Platini's Proposals

Michel Platini has been discussing recently his latest attempt to reform the structure of the Champions League. Platini's plan is to give the 4th Champions League place to the FA Cup winners, instead of the team finishing 4th in the League. Picture this scenario, however. A lower division team has an easy route to the final, like Milwall in 2004. They are playing a team which has already qualified for the ECL by virtue of a top-three finish. The lower division team loses the final, but would be eligible for the ECL spot as their opponents have already qualified. The minnows would have no chance in the Champions' League & most probably would be knocked out tin the qualifying round. A team that finishes in 4th place in the league nowadays would have a strong squad, & would be equipped to compete in the ECL. Platini's proposal would deny them the chance.

His attempts to make the ECL more egalitarian should be applauded, but he is always likely to be thwarted by the G14(the lobbying group of the richest European clubs). The problem at the moment is that the rich continue to get richer, thanks to the massive TV revenues from continually qualifying for the group stages of the ECL. At the moment in the Premier League it looks unlikely that anyone apart from the Big Four will qualify for the ECL, & that is clearly not good for the competitiveness of the English top division.

I hope though that the shock of Chelsea's defeat at Villa (last Sunday) could be repeated, & the gap between the 'Big Four' & the rest is reduced. I tend to think it indicates a lack of competition when a team finishes with 90+ points, as in 2004, '05 & '06.