i'm not sure if you started this thread before....but, all you have to do is keep an eye on barcelona in their table. its this simple: if barca makes c.l. or uefa cup, they come here. if they don't, they go intertoto and don't come here. i'm supposing the promoters (championsworld) are waiting to see where they finish. 1-4: champions league 5/6: uefa just go here: Table: Spanish Primera Liga
things didn't get any better for barca, or us!, over the weekend. a 1:2 loss at home to mallorca puts them in 10th place, 4 pts behind Athletic Bilbao in the 6th spot and final uefa cup position. 6. Ath. Bilbao 48, +2 7. Mallorca 47, -6 8. At. Madrid 44, +2 9. Sevilla 44, 0 10. FC Barcelona 44, +9 for some reason barca is in 10th on 2 diff tables (incl. their own website)....even with better gd. seems to be only based on having 1 less "away" win than a.m. and sev. with 4 matches left and a slighty harder schedule than the teams above them (they have to play celt vigo and valencia in the last 2 matches of the season)...championsworld will seriously start shopping around for another team this week i'd think.
Alternatively, how low do they have to finish to miss out completely on the Inter Toto Cup? How many places do Spain get in this competition? I bet Champion's World already have been taling with other teams, so either way, someone will take their place. There is too much money at stake. With our luck, it will be Benfica. Tom
somehow i don't think intertoto is strictly based on finish. i think you apply to your national club federation to gain a spot. i believe spain has 2 spots for intertoto. even if barcelona finishes 5 places out of uefa....i think they'll "apply" and get in based on historical significance. i don't really know all the ins and outs. anyone know any more info?
Do we really want to see a Barca that is in 10th place? If they were playing the Revs, that would be one thing, but to see a subpar Barca be practice fodder for Juventus doesn't thrill me.
well, looks like championsworld is moving forward and tix for this game are being put on sale at this sat's match v k.c. looking at barca sitting in the 9 spot (tied with 3 others w/47 pts and 4 points out of 6th place) with 3 games remaining....its looking rather likely that they'll have to go intertoto thus missing out on the foxboro date. this weekend will firm things up a bit better, but their road looks tough. remaining matches: (h) v 12. malaga, 43 pts (a) v 5. valencia, 56 pts (h) v 4. celta, 57 pts ...oh and the 3 they're tied with at 47 pts have matches against the 13th, 18th, and 20th place sides.
Good point, although with a friendly, you never know what is going to happen. I've been too disappointed in the past by stars that don't play or even travel with the team, or the phoned-in performances leading to gentleman's draws. While you can get an entertaining game, it's a crapshoot, and I try not to get too excited and to lower my expectations. Usually in vain. In any event, it looks bad for Barca's making the trip. Any fresh rumors on the backup plan?
just fyi, clarification on the prices listed on the ad seen in the globe and herald today. $85: cat I, $65: cat II, $45: cat III, $35: 3rd level seats. for groups (20 or more), i've been told. $70 cat I, $50 cat II, $35 cat III these prices seem just too damn steep for my tastes. if barca doesn't come...they'd better make sure to get an equally high profile club in here.
They're steep because it's a doubleheader people, the Revs playing D.C. United in the match prior to Juve & Barca. The Magpie
sorry, thought everyone knew that. well, compare the prices s.t. holders got last year for the the us/hol and revs/fire d.h. (which was the group prices for that event. $40: cat I, $30: cat II, $25: cat III granted, its being run by championsworld....but it is steep.
I think that's it right there. If this tour were being run by MLS/the USSF, I'm sure it'd be much cheaper. But it's not, and the tour's all about making money, so....
well, i'll be verrrrry interested to see what attendance they end up with....based on the prices. for us v holland i put together a group of 140. for this dh...i have less than 10 interested so far.
Honestly, I can't see why anyone other than a die-hard Barca or Juve fan would want to go to this. I'm going because there is a Rev match and I'm a season ticket holder and, certainly, I'll stay to watch a bit of the waltz contest but unless one of the visiting teams is playing the Revs or it is a US Nats match these doubleheaders are just a $-suck. JIM DOW
You will get a decent latin and Italian-American contigency... if the prices dont keep them away... but I agree it wont be huge in attendance.