by JoeTerp » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:54 am
Another Champions League issue in the summer that might bring up some talking points in the Champions League Squad, and the 4+4 rule that gets a lot of play, and ruled out Hyypia for the group stages.
To review. All clubs in European competition have to register a list of players. The maximum amount of players on this list is 25. Of those 25, at least 8 slots have to be reserved for players that trained in England for 3 years before they turned 21. OF THOSE 8, AT LEAST 4 of those slots have to be reserved for players who trained at LFC for 3 years before they turned 21. These slots are use them or lose them, there is no penalty for not filling them other than not being able register a full 25 man squad.
If you had a team of all English players, but no LFC trained players, you could only have 21 players on the CL roster.
HOWEVER, there is another way you can register players for the Champions League. It is called the B list. You are allowed to register as many players on the B list that you can, and there are no playing restrictions for B list players. You could start a match with an entire B list XI and 7 B list players on the bench if you wanted. The rules to get on the B list are:
Been at the club for 2 years
Born after 1 January 1988 (will be 1989 for next season, and '90 for year after and so on)
This means we will be able to register:
1988:
Adam Hammill
Stephen Darby
Jay Spearing
Damien Plessis
1989 10/11 CL:
Emiliano Insua
Ronald Huth
Mikel San Jose
Krisztian Nemeth
1990 11/12:
Martin Kelly
Peter Gulacsi*
Steve Irwin
Dani Ayala
Nathan Eccleston
Dean Bouzanis*
1991 12/13:
Dani Pacheco
Gerardo Bruna
Alexander Kacaniklic
David Amoo
Adam Pepper
* originally a part of loan deals and I don't know how those apply
Domestic Association Trained
David Martin (could be sold to Leicester City)
Club Trained
Gerrard
Carra
Even if we don't sign any English players, we can still pick from 17 internationals, Gerrard, Cara, possibly Martin, and any of the players on this list.
1. Pepe Reina
2. Daniel Agger
3. Fernando Torres
4. Albert Riera
5. Fabio Aurelio
6. Xabi Alonso
7. Yossi Benayoun
8. Alvaro Arbeloa
9. Dirk Kuyt
10. Martin Skrtel
11. Javier Mascherano
12. Lucas
13. Diego Cavalieri
14.
15.
16.
17.
David N'Gog, Ryan Babel, Voronin, Dossena, Degen, El Zhar, Leto, and new signings would compete for the final 4 slots.
When it comes to summer signings I am of the opinion that just because a player may or may not be on the CL roster does not mean we should shy away from signing international talent, especially top level talent that would likely just bump off our current "17th international." Having players that can only play in the league may not be such a bad thing. It may suck for them, but it could help the team. Further I don't think it makes sense to buy someone JUST BECAUSE they are English. Because of Gerrard and Carra, if someone was bought ONLY for their nationality and ahead of a better, cheaper foreign option, that player would be #20 on the list for champions league games, which is a minority of the games and not even our most important competition. The 20th best player needs 2 injuries just to be the last guy on the bench.
My philosophy advice to Rafa would be: buy to win the league, figure out how to win the CL with what you have left over.
