Dramatic and ambitions developments in European leagues, in this instance Russian and Ukraine, who have taken Michel Platini’s endorsement for the regionalisation of domestic leagues, should inspire the imagination of every football fan and administrator in a league with problems.
Scotland has a league with problems.
Our clubs and national association are committed to reorganisation but neither proposal from the Scottish Premier League or Scottish Football League does anything to halt the inevitable decline and marginalisation of our clubs.
In the 60s, 70s and 80s well-run Scottish provincial clubs regularly beat leading teams from big European countries but since then our small domestic market TV market has made most Scottish clubs also-rans, both in Europe and at home. We have a league system where the battle for second place is competitive and interesting but does not carry a meaningful reward; only one club is capable of winning the league.
Before making any changes to our league system we need to consider what changes are happening elsewhere in Europe and have a mature conversation about regionalisation.
Ordered the CQN Annual yet? It is a product of literary brilliance. Get it here in time for Christmas!
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Petec
Holland and Belgium are both ranked in the top 10. The only reason they would seek a regional league structure would be to improve their clubs’ chances of competing better in the CL, increasing their coefficients and attracting wealthy sponsors/advertisers who would pour money into the game. I see very little common product marketing opportunities for companies in Belgium and Holland that would merit exposure on Scottish television.
ABN Amro, Heineken or Amstel? maybe.
It’s more likely that they would have more in common throwing in with the geographically contiguous Denmark, Sweden and even Norway and Latvia.
If we are to regionalise it would be with Northern Ireland, the Republic and Iceland. I don’t see that causing the Coop Bank to prepare a larger vault for Celtic were it to happen.
‘GG
kitalba
Tom McLaughlin
I Think this whole site is willing both of you Fantastic commentators to do what you do best.
Commentate on Celtic and even before Celtic, it is a privilege, and has been for Years, to read both of your submissions to this evolving blog.
kitalba –
27 September was almost 3 months ago.
Just what is wrong with you?
I have no beef with you. Why can’t you just leave me alone to get on with my life in peace?
‘GG
I think you know how I think.
I’d like to stay in Scotland and really turn it around.
All that is needed is Faith. Greed would scupper it though.
petec –
As Paul said, we are no use to Scotland and Scotland is no use to us. We need to escape.
Tom..,
You know yourself you were pretty nasty, why don’t you offer an apology ask forgiveness and take it from there, you never know your luck.
Regardless of your perceived hurt its the Christian thing to do, if it doesn’t work you can move on knowing you tried, can’t say fairer than that
Tom McLaughlin
What about the teams left behind?
Where is their real incentive, we can patronise them by saying you can get to the Champions League, Unless they unearth a Jock they have no chance.
canamalar –
What exactly am I to apologise for?
Arrogant goading
petec –
Clubs from the vast majority of the 53 countries affiliated to UEFA have no chance of winning the Champions League. At least Scottish teams will be able to take part, or at least have the chance of qualifying. Surely that is the incentive.
It was just a silly idea I had about humility
But no matter, forget I said anything, your response pretty much told me all I needed to know, about your newly found faith.
It doesn’t matter if Belgium or norway or denmark or Wales or Ireland excites us right now It is about numbers if the aggregate of these is a tv market of 50 million then that creates a proximity to parity. Copenhagen or anderlecht or Rosenberg or Gothenburg would be hugely supported clubs in league which would not have the tv glass ceiling we currently enjoy.
The above clubs are all bigger than Wigan Swansea reading Southampton etc etc. we would still be big fish in small pond based on support
canamalar –
It had absolutely nothing to do with humility and you know it.
I care not one iota that you and kitalba pour scorn on my faith.
That says more about you two than it can ever say about me. Much, much more.
I have made my own peace.
THAT is all that matters to me.
Back to lurking for me I’m afraid.
This is just not worth the grief.
Bye.
Firstly, let’s leave page 14 as belonging to the night shift…..
Good morning and welcome to page 15 from a moderately damp but very calm and mildish (for December) East Kilbride.
dontlookbackCSC
Tom,
When are you ever going to stop your snivelling?
I was pointing out to you that somebody had posted that crass comment in your name and as it turns out it was you who posted it. I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I thought I was doing you a favour by pointing it out to you. No doubt you’ll twist that; actually you already have.
“You have no beef with me”
You were ever the smart hard man on 606, likewise The Scotsman, so many backed off you. Then you came here as Edmund Dantes. You thought you could bull this place too.
Well Tom I warned you a few years ago that you were dealing with the wrong guy when under your name and several of your other guises you repeatedly abused me, through innuendo and worse; you abused me personally, you abused my faith and my church, you abused my friends, as likewise you did to others. I have no idea what perversities drove you to continue doing so for so long under so many guises; repeatedly taking the piss by denying any of the obscenities were down to you. The blog in general may not have been able to keep up with you matey but then the blog in general was never the focus of your abuse. I’ve on several occasions tried to put this behind us and each time, after a considerate lull, back you’d come with your sick insidious belittlements once again. Well Tom, like I’ve told you a dozen times before, I can prove what I say and I can prove it with your very own words as opposed to mine.
Not only can I prove it, Paul67 can prove it too, if he so chooses to….
It does not matter to me how many sick notes you offer up, nor how many times you go whingeing to Paul,it does not bother me a jot how many of Paul’s confidential e-mails you decide to despicably publish them, none of it matters because until you own up to your depravities and apologise, I’ll be here.
Now the blog is sick of our bickering but then the blog was never the prime subject for your abuses though you did subject them to a few. I have most of them here if you ever want reminding.
Now Tom don’t take yourself so seriously it’s not like I’m inviting you to go poke knitting needles in your eyes.
Own up and apologise and I’ll be gone, you can have the blog then and your peace.
Tom:
I have just read your last offering; you sicken me to the very core with your revolting posts. You can twist and deny anything, and you do so with hunnish dexterity, you have no shame.
Used to enjoy my breakfast…
Jobo as far as I am aware that crass tweet by Tom about bible thumpers, guess who it was addressed to?
Scunnered reading the nightshift bickering on here
Always liked the CQN set up with one thread each day. But wondering now if there should be a separate ” domestic” page to allow the folk who spend all night arguing to get on with it in isolation.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
Dear or dear, what has become of the Celtic blog… Sticking to live updates from now, too much vitriol on off days. Sort it out Paul67, please!
On a happier note, annual arrived yesterday (East Grinstead), very slick, going to enjoy it. Thanks!
Good morning CQN…big few days coming up. Can’t wait for the draw on Thursday. I have a sneaky feeling it will be Juve!
HH
kitalba . . . aka The Brisbane Stalker –
So you admit to the whole blog that you have been stalking me since the BBC Message Boards (2002/3). That’s ten years pal.
You have followed me across the Scotsman forum and who knows where else. I should be flattered really I suppose.
You also lied to the blog today. You did not receive an email with my twitter from September. You have stored it your little GCT scrapbook. You did not think someone had hacked my account. I stopped using twitter a while back because of your stalking.
I also have a couple of emails exposing you as having posted under different names while attacking me. Magnus caught you out.
Even when Paul exposed your stalking another user whom Paul knew, you couldn’t remember it, which can only mean you were pissed out of your head when you were doing these things. Some excuse eh?
You want me to apologise to the blog for insulting people? You character assassinated me for weeks on end (and the users who you accused of being me). We were an unmerciful and utterly cruel cyber bully. I will apologise when you apologise to me.
You are still wittering on about names I allegedly used n CQN up to 5 or 6 years ago.
Also, going back to yesterday, I never insulted anyone’s religion or faith on CQN. Not once did I accuse believers of being “weak fools”. I challenge you to post a link to where I did. And I mean a link, not your usual Word document pretending to post comments from my past history on CQN. Post the link so we can all read where I said such a thing. Then I will apologise.
You could not simply accept my Catholic renewel even in the spirit of the prodigal son. You and your other Word Document liar mocked it and demanded apologies.
That is your choice.
This is positively my last comment to you.
Do your worst.
You mean nothing to me. I actually pity you now.
Morning,
Did not realise Chuck phoned up snyde begging the zombies to buy shares.
bye bye Sevco…
Another mild mid-winters day in the Chilterns…
With a week to go I guess it’s time to start thinking about Christmas, preparation is everything after all:-)
Looking forward to Thursday’s draw and meeting up with some Timsters on Saturday evening to start the ding dong merrily on high!
Another CQN spat, I wonder how some of these people actually cope in real life.
Oh well…
Bullies win again – Montrose offers “unreserved apology” for telling the truth in its match programme. Wonder what threats they received? Dignity, eh.
Delighted CQN is attracting advertisers but I hate the ads that launch video, feels like intruders are bursting into my room. I often listen to music on my laptop so the default volume is normally set fairly high. The wife and baby have been woken once too often by my early CQN surfing.
Morning all from a very pleasant Black sea -)))))
Off out with my dogs down the beach.
HuskysareuzCSC
Greetings from a pleasent Berlin morning.
No surprise that Chico plan to rob the hordes has failed. Even Jabba will not be able to distort the numbers.
Chico will be looking at Fat Sallys playing squad for the January sales. However Walters apprentice ‘expertise’ in the market has resulted in a squad marginally more valuable than Kirkintilloch Rob Roys. What an asset Sally is for us.
Morning all from gay Paree, thunderstorms – is Lenny in town (10C max)
Who is it gonna be?
Knowing that two clubs from the same country or from the same group can’t get drawn together, here is our chances:
PSG 12.36%
SCH 12.52%
MGA 20.14%
DOR 13.20%
JUV 14.48%
BAY 13.20%
MAN 14.11%
So it looks like I could be taking ma lager to Malaga.
PSG will have to wait till the quarters…
;o)
You are beyond farce.
Bring on the Schalke…
Dark Mingwall out busking to raise cash for smell issue.
http://i49.tinypic.com/15gdpi.gif
MWD
Moonbeams
Eeeeeeoooooowwww.
As my children might say. No health warning? At this time of the morning?
Morning,all.
Charlebhoy looks like being the latest owner of Rangers or summat todiscover that “those wonderful fans” are somewhat akin to gatecrashers at a party. They want to enjoy the party-TM Jimmy Calderwood-but to hell wi putting their hands in their pockets.
What with all the money that’s been promised as a result of the share issue,which will still have to be paid,I doubt much will be left for whoever has to clear up the mess.
Now,a wee question for you all-why is it,do you think,that huns never listen to us Tims,who are generally well-informed (or accurate readers of a given situation) when we are offering an opinion?
Or advice?
You would think they would have learned-oh,wait!-by now…….
Anyway,off to town for some Christmas shopping-in pint measures. Opening time 27 minutes and counting.