Liverpool FC Forum

[Leonmc0708]

Something I read in the Independent newspaper, it makes for intresting reading. The race for that Champions League berth is too important, and anyone who thinks that finishing fifth and getting rid of Houllier is an option must surely think again after reading the followin :

"The idea would have been laughable to Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and Tony Barton, who managed their clubs to seven European Cup triumphs between 1977 and 1984. But the prestige of being England's champions, as their respective Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa teams all had to be to gain entry to Europe's showcase club competition, has become devalued. 

The primary aim for ambitious clubs these days is qualification for the Champions' League by whatever position in championship. Money matters above all else. And with England's top three sides exerting such dominance over the rest, the battle to be top of the "also rans" has become the most intense in the division. Fourth is the new first.
 
Though eight Premiership teams - down to Southampton in 11th place - still have a mathematical chance of finishing "best of the rest" this season, the race is realistically down to three. Liverpool (now fourth) and Newcastle (fifth) both have 53 points, with Newcastle having a game in hand but a trip to Anfield to come. Aston Villa (sixth) are only one point adrift and are in the best form of the trio, unbeaten in six league games.
 
At stake is not just a berth alongside Europe's élite next season but a guarantee of at least £10.3m for reaching the group stage via a qualifying tie. The rewards for performing well in the Champions' League proper rise steeply, with a variety of bonuses for wins, draws and even big television audiences.
 
Gate money is one source of income, with home teams in all rounds of the Champions' League keeping all their receipts. Each European home game for any of the aspirant trio would be expected to raise around £2m from sell-out crowds plus increased advertising and sponsorship income.
 
Prize money from Uefa, European football's governing body, plus performance-related shares of the Champions' League "market pool" (television income) boost the coffers. Teams reaching next season's knockout stage can expect to make around £14m each at least, rising to £17m in the quarter-finals and £21m in the semi-finals.
 
The tournament winners can expect to make up to £25m plus up to £10.5m extra from the market pool. The runners-up spot could be worth as much as £30m. These figures do not take into account extra revenue from bonuses in clubs' contracts with their major sponsors.
 
It is Europe's major powers, the élite G14 group of 18 clubs - Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United among them - who are behind the dash for cash. It is due to pressure from G14 that Uefa may be forced to reinstate a second group stage to the Champions' League after 2006. If the governing body does not do that, it may come under pressure to find another way to increase the income for Champions' League clubs. The G14 group is preparing a document to "summarise our views" to Uefa on club competitions. It is likely to be submitted in September.
 
One of G14's stated aims is to "perform economic activities to the benefit of the grouping" and G14's ultimate threat to Uefa is that one day its members could go it alone and promote their own continental tournament. It is unlikely soon because Uefa tends to bow to pressure.
 
So the rewards from Uefa keep increasing and the scramble to be fourth intensifies. The cautionary tale of Leeds, who may yet go to the wall as a result of chasing the Champions' League holy grail illustrates the pitfalls. Newcastle United and Aston Villa all have debt already. The Champions' League offers a way out, or a way in deeper."

[Leonmc0708]

s##t topic I suppose

[dawson99]

its just too many words to read at work... summing up: we wanna finish higher than other poeple