

They've had mass violence/murders of fans, players, police, big scale match fixing with minimal punishment really. If we had seen half the amount of fan violence here that we've seen in italy at our home games we'd have had the book thrown at us.

don't disagree with your point about it wasnt a problem with spain/italians nicking the best players but I put that at the feet of platini's predecessor - the old dude, i forget his name. I think what platini is saying is right on the money and its clear that this is a problem for the game. I would think he'd be saying the same if it was only the italian or spanish league doing as well. The fact that they're all left behind by us is also unique, in the past you had at least 2 strong countries plus germany. its literally just us now isnt it followed by maybe spain. this is a very different and far more boring landscape.

if nothing changes, the final 4 of the CL will be v similar for years to come. 3 english plus 1 other.

[Kenneth]

I havnt heard of any violence at Euro 2008. I wonder why?

Strangely enough there was no violence at World Cup 1994 either. I wonder why?

Surely Euro 96 should have been a bloodbath.

[John_Gotti]

I agree with gallaird.

The champions league money has made the premier league stale. Its less competitive than ever. Dominated by the richest clubs, with the exception of arsenal from 2002-04.

The distribution of money in the game makes it increasingly more difficult for the villas and evertons of this world to compete. They can't hold on to their best players because the best want to play on the biggest stage.

Unlike many reds I don't hate everton, I preferred it when they challenged for trophies and the 89 cup final is one of my favourite games of all time. They aren't the only club out there with bitter fans. Many people I know think the premier league is becoming a tiresome affair. There is too much money with the big 4.

Another reason why I would like to see less money given out from the cl is because that money has pricked up the interest of leeches like our own george and tom. They can secure their loans and pay themselves tidy dividends with that cl money in the can. Maybe they might care about investing in the team and backing the manager if winning the premier league meant more than finishing 4th did. And if there wasn't so much cash coming in from europe they might have built that ****ing stadium they have been going on about since they walked through the doors.

Before you jump down uefas throat about this give that some thought. Its the reason we buy so many **** players and its also why liverpool is a football club that hasn't and probably won't really challenge for the title in the near future.

I disagree.
Success breeds more success. Let the other countries build up their league and compete.

The same thing happened in Italy in the late 80s to Mid 90s. Countries like Spain upped their game and dominated. Now it is the turn of the EPL.

Another point is that approx 40% of CL income comes from the English market. Why should we not get a majority of the income?

Gizzard can go and wank himself. He is just talking bollocks!

[Roboklopp]

Couldnt care less and Inger-land TBH, but for the record Croatia Trukey were scrapping too.

I agree with Fatty on thissun. Never an issue until England started dominating again.

[Parm]

Arshavin? Villa? Maybe Deco! Huntelaar perhaps! Sorry lads. I was just trying to work out who Everton were gonna splash their 400 grand on!!

It does make you wonder what the point of the UEFA cup is these day. It does not seem to have the prestige of when we won it, having the CL drop outs in it has watered it down. Complex format, long and drawn out and finanically not really worth it and with falling attendances.

[Sadgeek]

As an alternative to the wage cap idea whereby clubs have a player limit of £100k, how about having a set limit for the total wage of playing staff so eg £5m.

Clubs could still go out and get the big players, but the players would be spread around the leagues.

Probably see transfer values go through the roof mind, with wages going in the opposite direction, so that clubs could still bring in the right players with lower wages.

Thoughts?

[FatTony]

I havnt heard of any violence at Euro 2008. I wonder why?

Strangely enough there was no violence at World Cup 1994 either. I wonder why?

There was a bit of trouble last night though wasn't there? You also have to take into consideration that the media loves nothing more than an english football hooligan story to sell a few papers. That trouble last night would have been exagerrated no end if we were involved.

And when was the last trouble in european club football and the premiership?
Its always in Turkey or Italy these days.

English football has made huge strides tackling this problem.

[Woobus]

I havnt heard of any violence at Euro 2008. I wonder why?

Strangely enough there was no violence at World Cup 1994 either. I wonder why?

There has been a good bit of trouble in the fan zones at some of the matches.

[Jack D Rips]

There was a bit of trouble last night though wasn't there? You also have to take into consideration that the media loves nothing more than an english football hooligan story to sell a few papers. That trouble last night would have been exagerrated no end if we were involved.

And when was the last trouble in european club football and the premiership?
Its always in Turkey or Italy these days.

English football has made huge strides tackling this problem.

You must admit that at every major football competition that England play in, there is trouble caused by English fans. Not at Euro 1996 as someone pointed out, but then you dont **** on your own doorstep.

Euro 2008 isnt over yet and indeed there may still be trouble but anything that has happened so far has been miniscule in comparisomn to what we have witnessed in the past

[FatTony]

You must admit that at every major football competition that England play in, there is trouble caused by English fans. Not at Euro 1996 as someone pointed out, but then you dont **** on your own doorstep.

Euro 2008 isnt over yet and indeed there may still be trouble but anything that has happened so far has been miniscule in comparisomn to what we have witnessed in the past

Whilst I admit that there is a minority problem, I also believe that a lot of the trouble is caused because of the reputations created back in the days of the 80's. Rival fans still see the english fans as a target and a test, whilst the police always see the worst in us. I know in the world cup in France the incident with the trouble was after a group of french locals bombarded objects down upon the english fans watching the game on a big screen. I watched a documentary about championships in Holland, when some fans were singing loudly in the pubs when the police tear gassed the place. The locals interviewed who were there could not understand why it happened.

Of course, plenty of critism is justified, but we're not always the instigators regardless of what the tabloids say. As a nation we seem to eally enjoy sticking the boot into ourselves (no pun intended).

[Woobus]

You must admit that at every major football competition that England play in, there is trouble caused by English fans. Not at Euro 1996 as someone pointed out, but then you dont **** on your own doorstep.

Euro 2008 isnt over yet and indeed there may still be trouble but anything that has happened so far has been miniscule in comparisomn to what we have witnessed in the past

There was 158 people arrested after the game between Germany and Poland, take into consideration only 11 arrests for the Rangers final in Manchester. Also nasty violence before and after the match between Turkey and Croatia, to say there hasnt been any major violence is well off the mark. Every country has their scum but England has been working non stop to make sure they cant get to the matches. Dont like the English team myself but to make out it is only English fans who take part in riots is wrong.

[The Birdman]

It's also widely known that the foreign police treat English fans more aggresively than they do fans from other countries again because of an old reputation.
English fans aren't perfect but they also suffer more provication.

When was the last time anyone was stabbed to death at an English club game?

[Jack D Rips]

It's also widely known that the foreign police treat English fans more aggresively than they do fans from other countries again because of an old reputation.English fans aren't perfect but they also suffer more provication.

When was the last time anyone was stabbed to death at an English club game?

Oh ffs