The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[Thomas Williams 166]

Looking back now, as disappointing as our UCL performance was this year, it looks a bit more understandable now that we see the quality of the group we were in. It contained Juventus, who are well and away the best team in Italy, and only got knocked out by Bayern (in a much more respectable way than the infamous Barcelona did).

Shakhtar is obviously the best in the Ukraine but also were only knocked out by what is a verryy good Dortmund team (who they managed to tie in one leg). That factored in with the fact that Chelsea was within 2 points of Juve and only lost out on away goals to Shaktar meant that Chelsea only narrowly managed to slip out of that very stacked group. Put us in any other group (except probably dortmunds) and I'm sure we would have advanced and could have definitely beat a celtic/galatasaray, etc. type team.

Obviously this is very speculative and no excuse for the fact that we should have done better in our group, but I think now it seems even sillier that Roman so hastily sacked RDM. (To again reiterate, I wasn't impressed with Chelsea's performance, just think it wasn't quite as dreadful as it seemed at the time.)

Makes me wonder how differently the season would have played out had we just closed out that first Juventus game (advanced in UCL, RDM not sacked.....)

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Without Chelsea's European success of last 2 seasons, Germany would be above England in coefficient ranking at start of next season

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Without Chelsea's European success of last 2 seasons, Germany would be above England in coefficient ranking at start of next season

I know, but who gives a shit. As long as there are 4 CL places. Everyone knows, the EPL is the best league in the world and that won't change due to that pathetic ranking system. Still I'd like FA&shit giving english teams a better chance internationally by omitting that superfluous carling cup& replay system in the Fa Cup so English teams do not have so many more games than anyone else. This is also a problem for the NT.

[Jase 43,479]

Poor Martinez being left behind at the Camp Nou by Bayern...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h87sDT70Cf4

[Milan 17,853]

Class act from Ribéry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ce7tPNzL_U

[Milan 17,853]

2013/14 UCL winner from England then? Bloody hell!

[Billy. 2,742]

Drogba has just won the league in Turkey with Galatasray

[Milan 17,853]

Drogba has just won the league in Turkey with Galatasray

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

[Strike 7,217]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10039870/Borussia-Dortmund-receive-more-than-half-a-million-applications-for-Champions-League-final-tickets.html

Half a million Dortmund fans apply for 24k CL final tickets

[Milan 17,853]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10039870/Borussia-Dortmund-receive-more-than-half-a-million-applications-for-Champions-League-final-tickets.html

Half a million Dortmund fans apply for 24k CL final tickets

Plus this!

Fans could end up paying more for a ticket for the Wembley final than they do for a season ticket at home in Germany, where most stadiums have low-cost standing areas.

[Strike 7,217]

Plus this!

Fans could end up paying more for a ticket for the Wembley final than they do for a season ticket at home in Germany, where most stadiums have low-cost standing areas.

A terrace can house more fans but FA will never have balls to bring back terrace in England

[Term-X 7,891]

A terrace can house more fans but FA will never have balls to bring back terrace in England

I think it's partly due to Hillsborough, tbf.

[Madmax 9,219]

^ German teams have been demonstrating for years the benefits of a safe-standing movement.

There is a reason places like Dortmund have such an incredible atmosphere. It is magic.

[renanh 311]

Benfica fucked up big time by drawing with Estoril.

Porto can clutch the title away now, just 2 points behind in the table.

Benfica losing the title could be either very good or very bad for us, might crush their spirits or make them play even better to compensate the loss.

[Strike 7,217]

I think it's partly due to Hillsborough, tbf.

Yeah. which is a shame really. If done with proper precautions i.e as long as it's not high up in the stands, there's no problem with terraces

[Kezza 1,965]

Can't get enough of this. Just a wall of yellow!

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Someone else rooting for Porto today?

Real beat Barcelona before we drew them at Camp Nou to progress. Dortmund slashed Bayern before we beat them in Munich, so I think it is better for Benfica to lose their title today in a narrow defeat. And I hope many of their players pick up injuries or get tired.