Comments on: The UEFA Champions League – Plus Ça Change… http://www.just-football.com/2008/08/uefa-champions-league-plus-change/ Football news, views & analysis - Your world football blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:55:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Just Football http://www.just-football.com/2008/08/uefa-champions-league-plus-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1299 Just Football Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:55:06 +0000 http://69.89.31.52/~justfoot/soccer-blog/2008/08/the-uefa-champions-league-plus-ca-change.html#comment-1299 I think the old system was obviously fairer in the sense that, as an open draw, it offered no favours. With that the competition bursts into life from the first round. I wouldnt say Im against rewarding teams that consistently perform well by seeding them, but as it stands the 3rd qualifying rounds really are nothing more than a formality for the 'bigger' clubs in Europe given the seeding system.<br /><br />For me, an open draw in the qualifying rounds would probably be fairer and more interesting. I think the old system was obviously fairer in the sense that, as an open draw, it offered no favours. With that the competition bursts into life from the first round. I wouldnt say Im against rewarding teams that consistently perform well by seeding them, but as it stands the 3rd qualifying rounds really are nothing more than a formality for the ‘bigger’ clubs in Europe given the seeding system.

For me, an open draw in the qualifying rounds would probably be fairer and more interesting.

]]> By: albionroad http://www.just-football.com/2008/08/uefa-champions-league-plus-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1300 albionroad Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:06:04 +0000 http://69.89.31.52/~justfoot/soccer-blog/2008/08/the-uefa-champions-league-plus-ca-change.html#comment-1300 Good questions. Part of me longs for the olden days of the European Cup, with only the league champions and a blind draw. You'd see random first round matchups like Real Madrid-Juventus but then a Finnish club would make it to the quarterfinals by getting an easy draw.<br /><br />The older system was fairer and, from a competitive angle, more interesting. But it's hard to argue that Liverpool for example are not a better club Tampere United. Sorry to any Finnish fans out there...<br /><br />I think there's a middle ground out there somewhere though. The proposals for next season seem like a step in the right direction. Good questions. Part of me longs for the olden days of the European Cup, with only the league champions and a blind draw. You’d see random first round matchups like Real Madrid-Juventus but then a Finnish club would make it to the quarterfinals by getting an easy draw.

The older system was fairer and, from a competitive angle, more interesting. But it’s hard to argue that Liverpool for example are not a better club Tampere United. Sorry to any Finnish fans out there…

I think there’s a middle ground out there somewhere though. The proposals for next season seem like a step in the right direction.

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