A Third European Club Competition

[degsy]

I have been thinking for a while now that the Cup Winners Cup (CWC) should be reintroduced in some form and thought I would throw this idea out there and see what people thought.

At the moment many people complain that the Europa League is too long, however when it gets to the quarter final stage, people start getting excited, as they can see the potential final and a champions league place in their future.

Part of the issue with the Europa League is that, after the Group Stage, it goes back to a 32 team competition (24 from the Europa groups and 8 from the champions league)

However I would propose that at this point the competition is split in two

the top 12 teams from the Europa league and 4 teams from the champions league, compete for the Europa League Trophy

the second place 12 teams from the europa league and 4 teams from the champions league compete for what was the CWC, rebranded as the "Europa Cup" or sponsored

Both winners of the competition would have an automatic spot back in next years champions league

Ah right CWC, now I see - maybe then.

 

[chrismpw]

I have been thinking for a while now that the Cup Winners Cup (CWC) should be reintroduced in some form and thought I would throw this idea out there and see what people thought.

At the moment many people complain that the Europa League is too long, however when it gets to the quarter final stage, people start getting excited, as they can see the potential final and a champions league place in their future.

Part of the issue with the Europa League is that, after the Group Stage, it goes back to a 32 team competition (24 from the Europa groups and 8 from the champions league)

However I would propose that at this point the competition is split in two

the top 12 teams from the Europa league and 4 teams from the champions league, compete for the Europa League Trophy

the second place 12 teams from the europa league and 4 teams from the champions league compete for what was the CWC, rebranded as the "Europa Cup" or sponsored

Both winners of the competition would have an automatic spot back in next years champions league

Yes to the cwc - a great competition of 2 leg sudden death. All for it. I remember Wrexham being in it loads.

Bin off the failures in the runners up league entering into the uefa last 32 though. That's always a thoroughly dismal idea, and undermines the uefa cup.

 

[Caolam]

The Champions League for the league winners.
Cup Winners Cup for the premier cup competition winners
Inter Citys Fairs Cup for rest.

You didn't hear it here first.

 

[Groucho]

They should never have ditched the cup winners cup

 

[Badge1878]

I'd let the winner of the main domestic cup comp (eg FA Cup) have a CL spot. ie Arsenal would displace Liverpool

Unless it was the other way round & I would lobby UEFA for a rule change.

Like....when you finish fifth you still qualify. Imagine that.

 

[barneygumble]

Should have a playoff for me.

I mean, had that been the case nowadays, then Liverpool and Arsenal would be playing at Wembley next week for a place in top 4.

On a situation where your wigans win the cup, then they'd probably get turned over by anyone half decent anyway!

 

[GwladysBlue]

I think it should be:

1st - Champions League

2nd - Europa League
FA Cup winner - Europa League.
League Cup winner - Europa League

Anyone below 2nd or who doesn't win a cup should not be playing European football.

The fact we're in 7th having won nothing and playing in Europe makes a mockery of the competition.

 

[blue76]

Knock out European footy from round one. The way it is at the moment is dreadful.

 

[Garrick]

Knock out European footy from round one. The way it is at the moment is dreadful.

I'm with this. Ditch the Europa in its current format and just make it a massive home-and-away knockout tournament, similar to the Copa Sudamericana.

Less fixture congestion for the smaller squads, and more clubs are included. It'd make for some more fascinating matchups and runs from small clubs. Kind of like the FA Cup of yore.

 

[BlueAmigo]

But what happens if an underdog win's the FA Cup? Like a Wigan, Wimbledon or Coventry City. Would you really want them representing us in the CL. I certainly wouldn't. It would be a complete waste of a space and would damage the countries coefficients as well. I'm not so sure anyone would be happy if Everton finished 4th one year, only for their place to be taken by a team like that either.

I would certainly like to see the CWC make a comeback though. They should never have got rid of it in the first place imo.

Is that you Teresa May? Why shouldn't those clubs be rewarded for success?

 

[Grand Duke of Marmite]

Is that you Teresa May? Why shouldn't those clubs be rewarded for success?

I've already explained why in the rest of my post. It would be a complete waste of time them taking part. An embarrassment in fact. Plus it would be just our luck we'd finish 4th that season, only for our place to be taken from us by a side that happened to be a massive underdog winning the FA Cup final.

 

[SantaClausisanEvertonian]

I think it should be:

1st - Champions League

2nd - Europa League
FA Cup winner - Europa League.
League Cup winner - Europa League

Anyone below 2nd or who doesn't win a cup should not be playing European football.

The fact we're in 7th having won nothing and playing in Europe makes a mockery of the competition.

I agree with this 100%. The cup competitions in Europe need a complete revamp.
How can it be that five English teams can be in the so called Champions League for starters?
The group stages of the Europa League simply drag out the competition unnecessarily for me. You can't beat a good old two-legged knockout.

 

[BlueLlama]

Yeah bring the ECWC back and put the Europa Leaugue back to a knock out format. Won't happen though.

 

[blueinsa]

I'd like to see only two cl places for the league, and one for the winner of each domestic cup. It might break up the cosy arrangement of five teams fighting for four places in the league, as well as injecting a bit of life back into the early stages of the cups. Yes, a few clubs would complain, but it would stop teams fielding second string or reserve sides, and make those late autumn and winter midweek ties more of a contest. It might also stop 3rd and 4th spot in the league being some sort of trophy.

 

[OneTrueLegend]

I'd like to see only two cl places for the league, and one for the winner of each domestic cup. It might break up the cosy arrangement of five teams fighting for four places in the league, as well as injecting a bit of life back into the early stages of the cups. Yes, a few clubs would complain, but it would stop teams fielding second string or reserve sides, and make those late autumn and winter midweek ties more of a contest. It might also stop 3rd and 4th spot in the league being some sort of trophy.

The only way I could see that happening with the domestic cups, is if the Premier League teams had more of a chance of winning them.

so for example if the championship teams down to non league, competed until there were only 12 teams left, then the Premier League teams joined them, to make it a 32 team knock out competition, it probably wouldn't be good for the lower teams, as playing the premier league teams in the cups, raises so much money for them