dave the caveman Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 Just thinking about Barcelona Vs Arsenal and looking forward to witnessing two literally great modern teams who have, in recent years, developed the art of football and pushed it far beyond what we would have even thought capable in times gone by. And I'm wondering, how can anybody say this is a bad thing?
I am Rod Hull Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 They are well known for bringing in/through youth and developing it.
RedHux Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 For every Arsenal vs Barca there's about 50 Man U vs Macabi Tel aviv type fixtures (not sure how Sep Blatter managed to move Israel into Europe but there you go!). My point being, that the "Champions" league bores me silly, and whilst every now and then you get a good game between two good sides you get a lot of dross too. Much more dross then good games, and ultimately I don't care which of the 5 or 6 teams that always wins it, wins it.
dave the caveman Posted 8 March 2011 Author Posted 8 March 2011 For every Arsenal vs Barca there's about 50 Man U vs Macabi Tel aviv type fixtures (not sure how Sep Blatter managed to move Israel into Europe but there you go!). My point being, that the "Champions" league bores me silly, and whilst every now and then you get a good game between two good sides you get a lot of dross too. Much more dross then good games, and ultimately I don't care which of the 5 or 6 teams that always wins it, wins it. So you don't like watching lesser teams and yet you're bored of the same big teams winning it (which they don't anyway). At what point do you admit you just don't like football? Also Fifa =/= Uefa.
RedHux Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 I like football very much. Just don't care for the champions league. As a competition it means nothing to me, and none of the clubs in it I find especially interesting either. If I've nothing better to do I'll watch the odd game but that's about the extent of my interest in it.
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 The Libertadores may not have teams as technically good playing in it but it's massively superior to the Champo League in terms of excitement.
Fosse Boy Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 I agree with what the red scummer said. Put it back to straight two-legged knockout from the off and maybe I'll feel inclined to indulge more often than I do. Heaven forbid UEFA should actually put genuine sporting excitement ahead of money-making opportunities on their agenda though...
Corky Posted 8 March 2011 Posted 8 March 2011 Get rid of the group stages, have a straight-through, unseeded knockout competition.
Finnegan Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 Actually I think WTF BBQ's made the best point so far. You've actually picked two of the worst teams to highlight in this regard, in all fairness. That's not to say that Arsenal and Barca don't buy players for multi millions or that they don't need a lot of money to run their academies, but actually they're two of the best clubs in Europe for bringing through and training their own youngsters in a traditional way. Especially Barca, it's not like the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol or Messi cost them billions of sold oligarch's coin is it?
lcfc"weasel" Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 For every Arsenal vs Barca there's about 50 Man U vs Macabi Tel aviv type fixtures (not sure how Sep Blatter managed to move Israel into Europe but there you go!). My point being, that the "Champions" league bores me silly, and whilst every now and then you get a good game between two good sides you get a lot of dross too. Much more dross then good games, and ultimately I don't care which of the 5 or 6 teams that always wins it, wins it. This. Get rid of the group stages, have a straight-through, unseeded knockout competition. And this.
Guest BlueBrett Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 It's true that the group phase favours the bigger teams and it would make the competetion more exciting if it was scrapped but isn't the whole point of the CL about finding out who is the best team in Europe rather than who gets the luck of the draw/can put a bit of a run together in an FA Cup style competition? Obviously you couldn't call it the Champions 'league' if the groups were scrapped. The current system allows the cream to rise to the top but a straight knock out would be more exciting so I can see positives to both approaches.
purpleronnie Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 I'd like to see a champions league with just champions in it.
samlcfc Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 The Libertadores may not have teams as technically good playing in it but it's massively superior to the Champo League in terms of excitement. never watch much foreign football as I dont have any channels that broadcast it. Gonna try and find some internet streams for this cup though. Enjoyed games ive seen from South America, this sounds like it could be quality
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 never watch much foreign football as I dont have any channels that broadcast it. Gonna try and find some internet streams for this cup though. Enjoyed games ive seen from South America, this sounds like it could be quality There was a final a few years back involving LDU Quite of Ecuador and Fluminense of Brazil man, it's a two-legged job but the pair of games were both so end to end. Finished 5-5 on aggregate and went to penalties, never seen a couple of games like it, Quito were massive under dogs, too and ended up winning, first team from Ecuador to do so.
samlcfc Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 There was a final a few years back involving LDU Quite of Ecuador and Fluminense of Brazil man, it's a two-legged job but the pair of games were both so end to end. Finished 5-5 on aggregate and went to penalties, never seen a couple of games like it, Quito were massive under dogs, too and ended up winning, first team from Ecuador to do so. aha, that sounds quality. just went to watch the game that is on tonight and my laptop decided to do some madness and break for a while. Gonna watch the rest of the match now ive got it sorted
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 9 March 2011 Posted 9 March 2011 aha, that sounds quality. just went to watch the game that is on tonight and my laptop decided to do some madness and break for a while. Gonna watch the rest of the match now ive got it sorted Velez Sarsfield are my team in this man, favourite club from Argentina. Usually gunning for them or Corinthians but that can't happen this time round, Corinthians got shat on in the first stage (a qualification type thing) by Deportes Tolima from Colombia. There's always some surpises, so much more unpredictable than the CL. Maxi Moralez that plays for Velez is shit-hot.
The Doctor Posted 10 March 2011 Posted 10 March 2011 **** the champions league and the europa league. When the europa league was a straight knock-out tournament you got some cracking ties (liverpool v alves final anyone?) - then they added some impossible to follow group stages, then turned it into a poor mans champions league. Sure the current system is probably better for the clubs, 6 nights of financial gain ahead of the possibility of 1 night of glory but not for the fans, but what do they matter nowdays so long as those at the top are getting richer?
The Padster Posted 10 March 2011 Posted 10 March 2011 I'd like to see a champions league with just champions in it. Been thinking about this for ages, how can you have a 'best in Europe' competition when somebody who was only 4th best in their country could win it? How can they be the best in Europe if they're not the best in their home country?
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 10 March 2011 Posted 10 March 2011 Only league winners would be ridiculous, but it is a bit much that some countries get four places
Finnegan Posted 10 March 2011 Posted 10 March 2011 Only league winners would be ridiculous, but it is a bit much that some countries get four places Says the Arsenal fan.
MPH Posted 11 March 2011 Posted 11 March 2011 I think it all depends on what your definition of football is. If champions league football with players earning silly money with all the skill in the world yet tickets costing so much money that most people can only afford to watch it on tv then fine you are welcome to it. For me football is much deeper than just the champons league... it is about going to the game on saturday afternnon ( thats if your team hasnt had their game moved because of Sky or ESPN ect) It was about standing with the lads, in an area you can afford watching your local team because they were exactly that - local. It was never JUST about flair for me but commitment, aggression, yes skill and good goals came into it.... but it was about 2 teams being fully committed to the game. not going to ground as soon as you see anyone going in for a tackle... Anything to gain an advantage over your opponents these days... win at all costs and cheat as much as you can get away with Just as long as you win. What happened to the best team winning?. Sure there has always been the dirty foul here and there in football but never have the stakes been so high to get that win. The champions league is simply making the rich richer and the poor poorer. There has never been so many professional teams in England in such dire financial trouble as there is today. Football to me was about the fans. the ones at the game. It was about players being proud to play for the badge and the fans not the size of their pay packet. Sure Arsenal and Barca may produce promising youth,,, but at what expense? These are young gifted players who are often spending years in a reserve team in the clubs hope they will amount to something one day .. years ago they will of been progressing through the ranks of their local/ smaller team yet the average fan is denied the opportunity of seeing them grow. I fully believe the English game has suffered because of how football is now COMPLETLY about money.. lets get the BEST players no matter where they are from again... most( not all) young english players are put aside and labelled as not good enough for first team action yet. football stadiums are often void of atmosphere and now more tickets for major cup finals go to the sponsors than the actual fans of the clubs. Football is no longer about the fans. Yes. Money has definitely damaged football.
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 11 March 2011 Posted 11 March 2011 Says the Arsenal fan. But seriously, if if was just champions there'd be about 3, possibly 4, teams that would be in contention and everyone else would just be fodder
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 11 March 2011 Posted 11 March 2011 Sure Arsenal and Barca may produce promising youth,,, but at what expense? These are young gifted players who are often spending years in a reserve team in the clubs hope they will amount to something one day .. Actually this is a bit wide of the mark. Neither club really hordes youth and lets it go to waste. Whilst its taken a while for Arsenal's youth policy to bring through youngster's good enough for their first team, those who dont quite make it at the club still go on to have good careers at other clubs, eg. Sidwell, Bentley, Pennant, Bothroyd, Jerome Thomas, Keith Fahey, Kilkenny. Plus I reckon a lot of the current crop who might not make it with us will go on to play at a high standard.
MPH Posted 11 March 2011 Posted 11 March 2011 Actually this is a bit wide of the mark. Neither club really hordes youth and lets it go to waste. Whilst its taken a while for Arsenal's youth policy to bring through youngster's good enough for their first team, those who dont quite make it at the club still go on to have good careers at other clubs, eg. Sidwell, Bentley, Pennant, Bothroyd, Jerome Thomas, Keith Fahey, Kilkenny. Plus I reckon a lot of the current crop who might not make it with us will go on to play at a high standard. Its not really though is it? How many of their talented youngsters get a game other than a token appearance in the carling cup early rounds? these are players who a decade or two ago would of been playing from a young age at a smaller or local team - THAT was my point..
Finnegan Posted 15 March 2011 Posted 15 March 2011 I think you're probably better off in Arsenal's academy, learning your trade under one of the best youth-developing managers in the world and playing "in the occasional league cup game" then you are being over-used by Colchester from the age of 17. And who's to say that you're supposed to be playing football at "such a young age" anyway? Plenty of seventeen year olds aren't physically, athletically or emotionally ready for professional sport at their age - especially not getting the shit kicked out of them in League One or the Championship. I think you're talking waffle, to be honest. Everyone loves a pot shot at Arsenal and Wenger and some of it I can understand, particularly when it was names like Fabregas, Flamini and Clichy being the young talents there. But with the number of young, promising British names now coming through at the club I really don't see anyone's probablem to be honest. As I've said before, they're currently doing more for British football than most clubs.
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