In the most significant development towards the regionalisation of European leagues yet, Russian Premier League chief executive, Sergei Pryadkin, has announced plans to merge the Russian and Ukrainian leagues. The plan has been driven by CSKA Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg and Anzhi Makhachkala, who have formed a foundation committee.
Russian clubs already deal with the rigours of playing across a vast geographical area, so adding a huge nation like Ukraine would present further challenges, but top sides from Russian and Ukraine know that if they are to become genuine top tier clubs they will need to play in as strong a league as possible. The plan is likely to involve feeder national leagues working below the confederated league.
Uefa president Michel Platini has already given the green light to the regionalisation of leagues. The most important question for Scottish football fans, is whether SPL clubs would like to feed into a confederated British league.
The hoary old claim that SPL clubs need Celtic and Rangers has been shown to be a complete falsehood this year. SPL clubs didn’t need Rangers and they don’t need Celtic either – if only those running our game had the balls to ask fans their views on this matter they might reinvigorate our game, instead of managing inevitable decline.
We are not wanted or needed by fans of Motherwell, Hibs, Kilmarnock, Inverness, Aberdeen or Dundee United. These clubs are competing in the best SPL ever with only one problem, a bloated club from Parkhead.
If Scottish football wants a way forward which will see a well-attended and competitive top league, ask the fans, do they need or want Celtic? Do they want an opportunity to feed into a regional league? Any reorganisation which fails to take the views of the paying customer into account will be a disgraceful failure.
Ordered the CQN Annual yet? It is a product of literary brilliance. Get it here in time for Christmas!
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Paul67 et al
The merging of leagues does have a certain Corporate logic to it and no doubt money is behind it. I mentioned last week the prominence of Gazprom on the official UEFA website, and conspiracy theorist that I am, I think I can see where this is coming from, and where it is going. Another recent interesting story, denied it has to be said, was that the owners of Manchester City, were prepared to set up an entirely new club in New York City. Now if anyone believes this is designed to gain access to the MLS, they would only be partly correct, City’s owners are looking ahead to a time when competition may well involve crossing oceans, in particular the Atlantic Ocean. I mentioned on here a few years back that an Atlantic League would only appeal if it included clubs from both sides, cities like New York and Miami. Glasgow is well placed in this context, and Celtic are making a case, to represent Scottish football, in this new footballing environment.
Bhoywithseethrougheyes
You hit the nail on the proverbial
Fan power at most spl clubs ensured that sevco were not allowed to jump three divisions as if nothing had happened.
Turnbull hutton and the sfl clubs also listened to their fans ensuring they only jumped into d3
We need our club to continue to listen … Not just on this issue but regards the gb issue … The empty seats at celtic park… The MiB issue etc etc
Let the people sing… Let the board listen
League reconstruction / league mergers/ regional leagues will only happen if one thing is right
MONEY – not supporters
they’vestolenourgameCSC
Euro update
Juventus looking good with a 3-0 win Against Atalanta. we want to avoid them.
Did I hear the guy in the ESPN studio say Shalke sacked their manager?
HH
The Boy Jinky 15:50
>What about the ECA?
Who ??
The cosy wee club where Huns of both persuassions are Associate Members, where little ole us and the sheep are just Ordinary Members.
I highlighted this mob last year. No one wanted to hear.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Club_Association#cite_note-Agreement_heralds_new_era_in_football-2
The transitional ECA Board was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (chairman; Bayern Munich), Joan Laporta (vice-chairman; Barcelona),
………………………………………………….John F. McClelland (vice-chairman; Rangers),
Umberto Gandini (vice-chairman; Milan), Peter Kenyon (Chelsea), Maarten Fontein (AZ) and Jean-Michel Aulas (Lyon).[2]
Paul67
To quote Red in The Shawshank Redemption “Get busy living or get busy dying”
The ECA are bound to say that newco are still the same club as deadco, the majority of the members of that organisation are technically insolvent so they are protecting their own interests should the big L happen to them.
Just watched Swansea and Spurs and the Welsh team managed not a single shot on goal.
.It was not a one sided affair as both teams had nice spells of possession.
Their coach is lauded as one of the best young managers in the game.
Is this the future of the game with lots of pretty possession and very little attacking purpose?
We seem to have a coach of similar mindset.
The preoccupation with possession and reluctance to allow central midfield players to attack the last third for fear of being countered.
Football is becoming like chess and equally as boring.
The entertainment value is diminishing and with young people having many other things to occupy them the game is in peril.
I understand that the money involved has a lot to do with the cautious approach but i feel in the long term this strategy will have an even greater financial impact on football.
As a great man once said football without the fans is nothing.
Perhaps i’m just being nostalgic but i miss the style of Jock’s swashbuckling Celtic.
Just returned safe & well after christmas shopping expedition with she who has to be obeyed :)) even survived the cesspit that is Airdrie.
OVER & OUT
I see that sevco are wearing five stars on their jersey.
Is that because they have now won five games in their entire history?
Izzy
Sorry… Was off blog for over a year… Never even heard of that association .
Huns by any name club by the looks of it
Auldheid
If my memory serves me correct.. Red was a man who could get you anything …at a price :)
HH
The Ukrussian league, The Russaine League..
Merger ahead … Names ..
Personally I like…
DEFUNCT RANKERS..
Well done Montrose..
HH
A North Atlantic League comprising clubs from Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland might sound good in principle – but winters in the last three countries are severe and it is impossible for any football to be played during the months of December-February. Their seasons run from March-November.
A three month winter shut-down?
Inpracticable I fear.
HH!!
They have shops in Airdrie?
Ntassoolla.
In Omnibus Christus!
ARRANMORE BHOYLXVII
If they go bust again,will their next incarnation be known as Third Rangers?
The Boy Jinky
No need to apologise pal. Don’t think many football fans are aware of them. Or how much power they might sway.
Tallybhoy
16:13 on 16 December, 2012
Summer football. Its what we should have in Scotland irrespective of any restructuring. March to November league with one month break in middle for international tournaments. December/January break with pre season in February. SImilar to Sweden/Norway.
Has he thawed out yet. ???
Coldest house of worship on the planet……
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
!!Bada Bing!!
14:17 on 16 December, 2012
Our esteemed manager was at St Brides for Mass last Sunday in the fine town of East Kilbride…
DJBEE –
noticed your post on the last article. I’ll have you know I lived in Greenhills during my formative years, 14 to 26. ;-)
More EPL dross ,West Brom v West Ham ,not a player on show who would enhance our team IMO.
Jc2-it is one ugly building .HH.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers16:19 on16 December, 2012:
>>>>>
I’m assuming that’ll be pronounced ‘turd’ r*****s….
Sorry Jobo
It;s a lovely place, honest, just a tad cold.
Jobo
at 14 I was already through my formative years – part of that was of course supporting the famous Glasgow Celtic
We you a late starter?
Fholks,
On yesterday’s game and previous home games where the bus is parked by the visiting team.
Not once yesterday did any of our wing backs get to the by line and cut the ball back to the front line. Apart from signing someone who can unlock defences, this is a tactic which we can utilise now to create better opportunities for our forwards.
Look at the previous weeks game at Killie, although it was an away game two of our goals came from Matthews getting to the by line and cutting the ball back for the first and third goals, proving that defences find this extremely difficult to deal with and forwards love to run on to a cut back.
I believe if Neil puts some focus on this in future home games it will bring success in the way of goals and get round stuffy defences, as playing it across the pitch and then trying to play through the defence is not proving to be particularly successful, given the level of possession we are enjoying at home.
Hail! Hail!
MIKI67
Cap duly doffed,sir!
Palacio67
15:59 on 16 December, 2012
Did I hear the guy in the ESPN studio say Shalke sacked their manager?
________________
Yes – believe they have slipped to 7th – 17pts behind leaders.
Bada
it has won a lot of awards for architecture…
Still freezin though …..spent many a school service in there anything around Christmas you made sure you had thermals on.
So Russia is repatriating Ukraine into their league – if I were Poland, Holland, Belgium, France etc I would keep an eye on the German FA.
estorilbhoy
16:29 on 16 December, 2012
We miss Forrest’s pace down the wing. Even when he himself isn’t playing that well (and he hasn’t when he has played this season) teams are afraid of his pace and usually double up on him, which stretches their defence and creates space for others. When he’s playing well he is a goal threat and liable to set up others.
Lenny has said he’s looking for a left winger in January so he obviously knows the problem we have.
Bada Bing! – you’d be far better off attending St Leonards. newly refurbished, always toasting hot and fabulous music, especially at the Saturday night vigil ;-)
Interesting development.Watched highlights of yesterday’s SPL on Sky this morning and was struck by the poor attendances at all games.
Jc2-Hard to believe it won awards but true.
Jobo-I heard you are a player :)
praecepta
16:31 on 16 December, 2012
Palacio67
15:59 on 16 December, 2012
Did I hear the guy in the ESPN studio say Shalke sacked their manager?
________________
Yes – believe they have slipped to 7th – 17pts behind leaders.
Hope we draw them on Thursday. The most winnable tie we could get, more so if Huntelaar is sold in January. Seen a bit of their 3-1 defeat at home to Freiburg yesterday. You’d fancy Sammi to keep his goalscoring run away in Europe against them, defence looked poor.
bada bing
Is that the church which looks like a giant box?