*Official* English Football Season 2013-14

[Ikki]

If we did get Lamela and Willian what would be Spurs best lineup assuming Bale leaves? I don't really know anything about either apart from the fact that ones a forward the other a midfielder.

If Spurs get both they could play any position in the 3 behind the 1 (forward) but most likely Willian on the left and Lamela on the right as inverted wingers/playmakers.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah those two with Soldado and then Sandro, Paulinho and Dembele in midfield looks a damn good side.

Arsenal could have probably done with every player Spurs have signed this summer.

 

[King Pietersen]

Imagine if they pull a massive surprise out of the bag; keep Bale, yet still buy Willian and Lamela! A midfield and attack of:

-------Sandro-----Paulinho--------
Lamela------Bale-----Willian-------
---------------Soldado------------------

Looks seriously strong! It's a real make or break season for Spurs. They've spent the money, they've bought in the quality, and anything but a finish in the Top 4 will be seen as an underachievement. Big pressure on AVB, but if he manages to finally break that Top 4 it'll all be worth it. They're looking good.

 

[sledger]

Yeah those two with Soldado and then Sandro, Paulinho and Dembele in midfield looks a damn good side.

Arsenal could have probably done with every player Spurs have signed this summer.

I was just thinking that. There seems to be no good reason why they weren't in the running for any of them. It's bloody infuriating.

Anyway, good result for Celtic this afternoon.

 

[Pothas]

Haha yeah, season over if they don't manage to overturn that.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah would be great to see, the comms were being such pricks about their opponents, calling it their "big day out" to "spoil the party" and such bollocks. ****ing Celtic fans are in denial about their standing as a club after one decent year in Europe.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Celtic were awful. Neither side were that good, seems a farce that one of them goes through and Lyon played Real Sociedad and PSV played Milan. Luck of the draw I guess.

 

[Uppercut]

IIRC champions are drawn against each other deliberately to make the competition more inclusive. So the quality is diluted slightly but IMO it's worth it.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Away trip to Karagandy - as far east as Punjab - and then a league match 60-odd hours afterwards sounds fun.

 

[Furball]

Celtic were awful. Neither side were that good, seems a farce that one of them goes through and Lyon played Real Sociedad and PSV played Milan. Luck of the draw I guess.

A team that's won their league can't be drawn against a team that hasn't in the qualifiers. There's essentially 2 different qualifying tournaments for the Champions League.

 

[GIMH]

A team that's won their league can't be drawn against a team that hasn't in the qualifiers. There's essentially 2 different qualifying tournaments for the Champions League.

And it's absurd

 

[Pothas]

Nah I think it is fair enough, having different champions from around Europe enhances the competiton, it is not like they never make an impact either.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah I think it's a rare great idea from Platini.

 

[GIMH]

Nah I think it is fair enough, having different champions from around Europe enhances the competiton, it is not like they never make an impact either.

But aren't champions guaranteed to be drawn against other champions? Or am I being dense.

 

[BoyBrumby]

But aren't champions guaranteed to be drawn against other champions? Or am I being dense.

As one understands it, yeah.

Does mean more actual champions make the CL proper tho, as you'd take the 3rd/4th place sides from England, Italy, Spain or Germany to beat the winners of the UmmaGummastan league.

 

[sledger]

Not a bad start for Arsenal so far.

 

[Furball]

Yeah I think it's a rare great idea from Platini.

He offset it by giving the top leagues more places in the actual group stage though. Made it easier for Champions from **** leagues like Scotland to qualify at the expense of non-champions from 2nd tier leagues like the Dutch or Russian leagues rather than 3rd or 4th placed sides from the top leagues.

 

[Uppercut]

He offset it by giving the top leagues more places in the actual group stage though. Made it easier for Champions from **** leagues like Scotland to qualify at the expense of non-champions from 2nd tier leagues like the Dutch or Russian leagues rather than 3rd or 4th placed sides from the top leagues.

Did he? I thought it had been 4 from the top three since before he was in charge.

I think the current system has the balance pretty good.

 

[sledger]

The team finishing in 3rd place qualifying automatically is a relatively new introduction iirc.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Longer this stays 0-0 I can just see Fenerbache nicking a spawny one later on.

They don't look that great tho, it must be said.