Thermopylae 15,287 Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I would say for the small teams it gives them extra games but the ones with a chance of winning it only start playing after the new year ... for example septic will never shut up about beating Barca in the group stages but will never tell you that Juventus humped them 8-0 at the business end of the tournament Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.C. 19,104 Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Personally I liked the old format that had 2 group stages. Much better competition in the second gs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlCapone 7,678 Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 No, a complete farce and waste of time. 763 games to end up with near enough the same teams in the awful every season.Dire and dying a slow death Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 No, financial wise- yes.Would love it to be back to being just champions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thermopylae 15,287 Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 Always think it strange that it started to be called the champions league just when it became no longer for champions Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCPRANGERS1 2,997 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Always think it strange that it started to be called the champions league just when it became no longer for champions The year those French wanks cheated to win it it was all champions and over the years its has been bastardized beyond belief.Champions having to play 3 or 4 qualifiers whilst a team can finish 3rd and automatically get to the groups.All aimed and designed to make the top teams richer. Originally a fairly decent idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adoniram 1,919 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Money ruined it and there is no chance of it ever going back the way. A competition ruined by corporate greed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
there'sonlyoneamoruso 1,724 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 In the original format it was a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately UEFA bastardised it beyond recognition to the current format in order to make more money and keep all the top teams happy. This has, of course, made to big leagues much stronger than the smaller ones and the gap will only get bigger.A failure for me. The European cup is quite boring these days IMO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin 13,670 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 The year those French wanks cheated to win it it was all champions and over the years its has been bastardized beyond belief.Champions having to play 3 or 4 qualifiers whilst a team can finish 3rd and automatically get to the groups.All aimed and designed to make the top teams richer. Originally a fairly decent idea.The CL format was partly dreamed up by Rangers Champions league is for the champions IMO Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dummiesoot 16,118 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Generally crowds ain't interested on the continent until the knock out phase. Italian teams regularly play to half full stadia. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCPRANGERS1 2,997 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 The CL format was partly dreamed up by Rangers Champions league is for the champions IMO Campbell Ogilvie put it across when he was at Rangers I'm sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueblue68 2,497 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 It's an unequal and unfair system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilko89 507 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 The CL format was partly dreamed up by RangersChampions league is for the champions IMOOne of the eight stars on the logo represents us does it not? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dummiesoot 16,118 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Campbell Ogilvie put it across when he was at Rangers I'm sure.Yes he did. Pioneering European football. Leaders everywhere historically. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dummiesoot 16,118 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 One of the eight stars on the logo represents us does it not?Yes each of the first eight league participants. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Manticore* 1,893 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Yes, it was always about making Elite Clubs richer, and it succeeded.Otherwise it is eating football, destroying the beautiful game. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.C. 19,104 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 One thing I really hated was when two teams would face each other 3 or 4 years in a row.Ajax and Lyon v Real Madrid was a regular occurrence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeReadyStu 70 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I don't think there is an issue with the format necessarily, (except for Champions not going into the group stages, which is completely unfair) but I think the issue is the way certain ties seem to happen every year in the knockout stages and the big teams are kept apart.I'd remove the country protection from the last 16 draw and take away the random draw.I don't know how it would work out but I'd change it to an NBA style seedings system. Groups A,B,C and D on one side of the draw and E,F,G and H on the other.The 8 group winners are seeded 1-8 and the 8 second placed teams are seeded 9-16 all based on their record in the group. 1 plays 16, 2 plays 15, and so on and so on. Eliminates dead rubbers from the end of the group stage, you get rewarded for your performance in the group, and it would spice up the competition a bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broxi 11,686 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I get the thing about only Champions, but I'd still rather watch Barca, Dortmund and Chelsea over Plzen, Maccabi Haifa and Malmo, no disrespect.I think all champions go through and then divide the rest of the spots up between other teams and coefficients or whatever. I'm not sure how many leagues there are and many spots would be taken up by champions though Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thermopylae 15,287 Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 I suppose what champions have in common is that they are used to winning ... I wonder in play offs how often the team from the lower league who have the momentum beat the team from the higher one who are only used to losing? Having said that you obviously need more than 1 team from countries like England and Spain Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.T.G 10,773 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I get the thing about only Champions, but I'd still rather watch Barca, Dortmund and Chelsea over Plzen, Maccabi Haifa and Malmo, no disrespect.I think all champions go through and then divide the rest of the spots up between other teams and coefficients or whatever. I'm not sure how many leagues there are and many spots would be taken up by champions thoughThis Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingWilBEARy 4,319 Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 It got ridiculous with the two group stages. There was one year - 2002 I think - where Real Madrid lost 3 times to Bayern Munich over the course of the tournament but still went on to win the whole thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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