Newcastle and Hearts on top table after G14 break-up

[Tom 14013]

Newcastle United and Hearts will take their place at the top table of European football tomorrow as the new European Club Association stages their first general assembly in Switzerland.

 

The organisation has been brought into being to represent club interests with Uefa's blessing in place of the elitist G14 forum. Under Uefa's ranking system, England, like Spain and Italy, are entitled to send five clubs, and Newcastle have been given the fifth spot behind the acknowledged big four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Scotland have three places and Hearts join Celtic and Rangers.

 

Chelsea, Manchester United and Rangers were among the 16 founder members of the association, initially set up in January. English influence should also extend to having a member of the 15-strong executive board elected tomorrow, as Chelsea's chief executive Peter Kenyon has been on the transitional board since then. A total of 103 clubs are included; all of Uefa's 53 associations have a minimum of one representative.

 

The ECA claim to have already won important concessions for the clubs in the continuing conflict with the demands of international football. International matches will eventually be switched from Wednesday to Tuesday, allowing players to return to their clubs earlier, and players based in Europe will not have to take part in more than one friendly for their country played in other continents.

 

Managers like Arsenal's Arsène Wenger have regularly complained about players from South America or Africa being forced to make long journeys for friendlies and returning too late to prepare properly for the next domestic match. Influence has also been brought to bear on the African Nations Cup, the timing of which in January upsets leading clubs. From 2010 it will start two weeks earlier, helping European clubs who have a midwinter break.

 

The other breakthrough was in forcing Uefa to pay all clubs whose players appear in a European Championship or World Cup. The rate of approximately €4,000 (£3,165) per player per day amounts to a total of £34,425,000 which Uefa will hand over from Euro 2008. So Liverpool, with four players in the winning Spain squad for a month, should receive almost £400,000, and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, having supplied Marius Niculae for Romania, are due £80,000.

 

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, of Bayern Munich, who is expected to be confirmed as the ECA's chairman, says the organisation does not support Fifa's "six plus five" proposal under which teams can field a maximum of five foreigners but they are backing Uefa's version in which clubs must include eight "home-grown" players in their squad for European competitions next season.

 

That includes players, like Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who have been at a club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21.

 

Uefa had been concerned for a long time that the G14 would at some stage break away if they did not get their own way in matters such as the format of the Champions' League and payments to clubs for their international players.

[@yourservice 67]

Fifth best club fact

[The Fish 10963]

where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B ?

 

I feel like a kid on Christmas day.

 

HAH!

[Tom 14013]

Didn't you know already?

 

We are the biggest club aside from the top four...

[TheMoog 0]

... and Hearts is bigger than the Spuds?? Lol

[The Fish 10963]

... and Hearts is bigger than the Spuds?? Lol

and Everton and Villa and...

 

[LeazesMag 0]

Fifth best club fact

 

only since 1992

 

Fact

[The Fish 10963]

funny how we only recognised as the top club outside the top four after Fat Fred left...

[LeazesMag 0]

funny how we only recognised as the top club outside the top four after Fat Fred left...

 

we just about made the top 24 now and again before 1992

 

Fact

Edited July 6, 2008 by LeazesMag

[Gejon 2]

This argument looks new to me.

 

Fact

[Douggy B 0]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Maybe the criteria for selection was pre war trophies won?

 

Or the ability to sell 60K tickets to watch Dane Bowers and some bloke from steps have a kick about.

 

Youre welcome to it.

[Gejon 2]

Ahh bless the spurs fan

[Park Life 71]

Ahh bless the spurs fan

[Jusoda Kid 1]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

Maybe the criteria for selection was pre war trophies won?

 

Or the ability to sell 60K tickets to watch Dane Bowers and some bloke from steps have a kick about.

 

Youre welcome to it.

 

 

He's fucking seething

[acrossthepond 878]

Our little hometown club, all grown up

[Douggy B 0]

I really, really dont give a fuck.

 

In the end of the day it has probably been your delusions of grandeur that have held you back over the last few years.

 

 

Carry on.

[JawD 99]

I really, really dont give a fuck.

 

In the end of the day it has probably been your delusions of grandeur that have held you back over the last few years.

 

 

Carry on.

 

Fuck me

 

Someone spill your breakfast this morning?

[Gejon 2]

Spurs fan claiming other supporters have "delusions of grandeur" fuck me

[Park Life 71]

Spurs fan claiming other supporters have "delusions of grandeur" fuck me

 

[@yourservice 67]

Altogether now.....

 

Oh Danny Boy the pipes, the pipes are calling

from glen to glen and down the mountain side

The summer's gone and all the roses dying

'tis you 'tis you must go and I must bide

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

'Tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy I love you so

[Tooj 17]

I really, really dont give a fuck.

 

In the end of the day it has probably been your delusions of grandeur that have held you back over the last few years.

 

Carry on.

Gerraway man.

[Andrew 4856]

I really, really dont give a fuck.

 

In the end of the day it has probably been your delusions of grandeur that have held you back over the last few years.

 

Carry on.

Gerraway man.

 

they'll break the top 4 this season, no problems

[The Fish 10963]

He is fucking livid. It's glorious. He's like the kid at school who you sit next to in Maths or something.

 

Don't worry Danny mate, we'll tell you everything that goes on at the cool party when we get back, maybe even show you pictures.

[Torres 0]

I really, really dont give a fuck.

 

In the end of the day it has probably been your delusions of grandeur that have held you back over the last few years.

 

 

Carry on.

 

 

Very bitter!

[Torres 0]

where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B where's Danny B ?

 

I feel like a kid on Christmas day.

 

HAH!

 

 

Childish ...but funny!