Champions league last 8, are they kidding or is it just me ?
Discussion
DeltonaS said:
It's discusting. European football killed off by a weak kneed, corrupt, vision lacking UEFA and a couple of arrogant clubs who think they own EU football.
The format been changed considerably twice before;
- 1997 first year when two clubs per country's could enter, not just the champions anymore;
- In 2001 (or 2002) under pressure from Bayern (chairman of the organisation of top clubs), Real and Barcelona threatening to form a European leaque of their own. Subsequently the top 4 (Spain, Germany, England and Italy) got multiple CL participants, 3 to 4. And even 5 since lasts seasons smaller change of the EL winner getting an extra entry, resulting into 5 Spanish CL participants this season.
And that's not all, the clever 4 pot system + clubs from the same country's being unable to draw each other before the CL 1/4 final, meant the big nations and the big clubs within those nations were given a statistical multiplier. A free pass to CL football first which quickly evolved in a right of way to the CL knock out stages with years going by. All guaranteeing a yearly stream of funds available from direct and indirect (sponsorships, tv rights, etc.) CL money.
Since 2001 the top 4 of the UEFA ranking never changed (except for Italy sliding from 1st to 4th due to obvious reasons) meaning from a sporting standpoint the UEFA based CL participants ranking is dead. CL has very quickly become a leaque based on privileges based on wealth first, second and third, and sporting achievements just being the very obvious and predictable outcome. Success is bought, far less crafted.
Add to that the vast difference in price money between the CL and EL (factor 10 in the early years) and the end result is that the natural differences between the big nations (enbaling them to attract higher TV rights money in the first place) and the big clubs within those big nations, became unnaturally bigger helped by the UEFA multiplier.
And now with the above in hand the Bayerns of this world want to change it again with the same threat in hand and even more to their favor. Ironically enough all based on arguments which created their dominant position in the first place, they don't want to play the smaller clubs anymore. The same clubs they once were themselves more or less.
All bThe format been changed considerably twice before;
- 1997 first year when two clubs per country's could enter, not just the champions anymore;
- In 2001 (or 2002) under pressure from Bayern (chairman of the organisation of top clubs), Real and Barcelona threatening to form a European leaque of their own. Subsequently the top 4 (Spain, Germany, England and Italy) got multiple CL participants, 3 to 4. And even 5 since lasts seasons smaller change of the EL winner getting an extra entry, resulting into 5 Spanish CL participants this season.
And that's not all, the clever 4 pot system + clubs from the same country's being unable to draw each other before the CL 1/4 final, meant the big nations and the big clubs within those nations were given a statistical multiplier. A free pass to CL football first which quickly evolved in a right of way to the CL knock out stages with years going by. All guaranteeing a yearly stream of funds available from direct and indirect (sponsorships, tv rights, etc.) CL money.
Since 2001 the top 4 of the UEFA ranking never changed (except for Italy sliding from 1st to 4th due to obvious reasons) meaning from a sporting standpoint the UEFA based CL participants ranking is dead. CL has very quickly become a leaque based on privileges based on wealth first, second and third, and sporting achievements just being the very obvious and predictable outcome. Success is bought, far less crafted.
Add to that the vast difference in price money between the CL and EL (factor 10 in the early years) and the end result is that the natural differences between the big nations (enbaling them to attract higher TV rights money in the first place) and the big clubs within those big nations, became unnaturally bigger helped by the UEFA multiplier.
And now with the above in hand the Bayerns of this world want to change it again with the same threat in hand and even more to their favor. Ironically enough all based on arguments which created their dominant position in the first place, they don't want to play the smaller clubs anymore. The same clubs they once were themselves more or less.
ks isn't it , DeltonaS said:
Black can man said:
All bks isn't it ,
What is ?ks isn't it , Oh & another cup that nobody wants to be in.
Money, Money Money & more money is sadly what it all comes down to.
I'm not a fan .
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Black can man said:
The way UEFA have basically ruined a great format of 3 prestigious European trophies that had some epic memorable nights to what is now basically just gigs for the top half a dozen teams in Europe who can afford to lose a few games & still win the thing.
Oh & another cup that nobody wants to be in.
Money, Money Money & more money is sadly what it all comes down to.
I'm not a fan .
That's all true, but you can't deny the the CL has produced some fantastic entertainment since it started. There's a fair amount of rose tinted specs about the old European cup. It was great in its way, but it wasn't perfect. Steaua Bucharest boring their way to victory in 1986 for example. Oh & another cup that nobody wants to be in.
Money, Money Money & more money is sadly what it all comes down to.
I'm not a fan .
Lest be fair here there are only really 4 teams that can win it these days. Leicester city & to a degree Spurs have made this seasons premiership one of the best premier leagues ever because of the unpredictability of it all, Back before the huge money was branded around in European football you never knew who'd win the cup , the two favourites could have been drawn together leaving the door open for the smaller team to have their day, sadly this will not ever happen i fear.
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