Champions League Debate (moved from Rumours!)

[Blotto]

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=955235&postcount=347


I'm not say that Bobothebear's info is false, or that it was not passed on in good faith but with these kinds of stories (meeting a player or a coach) I often wonder at the level of candor on display.

Is anyone else sick and tired of the Champion's League? I understand the draw on one level; obviously playing on the biggest club stage gets one noticed by national team managers and a good performance can lead to all sorts of lucrative endorsement deals--and surely most big clubs offer a sizable bonus for winning or even doing well. But that last bit points to something significant IMO: when players talk about CL footy, they are not talking about going to play at Sparta Prague or Rangers or even Porto; it is code for playing at a big money, big league club. That's what its all about for them, not so much glory but big contracts and big bonuses. And while its hardly criminal to want a silly money contract, the whole CL thing is a bit disingenuous at times--its a way for a player to state their desire to move to a big club for big money without sounding like a complete twat or mercenary for abandoning their club in search of gold, so to speak. Hence the so called "CL" clause; it seems a bit mercenary to me, especially in our case--a player comes to a (fairly) big club in England, plays against top Prem competition (basically advertising himself to the highest bidder) and then has a clause to get out of his contract if there is no CL and presumably go to one of the "Big 4" clubs for silly money--sounds pretty fucking cynical to me. These clauses are shite, we shouldn't give them. Throw you lot in with the club or don't.

/end rant.

 

[SlunkSoma]

I'm not say that Bobothebear's info is false, or that it was not passed on in good faith but with these kinds of stories (meeting a player or a coach) I often wonder at the level of candor on display.

Is anyone else sick and tired of the Champion's League? I understand the draw on one level; obviously playing on the biggest club stage gets one noticed by national team managers and a good performance can lead to all sorts of lucrative endorsement deals--and surely most big clubs offer a sizable bonus for winning or even doing well. But that last bit points to something significant IMO: when players talk about CL footy, they are not talking about going to play at Sparta Prague or Rangers or even Porto; it is code for playing at a big money, big league club. That's what its all about for them, not so much glory but big contracts and big bonuses. And while its hardly criminal to want a silly money contract, the whole CL thing is a bit disingenuous at times--its a way for a player to state their desire to move to a big club for big money without sounding like a complete twat or mercenary for abandoning their club in search of gold, so to speak. Hence the so called "CL" clause; it seems a bit mercenary to me, especially in our case--a player comes to a (fairly) big club in England, plays against top Prem competition (basically advertising himself to the highest bidder) and then has a clause to get out of his contract if there is no CL and presumably go to one of the "Big 4" clubs for silly money--sounds pretty fucking cynical to me. These clauses are shite, we shouldn't give them. Throw you lot in with the club or don't.

/end rant.

I agree, it might sound like sour grapes the fact that we have never been in it, but the whole setup is horribly faceless and just about the money. Clive Tyldesley going on about that night in Istanbul and last minute winners is nausiating and I cringe at the thought of it.
I often wonder what would become of us as a club if we got into the CL, I can help feeling we would lose a little bit of soul - something the big four all seem to have done. The only way I would be happy would be if the competition for the CL places were 7-8 clubs strong. This would put an end to the constant rubbish about players 'wanting CL football' and not just a fat paycheque.

 

[Sauniere]

The Champions League should be exactly as it states, a league for Champions i.e. first placed teams like it used to be.

It's the Champions League that has changed the face of football making it more about money and diminishing the home cup competitions and even in some instances the Premier league itself.

 

[SlunkSoma]

The Champions League should be exactly as it states, a league for Champions i.e. first placed teams like it used to be.

It's the Champions League that has changed the face of football making it more about money and diminishing the home cup competitions and even in some instances the Premier league itself.

yeah but then rather than have 4 clubs pull away you'd have one uber-club with 400 players playing in every league in the world (plus the moon league)
and leave the rest of the clubs to fight it out for 2nd spot.
At least with 4 clubs you'd get more chance of a slip up

 

[Blotto]

I agree, it might sound like sour grapes the fact that we have never been in it, but the whole setup is horribly faceless and just about the money. Clive Tyldesley going on about that night in Istanbul and last minute winners is nausiating and I cringe at the thought of it.
I often wonder what would become of us as a club if we got into the CL, I can help feeling we would lose a little bit of soul - something the big four all seem to have done. The only way I would be happy would be if the competition for the CL places were 7-8 clubs strong. This would put an end to the constant rubbish about players 'wanting CL football' and not just a fat paycheque.

Totally know what you mean.

I agree in theory, but the big paycheque is for the clubs too--and thus the competition will remain a turgid affair as long as they can continue see it as little more than a major payday. Sadly, we see it in a similar light at the Lane--though the history and tradition of our club IMHO (though I may well be a bit biased ) make me think that our trips to Europe can bring glory without losing our soul.