Uefa Cup: Change of format?

As English teams kick off their Uefa Cup adventure, calls have been made for a revamped competition

What changes to the format would you like to see or should the tournament remain untouched?

Just days before Leeds begin their Uefa Cup challenge, manager David O'Leary spoke out against the competitions current format, calling it "a poor second" to the Champions League.

Now it appears that the Uefa Cup is certain to be turned from a straight knockout competition into a group format similar to the cash-rich Champions League.

However, there are no plans to drop the current system of having an influx of clubs from the Champions League who have failed to reach the second group phase.

Are Uefa's plans too little too late or can the Uefa Cup regain it's credibility?

How would you change the competition? And will it forever stay in the shadow of the Champions league?

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I think David O'Leary has a point. The Uefa cup is a 'poor second' to the Champions League. That is why this year his team are playing in it.
Maynard Kuona, South Africa

Making it group tournament would be daft as it would devalue the competition. What is needs is a big prize for the winners ie automatic entry into the Champions League the following year. The format needs to be kept as it is because away travel would cost too much for supporters of poorer countries.
Alex Macklen, UK

The issue is that the Champions League should just be for champions

Silvio Neves, Portugal

I don't think the problem is with the Uefa cup. The issue is that the Champions League should just be for champions, with the best European leagues getting two places at most. If the Champions League was smaller, the Uefa Cup would end up with better teams in it, and thus will be worth more.
Silvio Neves, Portugal

Speaking as a Liverpool fan, I still agree that Uefa Cup has become devalued. However, turning it into a league wouldn't help. If you want to maintain this trophy, turn it into a Cup Winners Cup, purely knock out but with large prizes. Let clubs already in the Champions League compete if they win their domestic cups, and ensure countries have two cup competitions. As well as providing a premier class knock out competition, it should provide a renewed emphasis on domestic cups.
Sandy, UK

The Uefa Cup is not a very exciting competition anyway. I mean, look at the teams that are in it this year! Only Leeds United are a class side among the bunch! Everyone is getting excited over the changes just because a well-under-par Liverpool side won it last year. Alaves were hardly a challenge and Liverpool had to go to golden goal to get there! That just shows the sub-standard sides in the tournament. Why not scrap it altogether?
Madge Hockney, UK

If you add a group stage to the Uefa Cup then it does become a second rate Champions League. The best thing to do to improve credibility would be to stop adding the Champions League throwbacks half way through. The competition should stand on it's own two feet and have it's own identity. Also, the winners should be given automatic entry to the next Champions League.
Stuart, UK

Whatever next? A group stage in the FA Cup?

Candy, UK

The Champions League is already diluted enough with scores of teams that aren't champions allowed in. Why make the Uefa Cup into Champions League Mark II.

It all comes down to money. The big teams don't like the idea they can get knocked out after just one game. Solution, win your own championship! Though for smaller nations even that may not be enough.

Leave the Uefa Cup as it is. Whatever next? A group stage in the FA Cup?
Candy, UK

Although it pains me to agree with him, O'Leary is right. With so many teams now in the Champions League, and failures tumbling in during the early stages, the Uefa Cup is undoubtedly devalued. Any also-ran Premiership side worth its salt should reach the semis at the very least and, with some luck, could even win it! The trophy must sit nicely alognside the Worthless Cup in the Liverpool trophy cabinet.
David M, UK

What is O'Leary moaning about? He complains that there are too many games in England for his precious team and then says that the Uefa Cup should have a league system. This would bring extra games but with loads of extra money. Hippocrite!
Andy, UK