That's just the way Europa works. We should be able to deal with those stronger teams coming in. And still have a chance of progressing… Maybe even winning?!
Eh. They did lose 4-0 last weekend. They're not a team that I would expect to compete deep into the Europa League. This could all be moot though because they've still got a decent chance to qualify for the Champions League knockouts.
2nd place in Bundesliga, 6pts back... not too shabby. We'd be pretty damn thrilled to be in that position in England.
I'll disagree here. It's all about the human nature of refs. Some refs like a Collina will give a player a talking to and/or a warning, "Next time, you're in the book." and goes through with it. Some refs are too quick with the book, others will allow legal assault before they finally book a player. You can have 4 yellow cards before a red and the same problem, if not worse, will apply. I hate to say it but I think refs should have next to zero tolerance when it comes to fouls that merit a yellow card. That way, players will get it in their heads that they cannot fly into challenges and try to explain it away or excuse it after the fact. The onus should be on the players and coaches to rein themselves in rather than the refs. If they complain that the refs are too quick with the book? Tough, deal with it; don't think you/your player can get stuck in and not have consequences.
+3 goal difference in 14 matches, and only 10 points from 8 away matches. The Bundesliga is pretty shit outside of Bayern this season. The league coefficient is 9th in Europe so far this year, behind such luminaries as Cyprus and Austria.
As I was thinking about it today, I mused that maybe this mechanism exists, at least partly, to make the UCL groups more competitive? Incentivises the bottom 2 teams, even if they can't mathematically finish in top-2, to not just give up, to keep fighting for 3rd place.
My theory is that 'three strikes and you're out' is easier to digest than 'two strikes and you're out'
like everything in football, it's about money. it's to keep more big clubs playing Europe matches deeper into the Spring. one of the major problems of opening up the CL to so many non-champions 20-some year back was the drain on quality* in the UEFA Cup and Cup-Winners Cup. The latter couldn't be saved, and the former might not have been either, without the boost from CL dropouts. and to be fair, there's something to be said for it. you can get some really nice ties as you get deeper into the Europa - ties that wouldn't be there if those clubs were simply out of Europe come December. I loathe the backdoor entry on principle; but if i'm honest, it's provided for more than a few cup ties that I've really enjoyed over the years. And that - generating (maintaining?) interest - is the most plausible explanation for the 'escape route' into the Europa. At least to my mind, anyway. *and by 'quality', I really mean 'big revenue generating western clubs', which only loosely correlates to the literal meaning of the word.
Anyone else used to get the "Soccer on TV" emails from SoccerAmerica.com? I've been using that for a few years, to keep track of footy on TV... not just Arsenal matches. Before that I used something similar from Oliver Tse I believe. Apparently a few weeks ago they stopped offering that as a free service. Wondering if anyone uses or knows of any other similar email service? The key word there is "email". TIA!
A return to a champions only European Cup two leg all knockout contest would be a thing of beauty. Cup winners in the Cup Winners Cup and have the runners up/some third place teams play in a comp.
@DaPrince84 embiid looks even better this season His footwork in the post has gotten better.... not quite Hakeem yet but he is moving Let’s see if he stays healthy
Fotmob is a free app I use. It doesn't email me when they're on TV, but it tells me which station any match is on. It's easily the most useful tool I have currently.
I have no doubt he will be the best player in the NBA if he stays healthy. He clearly has the work ethic. Unfortunately Brian Colangelo is one of the worst GMs in the NBA and it may undermine the Sixers.
If I had my way the Champions League would only allow the teams that won the league and domestic cup to enter, or if the same team won both then have the runners up enter. And for a secondary European league everyone from 2nd to 4th can enter, random draw knock out tournament. Would never happen but thats what I'd love to see. I love how out my way the leagues locally have a tournament for champions only.
Yeah but tv money is so huge this way with the amount of games I would prefer it like that with a cup winners cup too but those days are gone And @DaPrince84 fock knows what he was doing with that booker trade
It can never happen because UEFA CL is a competitor league to the domestic leagues So they want as many games as possible for rev.