Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Aye I've been thinking it's all being made a bit much of.

Especially as City have been knocked out by Barcelona a lot recently, and I'm almost certain Arsenal have played Bayern twice. If not twice definitely once.

Unlucky draws.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
It really exposes the boring cunts though. SO CALLED BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD. And people suddenly obsessed with how much money the PL deal is worth.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
It's hardly bad luck though, back in the heyday of English football our teams were beating these teams with regularity. Liverpool beat Real Madrid 5-0 on aggregate in 2009 for crying out loud.

The only team that might have been unlucky was Chelsea, the only luck City had was that they didn't have about 10 put past them over the two leagues and the reason our teams are consistently getting harder draws is because they're not doing well enough to top their groups.

There's a fairly plausible chance England could lose its 4th Champions League slot next season if we perform as badly again in both European competitions and Italy do well, so yeah, I'd say its a crisis.
VP.
14 years ago
3 months ago
25,271
Italian clubs would have to perform very well to get near to us and we'd have to pretty much see all our clubs exit at the first round for it to happen.
bluemoon.
17 years ago
2 months ago
2,411
Premium
Was Zabaleta injured or something? I have been struggling to figure out why he didn't play.

Nah, he's just not playing that well at the moment and Sagna's looked alright in the Champions League so far.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Also it'll be the season after next.

And if we do lose the 4th champions league spot hopefully we give the 3rd spot to the FA Cup winners too.

Would encourage teams to take it seriously and stop relying on finishing 4th.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
btw you actually get almost as many coefficient points for Europa League as you do from CL, if Italy overtake England soon, it will be from their sides all having good runs in that, rather than from Juventus going a round further than 3 English sides.
Ninja
15 years ago
7 years ago
5,341
Italian clubs would have to perform very well to get near to us and we'd have to pretty much see all our clubs exit at the first round for it to happen.


It's not that far-fetched. Their worst season (and out best) drop off after this year and they've got clubs further in the competition than us in both the Champions League and Europa League (5 teams in Europa League to our 1, and 2 playing each other so guaranteed to have one in the next round) and all their teams are still in some form of European competition.

That means we're already losing a 7 point advantage over them anyway, and will lose further ground when the season finishes. We're looking at another 4 point advantage dropping off next season. Meaning that our current 14 point advantage is down to 3, there's a fairly conceivable possibility that they'll make that gap up this season and have to do nothing other than match our performance next year for us to lose that place.

We're hamstrung by the fact none of our sides take Europe League seriously (or aren't good enough) but that competition is as equally a good measure of the leagues European standing as any other.
bmg033
10 years ago
1 week ago
2,268
Anyone else think abit much is being made of the apparent English demise in Europe? I mean it always seems to come in waves, wasn't always going to be like it was pre 2011 and it will no doubt pick up again in the next few seasons.

The fuss being made of our teams exits is way over the top. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool went out on either away goals or penalties this season and that is hardly getting thrashed. As Flash said, we've had teams in 7 of the last 10 CL finals and that includes 4 different teams getting there with 3 of them actually winning it. If that is a crisis, then i'm sure Spain, Germany & Italy would like a crisis as well.
.verse
13 years ago
1 year ago
871
Part of it will be down to the EPL always being touted as the best league in the world. Another factor will be the money that is in the EPL and usually spent by those sides who are in the CL on a regular basis. Though, that's a little contradicting to use as a reason when you consider the money Real Madrid and Barca have spent (not to mention how they've monopolised La Liga) and PSG of late.

Hardly any sort of crisis though in a general sense. Just teams like Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, etc are expected to progress further given their reputations.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Man City should definitely be doing better than they are given the amount of money they spend, same with Chelsea. 1 win since Abramovic is quite poor.

Arsenal's problems are well documented.
bluemoon.
17 years ago
2 months ago
2,411
Premium
Man City should definitely be doing better than they are given the amount of money they spend, same with Chelsea. 1 win since Abramovic is quite poor.

Arsenal's problems are well documented.

You don't half talk some shite.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
You don't half talk some shite.


1 win in 14 years for a side with pretty much unlimited money is poor?
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
It's hardly bad luck though, back in the heyday of English football our teams were beating these teams with regularity. Liverpool beat Real Madrid 5-0 on aggregate in 2009 for crying out loud.

The only team that might have been unlucky was Chelsea, the only luck City had was that they didn't have about 10 put past them over the two leagues and the reason our teams are consistently getting harder draws is because they're not doing well enough to top their groups.

There's a fairly plausible chance England could lose its 4th Champions League slot next season if we perform as badly again in both European competitions and Italy do well, so yeah, I'd say its a crisis.


That was back in the day we were good in the CL plus Madrid were going through their own crisis.

While you're right about losing the CL spot if it continues, it's pretty safe for the next 3/4 years unless we really fuck up.
The Platypus
14 years ago
1 year ago
1,784
1 win in 14 years for a side with pretty much unlimited money is poor?


iirc, it's the same number of times as Real Madrid and Bayern, in the same amount of time.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
iirc, it's the same number of times as Real Madrid and Bayern, in the same amount of time.


As mentioned Real Madrid went through a small 'crisis' in the late 00's, but have came out stronger and are now in a stronger position than Chelsea.

Bayern, fair enough.

But I'd expect more than 1 final in 13/14 years for a team with unlimited money.
The Platypus
14 years ago
1 year ago
1,784
Abramovich took over in June 2003, so it's nearing 12 years. (And it's two finals, not one)

And aren't we going to mention Chelsea's crisis, if we take Real's into account?
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Abramovich took over in June 2003, so it's nearing 12 years. (And it's two finals, not one)

And aren't we going to mention Chelsea's crisis, if we take Real's into account?


What crisis?

Oh yeah, forgot about the Man Utd one.
Based Jorge
11 years ago
4 years ago
1,399
Can't be a crisis for Chelsea, you don't really expect them to be winning it tbh. Completely different calibre of club compared to Madrid
Sam
18 years ago
2 years ago
5,092
The media are definitely overreacting to English teams going out of Europe. In the last ten years English teams have done brilliantly, Chelsea even got to the semi final last season.

This season was a mixture of bad luck, surprise results and moments of stupidity. City had Barcelona again, Chelsea/PSG was a surprise and Arsenal stupidly conceded that third goal in the home leg.
.verse
13 years ago
1 year ago
871
I don't really see how you can say Chelsea should be doing better. Two finals, one win, and we've come extremely close a number of other times. We've been one of the most consistent clubs in the competition since we've competed in it. Sure, winning it more would have been nice but it's not quite that easy. Once you get to the pointy end you're facing other excellent sides, where it only takes a small mistake or two to cost you- not to mention some luck. We've done considerably well when compared to the other regulars who complete.

Anyway, as for the current competition. Really hope Juventus continue to fly under the radar a little. Would be excellent for the club to reach another final and hopefully winning it.
bluemoon.
17 years ago
2 months ago
2,411
Premium
iirc, it's the same number of times as Real Madrid and Bayern, in the same amount of time.

I don't really see how you can say Chelsea should be doing better. Two finals, one win, and we've come extremely close a number of other times. We've been one of the most consistent clubs in the competition since we've competed in it. Sure, winning it more would have been nice but it's not quite that easy. Once you get to the pointy end you're facing other excellent sides, where it only takes a small mistake or two to cost you- not to mention some luck. We've done considerably well when compared to the other regulars who complete.


1 win in 14 years for a side with pretty much unlimited money is poor?

What those two said basically. Money isn't a guarantee of success in any competition let alone one like the Champions League where the margins are as fine as they are. Their record isn't exceptional but it's not that bad either.
Carroll.
15 years ago
4 years ago
3,361
I'm surprised no one is picking up on Wenger/Sky Sports/whoever it actually was moaning about the away goals rule just cause Chelsea and Arsenal went out on it
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
What those two said basically. Money isn't a guarantee of success in any competition let alone one like the Champions League where the margins are as fine as they are. Their record isn't exceptional but it's not that bad either.


I'm just comparing it to everyone saying Arsenal's record is poor when they're realistically done very similar to Chelsea (obviously without the big win that everyone wants) and spent a fraction of the money.
bmg033
10 years ago
1 week ago
2,268
PSG vs Barcelona
Atletico vs Real
Porto vs Bayern
Juventus vs Monaco
Crane
15 years ago
1 month ago
2,434
Premium
God I hope Atletico knock out Real.
BR.
18 years ago
3 years ago
1,896
Barca, Atletico, Bayern, Juventus for me.
K3V0
16 years ago
1 year ago
5,966
Bayern and Juventus definitely through for me. The other two are tricky to call.

Are PSG and Atletico home in the first leg?
bmg033
10 years ago
1 week ago
2,268
Bayern and Juventus definitely through for me. The other two are tricky to call.

Are PSG and Atletico home in the first leg?

I would assume so as thats the order they came out in the draw.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Bayern and Juventus definitely through for me. The other two are tricky to call.

Are PSG and Atletico home in the first leg?


Barcelona should molest PSG if they continue to play as they are.

You'll need to Login to comment