923 replies to this topic

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Here's the Round of 16 draw. I'll do projection on how I expect this to go as we get closer.

 

https://www.uefa.com...nsleague/draws/

[Pedro Cerrano]

Here's the Round of 16 draw. I'll do projection on how I expect this to go as we get closer.

https://www.uefa.com...nsleague/draws/

Honest question Steve and not trying to be a jerk but how can you love association football with all the different cups and trophies etc. I get champs league is the cream of the crop but every week it feels like my buddy’s who are into soccer are talking about winning this tournament or that tournament etc etc. doesn’t it lose some of its luster?

[McNulty]

Honest question Steve and not trying to be a jerk but how can you love association football with all the different cups and trophies etc. I get champs league is the cream of the crop but every week it feels like my buddy’s who are into soccer are talking about winning this tournament or that tournament etc etc. doesn’t it lose some of its luster?

No

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Honest question Steve and not trying to be a jerk but how can you love association football with all the different cups and trophies etc. I get champs league is the cream of the crop but every week it feels like my buddy’s who are into soccer are talking about winning this tournament or that tournament etc etc. doesn’t it lose some of its luster?

 

McNulty's answer is right to the point so that's as good a short version as there is. Now let me give you an expanded viewpoint.

 

Every European Country has a Cup competition within their domestic leagues. Some such as in England have two. So lets look at the EPL and what competitions they may play in.

 

1. EPL - the grandaddy domestic league competition. 20 Clubs playing a home and home series with the other 19 clubs so 38 matches. 

2. The FA Cup. The FA Cup is open to every soccer club in England in the top 9 levels of play. Basically even local "semi-pro" clubs can enter. Over 700 entered last year. EPL clubs don't start until the 3rd round of the Competition Level so if they go to the final they would play 5 matches. This is fun since essentially every team in England gets to play. Fans get to see their neighborhood buddies square off against the big boys. Sure the big boys almost always win but as a player let me tell you its awesome to see how you fare against the guys way above you. 

 

3. League Cup - similar to the FA Cup but only the EPL and three divisions of the Football League are eligible. About 90 teams. A potential 6 matches. Same thing as the FA Cup but a smaller scale. See how the pros fare against the top pros.

 

4. UEFA:

Champions League - Top 32 clubs in Europe. Max matches a club could play is  13 matches. THE best soccer on the planet. 

Europa League - Next top 48 clubs in Europe. Max matches a club could play is 15 matches. This is one most don't care about unless their home club in playing.

 

So an EPL team could play a max of 62 if they are in the UCL or 64 if they are in Europa League.

 

Now the key point is that no player plays all or even close to all of these matches. Take the Cups for example. In the early rounds you rarely see a starting player. Its all about getting your reserves playing time. About the only time you would see a first team player is if they are coming back from an injury and need some playing time to get match fit.

 

Is it a lot of matches? Absolutely but you can flip the original question the other way. How can baseball be so popular when a team has to play 162 games and for what? 10 teams get a shot at something that means something (the playoffs). The other 20 teams play 162 games for no potential end result!

[McNulty]

Good summary, but you did forget the Carabao Cup, which is pretty low on the prestige.

[DJ MC]

Good summary, but you did forget the Carabao Cup, which is pretty low on the prestige.

 

That's the League Cup.

[McNulty]

Ha so it is. I can’t keep track either.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Round of 16 preview. Back in action next week and some really good games coming up!!

 

https://www.baltimor...gue-round-16-2/

[McNulty]

I’m still a bit baffled why Man City got a two year ban. Why does UEFA care about their bottom line so much?

[BSLSteveBirrer]

HUGE news in the football world. Man City has been banned from the next two seasons of Champions League. If this sticks it could have giagantic impact on their club. Expect Pep to leave as well as several players after this EPL season.  WOW!!!

 

https://www.goal.com...1i1ol86vr4xhasu

[Russ]

HUGE news in the football world. Man City has been banned from the next two seasons of Champions League. If this sticks it could have giagantic impact on their club. Expect Pep to leave as well as several players after this EPL season. WOW!!!

https://www.goal.com...1i1ol86vr4xhasu

If City, then PSG and maybe both of Real Madrid and Barcelona. I bet this gets overturned on appeal.

[Mike in STL]

HUGE news in the football world. Man City has been banned from the next two seasons of Champions League. If this sticks it could have giagantic impact on their club. Expect Pep to leave as well as several players after this EPL season.  WOW!!!

 

https://www.goal.com...1i1ol86vr4xhasu

Breach of financial fair play regulations. Only thing they are qualified to do now is run for public office.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Don't forget UCL is back on today.

[ivanbalt]

Liverpool gone

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: UEFA Champions League will have final eight teams play in Lisbon; final set for Aug. 23, per report
https://www.cbssport...-23-per-report/

[BSLChrisStoner]

CBS Sports: UEFA Champions League, Europa League draw results, bracket: Real Madrid, Man City face tough road
https://www.cbssport...ough-road/live/

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: Champions League draw: Ronaldo, Juve unlikely to win; how far can Man City go?
https://www.espn.com...can-man-city-go

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I'll preview this toward the first of August.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

https://www.goal.com...u61ngetflg3ho16

 

Huge news for Man C fans. They have won their court case and will not be banned from UCL next season. This is good for USMNT fans. So now you are saying how does this have anything to do with the USMNT?  Well our #1 keeper, Zack Steffan, is joining Man C this next season. Being back in Champions League means that Man C will have lots of games to play which correlates to the potential for Zach to get some minutes rather than just sitting on the bench.

 

He was signed by Man C back in 2018 but was loaned out to Fortuna Dusseldorf. He is now expected to be Man C's #2 keeper behind Ederson.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

As promised  here's a preview of the rest of this season's UCL. Couple of potentially classic matches coming up.  Take a look and lets discuss.

 

https://www.baltimor...-final-stretch/