The Title Race - 2023/24

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Mad to think this time last year all the Cancelo drama and subsequent change in form hadn’t even happened yet.

Or the 115 charges.

 

[KenTheLandlord]

I don’t have a problem with people taking issue with the name, or that they preferred the old format, or even that it was (subjectively) better, but to suggest it was harder to win under the previous format is simply wrong.

Correct.
Liverpool did the double in the 70s and this was their entire itinerary.
76/77 - Crusaders, Trabzonpor, Saint Etienne, Zurich and Moenchengladbach.
77/78 - Bye (a fuckin bye) Dresden, Benfica, Moenchengladbach and Brugge
80/81 - OPS, Aberdeen (Knox not him), CSKA, Bayern (didn't win either match. Real Madrid.

If we won the League Cup playing them we would be slaughtered for soft draws.

 

[johnnytapia]

A big problem for me with the old European Cup was the open draws with a complete lack of seeding. No issue with when you’re dealing with the traditions of the FA Cup but not ideal when determining the best team in Europe.
There were a few instances when a number of strong clubs were drawn against each other in a few different early round ties leaving the way clear for lesser lights to progress deep into the competition. When Forest first lifted the trophy in 1979 they admittedly had a brutal draw (holders Liverpool) in the first round but after getting through that, their run up to and including the final was embarrassingly gentle. Villa’s run to the 1982 final was also incredibly straightforward as were a couple of instances involving the dippers.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when arguably the two best teams in Europe (Real Madrid and Maradona’s Napoli) were drawn against each other in the first round in 1987-88. Broadcasters decided the competition’s credibility was suffering and it needed a revamp if they were going to pay for the rights. The initial Champions League rebranding emerged a few years after that.

You got beat - you were out. Like any cup competition should be.
You draw an easy team - great.
You draw a tough team - not great. But thems the breaks. None of this seeded horseshit where teams can’t play each other.
All the names, in a bag, you might get an easy route, you might not. Just like it should be.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Correct.
Liverpool did the double in the 70s and this was their entire itinerary.
76/77 - Crusaders, Trabzonpor, Saint Etienne, Zurich and Moenchengladbach.
77/78 - Bye (a fuckin bye) Dresden, Benfica, Moenchengladbach and Brugge
80/81 - OPS, Aberdeen (Knox not him), CSKA, Bayern (didn't win either match. Real Madrid.

If we won the League Cup playing them we would be slaughtered for soft draws.

Bye was probably a tougher challenge than Crusaders.

 

[Dewey6]

I don’t think we have the leaders we had in recent Anfield meetings and that is a concern. Toure, Kev, Sergio, Silva, Vinnie, Fernandinho…. And we probably lack the composure that Mahrez and Gundo provided.

They look good at home so will be interesting.

 

[nellyonthewing]

You got beat - you were out. Like any cup competition should be.
You draw an easy team - great.
You draw a tough team - not great. But thems the breaks. None of this seeded horseshit where teams can’t play each other.
All the names, in a bag, you might get an easy route, you might not. Just like it should be.

Do you trust them not to rig the draw though. The scousers would have rough balls …

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I don’t think we have the leaders we had in recent Anfield meetings and that is a concern. Toure, Kev, Sergio, Silva, Vinnie, Fernandinho…. And we probably lack the composure that Mahrez and Gundo provided.

Apart from that penalty!

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

You got beat - you were out. Like any cup competition should be.
You draw an easy team - great.
You draw a tough team - not great. But thems the breaks. None of this seeded horseshit where teams can’t play each other.
All the names, in a bag, you might get an easy route, you might not. Just like it should be.

That’s a separate argument to whether it should be restricted simply to the Champions of each UEFA member though.

 

[Dewey6]

Apart from that penalty!

True that!

 

[johnnytapia]

That’s a separate argument to whether it should be restricted simply to the Champions of each UEFA member though.

Yep. Champions only. No groups, straight draw, knockout.