UEFA Champions League format

[MisterStubbs]

With the group stages now all done and dusted, the UEFA Champions League finally begins in my views. With the random, well almost random second round draw this Friday, their could be a potential few massive second round ties. How ever, last night at work I was debating with an Arsenal fan that the Champions League should go back to how it used to be, a straight knock out tournement with none of this seeding bollocks. For example, they say the team who wins this tournement deserve to win it yet you can lose games in the group stages and possibly get the "easiest" route to the final. I would much rather see a straight knock out competition, with no seeding, no keeping teams from the same county apart. Could you imagine a first round tie between Real Madrid and Barcelona? Manchester United vs Arsenal? I think it would make the competition so much more exciting, what do you guys think though?
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[CJACKO11]

I like it the way it is, mainly because if you qualify with a few games to spare you get to see some of the young lads like McEachran etc.

 

[Tharros]

The group stage almost assures that the strongest teams go through. Keep it the way it is IMO.

 

[MisterStubbs]

The group stage almost assures that the strongest teams go through. Keep it the way it is IMO.

thats the point as too why i would like to see it changed, every year at this stage of the competition its the same teams blah blah blah, if it competition was a straight knock out comp, then we may see some surprises each round. take the FA Cup for example, anyone team could course and upset on their day, why can't it happen in the Champions League? who's to say MSK Vilina (sp) wouldn't beat Real Madrid over two legs?

 

[stephen1991]

I think that would be an awesome idea personally. There is the possibility of some absolutely dreadful later stages ties but the idea of smaller side making a cavalier run and making a name for themselves is fantastic

 

[CJACKO11]

thats the point as too why i would like to see it changed, every year at this stage of the competition its the same teams blah blah blah, if it competition was a straight knock out comp, then we may see some surprises each round. take the FA Cup for example, anyone team could course and upset on their day, why can't it happen in the Champions League? who's to say MSK Zilina (sp) wouldn't beat Real Madrid over two legs?

Edited lol.

 

[MisterStubbs]

Edited lol.

thanks lol

my question is though, with the way the competition is seeded and drawn, why should teams like Manchester United, Barca etc get if you like a straight route to the knock out stages?

 

[KingOfJC]

The point of seeding is exactly that, to stop the ties such as Real Madrid vs Barca + Man Utd vs Arsenal happening in the early rounds, and to prevent the so called "weaker/worse" teams from getting through i.e. Bursaspor vs Zilina and further than Barca/Real by pure luck.

 

[CJACKO11]

thanks lol

my question is though, with the way the competition is seeded and drawn, why should teams like Manchester United, Barca etc get if you like a straight route to the knock out stages?

Now i agree with that mate, i don't think teams should be seeded. Imagine a group with Barcelona, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Chelsea in??? That would be immense.

 

[WonderManager]

Now i agree with that mate, i don't think teams should be seeded. Imagine a group with Barcelona, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Chelsea in??? That would be immense.

That would me unfair for the 2 teams in the group who failed to qualify.

 

[KingOfJC]

Now i agree with that mate, i don't think teams should be seeded. Imagine a group with Barcelona, Man Utd, Real Madrid and Chelsea in??? That would be immense.

Then imagine:

Bursaspor, Panathinaikos, Zilina, Belgrade

Then whoever gets put out of your group is totally unfair compared to that one.

It's a **** idea imo to put things bluntly

 

[MisterStubbs]

The point of seeding is exactly that, to stop the ties such as Real Madrid vs Barca + Man Utd vs Arsenal happening in the early rounds, and to prevent the so called "weaker/worse" teams from getting through i.e. Bursaspor vs Zilina and further than Barca/Real by pure luck.

so the FA Cup is **** then by your views as proved this year, Manchester United vs Liverpool round 3? teams like Burasapor and Zilina have as much right to be in the Champions League as Barca and Unied.

 

[KingOfJC]

so the FA Cup is **** then by your views as proved this year, Manchester United vs Liverpool round 3? teams like Burasapor and Zilina have as much right to be in the Champions League as Barca and Unied.

How can you seed the FA Cup though? It's not like a european competition

 

[MisterStubbs]

How can you seed the FA Cup though? It's not like a european competition

Premier League teams can't play each other etc?

my point is, why can't their be a knock out round from the off with United against Barca, Chelsea vs Madrid. they say to win this competition you have to beat the best but is that really true?

 

[CJACKO11]

Then imagine:

Bursaspor, Panathinaikos, Zilina, Belgrade

Then whoever gets put out of your group is totally unfair compared to that one.

It's a **** idea imo to put things bluntly

Why is it unfair??? to be the best you have to beat the best.

 

[Mike]

It's fine the way it is.

 

[Calum]

no i like it the way it is

 

[Mike.]

Its the way it is for money spinning

 

[*JK*]

In a way it would be unfair cos the "big clubs" i.e. Man Utd,AC,Barca and that derserve it cos of how well they have done but I can see it from your view as why should the little teams not have a shoot at glory?, I would defintley download if you done somein like this.

 

[CorvetteC3]

I like the current group stage-knockout format but losing the seedings would make an immense difference. The only reason I see people complaining about the possibility of the super-death group is that they are afraid when their club gets drawn into such a group then they wouldn't make it to the knockout stages. In my opinion in such a group the teams that get the most points deserve to go through and the other two shouldn't complain if they can't beat other teams in the group. And if a team wants to be the best in Europe then they simply have to beat all the other teams whoever they are. Also one of the best things about football are upsets, small teams hammering big guns and so on. In the end of the day the team who scores more goals than the opponent is the winner and it doesn't have to be the 'best' team in the world.