Should La Liga feature fewer teams?

[nebeer]

Sandro Rosell opined that La Liga should be downsized to 18 teams and then eventually to 16 teams to make the league more competitive. Now Pep Guardiola has also come out and shared similar views. What do you think about this? Should La Liga be downsized? Would downsizing actually make the league better? Discuss.

[Razor]

Yes they should. More matches may be more benefitical and fascinating for the fans but the players and coaches are humans too. I remember back then when Mancini was still the Inter coach there were talks of changes in Italian's Serie A and B teams (when Serie A was still with 18 teams). But they increased the teams to 20 instead of decreasing it to 16, something that Mancini as well criticized back then.

All in all I think it helps the quality take over the quantity as well. Players will have more time to recover and put more energy into games, unlike now that you see almost every team has a degrading period during the season. The players really have the minimum time to recover now.

[Sergio]

Yes. 2 fewer. Let Barca and Madrid go off to Perez's Euro overlord league dream and let the rest have a competition.

[Galning]

I don't really care so I voted "no".

[AnfieldEd]

I think 20 is a perfect balance.

[Guardian]

nope

20 is a good number. If you calculate all your fingers and toes that gives you exactly 20!
plus it gives the opportunity more cities in Spain to enjoy first class football
economically is better for them

[jamrock]

return the copa to what is was and stop this two legged shit, that will get rid of a few useless games.

after that take down to 18 and thats that

[PhilS]

Spain is not as big as Italy or England, no reason to think a healthy, 20 team Liga is viable. Barca has announced it is willing to share more of the big TV money, but they want it spread among fewer, stronger clubs. If RM agrees, this will happen.

Barca might want fewer Liga games (and fewer Copa) to allow it to play more in some sort of multi-national super league. This could be a revised CL or some new setup owned by the big clubs. The big clubs are also pushing for fewer national team dates. The clubs need to work this out with the top players, which should be possible since it will permit higher player pay. Money talks, all this will happen. This will improve the sport.

[jamrock]

spain is bigger than england and italy, probably has big the the two combined

[zealot]

Bringing the number down to 18 will deduct 4 league games for each team. 4 CDR matches, which are traditionally played mid week, can now be played during weekends. Not only this will give players more time to rest during those extra free mid weeks, it also can actually increase the quality of CDR, as Liga teams now can field stronger team in the competition. So I voted yes

[Deco 20]

Nay

[dalitis8]

spain is bigger than england and italy, probably has big the the two combined

Spain's population is around 45m.

England and Wales' is around 55.

Italy's is almost 61.

Germany has 82m and they have an 18-team league.

So yes, judging by the levels of competitiveness right now, the league should be reduced to 16 teams. That would allow for a more competitive league, more money to be distributed between less clubs, and will also mean 8 fewer games per season which will be a good rest for the players, allowing them to be better prepared for European competition.

[zealot]

I think 16 teams is too few though. 8 games lesser will create holes in Liga fixtures, and I think that's too much !

[jamrock]

Spain's population is around 45m.

England and Wales' is around 55.

Italy's is almost 61.

Germany has 82m and they have an 18-team league.

So yes, judging by the levels of competitiveness right now, the league should be reduced to 16 teams. That would allow for a more competitive league, more money to be distributed between less clubs, and will also mean 8 fewer games per season which will be a good rest for the players, allowing them to be better prepared for European competition.

bigger and population are two different things,

16 is two few, though it may help barca to match real with their 9 Champions league titles.

18 teams, get rid of the two legged copa games and that will reduce the number of games played by top team in the league, even 20 and do the same and the objective would be achieved. its just rosell looking to find away to give the rest of the teams in la liga more money while maintaining what barca currently gets.

[Myrmecophile]

I liked when Serie A had 18 teams. I wouldn't mind La Liga going to that. 16 is too little though.