To be fair who would of said Spartak Moscow would beat Sevilla 5-1 tho? Should Sevilla be kicked out?

I agree, they wouldn't. But that's just your shock result, that happens in football. Not 7-0 thrashings. These and Qarabag shouldn't have a place here. Maribor clearly aren't improving because I'm sure Chelsea battered them 6-0 at home a couple of years ago now? How are they getting any better?

I understand they've earned their place, credit where credit is due, but it speaks volumes to UEFA about the structure of the CL and how teams qualify.

No, they epitomise the gap between the haves and have nots. How can they be expected to compete against a team that buy 1 player worth more than their entire club?

APOEL drew with Dortmund tonight and should of won

Didn't Bate take a big scalp the other year?

City smashed Feyenoord 5-0 away, should Feyenoord be kicked out?

Sorry but i agree with most of what you say usually Just, but this is bollux

comment by Baz tardo (U19119)
posted 19 seconds ago

No, they epitomise the gap between the haves and have nots. How can they be expected to compete against a team that buy 1 player worth more than their entire club?
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So what are they doing in a competition like this and teams like Arsenal, Hoffenheim, Bilbao etc who are very well more capable of competing are dumped in the EL?

Also Bayern smashed Barca 7-0 over 2 legs. Should Barca be kicked out?

Why is it? What place does a team like these have in this competition? They are earning it by playing against other teams like themselves. Its the qualifying that gets them in it. For me, scrap the league route and champions route and go back to one big qualifying phase.

Have the teams in the league route as seeded teams and these champions route sides unseeded, as most seem to be much worse off than the others. For example, a team like Sevilla/Hoffenheim seeded, a team like Maribor/Qarabag unseeded. If they can beat Sevilla/Hoffenheim, credit to them, that's when they earn their place. Why is it fair on Hoffenheim to get drawn against Liverpool but Maribor end up with some other $hite from eastern Europe that can't cut it?

They have never won a home game at this stage but clearly have some ability as I suspect they have to get through qualifying.
Mentioning Celtic in the same breath who have beaten United and Barca and generally put up a good fight against anyone at home is not relevant.
Liverpool were hurting from not beating a very defensive and totally off form United, 2 early goals and panic set in.

comment by Oscar. #TeamFury,RETURN OF THE MACK! 2018 Rebirth of the Phoenix from the Ashes (U12980)
posted 5 minutes ago
To be fair who would of said Spartak Moscow would beat Sevilla 5-1 tho? Should Sevilla be kicked out?
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And Maribor actually drew 1-1 with Moscow the other week too. They're never going to get out the group but it's not like they're being beat 7-0 every game.

I'm not saying kick them out, what I am saying is, make it harder for the poor teams to qualify. Like I said, scrap this league and champions route and revert back to 1 qualifying phase. Or better yet:

Qualifying rounds 1-3 split into league and champion routes as normal. Then the Play-Off round, league route teams are seeded, champion route teams are not seeded. So they have to beat a half decent side from a better division to qualify. Then you might end up with games like this for example:

Maribor vs Sevilla
Qarabag vs Hoffenheim
APEOL vs Liverpool

etc etc. If they can beat a side that are 9/10 better at competing, fair enough, then they earn their place. But why do Maribor get to face off against other poor teams and Hoffenheim and Liverpool get drawn against each other?

They’ve earned the right to be there and reap the financial benefit of playing in the CL. Why should there place be given to another team like Hoffenheim - a team likely to go out at the group stages anyway.

It’s worth noting that Spartak thrashed Seville tonight and yet Maribor got a draw with Spartak. What does that say about Seville?!

Do these just epitomise how poor the CL is in the modern era? What is the point in having a team like this in the competition really?

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That's why they drew against Liverpool at Anfield?

Your name says it all: Average fan

What financial benefit will this give them? Will this improve their team do you think? It will improve the club, but lets say they are in it next year, are they going to do any better? Most likely not. As I said in the OP, the quality of their league means they cannot benefit from this financial reward with real effect.

Hoffenheim would likely go out at the group stage yes, but I don't think they'd be losing 7-0 at home, no excuse for that sort of result in this competition. In which case, what does it say about Liverpool that they couldn't beat Sevilla? Its just football, its how things work. But unfortunately, Maribor just aren't good enough at all.

comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 1 minute ago
Do these just epitomise how poor the CL is in the modern era? What is the point in having a team like this in the competition really?

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That's why they drew against Liverpool at Anfield?

Your name says it all: Average fan
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I don't agree with his point but you've had a mare here

Who drew with Liverpool at Anfield? Sevilla?

I'm watching Europe's most prestigious competition, who will turn on their TV set tomorrow and watch Basel vs CSKA Moscow? 9/10 nobody.

However, as a neutral, would you rather watch Hoffenheim vs Arsenal for example, or Basel vs CSKA Moscow?

So close the shop and take away any chance they have at improving? What a facking reeeetarded idea.

comment by JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
posted 1 minute ago
What financial benefit will this give them? Will this improve their team do you think? It will improve the club, but lets say they are in it next year, are they going to do any better? Most likely not. As I said in the OP, the quality of their league means they cannot benefit from this financial reward with real effect.

Hoffenheim would likely go out at the group stage yes, but I don't think they'd be losing 7-0 at home, no excuse for that sort of result in this competition. In which case, what does it say about Liverpool that they couldn't beat Sevilla? Its just football, its how things work. But unfortunately, Maribor just aren't good enough at all.
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And yet you all laugh about how arsenal wasted a CL spot each season finishing 4th. Sevilla are basically the spanish equivalent of us in the CL.

comment by JustYourAverageFan (U21016)
posted 1 minute ago
I'm watching Europe's most prestigious competition, who will turn on their TV set tomorrow and watch Basel vs CSKA Moscow? 9/10 nobody.

However, as a neutral, would you rather watch Hoffenheim vs Arsenal for example, or Basel vs CSKA Moscow?
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Why not go the whole hog and just invite the 32 most popular teams in Europe and allow them to play.

Perhaps twitter followers can be used as a qualification criteria?

comment by Zlatan The King Ibrahimovic (U10026)
posted 50 seconds ago

So close the shop and take away any chance they have at improving? What a facking reeeetarded idea.
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Its not working though is it. They got hammered 6-0 at Chelsea 2/3 years ago and now 7-0 here. What improvement have they shown really? They just plain and simply are not going to improve because of how poor their domestic league is.

Then look at City/Spurs/Liverpool. City struggling at first, now they are improving and getting through the group stages every year. Spurs went out last year, look well on course to go through so far in what is a very tough group and Liverpool didn't go through last time, this time however it looks as if they might just do that. So the teams from the bigger countries will improve because they can reap the benefits of the finances and attract the top players. The top players aren't going to want to play for Maribor in the Slovenian league are they.

Liverpool wouldn't even be in The Chapions League if wasn't for the modern format of the competition

20 odd years without a title isn't it?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Like I've said, split it into the league route and champions route up until the Play-Off round. That way you get the best teams from the league route and the best teams from the champions route through into the Play-Off round.

Then split it so that the champion route sides (unseeded) face off against the league route sides (seeded) as they are 9/10, better quality sides. That way they earn their place. How do teams like Ludogorets for example earn their place in the CL by beating a side like Viktoria Plzen who have only ever featured in the group stage of the competition a mere twice in the last 10 years?

I know people will say Hoffenheim have never been in it before, but they are a better side than Maribor.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator