Liverpool FC Forum

by **Owzat** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:01 am

Not sure this will make any difference to us, not if we finish third or above, but we have to be wary of UEFA intentions as they may make it top two and cup winners only in Spain, Italy and England. The Champions League format as is works reasonably well, it would be better without some of the weaker teams in the last 32 like Rosenberg, Rangers, Slavia Prague and so on, but it's likely the last 16, QFs, semis and Final will be pretty strong.

If UEFA dilute the Champions League like they have with the World Cup in allowing more African, Central American and Asian teams in who are all rubbish enough to go out in the 1st round then we could end up with mismatches in the QFs or worse the SFs and Final. I sometimes wonder if these 'organisations' don't dream this rubbish up to give them something to do and justify their existence. Maybe they should stop expelling hot air and actually crack down on racism. They claim they are tough on it which doesn't tally with the pitiful FINES they hand out. They don't want to ban clubs or countries, I think it would take a racially motivated MASSACRE for them to hand out a 'severe' punishment and then it will probably be £25k per dead person

I was discussing with a colleague the probable impact on the current set-up if the top three and FA Cup winners qualify. I suspected it would make little difference as the winners have usually come from the top four since the Premiership began. Unless they then let the FA Cup Runners-up into the competition that would mean the top four anyway, although if Pratini is stupid enough to give places to cup winners then anything is possible!

FA Cups since 1993

WINNERS :

Arsenal 5
Man Utd 4
Chelsea 3
Liverpool 2
Everton 1

RUNNERS-UP

Man Utd 3
Chelsea 2
Newcastle 2
Arsenal 1
Liverpool 1
Southampton 1
Millwall 1
West Ham 1
Aston Villa 1
Sheff Wed 1
Middlesboro 1

Not a problem if the winners are in the top three anyway and the place then goes to fourth place, a joke if teams like West Ham, Millwall and Villa are let in through the back door if the Runners-up get the place instead

by **radun5** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:17 am

off topic

Partizan Belgrad were expelled of UEFA Cup for racism. Then Lazio supporters had the same behaviour and they were forgiven. So for UEFA it is more important where you come from than what you do.

My belief is Serbian teams have always been quickly shown the door for whatever reasons, while Italian teams will never be treated likethat.

on topic

This is a move to make the domestic cups more interesting; however, as the same rules will not apply to all leagues, it will be another stupid measure. Probably they will allow runners-up as well. They are THAT stupid.

by **Owzat** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:38 am

Wasn't aware they had expelled a club from the UEFA Cup, size of club and perhaps profile is more important to UEFA than the crime itself. I reckon Turkey should have been banned from European competition and possibly internationals, Italian and Spanish clubs have all had multiple accusations of racism and nothing done. It is the overall lack of action taken by UEFA that I was referring to, they don't take a hard line anywhere near as often as their claim of zero tolerance (or words to that effect) might suggest

by **66-1112520797** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:39 am

by **JamCar05** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:44 am

Not meaning to be a pain in the :censored:

, but this topic is already being discussed here: http://www.liverpoolfc-newkit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=20976&start=20

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Pratini wants cup winners in champions league

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