UEFA Champions League

[CrazyMatt]

I like it

Why?

 

[Flanno]

Why?

More chances of my team qualifying for the knockout rounds, more exciting games during the group stages. There is still plenty to play for by coming in the top 8 because it means you progress straight through to the round of 16 and get a more favourable seeding.

The flip side to that is the fixture list is already demanding enough and they are now adding another two (possibly 4) if teams finish 9th - 24th. I also think teams will probably rest more players with the safeguard of only having to finish in the top 24 to progress.

But I’m willing to give it a chance, I hadn’t really been getting into the current format until the knockout rounds (unless it was Liverpool) or a game 6 where a team depended on winning to stay alive. I think this new format will see bigger sides face each other more often.

 

[CrazyMatt]

More chances of my team qualifying for the knockout rounds, more exciting games during the group stages. There is still plenty to play for by coming in the top 8 because it means you progress straight through to the round of 16 and get a more favourable seeding.

The flip side to that is the fixture list is already demanding enough and they are now adding another two (possibly 4) if teams finish 9th - 24th. I also think teams will probably rest more players with the safeguard of only having to finish in the top 24 to progress.

But I’m willing to give it a chance, I hadn’t really been getting into the current format until the knockout rounds (unless it was Liverpool) or a game 6 where a team depended on winning to stay alive. I think this new format will see bigger sides face each other more often.

Mate the last thing these clubs needed was more games.

 

[Flanno]

Mate the last thing these clubs needed was more games.

Yeah I know, that’s why I listed it as one of the downsides. Something needs to give somewhere, perhaps scrap carabao cup

 

[CrazyMatt]

Yeah I know, that’s why I listed it as one of the downsides. Something needs to give somewhere, perhaps scrap carabao cup

I also think having more teams qualify for the Champions League isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s supposed to be THE elite tournament for European football, it shouldn’t be a good thing for it to be easier to get in it.

 

[Flanno]

I also think having more teams qualify for the Champions League isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s supposed to be THE elite tournament for European football, it shouldn’t be a good thing for it to be easier to get in it.

Depends on the league and teams you’re talking about. EPL I think should have 5/6 spots.

Italy, Germany and Spain all have 4 spots. Looking at the finals since 2010:

Barca - Utd
Chelsea - Bayern
Bayern - Dortmund
Real - Atletico
Barca - Juve
Real- Atletico
Real - Juve
Real - Liverpool
Liverpool - Tottenham
Bayern - PSG
Chelsea - Man City
Real Madrid - Liverpool
Man City - Inter

So in the past 13 seasons, there have been:

5 different English sides
3 different Spanish sides
2 different German sides
2 different Italian sides
1 French side

This to me suggests that England have the strongest competition and warrants more spots if it is to be considered the elite competition.

 

[TownsvilleTigerShark]

I also think having more teams qualify for the Champions League isn’t necessarily a good thing. It’s supposed to be THE elite tournament for European football, it shouldn’t be a good thing for it to be easier to get in it.

The CL needs a revamp now they have a 3rd tier comp (conference league) its great that any club can have the opportunity to compete in Europe, but honestly, teams like Bate Borisov, FC Midjytiland, FC Cluj, etc are only making up the numbers and wasting there own time competing at this level when the 5th and maybe even the 6th ranked (PL anyway) could have a better chance of getting to the KO rounds.