On a 16 team league

Sepp Blatter is recommending that countries should revert to a 16 team league format. For the article:Click Here

I think this is the best thing he has said since taking office, and announcing that the World cup will go to Africa.

The resultant benefits for players are obvious. The main one being that they will play fewer matches. The season will be shorter, allowing them to recuperate better in the off season.

The main drawback as I see it, will be the longer transfer window = silly season...for the media to fill pages with speculation upon rumor upon heresay.

Who will be up in arms, are the minnows of Serie A, the EPL, etc, who will now be less likely to keep their top flight status, or to be promoted....It means more money to distribute among those clubs in leagues where there is collective bargaining, or reduce monies to clubs like Juve, whose monster deal with mediaset would (in this scenario) be much less, given the fact that they will play 8 fewer matches.

For clubs such as Milan, who tend to buy players in their prime, as opposed to players with potential, this would be definately be a good thing. As it would mean less matches, and therefore less playing time for our aging oldsters.

Thoughts anyone?

I have said it before and I'll say it again, this is a great idea. You'll be surprised at the increase in game quality and it willl even effect the number of quality players on any of the 16 squads.
Money wise it can be taken care of, remember it was the sponsors that pushed for no second group stage (and therefore a couple of fewer games) in the CL and UEFA still negotiated a good deal.

The clubs won't accept this......expecially the big ones with huge salary lists. Less games means less crowd which means less money on revenues. For example if you are Milan and have millions to pay to players, plus tons of other costs involving games, stadium, travel, transfers and what not..........you want the most money you can take from anywhere. I know that sponsors, leagues, uefa bonuses, tv rights etc. pays for most of this, however like I said, clubs want to put their hands on as much money as they can and playing 19 games at home in the league + cup mathces + CL games brings in quite some millions from tickets. I really can't see it happening.
I do however think that it is a good idea and will bring quality to a higher level.

I am for 18 teams. 16 is a bit too little, but 20 is crazy. 22 (it happened in Spain, don't know about now) was just idiotic...

I think 16 will be good, since the quality of matches will increase. Also by having fewer matches, teams might want to compete on all fonts, ie Italian teams might be more serious in their approach on Cup games

why do i think the more teams the better?

Originally Posted by hitmannq8

why do i think the more teams the better?

This is because you think the "more the merrier" especially since your return from Cuba ...by the way, u need to PM me about ur trip Mr.

i think 16 is a good number, I wouldn't mind to much if it was 18 though. It would be beneficial for big clubs as, right now, it is becoming impossible to compete for the league and champions league at the same time, also it would be good for small clubs because I feel whenever a team that only has a first team pool of 13-14 players it suffers badly from midweek games as virtually all the players have to play 3 games in 8 days.

It would level the playing field a bit, as small teams would not need as large squads as big teams as they wouldn't be playing in europe, thus they could concentrate on better quality players.

bad points would be, it would decrease squad rotation which is the main way young players get there chance.

16 is just not enough 18 would be sensible

Originally Posted by Milan_Mad

16 is just not enough 18 would be sensible

This was exactly my thought too. Makes much more sense with 18 ito 20, or 17-19 with one team having a bye each matchday.

beware of deneme. he a hecker!!!!!!!!!1

I would love not only a league with only 16 clubs, but also a much more competitive, entertaining frantic World Cup, with only 16 national squads: 8 european countries, 4 from South America, 2 from Africa and 2 from the rest of the planet.

Originally Posted by GRE-NO-LI

I would love not only a league with only 16 clubs, but also a much more competitive, entertaining frantic World Cup, with only 16 national squads: 8 european countries, 4 from South America, 2 from Africa and 2 from the rest of the planet.

then what's your view on an expanding champions league?

nah, 16 teams would be unfair to teams from Asia, Africa and Oceania.. its good the way it is IMO

Originally Posted by Xudong

then what's your view on an expanding champions league?

I view it as mercantilist nightmare!