After some horse-trading towards the end of last week, involving a reluctant Spartak Moscow, a huge step was taken on Monday towards establishing a Unified Football Championship across former-Soviet countries. 14 Russian clubs met a representative club from the Ukrainian league in Moscow, with Ukrainian clubs now due a corresponding meeting.
The event was hosted by Gazprom deputy chairman, Alexei Miller, an ally of Vladimir Putin, who afterwards briefed Russian media and indicated Uefa were aware of their plans.
Miller said, “We think it is realistic to hold the championship from the autumn of 2014 to the spring of 2015, but if the time to reach agreements drags on, we plan to hold the championship from autumn 2015 to spring 2016.
“Since a championship like this is a complicated diplomatic matter, we have decided to initiate the championship initially with Ukraine only.
“In the future, if everything works out, we will be able to co-opt clubs from the other countries in the post-Soviet territories, but that’s the next step. All former-Soviet countries would be eligible to join.”
Show me the money
Gazprom sponsor the Uefa Champions League and are keen to sponsor the new league. Miller was clear that money would drive the change, promising annual sponsorship of €1 billion, which in world football is (a close) second only to the value of the next FA Premier League TV contract.
Uefa Financial Fair Play requirements make change, of some sort, inevitable in Russia and Ukraine. Leading clubs there are heavily subsidised by benefactors and, unless they manage to considerably improve their income, they will have to either get rid of all their expensive players, or forgo European competition.
As things stand, the sums don’t add up but money from a Unified Football Championship would allow clubs in Russia and Ukraine to meet Uefa Financial Fair Play requirements and compete with major leagues in the west. Gazprom have the seed cash and political influence, both domestically and at Uefa, to oil the wheels.
In 2005 Uefa sanctioned the Royal League in Scandinavia between the top four clubs from Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but the initiative was poorly organised and perished three years later due to a lack of a TV deal.
After this experiment several clubs across Europe started lobbying to extend the strategy to other leagues which were disenfranchised by a lack of competition or TV income. The principle was further confirmed by Michel Platini and the Uefa Executive Committee in March last year, when they approved a three year probationary period for the BeNe League, which combined top women’s teams from Belgium and the Netherlands, the first season of which is now underway.
The Committee stated at the time that, subject to a satisfactory outcome of the BeNe experiment, other cross-border leagues would be considered by the Executive Committee if all stakeholders (national associations, leagues and clubs) came to agreement on a way forward.
The former-Soviet countries are now motivated to regionalise. The Scandinavians have understood the potential of regionalisation for years but didn’t get it right (they retained national leagues which determined European qualification, the Royal League was effectively a friendly competition). The Belgians and Dutch have a pan-national league already underway, while the former-Yugoslav countries have discussed implementing the same for a couple of years now.
Wales and England have the longest-established regionalised league system in the world.
Meanwhile…………. at a national stadium near you, the only change on the agenda is whether to have three lower leagues or two.
Scottish football is fully aware the viability of many clubs is at a critical level, but have singularly failed to present the vision evident elsewhere in Europe. Whatever world-class technical, stadium and coaching resources we have is being squandered by unambitious leadership.
Months into deliberations Scottish football is only addressing how to slice up an ever-smaller pie. The enormous increase in income possible from regionalisation to SPL clubs, and what trickles-down to the lower leagues, dos not seem to have registered.
Hard cash can focus minds..
Spartak Moscow owner, Leonid Fedun, was highly critical of plans for the new league and insisted he would not attend Monday’s meeting but after doing so he said, “When I heard the budget per year was €1 billion I changed my mind and decided to attend. You can’t miss a chance to be the part of that game.”
Football across Europe is set for change, a fact a great deal of the UK media seem to have missed.
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The Token Tim
When goals are conceded by teams using zonal marking, more often than not it is the implementation of it that is at fault as opposed to the system.
Defenders shouldn’t be able to abdicate responsibility just because the ball wasn’t in their area. They too should be looking at the space around them and if the ball is coming into that area, they should also be able to get a run at it to head it clear.
Sometimes however, no matter what system is used, the ball in is just too good and the attacking player will score regardless if there is a man on him or not.
Mort
Charliebhoy.
Stay well clear of the domuz pastırması, instead if you’re in or around the sea resorts head to one of the boats that serve “Balik Ekmek” fresh battered fish on fresh bread with chilli’s.
My biggest concern when we defend set pieces is our inability to put a man/men on the edge of the box.
Does my head in so it does!!!
SuperSutton
Nope, can’t remember at all. there were a spate a few years ago that brought this to the attention of many but I think now that the players now know their roles better and are more able to defend in this manner.
Last night, however, we conceded two “goals” from free kicks when we used zonal marking albeit both ruled out for offside although I wasn’t sure myself.
Mort
twists n turns at 13.45
Well argued. I am broadly in agreement, but think we will hedge our bets and put some of the money into attempts at jam today (CL group stages each season) and jam tomorrow (developing the academy).
It would help the coaching team feed the products of the youth system into the first team if the fans didn’t crack up every time we drop a point.
4 scored fron 83 corners isn’t the best return.
dubaibhoy-”if i signed off the accounts it has been in good faith.”
13:25 on 20 February, 2013
SuperSutton,
Interesting Stats.
Any idea what the stats are for goals scored from corners not taken by KC?
——————
Sorry, the goals scored were only a by-product of recording the goals conceded and I don’t have information at that level.
If you would like to read through the reports of the games, the goals were scored against Dundee united 22/01, Dundee united (2) 16/02 and st Johnstone 19/02.
It’s no concedin’ goals fae corners that’s buggin’ me!
It’s concedin’ goals from open play that really bugs me.
Philbhoy – You know what really bugs me?
Mosquitos. (thumbsup)
Celtic first
Exactly. The thing is though, as I say, we would still win the title even with the sacrifice of a few player signings. Hard to lose in a one horse race. A walkover effectively. We have dropped more points this year at this stage than for a long time. Still winning by a country mile. When the new cluggers return, we will be back into a dog eat dog, win at all costs, sod the quality scenario. Result = a few titles each and an occasional game v the big boys. Forever.
Cameron joins the London Delhi
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
!!bada bing!!
13:57 on 20 February, 2013
4 scored fron 83 corners isn’t the best return.
—————–
Perhaps not, but it is 4 goals in 10 games. And our corners have become very inventive, not a reliance on the high ball or the short corner tactic.
And infinitely better than 0 from 33 corners which the opposition have managed.
Well,well,well.
A mere few days after the GB kick up about FOCUS harrassment of their members,said unit goes out and lifts four Rangers fans over an incident from over two months ago.
Co-incidence….I think not.
“See,Timmy-yer just a paranoid buncha crims,and it’s not just YOU we’re after”
Still no mention of their shennanigans on Saturday,mind.
Fitba news from way down south .
Sicilian Radio pundit has just said that AC Milan will be delighted that tonight’s Ref is Scottish . – Why ? — He’ll allow AC Milan to get stuck in . The other studio pundit bemoaned that Italian football had declined to the point where being allowed to get stuck in was your only chance. AC Milan are being given no chance but —- hey —— Celtic beat Barcelona.
Juve news —— Chiellini has returned to training . He has played in no contact allowed 7 a side games. He might be fit for the Celtic game . They have missed him .
Very grey and clammy -there will be a monsoon tonight -way down south.
PHILVISRETURNS 1403
It’s other annoying wee pests from the jungle who bother most people on here!
mort
13:56 on 20 February, 2013
SuperSutton
Nope, can’t remember at all. there were a spate a few years ago that brought this to the attention of many but I think now that the players now know their roles better and are more able to defend in this manner.
Last night, however, we conceded two “goals” from free kicks when we used zonal marking albeit both ruled out for offside although I wasn’t sure myself.
Mort
————
Aye, I’m not as convinced on zonal for free kicks from midfield where the zone is typically the 18 yard box with defenders running backwards and attackers running forward. So a good delivery in between defensive line and goalie will always cause problems.
I noted that we persist in outswinging free kicks from that region. Which does give the header more power but easier to defend IMO.
Phil
My initial posting was in reference to some posters demanding we sack the board. I asked who would replace them and one reply was Celtic fans should run the club. The point I was making is that we need someone to run the club as it would be nigh on impossible for fans to do it when we can’t agree on anything.
bada bing
4 from 83 is actually pretty good.
That works out at corners to goal ratio of 0.05 which on the face of it seems pretty poor but in the EPL as a whole, the ratio is 0.022 so we are working at twice the average.
Also EPL stats show 1 goal scored from a corner every 10 games. We have had 4 in 10 games.
Goals scored from corners in EPL
Mort
SuperSutton
Agreed, don’t think it works as well for free kicks in that sort of postition as all forwards get a run at defenders.
Mort
The football industry in it’s present form is askew. We have all said more or less the same thing for years. It has to change. So the best solution to change that we can come up with is this?
We look at the economic model that has stifled the game, then we try to emulate it!
What!
The problems the game faces will not be tackled by creating another super size league where advertising and revenue is king. That is to completely and utterly miss the point. It also misses the opportunity of real change to protect football from the corruption that comes with elitism.
If we look at improvement from a purely economic vantage point then hell mend us.
Football always was and always will be played in a social context. It is not a tool to generate ever increasing revenue streams.
All day people have been waxing on about the oul’ mouldmaster, why no tales about how in the pre superstore days, how we survived when revenue streams were limited? Three replica strips a season these days so aren’t we all the better for it? No, never saw those anecdotes.
Gathering more money for more soulless athletes to be traded after eighteen months, now we get to fly them all over Europe (waving them off from the airport I take it, before running home to stick a credit card in a machine to activate a screen to see if they are up for the cause?) All this on a weekly basis to prove how we are the best brand.
Thats it?
Thats the plan?
FFP yer having a laugh. Financial fair play, what about social benefits of a team representing a community instead of a community gullibly funding a corporation with no regard for the said community.
I better shut up here, moving forward this lack of blue sky thinking isn’t going to maximise potential growth markets and protect share prices. Cos thats what it’s actually all about.
Change for the better? What change?
burgas hoops
Ah Efes – I didn’t mind it although I know many who hate it and claim it caused the worst hangovers ever
Charliebhoy – if you have never been to turkey before you should try an Iskender kebab. Only ever drove past side – whilst in antalya – if you golf belek is close by….
Re the Blessed Mouldmaster……………..
….our school favoured them,
we had the special limited edition “Torqemada” model.
*wince*
Mitre Mouldmaster size 3
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51frp1eMjWL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
yorkbhoy @13:30 I didn’t think you were being anything other than positive.
I like the idea of fans’ ownership.
We’d have to choose a management team.
Running a football club doesn’t need a dozen suits on salary packages of anywhere form £100k to £1m, expense accounts and dozens of minions.
There are plenty of lifelong Celtic supporters with a wealth of experience to bring to the job. Many of them early retirees.
I like the philosophy behind the following quote from General George S. Paton. The Germans rated him very highly.
“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”
BTW I’d be absolutely rubbish at it.
philvisreturns @13:31 urges “We should invade France, steal their women, take their wine, and give them our women. That’d learn em.”
You can count me in man. And the wife.
Where’s the recruiting office?
day day cqn, I’m off oot to the metro – Geordieland !
mort
14:12 on20 February, 2013SuperSutton
Yeah 4 in 10 games is pretty good,i usually bet CB’s first scorer,bet Ambrose on Saturday but not last night :(.Lustig has missed a few chances when i’ve bet him too.
philvis
The French?!
Sacre bleu and dio mio!
Over here in Italia they are almost as unpopular as Juventus.
My favourite French people?
Catherine Deneuve, Jacques Tati and Stephane Mahé!
HH!!
Twists n turns
Maybe if we really go for it with the new model we will have to do without the one or two big earners. The clubs people often cite as being the role-models here (Porto, Ajax … ) seem to me to do this. Once a guy gets to the stage at which clubs elsewhere are prepared to offer him £x, he’s gone. No question of trying to compete on salary.
This gives Celtic a problem. Maybe it does those clubs too. But at Celtic, it’s different.
It puts me in mind of something erstwhile CQNer John67 (now confined to Twitter, which is easier for graphic design types because you only have to write 140 characters max), wisely said a few years ago after a defeat at the hands of a club that killed itself to achieve the scenario you describe very succinctly (a few titles each and a game agains the big boys once in a while). John said Celtic is a club that requires heroes. We need a few ghuys in the team that we can love. It seems we also need at least one we can yell abuse at, but think for a second about the heroes.
We will never learn. We want to love and we want at least a few of the ghuys to love us back, so that even when the chequebooks get flashed, they will say thanks but no thanks, they are one-club players.
John Updike has a famous character called Harry (Rabbit) Angstrom, through whom he brilliantly charts US life throughout the whole of the second half of the twentieth century in a series of novels. Rabbit was a basketball star in high school, but never really took his talent any further. In his mid-50s, after a heart-attack, he likes to watch a bit of baseball and gets caught up for a bit when Mike Schmidt’s career is coming to an end in the late 1980s. But at one point Updike describes a moment at which Harry decides he cannot “live his life through these athletes” because the athletes do not even know Harry exists. A roar from a 30,000 crowd when the announcer reads out the player’s name is all he (the player) wants from them. And money, of course.
Updike is so insightful it’s painful. But we like to think of Celtic as being something different, as being above all that, as being about faith, hope and love. And especially love.
Ntassoolla
The only way we could become a complete fan ownership club would be if Dermot Desmond decided to sell his shares to us. Other large investors would also have to agree to this.
Mort
The ONLY thing that matters to the authorities in Scottish football is Klan F.C., it’s bigotry and perpetration of twisted masonry.
The clock stopped in Scotland in 1690.
The furtherance of good governance is last on the list.
So long as the klan can continue their inexorable ascent to once again Europe-wide trashing of towns and cities, and issuing Govan fatwahs, all is well.
Why would espn be showing so many fourth tier games of dubious quality involving a gang of professional thugs? Surely it can only be for the 500,000,000 worldwide follyfollyers of this redneck/brassneck retard outfit who have yet to pay the wee face-painter, yet proclaim themselves the richest, greatest club in Scotland.
Reconstruction in Scottish football will only occur responsibly when that despicable shower are permanently dead, buried face-down and forgotten.
Until then…..fuggeddabowdid.
Did Norris only play 2 out of 3 minutes injury time last night?
Paul67 et al
“There’s only one Gazprom,
“There’s only one Gazprom”
Got to admit it does have a certain ring to it!
!!Bada Bing!!
Don’t think so. I definately say 92:46 at one stage on the clock.
Mort
Miki67- It could be argued Barry Smith at Dundee is a victim of their collusion.They were too busy trying to gerrymander the huns back in to the SPL,Dundee had no time to re-price Season Tickets thus denying them extra income to get a few players in.They ended up selling ST’s based on them being in the First Division.
Bada Bing
No.
mort @ 1353,
But that there is exactly the problem mate. Its a system!
Most systems sound great in theory, but its when put into practice that the issues or problems occur.
My point or issue with zonal is that a player is given a set area or space to “mark”. Given the size of the penalty box, or more specifically the size of the area that is used for corners etc, that means at most, the defender marking that area or space, will get a 2 or 3 yard run to jump at or defend the ball.
Whereas an attacking player can take his run from the edge of the box or even beyond that and have a good 10 or 12 yard run at the ball. The momentum build-up from that run will almost always lead to him outjumping the defender. Or having a free jump as he is not marked.
Of course man-marking doesnt always work, otherwise no-one would ever score from corners, but at least if you mark the attacker, as long as you challenge him even though he wins the ball, in more cases than not, that challenge or even wee nudge is enough to prevent a clean header on the ball which as we all know will most likely result in a missed opportunity.
The amount of times ive heard “did enough” from one defender to another is innumerable. Sure that could apply to a challenge made by a zonal defender, but im sure you’d agree its more likely to be aimed at someone man-marking.
Anyway I suppose we could argue the pros and cons all day, but for me its simple. Give an opponent a free run and header and his chances of scoring will improve dramatically.
Challenge him and they reduce.
Of course i have vastly simplified it, but that’s it in a nutshell……or at least has been in my own experience of playing football at all ages youth, amateur and dare I say it, veteran now, over the last 30 years. Granted I’m no pro, but pro or not the idea is the same.
A possible alternative is of course to scout your referee and if he is proven to be a soft touch, then the defenders know they can foul at will and any advantage that the attacking team had from corners will be completely and utterly nullified………..!!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – He sure does have a lot of time on his hairy wee hands. (thumbsup)
yorkbhoy – Aye. I believe Celtic fans do run the club. (thumbsup)