Belgium's opinion :
Full CG OU > Luigi/Star model's (5SV
no DOU) > Malekith's model
I'll try to take as many points as possible into consideration.
1) I think we're having this discussion today because of the lack of hype around the 9th generation. Last year, we would certainly have debated it, but not with such ardour and consideration. I've got a few guys in the group who are against it because it annoys them, but full CG OU is still the most competitive model. Maybe I'm not being objective because last year was incredible for Belgium, but personally I don't think we had a shit time at the last World Cup. We followed all the matches right to the end and there was a lot at stake. Beyond the natural potential of the players, we saw that those who put in the effort were capable of anything. With that in mind, we're in favour of the most stable format possible. To try and maintain as much of a collective dynamic as possible, where everyone can take part in the preparations.
In the event of a change, there will still be time to revert to full CG OU next year.
2) I'm tired of reading comments that belittle 'small teams' and that obviously don't realise the efforts they've made. In the words of
Lhions , we're not trying to shorten the duration of a football match in the hope of getting draws, we're trying to avoid lengthening the duration of the match, whether it's the Luigi/Star or Malekith format. On the other hand, we're not giving up on the issue of player eligibility for continental teams. You'll be hearing from us again on this subject. It's clear that we're still paying for the privileges offered to players who can choose to play in Europe rather than in their home country at the current main event. To stay with football, it's as if, at the next World Cup, you took the best players from the different countries, who decided amongst themselves to form an All-Stars team in order to maximise their chances of success (bizarre, Europe almost won last year). To be clear, I don't blame the players from Europe (apart from those who speak badly and who will recognise themselves) but the system that allows this to happen. My request doesn't mean that we intend to introduce these players directly into our line-up, that's not a given.
3)
Arguments in favour of the Luigi/Star format : Insofar as we are starting with a new format, this provides greater stability. Being able to choose lower tiers such as NU, PU or LC is detrimental to stability and will create inequalities. We want to emphasise collective efforts. Here, all you need is one guy in a team who's really strong in a tier and you're 70% guaranteed a weekly win. It's random. On the other hand, if you don't have one, there's an 70% chance of 2 loses. You could say that you just have to prepare for it and that a good player can adapt and have his chances. But given the number of tiers in the Malekith format, that's not possible. So, in a way, the Malekith format is going to give more of an advantage to teams with a large player base and distort collective preparation.
And to be honest, PU, DOU and LC in the World Cup? Welcome to the fourth dimension.
Personally, if the Malekith model were to be chosen, I would advocate "4SV OU + 2 choices of tiers per team between SV OU, SS OU, SM OU, ORAS OU" or "4SV OU + 2 choices of tiers per team between SV OU, SS OU, SM OU, ORAS OU, SV Ubers, SV UU (, SV DOU)".
Limiting the number of tiers would limit the gaps between players linked to personal experience and make it easier for team members to follow and participate in the mates' preparations. I insist that, by definition and by nature, a World Cup is an event in which the country must be able to feel involved. We don't want a random teamtour where everyone prepares a tier that most of the guys don't know about in their own channel discord.