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Match Thread Bayer Leverkusen (H) - Tues 20:00

Because we're top of a league containing Europe's 36 best teams I currently think its boss. In fact, you should get a trophy for winning this league stage, before going onto the next KO matches stage. That would encourage teams not to try and coast into the top 8 and take it seriously if there was a pot. Again, I'm saying this because we're currently top.
 
Because we're top of a league containing Europe's 36 best teams I currently think its boss. In fact, you should get a trophy for winning this league stage, before going onto the next KO matches stage. That would encourage teams not to try and coast into the top 8 and take it seriously if there was a pot. Again, I'm saying this because we're currently top.
I think we should go straight into Semis for winning the league. But that would not happen as it would mean 4 less games and the money associated with that.
 
We're the only team with 2,1 mill euros per win and 4 wins so far. Decent that. 11 mill euros for reaching the last 16.
 
One benefit is if you have a bogey team then you don't have to play them twice in the group. Had we ever landed in a group with Real Madrid then could easily be one poor result away from being kicked out.

I have to agree, I'm liking it so far after spending the summer thinking it was going be wank.
 
Groups of four suck.

Every UCL or World Cup there's some shitty big team that draws four, wins one and still makes the next stage.

Fuck that.
 
One benefit is if you have a bogey team then you don't have to play them twice in the group. Had we ever landed in a group with Real Madrid then could easily be one poor result away from being kicked out.

I have to agree, I'm liking it so far after spending the summer thinking it was going be wank.
Madrid Basel and Ludogorets 10 years ago but tbh that campaign we had about 5 poor results.

Still remember the 1-0 loss at the Bernabou where we barely laid a glove of them which Rodgers classed as showing outstanding character, the silly cunt, and who could forget that draw in Ludogorets which left us all scarred, a front 3 of a 70 year old Gerrard, Lambert and Balotelli.
 
So its boring because you have to think and calculate a bit more? I dont agree in all honesty. You'd think that it not being settled early would make it much better.

With the old format 75% of the groups would have a clear winner after 4 games and in the end you'd have so many pointless fixtures.
Its also less boring that you're not playing the same teams home and away.

Better games, better teams and a better mix of difficulty degree between them, and so far it looks like it has been an improvement.

I don't think it's a BIT more complicated - I think it's WAAAY more complicated.

To me the matches so far have essentially felt completely contextless. Almost like playing a series of friendlies. Maybe it's just me but I like knowing the consequences of various outcomes when we play - ie we need a draw cos of x or for that team to lose cos of y. Tbh I don't really understand how that's not a big deal. Surely to be interested in some result you have to know WHY it matters, right?

I mean, isn't that why we take a weekly interest in Arsenal and City's results? To place our own ones in context?
 
I don't think it's a BIT more complicated - I think it's WAAAY more complicated.

To me the matches so far have essentially felt completely contextless. Almost like playing a series of friendlies. Maybe it's just me but I like knowing the consequences of various outcomes when we play - ie we need a draw cos of x or for that team to lose cos of y. Tbh I don't really understand how that's not a big deal. Surely to be interested in some result you have to know WHY it matters, right?

I mean, isn't that why we take a weekly interest in Arsenal and City's results? To place our own ones in context?

Each to their own I guess. I think the format is pretty straight forward. 1-8th go directly to the last 16, 9th-24th play a knock out round first, and 25th-36th are knocked out of the tournament.

I really like the games we've played so far. Bouncing win against Leverkusen at home and two lovely away days against Leipzig and Milan. So far its been really good and some great games.

I'm guessing that when the next two rounds have been played it will be quite clear which teams are close to the top 8, and which teams are close to going out. Will be interesting to see and could be loads of fun games.

To be honest I'm really enjoying it. Loads of good games to watch and several upsets. I like the fact that we play 8 different teams rather then a group of 3 others. Its more fun with some variation and potentially big games every round.

But, each to their own.
 
Groups of 4 are dull. Play the same team twice? Why? In a tournament with 36 teams, you don't need to.

I like this so far, but if you're in a league, you should play everyone.

Villa for example have a really easy draw. Anyone got an estimate in points total needed to guarantee top 8.

I'm thinking 6 wins?
 
There isn't a lowest points total that guarentees anything, that's the beauty of it. It's entirely possible we have a situation (maybe not this season) where we have 3-4 teams on the same number of points from 7th to 10th.

You have this element to it where, in a way, you're competing against all the other 35 teams, indirectly, like a winner stays on kinda thing to end up where you wanna be all the while each team has their own set of fixtures to contend with.

& the draw process is so much quicker, no this long drawn own bollocks of numpties like Gullit who struggle to twist open a ball.
 
The luck of the draw plays a big part. Look at the teams Brest had played so far. Yeah, you will still have to go out and win the matches but a good draw is half the battle won, at least to the knock out stages.
 
We had a tough draw- the toughest out of the PL teams, but our trickiest opponents we get at home, so no complaints.
 
Groups of 4 are dull. Play the same team twice? Why? In a tournament with 36 teams, you don't need to.

I like this so far, but if you're in a league, you should play everyone.

Villa for example have a really easy draw. Anyone got an estimate in points total needed to guarantee top 8.

I'm thinking 6 wins?
Well there's an oxymoron if ever I saw one !
 
The luck of the draw plays a big part. Look at the teams Brest had played so far. Yeah, you will still have to go out and win the matches but a good draw is half the battle won, at least to the knock out stages.
And since when has any KO competition not had an element of luck about the draw?

Flummoxed.
 
Yes I am firmly in the came of liking the new format. The context of a win/draw will become obvious when we get towards games 7 and 8. This is no different to drawing one of your first 3 games in the old group format.

I expect they might come up with a better way of seeding the fixtures but I like this, and there is incentive to be top 8 which is great.
 
I have to say, I am liking seeing the teams what I dislike not adjusting - City, Madrid, Arsenal..

Of course because we are top, we like it.

How nice would it be to turnover Madrid in a few weeks?
 
I have to say, I am liking seeing the teams what I dislike not adjusting - City, Madrid, Arsenal..

Of course because we are top, we like it.

How nice would it be to turnover Madrid in a few weeks?
I want us to turn them over and give them an absolute rogering.
 
Yes I am firmly in the came of liking the new format. The context of a win/draw will become obvious when we get towards games 7 and 8. This is no different to drawing one of your first 3 games in the old group format.

I expect they might come up with a better way of seeding the fixtures but I like this, and there is incentive to be top 8 which is great.

I like how one of the incentives is playing 2 fewer games - normally in cup competitions the better you do, the more games you have to play. Here is the reverse and I like it!
 
Playing different teams is a plus, but if they could reduced the league stage to 6 matches, finished by Christmas, it would be better. As it is Slot's Quad Squad will be playing matches in 4 different competitions during January
 
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