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Episode 184 - Friday Fun!
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Kieran and Tom join you for some Friday Fun, and may have created a new competition in Europe just so United could play in Europe.
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Transcript
Introduction & Reflections on Europa League Final
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. Happy Friday, you made it. And your reward is a load of international matches. Look, I don't make the rules, I just have to follow them blindly.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name's Kieran, I'm joined it on today's episode by Tom. Tom, how are you doing?
00:00:31
Tom Cairns
Not too bad, thank you, Kieran. Yes, and different surroundings, actually, although similar surroundings. So when me and Niall reviewed the Europa League final, obviously it was a depressing night, but maybe that could prove to be a blessing in disguise later in the season of which we are in.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cool.
Legends Match Announcement
00:00:47
Tom Cairns
And, you know, and, you know, European football may not be on the horizon for us this season, but who knows what the following seasons could bring.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're top half now. We're never looking back, maybe, he says. um Don't look back. Please don't. Right. We'll start off. We'll kick off today's episode with a bit of a lighter news. We discussed yesterday on the episode about international call-ups.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, now it's sort of like a Legends of Manchester United call-up because, yes, ah the Manchester United Legends have been announced for the Celtic last year. Man United Legends versus the Celtic Legends in Glasgow on Saturday.
00:01:20
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, well, it's Brian Robson taking charge of the Manchester United Legends. And he calls upon Nani for the first time. So forget about, you know, you' you're talking international call-ups. Who cares about that? You want to be called up for a Legends game. That's how you know you've made it.
Memorable Performances by Former Players
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you've got the likes of Mikel Silvestre, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Louis Saha, Dimitar Berbatov. As I mentioned before, Nani, Darren Gibson's there. Nala will be delighted.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You've also got names like ah Chris Eagles. ah You've got Tyler Blackett in there, Danny Pugh. I mean, these are some great names that we're we're listing off here, and it's not even all of them, Tom. Any of those names in particular give you some great memories of bygone...
00:02:02
Tom Cairns
I mean, I remember Mikhail Sylvester scoring a double against Liverpool. ah That was over 20 years ago now. and remember that. He even turned down Liverpool to go to the United back in 1999.
00:02:14
Tom Cairns
And so later in his career, he would join Arsenal for a brief period before moving on from England. Chris Eagles. I remember when he scored that goal against Everton in that 4-2 win, which was a big one, really, in regards to the title race that particular day.
00:02:31
Tom Cairns
And
Anticipation for Legends Game Atmosphere
00:02:32
Tom Cairns
Tyler Blackett, well, we didn't really see that much of Tyler Blackett, did we? That's probably the most recent name to not be. Well, who left Man Utd, really, and before this Legends game that's coming up on Saturday.
00:02:46
Tom Cairns
But let's hope it's a croaker involving all of those that you of which you've mentioned. Brian Robson. I personally rated him as a manager. ah think he did well during his spell at Middlesbrough and obviously got the baggies safe from a desperate situation that they were in.
00:03:03
Tom Cairns
So best of luck to them. Of course, it's a one-off game. you know It's all fun and laughs on the day, which I think is what all the fans who are turning up to that need.
Celtic Legends Lineup Discussion
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, yeah. Just a little bit of you know light-hearted action. and i mean, the the the Celtic squad, the Celtic legends, is i mean it's it's stacked as well. You've got Joe Hart and Artur Boric as your keepers, but you've also got the likes of Charlie Mulgrew, who's been there, I think, for years. You've got Joe Ledley, starter from the past.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stylian Petrov, ex-Aston Villa, Stylian Petrov. Giorgia Samaras, I mean, that's just a name that sparks fear into those who watched UEFA Euros 2008. mean, yeah.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um i mean yeah Great, great lineups on both sides. And as you say, it's a bit of fun for for both, not only both teams, but for both sets of fans as well. And if any legends, testimonial matches or
Memories of Dimitar Berbatov and Louis Saha
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
anything to go by, i just miss out on Paul Scholes being there because when Old Trafford tells him to shoot in that testimonial, he shoots for about 30 yards.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what happens next. They can make some just fantastic memories. And I'm i'm trying to think, actually. Chris Eagles. Made a move to Blackburn afterwards, didn't he? I'm sure. it Was that right?
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe?
00:04:13
Tom Cairns
I think it was Burnley.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
was it Burnley?
00:04:15
Tom Cairns
I think it was.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
after have to look it up because because Tyler Blackett sort of made his name at Reading, made it's over 100 appearances at Reading.
00:04:16
Tom Cairns
I'd have to research that.
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
so you know And then he's currently playing, I think, was for Rotherham United up until 2024. But he did make a move to Cincinnati in 2021, making 31 appearances and scoring a goal.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, Tyler Blackett left the club, I think, trying to look back at this in 2016. So it's been a while. He's 31 years old now. And yeah, hopefully, you know, we'll see him in the United Colours. And I like those Legends games as well, because it's recognising those players that came through the academy as well, you know, and went on to have...
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
decent careers let's not let's not beat around the bush you know players that come through the united academy and they go to say the championship or another premier league team you still consider that a successful academy prospect that's come through the academy and been able to play full-time football and i suppose the a academy is built on that and this is a way of saying ah you know you've come through the academy we recognize that you've had quite a successful career
00:05:26
Tom Cairns
I've seen where Chris
Past Players in Modern Football Context
00:05:28
Tom Cairns
Eagles went to after United. It was Burnley. I was right.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah, okay.
00:05:31
Tom Cairns
So you got the Lancashire club, but not the one that he actually went to.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:05:37
Tom Cairns
And he actually went to Bolton Wanderers, then Blackpool, then Charlton.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Colton. That was it. Yes, I remember now because that was like FIFA. What was it? FIFA 10, FIFA 11. It probably would have been for Chris Eagles.
00:05:46
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember that name. Yeah. Yeah. I got the wrong B. I'm going to be slaughtered now. Oh, it's okay.
00:05:52
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's deserved. It's deserved. I'll take it.
00:05:55
Tom Cairns
Yeah.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But again, like some of those names, like like Dimitar Berbatov in a in a Legends game. It's like his first touch never left him and just...
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I love seeing him play.
00:06:12
Tom Cairns
I always loved him myself. I mean, he was a good character, was Dimitar Berbatov. And the flair even brought whilst he was at Bayer Leverkusen, think it was at that little chip or whatever over the goalkeeper into the net in the Champions League. I don't know which team it was, but it was a delightful chip.
00:06:30
Tom Cairns
But the flair he showed at Tottenham afterwards was just sublime. He may have only been there for two years. I can't remember which one it was where He sort of turned and then as he spun, he dragged the ball with him past defenders.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:46
Tom Cairns
He even carried that United. There was even a couple of goals in an FA Cup tie at Fulham 2007. If you haven't seen it, for those who are watching, go watch it. It'll be somewhere on YouTube.
00:07:00
Tom Cairns
It was just delicious to watch.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, also one to just keep rolling back is the Berber spin, the legendary Berber spin. And still to this day, you're not quite sure how he actually
Longevity of Legendary Players
00:07:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
kept that ball in. um Yeah, thing of beauty. And the thing is, he just made it look effortless.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he wasn't a player that ran him behind. He was very intelligent about where he positioned and... He was one of those that always sort of ran into the box late if he was on the edge of the box.
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He sort of knew how to time his runs. And while he lacked in, you know sort of raw pace, he more than made up with with with flair, intelligence on the pitch, just a classy striker, very classy and a joy to watch, it is just what I would say.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:46
Tom Cairns
Yeah, and he came over lee cup winters middle for topham and a in a Tottenham team which was struggling at the time. And then he made the move to United following... i don't I think Sahar went... Did Louis Sahar go before Berbatov shortly arrived?
00:08:02
Tom Cairns
I know they left it around about the same in the same transfer window, but I don't know whether United bought Berbatov because they had already let Sahar go to Everton.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes so Yeah,
00:08:15
Tom Cairns
He must have done because he left the number nine for Berbatov to fill him.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah you're right. Yeah, he must have done. But yeah, I mean, Louis Saha, again, ah one to just ah one to watch. I say one to watch. 47-year-old now, but again, just a great player to watch.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think maybe it's rose-tinted glasses about you know how certain players just... when you're growing up, they feel like they're so much, they're so great and, you know, they really get you into football. And I suppose as well with young footballers and young players coming through academies now and looking up to modern day players, you know, your Erling Haaland and whatnot and seeing them and saying, I want to be in Erling Haaland or I want to be, you know, now a Florian Verts. I mean...
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool, but never mind. The name made its way onto the pod. The point is that I wonder when we look
Proposing a UEFA Foundation League
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
back at someone like Louis Saha and when we look back at Dimitar Berbatov, before the the numbers and the statistics became a huge part of the game, they were considered great strikers. But I wonder by today's numbers, how great would they be considered? Because ah think...
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
When you now look at the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, who absolutely dominated the best part of a decade of football with absolutely insane, inhuman numbers, you know, do you look back at that and think, you know, now in the modern day, how would they get on? How would they have been rated if they played 20 years later?
00:09:44
Tom Cairns
Well, that's a good question, actually, because there's so many talented players coming through within their own right. I mean, you're looking at Laminya Mal now, who is at the fourth ah front of that Barcelona squad, despite his age. I mean, it's incredible what he can do.
00:09:59
Tom Cairns
I'd tell you another player, and this is not even a striker, Kieran, because I was looking up stats the other day. You look at Cafu and Paolo Maldini, who are part of that ridiculously good AC Milan side.
00:10:12
Tom Cairns
They were in their mid-30s when they were at the at their peak. I mean, someone may argue against that. You'd think, well, no, that their peaks were a little bit younger, which I could agree.
00:10:24
Tom Cairns
But when Man United played Milan a some la ah couple of seasons in the space of three years, Cafu and Paolo Maldini were two players that you would fear going up against. I always rated them. I thought, geez, they are really this good.
00:10:41
Tom Cairns
And it's it's insane the way they defended.
00:10:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Wasn't Maldini attributed to saying if i if I have to make a tackle, I've failed at my job? Was that Maldini that said that?
00:10:51
Tom Cairns
I don't know. I wouldn't be able to answer that. But Paolo Maldini played until he was 40. Yeah.
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. i have to look I have to look this up now. Yeah, there you go. it's is Paola Maldini. If I have to make a tackle, then I've already made a mistake.
00:11:07
Tom Cairns
yeah
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just that sort of mentality of, well, if I have to actually defend, well, i' I've made a mistake. Brilliant. Well, look the the legends there for both Manchester United and Celtic will be taking to the field in Scotland, in Glasgow at two o'clock at Celtic Park.
00:11:19
Tom Cairns
Thank you.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're around the area, if you're if you're all listening in from Scotland, head over to Celtic Park. if you if you do want to, that is, ah to see that legends game, if you're of the volition. A bit of news as well coming in from Diogo Dallo, who we mentioned on the previous episode, was called up by Portugal.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's now since withdrawn and pulled out of the squad as what's cited as muscle discomfort. So he's been replaced with Lazio's Nuno Tavares, who's now been called up to replace him. So yeah, muscle discomfort.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. you Could it be more vague?
Structure and Benefits of Additional Football Tiers
00:12:02
Tom Cairns
It feels generic. Could that be a hamstring?
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
and anything It could be, yeah. yeah it's ah Well, it's hamstring, calf. What sort of muscle discomfort?
00:12:10
Tom Cairns
Groin.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, groin would do it, wouldn't it? you Would you explicitly say, yeah, groin injury, yeah, he's out. yeah Or would you rather, let's just say muscle discomfort. Let's save him that one.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, so he will now not feature for Portugal. So that's a bit of news there. When we come back then, little bit more about, some i don't know, maybe jealousy might come in, but we'll be back after this.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
A couple of teams in the Europa League. We had the Europa League playoffs and we've had Champions League playoffs, Europa League playoffs and all sorts to get us to what we're looking at European-wise.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And looking at those results, you know, like Michelin securing their place in the Europa League. you know, you had Shamrock Rovers securing their spots, beating Braga. Braga, sorry. ah Not Braga.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, they didn't do that. Santa Clara. i don't know why had Braga on the mind. I must have seen it somewhere. In any case...
00:14:06
Tom Cairns
It was a Portuguese sight.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I got that close and no closer. um I'm not having a great episode in terms of remembering clubs. I failed England and I failed Portugal. But I am getting a bit jealous, Tom, of you know seeing all the European competitions just make their way starting up. And we're missing out on that this season. And it may not makes me sad, but I sort of think, well, what could have been maybe if we had won the final that nobody ever talks about ever again?
00:14:35
Tom Cairns
Well, who knows? i mean, we would have ended up in the Champions League and I don't even think we would have been ready for it, Kieran. I don't think we would have had the squad ready for and the Champions League. It would have been a major distraction, I think, to our campaign.
00:14:49
Tom Cairns
Would have been on the hunt for players, like needing just to make up numbers within the squad. And those players aren't even Champions League material or maybe even not. European football material.
00:15:00
Tom Cairns
You know, there could be players that aren't even fit to be competing in the Conference League for Manchester United. So the fact that we're not in it this season is perhaps a blessing in disguise that if we use the reduced schedule to our advantage, we could maybe be ready to compete in, let's say, the Conference League. Because do i think we're going to finish in the top five?
00:15:23
Tom Cairns
No, I don't. Do I think we'll finish in the top six? I predict that we'll finish six. That was me being generous with my prediction at the time. Seventh position or eighth could potentially get us into the conference league, providing that the side that win the League Cup this season end up qualifying for Europe via their domestic league. so you've got, obviously, if it was, let's say, Chelsea that won it or Liverpool or Man City that won the League Cup, that would hand, effectively, the conference league plays to the side that finished high enough in the league to be warranted it.
00:16:00
Tom Cairns
With us, we've obviously never played in the Conference League, but I think that's the level of we are at if we do end up qualifying for Europe. Some people are going to laugh at me for it, but I honestly think that's the case because we were good at beating sides like Athletic, Bilbao and Lyon, Real Sociedad, which was great. yeah But the club is in need of a rebuild. And if you play in a competition like the Conference League, which Chelsea won last season, but they were expected to win it anyway with the squad that they had.
00:16:30
Tom Cairns
It could help build the moral ah rebuild the morale that United need at this moment in time to get back to where they need to be as a commercial entity, not just a sporting entity.
00:16:45
Tom Cairns
That is something that I think United needs to go out and achieve they're going to get anywhere, which I suppose would lead what I'm about to propose, Kieran.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. i Okay. what's what's What's on the mind of Tom Cairns?
00:17:03
Tom Cairns
Right, this is made this is going to end up being a bit of a laugh to some people, but I do absolutely love what I've put together.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:17:10
Tom Cairns
This one is called the UEFA Foundation League. Now, what this competition is, it's a fourth-tier club competition that involves even more of the inferior sides who are trying to compete in Europe.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
us, right?
00:17:26
Tom Cairns
Yeah, exactly exactly that. So, it would work in Effectively the same way as the Conference League. So you've got 36 teams in the league phase with your preliminary knockout rounds, last 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final.
00:17:43
Tom Cairns
The winners would earn a place in the Conference League, in the league phase automatically. And I think they would be the only ones qualifying for the league phase automatically without needing to go through the qualifying rounds in the playoffs.
00:17:56
Tom Cairns
It's just the qualifying phase how of like which teams would get involved in it. Now, I've done a little bit of studying over how it would work and which teams would be involved. So in the Conference League, the top 12
Impact of Conference League on Smaller Clubs
00:18:10
Tom Cairns
nations would only have one team competing, which would go through the playoff rounds, unless you've got teams who have been knocked out from the UEFA Europa League.
00:18:25
Tom Cairns
from like the third qualifying round or the last qualifying round before the playoffs. And if they get knocked out from the playoffs of the third qualifying round, or maybe even the qualifying rounds before, they could still potentially qualify for the foundation league. If they lose in the final playoff round of the conference league, it's a very complicated system.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I just love the fact that you've got a competition now that United could win. Could. But I like this because it also stops Chelsea saying they've won every competition.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So carry on. Yes, I like this. I like this.
00:19:00
Tom Cairns
Yeah. Well, we spoke off air last week about which other nations would get involved. So in the Conference League, ah nations ranked 13 and below have two places on offer, plus any of those that get knocked out in the Europa League qualifying phases.
00:19:22
Tom Cairns
I would probably say you're looking at one each from... ah from Austria downwards to Finland in 34th, plus all those from the qualifying phases of upper tier competitions.
00:19:37
Tom Cairns
And then you get to the Republic of Ireland that would have two places on offer, plus all those from qualifying rounds in upper tiers. And then you could decide maybe from there which nations would get three representatives.
00:19:57
Tom Cairns
So,
Debate on Introducing a Fourth Tier
00:19:58
Tom Cairns
yeah, it's a very complicated system in how it works in the qualifying phase. But when it gets to the league phase, it would make more sense.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yeah when i heard about the Conference League being introduced and I thought, yes, another tier of European football. And whilst it probably was quite a money-driven move, I think it's a great opportunity for clubs to experience Europe.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you've got, um i think Lincoln Reddick was qualified for the Conference League group stage now. And that's massive for Gibraltarian football. and they You get money just for winning in a group stage game. If you win a game, that's probably worth about £400,000 to £500,000. You know, in that region, once you've taken TV revenue and whatnot, it's probably maybe going to be close to £300,000 because you're looking at half a million for your Champions League wins, maybe even close to a million at that point.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's a huge amount of money that would come into a club if it's your European competition. But it's also, i think, a great way for players who you know maybe are starting out or you've got those like you know stories of one-club legends who have stayed at their club for their entirety and now they get to go to European competition.
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's great. I really do. And sometimes the Conference League... is more entertaining to watch than the Champions League. Because the Champions you've got all the elite clubs in there.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with the Conference League, the winner isn't in that competition next season. so that's So no one can be yeah know winning it back-to-back. So you've got no Real Madrid dominating that top echelons of European football.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know You've got different teams coming through every season. i mean Crystal Palace are now in the Conference League. They've never had European football before. They hadn't won a trophy in their entire club's history. And then they won the FA Cup and then the Community Shield in the span of, what, three months?
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They can't stop winning trophies now. And they've got a good chance of winning the Conference League, having been bumped out of the Europa League for those ownership reasons. But nevertheless, it's still a great opportunity for them to win a European competition.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, that competition, Tom's mentioned, the Foundation League is, you know, bit of a cop-out to get us into Europe. And even then, we might struggle to qualify if we can't finish higher than fifty But on ah on a genuine note, I'm in favour of more clubs going for European competition.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it going to be a case of 36 clubs? Because when you get to the conference league, you're already getting clubs that sometimes are going to be you know semi-professional, for example. they They can't afford to run the club full time.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you might run into an issue where if you drop a tier down of Europe, you get more of those clubs. So I guess it's a case of how you, you know, mitigate that and allow clubs that are semi-professional to travel, you know, the breadth of Europe.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I like it. I'm more i'm all for another tier of European football, European domestic football, that is, because I think it's great fun to watch. I think it's great fun to watch clubs that maybe
Foundation League's Morale Boosting Potential
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you've never even thought about, like clubs in North Macedonia, you know, in the... ah in the Conference League, come ah coming up against teams in Serbia or Cyprus. It's like, of course I'd want to watch that. These are two teams I haven't really had any notion of even existing, let alone heard of them.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um they're they're facing off for a chance to play Europe. I think it's great. And could United still win it? I don't know. That's still up in the air.
00:23:36
Tom Cairns
Well, it's a chance for us to go to locations or football stadiums, which we've never been to before. ah suppose it helps commercially for UEFA and for the league itself. It gets its name out there a little bit more.
00:23:50
Tom Cairns
So we'll have to wait and see and whether they'll consider it. It wouldn't surprise me if they considered something like that because I do want to see more lower tier teams being involved in Europe.
00:24:02
Tom Cairns
The only issue is some teams like the New Saints in Wales, they weren't able to play their home games at their home stadium because the stadium capacity wasn't big enough. I think it's something like 10,000 the stadium capacity needs to be.
00:24:19
Tom Cairns
in order to host European football. And the new Saints' stadium, if I find it up very, very quickly, because they had to play at Shrewsbury Towns' stadium for their home games in the Conference League last season.
00:24:35
Tom Cairns
I can tell you the oh their capacity is 3,000, Kieran. 3,000.
00:24:40
Tom Cairns
three thousand
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. And of course, that also comes to a fact because I'm pretty sure in UEFA competitions, you can't have terracing. It's got to be, you know ten as you say, 10,000, but they've all got to be seated.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um something Something along those lines of capacity. But I'm i'm sure you you can't have terracing. So that's probably another reason why the clubs will have to move to other stadia. So, yeah.
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
The pros and cons of it are, yeah, they'll get European football. But as you said, they probably won't play in their own stadium if you if you go down to a fourth tier of of European football. So there are pros and cons.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd love to see it, but logistically, would it work? And would Man United still win it if we even set up this competition? I don't know. Would we even qualify for it? We'd have to lose the Conference League playoff if the 12 top nations, top coefficient rankings...
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't win in the Conference League playoff. And that sounds pretty much the United way at the moment, losing losing a playoff game like that. Sounds about right.
00:25:40
Tom Cairns
yeah or what you could do is make a few adjustments with the conference league and allow ah top 12 nations of which the representative clubs are competing the conference league to just go through the league phase and then in the foundation league you put everyone that is competing or trying to get into the league phase into that final playoff round.
00:26:05
Tom Cairns
That could be the adjustment made just so that you still get rewarded and it saves you having to play those extra games ah to get into the league phase. I mean, you could ask a Palace fan how they felt about playing Frederikstad in terms of playing those extra games to help with their league form, their performances. Was it a distraction or did it help get the players going again and the fact that they've more game time, has that helped their development?
00:26:36
Tom Cairns
Do you remember when West Ham qualified for the Europa League? I think via fair play, I think it was.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:26:44
Tom Cairns
They ended up playing a few qualifying rounds in the Europa League before they got to the group stage. I remember someone who was working at the Schindholz of Residence in Lincoln, who's a West Ham fan.
00:26:57
Tom Cairns
Their start of season form in the Premier League was contributed by playing in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, which helped West Ham's consistency throughout the season, 2015-16. I could maybe see that a little bit with Crystal Palace in terms of the way they've played. They've gone about their business of like getting their season up and running before the Premier League season begins.
00:27:24
Tom Cairns
There's a lot to consider for UEFA with this new concept, but at least the basis of it has been covered, Kieran, with it being six games. I didn't mention that bit, actually, or I may have done a little bit. Six games in the league phase for each of the teams so that it's not too much travelling from September to December or January, whichever.
00:27:45
Tom Cairns
Because obviously there's television um broadcasting things involved, especially when it comes to the last match day. You've got to have it on a separate Thursday. So the Europa League and the Conference League.
00:27:58
Tom Cairns
So it may be like the first, like January, let's say. Because the Europa League's last match day, match day eight, is like the second match day of January.
00:28:13
Tom Cairns
Because they do two match days in January, don't they? The Champions League and the Europa League. So it may be that the Europa League match day... is on you know that second match day in January. The conference league can be the first match day of January, and then the foundation league being the last match day, match day six in December.
00:28:34
Tom Cairns
That could be a good way of putting it.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so. i mean, look, if UEFA do set up a fourth tier of European domestic football, all we have to do is point to Mr Tom Cairns here on episode 184 of the Daily Manchester United. That's where they got the idea from.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if it follows the structure, again, you've got to copyright this. Trademark it. That's it. Although foundationally sounds a bit harsh. Does it?
00:29:06
Tom Cairns
In my opinion, no, because it's about building morale for these clubs. Yes, the elite sides perhaps don't want to be in it, or at least the fans of theirs don't want to be in it.
00:29:19
Tom Cairns
But for the more inferior sides, it's a great opportunity to state their claim on the European stage as opposed to how they do in their own domestic league. Because most countries right now are not generating enough money.
00:29:36
Tom Cairns
Because, you know, as we all know, that even countries like Italy don't generate enough money compared to the Premier League or La Liga, let's say.
00:29:49
Tom Cairns
Whereas if you look at all these inferior countries of which their representative clubs are competing, there's not enough money being generated for these clubs. That is an opportunity that shouldn't get refused. And if they win it, you know, let's say like a side from Slovakia win it.
00:30:06
Tom Cairns
I'm just trying to think of sides from Slovakia. What's the capital of Slovakia? It's Bratislava. Slovakia and Bratislava. If they won the Foundation League, it would mean the world to them and to the country.
00:30:22
Tom Cairns
though Those are the
Conclusion & Listener Engagement
00:30:23
Tom Cairns
kind of scenes that are what make European football what it should be. in my opinion, and I'm sure a lot of fans would agree with it.
00:30:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:32
Tom Cairns
So if you're watching from like countries like Slovakia or Sweden or Norway and thinking, are we ever going to have some form of success in Europe one day? Well, here's a chance.
00:30:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Foundation League. You heard it here first. Well, we have made it to the end of the week and the end of today's episode. Thank you so much for watching and listening this episode. That's right. If you're watching this episode on YouTube, it means you found our YouTube channel at GSPN Daily Man United Podcast. and that means if you're listening on Apple or Spotify, that means you're missing out.
00:31:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're missing out on Tom Waving right now. in his hotel room. There you You're missing out on all the fun here by watching along. But of course, you can still listen to us if you're on the go on Apple and Spotify. Make sure you do follow us and give us the rating that you feel we deserve as well, as of course, you'll get a notification when each and every episode go up live. You can follow us on all the social media and start some conversations. We'd love to hear from you. what do you think to Tom's idea of the Foundation League? Could you United win it?
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:32:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a big thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring us on today's episode. That was it then, the Daily Manchester United, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Pick up on that international football where you can and look out for our Red Devils as well.
00:32:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the meantime, take care of yourselves. Have a great weekend. We'll talk to you soon.