Stand Up For The Little Man

Welsh Champions TNS

TNS put in a great performance tonight, drawing 0-0 with the Swedish treble winners Helsingborgs, dominating the first half into the bargain. All the more decent a result when you consider the difference in rankings between the 2 teams and the fact that Helsingborgs are halfway through their season. TNS noticably tired in the last 20 after dominating the first hour, whilst Helsingborgs were able to grab a way into the game without their play really meriting it.




It led me to think about the inherent unfairness of the Champions League qualifiers. For a club like TNS getting through one round could make them enough cash to last the season or longer, yet, because of the seeding systems in place they are likely to always play a higher ranked team in the second round.  Seedings are here to stay, that's never going to change. UEFA don't want a Jeunesse Esch battling their way through a couple of rounds and then getting smashed by an Arsenal or Atletico Madrid, as this would probably show in vivid detail to the world the fact that the Champions League is extraordinarily dull between the 3rd Qualifying round and the last 16.

What's unfair for teams like TNS and Linfield is the fact that at the very beginning of their pre season training, they have to play higher ranked teams from Sweden, Finland, Norway who are right in the middle of theirs.
UEFA has to find a way around this. It is unfair that the smallest teams (who are usually from a country playing a Aug-May season) don't get to play when they are match fit.  If the Champions League starts in early October, the early rounds could all be played in August and September, and still be finished by early December when the Scandanavian / Russian seasons have just finished.

Alternatively, why not have a little group stage. TNS, Linfield, Limassol, and Helsingborgs could play each other, and the winner gets the opportunity to get their pants pulled down by Arsenal. It would actually take less time to do this than the current situation does. Smaller clubs would be more likely to be match fit, and by playing a few more teams they may be able to improve the standard of their own play.

Of course, no-one really cares about any of the little clubs. It is just a routine that the hierarchy have to put up with before their beloved big clubs can join in. I don't comment too much on European competition. It is largely irrelevant to the clubs I follow, but I don't think the current situation is particularly fair. Don't worry UEFA, TNS and Linfield won't ever get anywhere near your little group stage money making party.