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Champions League - 2018/19

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Cannot agree with that ruling fair enough getting into the league stage but straight in as top seed doesn’t seem right. Kick up the backside for Portugal. We might have heard about it if it affected one of ours
I actually quite like it, I think the Portuguese winner getting a top-seed spot when their league is so uncompetitive is really stretching it a bit. And it meant that if the CL winner also won their league the top side from Ukraine, otherwise known as Shakhtar Donetsk, got into Pot 1 which was just bizarre. If they're going to do it this way rather than just on coefficients, I'd only have it as the Top 5 league winners - the leagues you either have to be an elite club yourself or finish above one of them to win. Then fill it up with the last CL and EL winner, and then the best coefficient teams. Right now it makes a mockery of the seeding system when one Pot 3 side can get FC Basel and Lokomotiv Moscow while another gets Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
 

specspurs

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
391
403
I actually quite like it, I think the Portuguese winner getting a top-seed spot when their league is so uncompetitive is really stretching it a bit. And it meant that if the CL winner also won their league the top side from Ukraine, otherwise known as Shakhtar Donetsk, got into Pot 1 which was just bizarre. If they're going to do it this way rather than just on coefficients, I'd only have it as the Top 5 league winners - the leagues you either have to be an elite club yourself or finish above one of them to win. Then fill it up with the last CL and EL winner, and then the best coefficient teams. Right now it makes a mockery of the seeding system when one Pot 3 side can get FC Basel and Lokomotiv Moscow while another gets Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Having looked at the coefficients in depth I kinda agree with this. The problem is:
(i) the coefficients are flawed to begin with as they don't offer enough points for winning or getting to the quarters, semis etc and
(ii) UEFA are supposedly (I say supposedly because UEFA seemingly keep changing the rules every 5 minutes) going to add to the coefficient based on a club's past history and success in UEFA competitions which in my opinion is ridiculous.
 
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Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Having looked at the coefficients in depth I kinda agree with this. The problem is:
(i) the coefficients are flawed to begin with as they don't offer enough points for winning or getting to the quarters, semis etc and
(ii) UEFA are supposedly (I say supposedly because UEFA seemingly keep changing the rules every 5 minutes) going to add to the coefficient based on a club's past history and success in UEFA competitions which in my opinion is ridiculous.

On your second point, you're right that UEFA talked about this, but for now at least they've changed their minds. Instead, there's going to be a brand new coefficient in addition to the existing ones (contain your excitement everyone!). This will be based on your coefficient points over the last 10 years rather than five, and add in points for previous European titles won. It has no impact on seedings, but is part of the financial distribution algorithm. So even though we finished above Liverpool, and ever if we go further than them in the tournament, they'll probably get given more money because they beat some Yugoslav jokers 35 years ago. (No, it isn't a good idea, don't shoot the messenger!)
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
Athletico winning Europa must be good for us as it means they go into pot 1
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,413
11,620
We need two of the following four things to happen in order to be in Pot 2:

1) Real Madrid to win the Champions League
2) Atletico Madrid to win the Europa League
3) FC Basel to go out in qualifying
4) Benfica to go out in qualifying

That's 1 outta 2!
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
5,001
7,417
UEFA changed their minds late on - the change only came to light for the first time in the regulations released on Friday, and their own site hasn't been updated yet.

We need two of the following four things to happen in order to be in Pot 2:

1) Real Madrid to win the Champions League
2) Atletico Madrid to win the Europa League
3) FC Basel to go out in qualifying
4) Benfica to go out in qualifying

Its odds against both Basel & Benfica getting into the group stages, they both have to get through the League route with only two group places available, they could easily get drawn against each other, its odds on Spurs in pot 2.
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
5,001
7,417
One problem Champions League might give to some fans is the following
  • There is no change to the formats from the group stage onwards but there will be staggered kick-offs – 18.55CET and 21.00CET – in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
18.55 CET means a 5.55 pm kick of UK time , a lot of fans are going to struggle getting to Spurs if we have a kick off at that time.
 

Westmorlandspur

Well-Known Member
Feb 1, 2013
2,685
4,499
One problem Champions League might give to some fans is the following
  • There is no change to the formats from the group stage onwards but there will be staggered kick-offs – 18.55CET and 21.00CET – in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
18.55 CET means a 5.55 pm kick of UK time , a lot of fans are going to struggle getting to Spurs if we have a kick off at that time.
I read a report a few weeks ago that the British games would prob be the 8pm start as the 7pm start on the continent won’t cause problems. We shall see.
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,276
One problem Champions League might give to some fans is the following
  • There is no change to the formats from the group stage onwards but there will be staggered kick-offs – 18.55CET and 21.00CET – in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
18.55 CET means a 5.55 pm kick of UK time , a lot of fans are going to struggle getting to Spurs if we have a kick off at that time.

If they play games in East Europe at 5.55 which will be later for them, and games in West Europe play at the later time. Solves that problem.
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Inter Milan have just qualified with a last-gasp victory away to Lazio. They'll be in Pot 4. You just know we're going to draw them while Liverpool get Slovan Liberec... and we'll still get more points.
 

SirHarryHotspur

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
5,001
7,417
Not sure it matters that much if we get pot 2 or 3 but if Liverpool do win CL then we have a one in six chance of getting Lokomotiv who must be the number one seeds that everyone from pot 2 down hopes they will get.
 

Kingellesar

This is the way
May 2, 2005
8,706
9,209
Inter Milan have just qualified with a last-gasp victory away to Lazio. They'll be in Pot 4. You just know we're going to draw them while Liverpool get Slovan Liberec... and we'll still get more points.

Bale knows how to play against Inter, we will be fine:whistle:

But yeah, great to see Inter back in the CL but I bet we end up with the group of death again! Bring it on.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,932
If they play games in East Europe at 5.55 which will be later for them, and games in West Europe play at the later time. Solves that problem.
Only problem I can see here is if Celtic play and English club in the group stage. I can't imagine Celtic would be too happy having 6pm home KO's either.
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Only problem I can see here is if Celtic play and English club in the group stage. I can't imagine Celtic would be too happy having 6pm home KO's either.
They've had the split KO times in the Europa for a good while now and it's been fine. I seem to remember when Liverpool drew United in the SF they just moved both the legs to 8pm, it's not completely rigid if it really doesn't work with the timezones.
 

E8spur

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
327
969
These days I don’t worry about seedings and groups of death...

812E14AD-771F-458D-B9D2-DB59F968DAED.jpeg
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
The football team or the city? I love Lyon, think it would be a great away fixture.

The last time we played there. Being attacked by nf. Pubs shut at 00:00. Stadium was a shithole. Searched on the way in and having to show our passports or be turned away.

Old town was nice. But done that.

Would prefer somewhere new.
 
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