Bring back the OLD European Cup!

[@phillipgreen3893]

The EFL and non league competitions seem to be growing in interest but need better prize money, as an Orient fan League 1 is going to be even tougher than last year, as for the premier league who cares same for the champions league.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

League one is my favourite league, Davis v Goliath throughout the league, I’m desperate (as a Gills fan) to get back to this division 👍🏻⚽️

[@petermarsh8559]

The loss of FA Cup replays was reason enough to boycott it, the typical supporter backing an EFL team doesn't matter at all to the governing authorities.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Is starting to affect and ruin domestic football in England, bit annoying really

[@brianrichardson5871]

Totally agree there is no romance of a knockout shock now, just money ,money. I used to get up at 3 am in the morning here in Perth Western Australia . I haven't watched any games or finals for years ,ever since a super league was proposed. Give me the lower leagues who attendances are on the up due to the over prices of the premiership and championship league..

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Thanks Brian, at least I’m not alone in my thinking, been scorching here in Kent 😎

[@brianrichardson5871]

Don't get sunburnt, you know how you poms look like beetroot with to much sun. Can't wait till Saturday week when the gills kick of their promotion push. My 3rd team shirt arrived this week, a wicked retro green.😱💙

[@Battismore-Blue]

I thought a few years ago that the FA Cup would go this way , seeding that is . Its just been messed with in other ways to ruin it .

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Why can’t football authorities just leave things alone

[@Footballleagueadventures]

mate it was a pleasure to be on your first podcast and hope to get you on mine very soon and thanks for the plug hope to catch you at a gills game

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Thanks Lee, appreciate your support 👍🏻⚽️

[@Footballleagueadventures]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 always mate

[@Arthur.in.the.Fridge]

I preferred the European cup format too. I can't stand the champions league. I don't even watch it now.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Touché 👍🏻⚽️

[@TheDanami]

I don't have a TV licence so I don't watch any football unless I physically go out & do it which has opened up a whole avenue of experiences for me. I didn't watch any of the Euro's & feel as though I haven't missed anything. Regarding the Champions League I totally agree with you that in the end it's the same old teams but I also think that of the Premiership & have no interest in that either. I'm a Coventry City fan who lives in the North East & find it increasingly difficult to get tickets for away games which I totally understand. I've started following Hartlepool Utd & am enjoying this level of football & also even ground hopping at local leagues. If you genuinely like football you will watch it at any level. If all you do is sit & watch it on the big screen then in my opinion you are just a plastic fan. So to sum it up bollocks to the Champions League, I'll be championing The Northern League this season & following Marske Utd FC ⚽⚽

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Nice one 👍🏻 I watch a lot of Isthmian League and National League South, would like to venture up north more this coming season to pick up some more northern game 👍🏻⚽️

[@TheDanami]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 there are some great grounds up here & a lot of clubs steeped in history such as the first ever World Cup winners West Auckland FC. Would be great to meet up with you if you are ever in the North East 👍👍

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

@@TheDanami nice one, our paths may cross one day 👍🏻⚽️

[@georgerubypoppy1063]

I spent four years in the NE back in the 60s and chose The Pool too. Only deviations were if Palace were away a localish club. On visits back there since I have watched Northallerton Town a couple of times.

[@georgerubypoppy1063]

The last EC/CL match I watched was the1996 final, and that was only because Ajax (who had captured my heart 25 years earlier) were in it. I had lost general interest in it way before then though.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

But the youngsters seem to love it, bring back the good old days 👍🏻⚽️

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

Agreed with everything guys, but for these small teams that make it through to the group stages, its like Christmas for them and their fans. They wont get out of the group stages anyway. However, my mate is the head physio at Ferenzvaros, and they are already playing the qualifying rounds. They beat a team from Wales 5-0 at home, so no need to go to Wales for the away league lol. For them getting through to the CL, because their league is so one sided...they win their league every year, its a real bonus especially moneywise. Anyway, i wont be watching the CL, as i cant stand it either. Like yourself Matt, i will be following the Gills and the 3 leagues except the Premier League. Otherwise thats it with football for me. All i hope is that the clubs find an alternative to I Follow, for us fans living abroad. All the best Matt and Lee from Berlin Dave

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Great to hear from you Berlin Dave, hope you are well 👍🏻 The Welsh team is TNS who win the league pretty much every season! We don’t seem to be alone Dave regarding the CL, great minds think alike 👍🏻⚽️

[@the_footballtourist]

Mostly agree with what was said particularly that the qualifiers are the best part of the champions league. What about the Conference League?

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Keep it simple Tom, European Cup, Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup, those were the days 👍🏻

[@the_footballtourist]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 What got a team into the UEFA Cup? Btw the Conference League is the best current UEFA competition 😉

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

2nd and 3rd and FA cup runners up used to go into the UEFA cup

[@historyoffootball87]

I don't really like the fact it is called "The Champions League" when half the teams haven't won a trophy in their league to compete. You can finish third in La Liga and not win anything but play in The Champions League.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Totally agree, not come across anyone who likes the current champions league yet

[@timharrison2076]

I'm in favour of the super league. Let those bloated grotesque juggernauts of clubs break away and play one another every season while real football fans get their game back. It'll be good riddance from me.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Would those fans continue to support their clubs if they jumps ship or would they peel away and start looking at lower league clubs?

[@timharrison2076]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 These huge clubs have millions of fans from all over the world and the super league games will be end up being played everywhere too. Just as Wimbledon fans refused to follow the 'Dons' when they moved to MK, many local fans of those breaking away will have a 'second' club who will become their main team. There are already protest clubs like FCUofM and AFC Liverpool whose fan bases will increase.

[@BALHAM69]

They are doing a Swiss model now 😅 Matt, could i kindly invite you to a Balham fc home match sometime this season in imperial fields?😮 in mitcham area of south west London. Would mean so much to me. A very enjoyable first video of this new season from you. They say a team such as BVB Borussia Dortmund 1909 will never win champions League, European cup.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Hello, ok, I will add Balham FC to my tick list of grounds this season 👍🏻⚽️

[@BALHAM69]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 thank you, i did share your video with a couple (two people) to get them to see this.

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Nice one, thank you 👍🏻

[@BALHAM69]

@@mattthegroundhopper9242 you’re welcome 😊

[@Tony-ju6yh]

How you come 4th in your league and qualify as a champion?

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Baffles me

[@clivegrenville9685]

champions league is a joke when the majority of teams arent champions £££££££££ is the reason why GREED

[@mattthegroundhopper9242]

Totally agree Clive 👍🏻⚽️