These draws are the worst part about the Champions League. The draws are just unfair and the team that has the most success usually has a lot of luck on their side. Take last year for example, Real Madrid got Roma, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City before the Finals. Atletico Madrid had to play Eindhovan, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.
I actually thought this is the one with upset potential. Dortmund, Barca, Real, City and Juve are heavily favored, Sevilla v Leicester is 50/50. Atlético though was struggling with Leverkusen two years ago and with Eindhoven last year. Their style fits perfect against Barca and Bayern, but they are in trouble once the other team is playing for counter attacks as well. Leverkusen has the weapons to hurt Atlético, it will come down to Simeone and his squad being able to adapt another style of play. And for Leverkusen to hope that there's no penalties needed. It's annoying, but I still don't see a better option. A set list like at the Euro makes it even worse. Look at Portugal's way to the final.
I wouldn't mind a committee that ranks every team 1-16 based on their quality of play in the group stages and their domestic leagues. Then the knockout round just follows a normal Playoff bracket. Admittedly this adds subjectivity into the process but it might lead to better quality of play in both the group stages and the domestic leagues. You also won't get teams resting everyone if they have nothing to play for in the group stage, because now style points do matter.
A committee? With all the corruption and beneficiary this sport is going through? I'm afraid this would turn into a disaster with every year several teams feeling aggrieved, while the wrong individuals sneak even more bribes into their pockets.
That would pretty much prevent any small/mid-tier clubs from reaching the later stages and unproportionally reward elite clubs financially.
It would reward teams based on results, not simple luck. I don't think rich elite clubs have anything to do with it. Take Chelsea from 2 years ago, their domestic form was terrible. This committee would judge how poorly they were playing and seed them lower in the knockout, increasing the chances that they face a good team. Would Chelsea have deserved to face a scrub team so they could advance? No. In the current system, that is possible due to luck. Leicester is trying to stay above relegation in the EPL, why should they get to play Sevilla, one of the worst teams left? Luck already plays a part in the group stages let's try to remove some of that in the knockout phases. How about this proposal. Group Winners get seeded #1-8 2nd Place finishers get seeded #9-16 In this case Leicester City would get seeded at #8 because they have been bad this year, they would be the worst group winner. They would face Real Madrid, the 9 seed and the best playing 2nd place finisher.
I do not think Sevilla is that bad, as you said you cannot judge clubs by their budget and big names.... Sevilla did win the UEFA Cup twice in a row as far as I can remember.
I don't pay attention to La Liga and didn't realize they were 3rd, they might not be that bad. The committee though would know everything about these clubs so they would justifiably seed the worst group winner against the best 2nd place finisher, whoever they are.
Middlefinger straight up to English teams and Real Madrid. No chance they steal a Bayern player. Robben next.
Oscar is close to a mega deal to the CSL rumored to be 71 million, another source around 65 Million Euro. Team: Shanghai SIPG
That's sad. He's still only 25. He's got plenty of time to chase the money. Why give up on top flight football now?
Damn, followed him since the Brazilian youth squads and thought his career would play out much different. Apparently just in it for the money.
I am actually more excited about the other Shanghai Shenhua team nearing a deal for Carlos Tevez, one of my favs........leaving Boca
Oscar is nothing special. I hate the way he plays 90% of the time. 10% is really really good, though. I just don't think he feels the game very well and seems pretty dumb on the pitch.
Most of the time, I feel like Oscar is a JAG. I'm not surprised he'd be mulling over an offer like this.....I don't think he'd command that much from a top-flight European team at this juncture in his career, and he knows it.
Gündogan has a torn ACL, probably out for the season. Very sad, especially since he did quite well in his first year with City. But that's why I never wanted Bayern to sign him, just can't stay healthy...
It just isn't going well with Foxtown Leicester this season, this low atm. CL is the only place worth looking forward to.
