Champion's League Qualification

[thechap]

What with the complaining that the competition is not really for champions any more - which is patently true - what do all those minds out there think about perhaps making the Premiership champions automatic qualifiers, 2nd and 3rd positions having to qualify and the second automatic spot going to the FA cup winner?

At least the FA cup winner is a champion of something and it would certainly spice up the competition. Any clash between FA cup winner and 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Premiership could then default to the 4th placed team.

I can see some pitfalls, primarily that it would not be impossible that a 'lower' team could win the FA cup and not have much of a chance in the Champs League - which could eventually result in UEFA taking away from the FA one of their 4 slots. On the other hand I would have no truck with seeing your Spurs, Newcastles, Bolton's, Wigan's etc in the Champs League were they to go all out for the FA cup. And, as I've said, it would certainly bring some new and, some may argue, much needed spice to the FA cup.

Of course, this may all be illegal due to UEFA rules, so it might be a bollocks suggestion anyway...

[isr]

Here's my $0.02:

The "big" leagues should only get 3 places, not 4 (I know that we wouldnt have won the European Cup last year if this was the case, just my honest opinion). The extra places should go to:

UEFA Cup Champions: automatic entry to group stages
UEFA Cup RunnersUp: 3rd qualifying round

The last couple of spots to be distributed around to various leagues. Alternatively, give the losing semifinalists in the UEFA Cup entry to the 1st qualifying round.

Plus, the 3rd place team in England should have to playoff with the FA Cup champions to make the qualifying round of the Champions League. Not at the end of the season, but at the begining of the next season (a week before the qualifying round).

This would give the FA and UEFA Cups a huge boost. Plus it would place the emphasis back on actually winning trophies. You know - the reason these clubs are battling it out in the first place? 10 years from now, who gives a damn who got 4th. You will give a damn that you won the FA or UEFA Cup though.

[thechap]

Originally Posted by isr

Here's my $0.02:

The "big" leagues should only get 3 places, not 4 (I know that we wouldnt have won the European Cup last year if this was the case, just my honest opinion). The extra places should go to:

UEFA Cup Champions: automatic entry to group stages
UEFA Cup RunnersUp: 3rd qualifying round

The last couple of spots to be distributed around to various leagues. Alternatively, give the losing semifinalists in the UEFA Cup entry to the 1st qualifying round.

Plus, the 3rd place team in England should have to playoff with the FA Cup champions to make the qualifying round of the Champions League. Not at the end of the season, but at the begining of the next season (a week before the qualifying round).

This would give the FA and UEFA Cups a huge boost. Plus it would place the emphasis back on actually winning trophies. You know - the reason these clubs are battling it out in the first place? 10 years from now, who gives a damn who got 4th. You will give a damn that you won the FA or UEFA Cup though.

This sounds a good idea to me, but it would need to be repeated in every relevant country so the UEFA Cup is spiced up everywhrere.

The FA Cup certainly needs an injection of stronger incentive, however I think the FA would far rather see the status quo maintained than lose a place in Champs League. Perhaps the 4th place Prem team could battle it out with FA Cup winners (or runners-up if appropriate) for the 4th Champs League spot...?