http://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/news/p-sc-tp0-20101029-695555.html A tournament does not become big in one day. It takes time. Gradual increase in interests from sponsors, fans, clubs, etc, makes the tournament prestigious.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Errrmmmmm . . . . I know this is probably just a reflection of my own feelings about the ACL Nevertheless, when I read about ACL sponsorship by a company that is trying to promote the use of flush toilets, I suddenly had the most striking mental image of . . . Whatever your opinions on the ACL, you cant claim it isnt incredibly ironic
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] The draw is currently taking place... AFC have thrown in a curveball by shifting Al-Ain of the UAE into the final of the Eastern playoff. Good luck to the Japanese side that potentially faces them in the group stage. EDIT: ...and the lucky winner of a potential trip to the UAE is Nagoya Grampus!
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] hahaha yea just saw it, wtf??? Al Ain playing in the east of Asia.........omg have fun with 10 hours flight to there....
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] The full groups... Group E: Jeju United (KOR) Melbourne Victory (AUS) Gamba Osaka (JPN) Tianjin Teda (CHN) Group F: Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) FC Seoul (KOR) Playoff Winner Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Group G: Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Shandong Luneng (CHN) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) Arema FC (INA) Group H: Sydney FC (AUS) Emperor's Cup Winner (JPN) Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Gamba seem to have received the safest draw (for them). Emperor's Cup winner will probably walk over Sydney FC, going on this season's form, but find the other two tough. Nagoya and Cerezo play some interesting teams. Takahara should still be at FC Seoul by then and Cerezo vs Jeonbuk will be an incredible spectacle (two attacking teams? Oh God, yes please).
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] I have yet to find consensus as to whether or not FCT would be eligible to play in Asia if they win the EC. The club president and some newspapers seem to think they are, others think we aren't... That'd be a helluva story, wouldn't it? In the span of 2 seasons, win the Nabisco Cup, win the Suruga Cup, get relegated, win the Emperor's Cup, go to Asia... it'd help the team get sponsors, for one.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] He is at Suwon Bluewings and will play against the Emperors Cup Winner (or Kashima if Nagoya or Gamba will win the cup).
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Damn it, I keep forgetting that. I just remember seeing some FC Seoul supporter once saying how they had signed him and that has stuck in my mind over any other news about him. Oh well, Suwon will probably play against Kashima. They'll either win the Cup, or Nagoya/Gamba will do it. So yeah. BUT MAYBE URAWA... I can only dream. But wow, that would be something for Urawa to play against Suwon in the Emperor's Cup.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Winning the Emperor's Cup would be big enough if only for the monetary award, but the big money would be in new sponsors that would come in if only because we were playing in Asia. I think a J2 team with enough resources could manage in Asia, espec. if sponsors tick up. Plus it wouldn't have as much of an effect on your schedule: there's a difference between a Wednesday night game in Australia followed by a Sunday match against Gamba, and a Wednesday night game in Australia followed by a Sunday match against Kitakyushu.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Urawa are better off not qualifying if they want to actually do well in the league next season. If they can't even get top 5 without the Champions League then how will they do with it?
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Beat Benfica 3-0 in his first game as manager with some smaller Portuguese club. That's about it. But anyway, what had Buchwald achieved as a manager before coming to Urawa? He'd never coached a single club before the Reds. So what's the point of that argument?
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] The point is "wait and see", there's no way to know if Petrovic is a good manager, yet . At least he will have a good team. edit : so desu ne ...
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] I am not sure either; however, a second division UAE club is participating in ACL through their cup competition this year; therefore, I cannot imagine FC Tokyo being denied from Asia. So just cross your figures.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] happens in Europe all the time, just this year Lausanne played in the Europa League...team from the 2nd Swiss league.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Strangest things have happened, but imagining FC Tokyo that was held by Montedio and then deservedly defeated by... ugh... Kyoto Sanga (!!!) to win the ACL seems quite a leap of imagination...
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] There was some rule after Verdy in 2005 that no J2 club can enter ACL and I think it is still in force. I remember us discussing it last season when Vegalta played in the semis of Emperor's Cup.
Re: 2011 AFC Champions League Thread [R] Yea, but I think the ambiguity is due to the fact that there is no official word from anyone.