Originally Posted by
deaconred
Scottish teams had a fair degree of success in European competition in the 60s. Clubs like Celtic and Rangers realised tho that, to maintain the ability to compete, they needed more money. At that time TV money was not an option - the main source of cash was the attendance money. Up until then, the attendance money of any game was split evenly (after expenses) between the home and away team. This provided a great subsidy for smaller clubs - they would get 50% of gate receipts from visits to Celtic Park, Ibrox, Pittodrie, Tynecastle and Easter Road. The 18 team first division was ideal for distributing income throughout the rest of the game. Transfer fees tended to be paid by bigger clubs to smaller clubs - Dunfermline built their main stand using money from a transfer. They also sold two players to Rangers in the mid-60s - Alex Smith and Alex Ferguson - which broke the transfer record. The game in Scotland was in a decent state. In the years from 1950 to 1965, Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee, Kilmarnock all won the league. The Cups were also well distributed.
Europe changed that. The bigger clubs (Huns and Hooped Huns in particular) wanted more money as they saw Europe as the place to be competing in. Other clubs (us, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee, United) tagged along thinking only of themselves and the promised land of keeping all your gate money to yourself. Bad move. They also decided to go for a top 10 - more meaningful games (translated - more money for us playing 4 home games each season against the Old Firm and keeping all the money). What happened was that they created a duoply where the Cheeks had access to much more resources than anyone else and so won all the trophies.
Bosman brought about a collapse of the transfer market and another source of finance was lost. (Unless you had a player Ebbe fancied).
This whole scenario was then repeated in Europe - the rich wanted more power and control. I think it was maybe 86 that Juventus were paired with Real in the first rund of the old European Cup. One of them had to go and the other was not happy. There were threats of Packer-style breakaway European leagues which forced UEFA into introducing the Champions League where everything was done for the benefit of the top teams, the top leagues in order to keep them sweet. Everybody else became a backwater. Ajax - one minute away from the final this year - forced into the preliminary round next season.
In both Scotland and Europe the rich have got richer whilst the poor are poorer. Most domestic leagues in Europe are now dominated by one or two teams - Bayern, Juventus, Barca, Benfica, Man City, Dhims, Ajax, PSG. Many of the kids (that used to wander around with Cheek tops on) are now wearing Barcelona, Juventus and Real tops - and yet would never think of going along to watch their local Highland League team. It's like proclaiming unending love for Paloma Faith (?) whilst ignoring all the local talent.
Solution? Let them go. Let UEFA create an actual two-tier European League which takes the top teams away from the domestic game. Tax the participants heavily and put the money back into the domestic leagues.
I'm not really too bothered by the quality of football I watch as it is only part of the reason I go - drinking with mates, going to new grounds, travelling in Europe are all more important. So, I'd much rather watch a Dundee v Aberdeen match where both teams had a chance of winning the Scottish League than watch the Celtic Superstars romping home every year.
Alternative? Football is fecked.
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