I think it'd be 9, as there would be a team that didn't play each week but could be worked in by splitting the league cup games like they did this year.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.
I think you're remembering the old groups too fondly. The new format is definitely an improvement.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.
Nor will there ever be such days again! Just be glad we lived to experience them in the flesh!Wasn't exactly PL Aguero day though, or even Villa day.
City apart, it was very underwhelming.
I think you're remembering the old groups too fondly. The new format is definitely an improvement.
Last season, PSG and Copenhagen got 8 points and made it to Ro16. That's an average of 1.33 points per game. In PSG's case, they were in pot 1 and only played clubs from pots 2, 3 and 4.
This season, we averaged 1.38 points per game and as a result have to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich to get into the last 16. We also had to face 2 other Pot 1 teams (PSG/Inter) which meant our average fixture was likely to be more difficult this time round.
Atalanta, Dortmund, Madrid, Munich, and Milan have averaged 1.88 points per game, and there is a very realistic chance that they don't advance.
In the old system, you had absolute dross being rewarded with Europa League spots too. In 2022/23, Juventus won 1 game. They lost 5 during the Champions League group stage and were rewarded with a Europa League spot where they advanced to the semi-final and were only knocked out by Sevilla after extra time.
Plus as you saw with our Inter game, teams are happy to draw those games out.Nor will there ever be such days again! Just be glad we lived to experience them in the flesh!
Milan dropped out of the Top 8 and a few teams dropped out of the Top 24, plus its thrown up some tasty two-legged playoffs, so…
For me, I’d prefer the old system, as I’m not sure it is possible to be “fair” when a computer throws up the 4 teams you play at home and the 4 different teams you play away.
However, knowing you only need to win 3 of 6 to get through, which means just beating the Pot 3 & 4 teams, in relatively unattractive fixtures, and getting through, wasn’t particularly enthralling. It was only really the Pot 1 vs Pot 2 games that had any real drama, as they meant coming out as a #1 or #2 seed for the Round of 16.
As you can see, I’m somewhat conflicted!
The entire CL concept has always been for the benefit of armchair supporters who think it's below them to watch non glamour clubs.my view, this new format it's made for TV and not the match going fan. UEFA will be delighted
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.
Yes that was mad we had waited months first ball out then the rest appeared from no where ,Think my only gripe with it is that the seeding is almost irrelevant now.
Oh and also the weird “draw” itself that just appeared.
We wouldn't have played any extra games in November or December though, we wouldn't have played Inter (Pot 1) in September and would have played a pot 2-4 then instead.But the form and injury crisis we were in before Christmas and November i don't see us getting through the group
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.
Think my only gripe with it is that the seeding is almost irrelevant now.
Oh and also the weird “draw” itself that just appeared.