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Author: badgerboy
Date: 07-06-2006, 11:33
| Courtesy of Bert's excellent website I have been spending a little time looking at the history of UEFA coefficients (and linked to this the history of entry to these competitions).
As Bert tells you in the history section coefficients (at least country coefficients and team coefficients in anything like the current format) were first used for the 1980-81 season (based on performance in the five seasons up to 1978-79).
The current cut-off points for team numbers in European competition were set way back then at 3,8 and 21. The total number of teams were set then at 6/5/4/3 and the only change to those numbers since came in 1997, when the best 8 countries were first allowed to enter their runners-up in the Champions League. At the same time their UEFA Cup numbers remained static so the split became 7/6/4/3 and the big jump from 6 to 4 teams (which few people like) was first introduced.
Now, to me, a lot has changed since 1979. UEFA has grown from 33 to 52 - soon to be 53 - members. All of those new countries (18 if you include Wales,who only used to play CWC, and Montenegro but discount the three true "minnows" who have only one UEFA Cup entry)have come in at the 3 team level.
A lot of the new countries have joined the lower ranks of the coefficient list and will probably stay there for a while. However, among the newcomers are Ukraine and Israel - both consistently above the level of 21st place and Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia - who are certainly consistently at a level above the teams that have retained their "low level" status since 1979. And at least two other countries - Norway and Turkey - have improved considerably in the intervening years.
So, although I'm not sure there is too much wrong with places 3 and 8 (not saying there isn't - I just haven't looked too closely) I think 21 is a bit outdated. A place should be found in the UEFA Cup for an extra team from at least 7 (maybe 8 or 9) countries ranked below 21. |
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Author: ferdi
Date: 07-06-2006, 12:31
Edited by: ferdi
at: 07-06-2006, 12:44 | If so, then it would be best to take the 3rd spot from the countries ranked 44 (or 43 or 42) or lower. The third spot for the lowest ranked countries has historical reasons, because once there were 3 competitions, and even the lowest ranked countries should have had one spot in each competition. Meanwhile there are only 2 competitions left, so one spot for the champion and one for the cup-winner should be enough for Faroer, Luxemburg, Malta etc. |
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Author: panda
Date: 07-06-2006, 13:04
| Yes, great point- that is why the lowest number is three, for the three competitions. |
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Author: badgerboy
Date: 07-06-2006, 14:15
| Sure. But I don't actually see a problem with the lowest number remaining three.
I know the number of teams will increase further (but since this fits in fine with my 200 team UEFA Cup format I don't see a problem!)
And ignoring the problem of formats and yet more increases in qualification matches I think the extra teams are justified - mainly for the reasons already posted. In doing some research for another thread I also noted that the Greek league only turned fully professional in 1979, the Danes in 1978 and the Norweigens not before 1994 - I'm not sure of their current status but I'm sure there must be some professional clubs now.
Professionalism isn't everything but it's another indicator to me that more leagues are operating at something of a higher level than they would have been in 1979 so more places please! |
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