[Archived] Champions League

[rovgers]

Well yet again english clubs are the top dogs.

As some have said they'll do something soon, hopefully.

I'm praying for a Barca V Gooners final with the Gooners taking it.

I think you should have said once again the top 3 or 4 are the top dogs.

The fact that only one English team made in to quarter final of the uefa cup shows how wide the gap between the big 4 and the rest of the league is in europe.

[Hughesy]

Or how serious our lot take it?? Villa threw their game away

[cn174]

Or how serious our lot take it?? Villa threw their game away

It is a bit stupid that teams spend all season trying their best to get in the UEFA Cup, then when they get there hardly even try to win. All seems rather pointless!!

[Gus Gus]

It all seems pretty cyclical. Maybe back at the beginning of the proper noughties ( ) Spanish teams were doing really well in the CL, and then a couple of years saw the Italian teams dominating. And the last four or so have been English teams. Yes I glossed that all over, but as a vague approximation that's my impression. It's probably all got to do with money, but it won't be long before another country has all the best teams. This is a quickly thought-out theory by the way. Once a league gets all the top stars, inevitably there will be good players who won't be able to play at the top-top clubs and will look abroad to play in another country. I mean, a top class Italian or Spanish fellow isn't going to come to England to play for Aston Villa or Everton, yes? Maybe he would for the Big 4 but what if he's not good enough for that? Eventually another league will dominate. A few more years probs. IMO, IMHO, JMO, etc.

[Hughesy]

Im suprised by the Russians & Ukraine teams in Europe over the last few years. They seem to be getting much stronger in Eastern Europe.

[thenodrog]

It's probably all got to do with money, but it won't be long before another country has all the best teams.

Im suprised by the Russians & Ukraine teams in Europe over the last few years. They seem to be getting much stronger in Eastern Europe.

The answers in the post above.

[T4E]

I mean, a top class Italian or Spanish fellow isn't going to come to England to play for Aston Villa or Everton, yes? Maybe he would for the Big 4 but what if he's not good enough for that?

More to the point, what if he is good enough but they don't have space for him. See Tevez, for example. As you say, those players will go elsewhere and play for a top 3 or 4 club and help strengthen their league. Your point is a good one.

Until, of course, they expand the Champions League again.

[Majiball]

It is a bit stupid that teams spend all season trying their best to get in the UEFA Cup, then when they get there hardly even try to win. All seems rather pointless!!

LOL. Take a bow Martin!

Im suprised by the Russians & Ukraine teams in Europe over the last few years. They seem to be getting much stronger in Eastern Europe.

Czech's will come to fore a bit more soon, there's a number of eastern european teams who rank very highly youth wise at present. At the end of the day the more countries/teams that can compete the better.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Majiball

[LeChuck]

It is a bit stupid that teams spend all season trying their best to get in the UEFA Cup, then when they get there hardly even try to win. All seems rather pointless!!

Ironically they've been awful in the league since then and surrendered their hold on the 4th Champion's League spot, in fact they'll probably finish 6th behind Everton now.

Spurs also threw their chance away, although they have been more justified in doing so as they've surged up the league and away from the relegation spots. Whether they could have done that and played in the UEFA is another matter.

I do find the apathy surrounding the UEFA Cup very strange. Even ITV, who you would assume to be desperate to promote any top level football they can screen, demote UEFA games to ITV4.

Edited April 17, 2009 by LeChuck

[Billy Castell]

The Uefa cup is too long winded to appeal to most, and is further cheapened by all the Champions League rejects that get let in. There should be 3 knockout tournaments played on a 2 legged basis.

1. European Cup-Winners of every European League

2. UEFA Cup-Domestic FA cup winners and the runners up of domestic leagues (e.g. those placed 2-4 in the Premiership)

3. UEFA Bowl-Those placed 5-7 in the Premiership, Fairplay award winners and League cup winners.

The UEFA Bowl will not be glamourous but at least it will offer some European trips for clubs and fans. We need a return to the old fashioned ties if European football is to be relevent and interesting to fans of 99.9% of football clubs. We need another Goteborg or Nottingham Forest or else we may as well not bother.

[Eddie]

One easy way to really increase the interest in the UEFA Cup, or EUROPA Cup or whatever it is now, is to let the winners into the champions league. Several other changes could be done to make it more interesting, but in one easy change that would lead to any club that made it to the knock-out stages really taking it seriously. You certainly wouldn't see a repeat of what Villa did this year.

[awhom111]

Im suprised by the Russians & Ukraine teams in Europe over the last few years. They seem to be getting much stronger in Eastern Europe.

Russia jumped to 6th in the country rankings last season, so they get three spots for next year while Ukraine have jumped to 7th this year, which will help them in the future.

[LeChuck]

One easy way to really increase the interest in the UEFA Cup, or EUROPA Cup or whatever it is now, is to let the winners into the champions league. Several other changes could be done to make it more interesting, but in one easy change that would lead to any club that made it to the knock-out stages really taking it seriously. You certainly wouldn't see a repeat of what Villa did this year.

You haven't left your laptop unguarded in the bar or something have you? That's quite a good idea.

[thenodrog]

You haven't left your laptop unguarded in the bar or something have you? That's quite a good idea.

[T4E]

You haven't left your laptop unguarded in the bar or something have you? That's quite a good idea.

:lol:

[Eddie]

Even a broken clock...

[philipl]

Symptomatic of the current era that CL discussions are happening on the PL thread!

Barca without Marquez and Puyol are going to struggle defensivey at Stamford Bridge. Another supremely disciplied performance by Chelsea should see them through to Rome.

Have a sneaking feeling they will be facing Arsenal there. That has probably sealed a Manc win at the Emirates then.

Edited April 29, 2009 by philipl

[American]

Symptomatic of the current era that CL discussions are happening on the PL thread!

Barca without Marquez and Puyol are going to struggle defensivey at Stamford Bridge. Another supremely disciplied performance by Chelsea should see them through to Rome.

Have a sneaking feeling they will be facing Arsenal there. That has probably sealed a Manc win at the Emirates then.

That's a Barca/United final, then!

I actually think that 0-0 away from home in the first leg gives Chelsea a slight disadvantage. Yes, they are home the second match, but if any goals are scored, they have to win, as a 1-1 draw is the same as a loss.

[doctorryan]

You haven't left your laptop unguarded in the bar or something have you? That's quite a good idea.

An idea I've heard many times from many persons over the years; it would be nice if it ever got implemented. We'd have a reason to play in the otherwise stupid competition. Kudos to Eddie for bringing it up on this board.

Edited April 29, 2009 by doctorryan

[T4E]

Its a fantastic idea and needs to happen asap.

Looking forward to tonight, should be a far better game than last night.

[Amo]

If they really want to revitalize European football, they should return to the original set-up. The top two teams from each domestic league qualify for the Champions League, and then 3rd - 6th join the Uefa Cup. They should also remove the round-robin structure of the Uefa Cup and make it a two-legged affair all the way to the final. That's how I remember it, anyway.

Edited April 29, 2009 by Topman

[Hughesy]

If they want a CHAMPIONS league, then it should surely just be the champions of each league?

The rest could go into the Europa cup.

[Grabbi Graeme]

If they want a CHAMPIONS league, then it should surely just be the champions of each league?

The rest could go into the Europa cup.

Your right as the title suggests it should be just the Champions of the Countries involved, the so called big 4 would be up in arms if Platini tried that, the other side of it would be that the likes of Villa and Everton would never get a sniff of a Champions League place, if the qualifying places were cut down.

Been watching SSN coverage of the build up to the match and they have been interviewing Utd fans outside Old Trafford, and strangely enough not one of them interviewed had a Manc accent.

[Tom]

United 1-0 up, Vinjay on suicide watch

[Tom]

This refs been a good un' tonight, Ronaldo has been up to his usual tricks but the refs not falling for it, the little git still gets away with his temper tantrums every time he goes down.

He does this countless times every game along with Rooneys rants yet United always get high points in the respect to officials part of the fair play league, the mind boggles.