New CL Format Thoughts

[East Level 2]

The interesting bit is the teams that aren't through automatically such as RM, BM and Our Very Own.
An extra four games to play to win compared to the old format, and while the extra cash softens the blow to a degree it doesn't help when the squads are already knackered.
At half-time I was thinking about extra rest for players, but now I'm thinking it's additional time for the new players to get used to Pep's systems.
Don't really care who we get, but we'll need a mobile midfield to deal with them so can't really risk Gundo. I'm hoping the club doesn't fleece the fans but fear the worst.

 

[ancoats]

I said earlier in the thread City would have been out well before Christmas in the old format with the form we were in at the time, the Europa League would have been our best bet right now

 

[Metal Biker]

Still stupid, still hate it, back to normality with the knockout phase.

UEFA should treat it as a failed experiment and go back to how it used to be.

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

Still stupid, still hate it, back to normality with the round robin phase.

UEFA should treat it as a failed experiment and go back to how it used to be.

Not a chance. With the extra games they'll be raking it in. Just think, the group stage is done and now they have a shed load of 2 legged play off ties, with the likes of City v Real or Bayern involved. Laughing all the way to the bank

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Drawing either Madrid or Bayern is a pretty big punishment?

City are still in the competition at this point, if they had a similar win ratio to previous years group stages we would be out and the competition is over. We’ve been utter dog shit for the majority of it but could then potentially knock Madrid out.

 

[East Level 2]

Not a chance. With the extra games they'll be raking it in. Just think, the group stage is done and now they have a shed load of 2 legged play off ties, with the likes of City v Real or Bayern involved. Laughing all the way to the bank

Exactly. The media estimated the new format would generate an extra billion. I can't remember whether that was £ or € but it's a hell of a lot of cash for UEFA and the clubs. I think that was supposed to be additional broadcast revenue so the clubs would get additional revenue from the extra home game.

 

[cyan]

So we didn't quite get as an exciting a final day as perhaps UEFA were hoping - but we did get our jeopardy and there seemed to be some shifting around at the bottom and also for the top eight places - just one point between 6th and 13th and I'm sure that finishing 9th to 19th are all regretting places where they dropped points)

And the 9-2 loss Zagreb suffered in their first game and our 5-0 win against Sparta Prague all proved crucial at the end. Showing that every match has to be taken seriously.

And now we have a Play-off round in which either ourselves or Real/Bayern will go out - it's far more interesting than most matches have ever been at this stage - it is the drama UEFA promised the television companies when selling the contracts - I'm sure they are all very happy.

 

[SB Blue]

City are still in the competition at this point, if they had a similar win ratio to previous years group stages we would be out and the competition is over. We’ve been utter dog shit for the majority of it but could then potentially knock Madrid out.

Difficult to compare to previous years, we wouldn’t have played other pot 1 teams, only 1 point from those 2 games, so with 10 points from 6 games against pot 2-4 teams we probably would have qualified, possibly 3rd with Europa League though!!. Overall I’m not sure on the new format, I think we had a favourable draw and still only just made it through. As you say, it’s knockout football now, where you finished doesn’t matter and anything can happen.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

soon as the big boys fail in the first stages of this format, UEFA will change it 100%

 

[rowarta]

my view, this new format it's made for TV and not the match going fan. UEFA will be delighted

 

[MCFC1993]

The final day wasn't quite as exciting as they'd thought it would be, was it?

A precession which is what I expected. RB Leipzig going out was maybe the only surprise but they look to have fell off this season.

Far more surprise exits in the previous 2 seasons.

Glorified ESL.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

The final day wasn't quite as exciting as they'd thought it would be, was it?

Oh, it was pretty “exciting” for City fans for a fair few minutes!

And, Milan would like a word.

 

[MCFC1993]

soon as the big boys fail in the first stages of this format, UEFA will change it 100%

Wouldn't be surprised if Perez comes out in the next couple of days and suggests a more open draw for the playoffs. 9th-16th being able to draw any of 17th-24th.

He won't like the 50/50 chance of drawing us after finishing 11th.

 

[youngbob]

Yeah, I don't really see how it's better than the usual group stage. The only difference I see is that a lot of Super League clubs who've underperformed this year and would have just gone out in previous seasons (Madrid, PSG, City) have basically been handed four more games of TV revenue despite being shite. UEFA conceding ground to the Super League in a desperate bid to stop clubs breaking away. Sad to watch.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

my view, this new format it's made for TV and not the match going fan. UEFA will be delighted

Of course it is! Follow the money and the money comes from 2 more games in the League phase and now an extra segment with some massive “play-off” games, before it gets back to the Round of 16 “regular” knockout competition.

 

[bluesmith]

I said earlier in the thread City would have been out well before Christmas in the old format with the form we were in at the time, the Europa League would have been our best bet right now

We wouldn't have been out though, in the 6 games against pot 2, 3 and 4 teams we picked up 10 points which would have put us through to the last 16 in previous years.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

We wouldn't have been out though, in the 6 games against pot 2, 3 and 4 teams we picked up 10 points which would have put us through to the last 16 in previous years.

Now you’ve done it. I tried to explain that the other day and it went to and fro!

Good luck.

 

[MCFC1993]

I still stand by 4 groups of 9 would have been better if they wanted the extra games and a more interesting format (4 away, 4 home one-off games). Fairer in terms of teams played too.

Would have needed 9 gameweeks but with 1 rest week for each, I'm sure domestic cups could have worked around it still.

The big 36 team league means other games just get lost, at least with 4 groups of 9 you'd have had other games in your group worth watching.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I still stand by 4 groups of 9 would have been better if they wanted the extra games and a more interesting format (4 away, 4 home one-off games). Fairer in terms of teams played too.

Would have needed 9 gameweeks but with 1 rest week for each, I'm sure domestic cups could have worked around it still.

The big 36 team league means other games just get lost, at least with 4 groups of 9 you'd have had other games in your group worth watching.

Yeah, looking out for results is a big part of football.

It’d still be 8 game-weeks too, as you don’t play yourself.

 

[Gazza]

Oh, it was pretty “exciting” for City fans for a fair few minutes!

And, Milan would like a word.

Wasn't exactly PL Aguero day though, or even Villa day.
City apart, it was very underwhelming.