New CL Format Thoughts

See what happens to Notts form in the PL & CL next seson if it happens.

The current structure handicaps the most successful clubs without 'compensation' whilst creating an advantage to other competetive clubs.

25 man squads.

City ............70 + games + travel.
Brighton.....40 games.

Check the results of clubs post CL away games along with injury records.

I hate the protectionism sought by the cartel. This isnt that.

Its health protection for overplayed players, and additional resources to balance additional commitments.

The root of the issue is too many games = increased injuries.

Cause & effect !!

If Notts Forest qualify, they go through the conundrum that teams for many years have suffered; how do you balance playing in Europe and the League (+ cups) simultaneously. As i say, i am of the opinion this is all part of the difficulty of being at the top, and what makes double/treble winners so special.

But you undeniably have a point re games. There is a creeping trend of increased games lately, and the latest CL format is a step forwards. The World Club Cups were always a weird burden of 3 (?) extra games but the new system is just preposterous.

Just as a point, Un*ted played 62 times in the 98/99 season (38 league, 8 FA Cup, 3 LC and 13 Euro), City's Fourmidables played 60 in 18/19, Chelsea 59 games in 20/21 and City played 60 in the 22/23 season (38 league, 6 FA Cup, 3 LC and 13 Euro). There is variability in the existence of replays (FA Cup's have gone) and extra rounds (e.g. Champs League). The surge of summer and non-regular cups - World Club, friendly 'tournaments' etc - is a pressure squads could do without. Also the game is now at it's most frantic and fast paced .... ever?

Ultimately i am against bigger squads for the reasons i have stated, i do think it's protectionist of more successful clubs and those with more resource, ultimately. Lowering games is the way forward, but how realistic is that.
 
Are there restrictions on clubs from the same nation playing each other in a; the playoff round and b; the last 16 ??
 
I like the new C/L format. Lots of exciting games we wouldn't otherwise see.

That Barca-Benfica game was fantastic - best match I've watched in years. It's likely we wouldn't have seen this matchup under the old format.
 
A win against Brugge will likely be enough as we are currently 6 goals better off than them, we'd both have 11 points.

Zagreb will likely get beat tonight, if the do they can only get 11 points and they have a GD of -5. and If we lose at PSG they will be on 10 points as are Stuttgart who they play in the final game. If either team wins a win v Brugge put us above them, if they draw it would come down to GD, we currently have plus 4, Stuttgart minus 1 which wouldn't change and PSG are level, avoiding a hefty defeat is paramount tonight.

We could also overtake PSV who play the Dippers but you can see them settling for a draw. If Feynoord lose tonight at home to Bayern we can catch them with one win, potentially the same with Sporting but they're at Leipzig who are pointless.

One win and we're through unless a remarkable set of results go against us.
Stoke 2 - 5 City May 1988

A remarkable set of results sent us down.

Just sayin...
 
Not quite, the groupings are:
9/10/23/24 v 7/8
11/12/21/22 v 5/6
13/14/19/20 v 3/4
15/16/17/18 v 1/2

So right now it's Brest or Monaco in the playoff round there is a draw at the end of Jan (I think the 31st). Then it would be Villa or Inter in the last 16.

Long way to go still though and a lot will change.
I thought that the team in 9/10 with the highest coefficient plays the team in 23/24 with the lowest coefficient.
 
If Notts Forest qualify, they go through the conundrum that teams for many years have suffered; how do you balance playing in Europe and the League (+ cups) simultaneously. As i say, i am of the opinion this is all part of the difficulty of being at the top, and what makes double/treble winners so special.

But you undeniably have a point re games. There is a creeping trend of increased games lately, and the latest CL format is a step forwards. The World Club Cups were always a weird burden of 3 (?) extra games but the new system is just preposterous.

Just as a point, Un*ted played 62 times in the 98/99 season (38 league, 8 FA Cup, 3 LC and 13 Euro), City's Fourmidables played 60 in 18/19, Chelsea 59 games in 20/21 and City played 60 in the 22/23 season (38 league, 6 FA Cup, 3 LC and 13 Euro). There is variability in the existence of replays (FA Cup's have gone) and extra rounds (e.g. Champs League). The surge of summer and non-regular cups - World Club, friendly 'tournaments' etc - is a pressure squads could do without. Also the game is now at it's most frantic and fast paced .... ever?

Ultimately i am against bigger squads for the reasons i have stated, i do think it's protectionist of more successful clubs and those with more resource, ultimately. Lowering games is the way forward, but how realistic is that.
Cheers.

Less games or more players = less fatigue = higher quality.

Until the players, coaches, medics & their unions call the shots little is unfortunately likely to change


UEFA v FIFA + Owners greed !!
 
You can only play the rules at the time. There’s been enough times when we’ve looked the best team in Europe, smashing everyone domestically and come unstuck in a one off tie against inferior opposition.

So if we do ride our luck and somehow manage to win it after what’s gone before this season, I won’t be feeling it’s in any way devalued.

For me I couldn't care less if we win it, are in it or are any part of it mate. Domestic trophies mean more to me than this clown circus.

I get that the modern fan likes it but they like half and half scarves and dried onions on their hot dogs too.
 
Can squads be amended once a club gets to the knockout stages, or are they stuck with the same squad for the whole campaign? I'm obviously (to quote Sparky) thinking of any additions made this month.
 
Can squads be amended once a club gets to the knockout stages, or are they stuck with the same squad for the whole campaign? I'm obviously (to quote Sparky) thinking of any additions made this month.
Yes, this is from UEFA:

Can clubs change their squads again this season?

Yes, if they get through the league phase. Ahead of the knockout phase, clubs can register a maximum of three new players by 24:00 CET on 6 February 2025.

Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or league phase of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.

The overall limit of 25 players on List A remains, though, along with the quota of eight locally-trained players.
 
Yes, this is from UEFA:

Can clubs change their squads again this season?

Yes, if they get through the league phase. Ahead of the knockout phase, clubs can register a maximum of three new players by 24:00 CET on 6 February 2025.

Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or league phase of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.

The overall limit of 25 players on List A remains, though, along with the quota of eight locally-trained players.
Cheers MC.
 
Yes, this is from UEFA:

Can clubs change their squads again this season?

Yes, if they get through the league phase. Ahead of the knockout phase, clubs can register a maximum of three new players by 24:00 CET on 6 February 2025.

Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or league phase of the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League.

The overall limit of 25 players on List A remains, though, along with the quota of eight locally-trained players.

I know this isn’t a new rule but I still find it a bit odd that they allow players to play for two clubs in the same competition.

It’s always been a bog standard rule in pretty much every cup competition anywhere, amateur or professional, that once you’ve appeared for one club, you’re cup tied for the rest of the competition, if you switch teams.

I suppose it’s a small step towards it morphing into an actual ‘league’ in reality as well as in name at some point.
 
Stoke 2 - 5 City May 1988

A remarkable set of results sent us down.

Just sayin...
Slightly different, it was only two other teams that had to win and their opponents downed tools, a lad I know was at Bradford and said even their own fans were singing "City's going down" whilst they were losing at home to Bradford. Huddersfield lost at home to Port Vale 4-0.

If we beat Brugge and get at least a pint tonight or at worst a narrow defeat we will go through.
 
It seems a bit of a lottery tbh, who you get to play in the first phase. I’m not making excuses because we should have been on the brink of getting through without play offs by now, but we are where we are. If we do get through we will be drawn against one of the teams that did well in the first phase. If not, concentrate on the Premier League so we guarantee another pop next season.
 
Slightly different, it was only two other teams that had to win and their opponents downed tools, a lad I know was at Bradford and said even their own fans were singing "City's going down" whilst they were losing at home to Bradford. Huddersfield lost at home to Port Vale 4-0.

If we beat Brugge and get at least a pint tonight or at worst a narrow defeat we will go through.
Yeah, I was jesting mate...the typical City mindset is hard to shift for us FOC's.
 
It seems a bit of a lottery tbh, who you get to play in the first phase. I’m not making excuses because we should have been on the brink of getting through without play offs by now, but we are where we are. If we do get through we will be drawn against one of the teams that did well in the first phase. If not, concentrate on the Premier League so we guarantee another pop next season.
Still cant get over the naivety in that Feyenoord game
 
I do not like the lack of jeopardy. Pep was asked in the press conference about whether the PSG game was critical and he said something along the lines of 'Who knows? We have another game against Brugges.' This competition is all about revenue generation. The new format makes it even more obvious than ever. I don't think it encourages excitement.
 
t's certainly looking like the closer you are to the middle of the 9th-24th spots the harder your last 16 game is. I think 4 points will put us close to this zone.
That's obvious. The teams in the middle, in theory, should be the lowest teams in the final 16. Ie the teams 9 to 16 should be the teams winning the play off matches.
What had happened in reality is that the likes of ourselves, PSG and Madrid have underperformed and all 3 could possibly beat the teams 9 to 12.
PSG have played Bayern PSV Athletico Arsenal. not easy games.
 

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