*Official* English Football Season 2014-15

[Furball]

Should we decide on a new side for Furball? I mean poor guy and his fluttering between sides to support isn't really going well.

Rangers, ****, dortmund ****, arse ****. He needs a new team to be invested in.

So we need a one with perhaps an hipster appeal, poncy football and a nasty sectarian stripe down the middle, surely we can find one that fits this portfolio in the world of football?

You haven't been stalking my Facebook have you? I posted this exact status just before Christmas...

 

[Cabinet96]

Furball wanted Arsenal and Dortmund's champions league qualification jeopardised so that Marseille got zero points in the CL last year. Reckon that one is a no.

Edit: Haha, beaten.

 

[GIMH]

Is that because of 92-93 Furball?

 

[grecian]

You haven't been stalking my Facebook have you? I posted this exact status just before Christmas...

Honestly, I haven't, great minds, or the other option. I only follow Gimp on twitter, for my entire outer CW social media action, and it's only because he's so needy.

 

[GIMH]

Honestly, I haven't, great minds, or the other option. I only follow Gimp on twitter, for my entire outer CW social media action, and it's only because he's so needy.

We're goodreads friends too does that count

 

[grecian]

We're goodreads friends too does that count

I was just shocked that someone from your part of the world pretended to read, so as a good missionary I went along with it. No need to thank me, it's just the kind of guy I am

 

[Pothas]

Well we have been saying it for ages and finally someone good is buying Bony.

 

[Furball]

Is that because of 92-93 Furball?

Yep. I'll never not be bitter about that one. That was our big chance at the Big Cup, particularly with how inept Walter Smith proved to be tactically throughout the rest of the 90s.

We had the resources then to have a serious shot at the Champions League. That'll always be my big footballing regret.

 

[GIMH]

Still, console yourself with the fact that there was another team ahead of you too (Bruges?)

Same way I feel about 04-05 when corrupt Luton won the league and we finished third. How different the last decade would have been.

 

[Furball]

Still, console yourself with the fact that there was another team ahead of you too (Bruges?)

Same way I feel about 04-05 when corrupt Luton won the league and we finished third. How different the last decade would have been.

Nope. Bruges finished behind us, we were 2nd in that group.

 

[GIMH]

Nope. Bruges finished behind us, we were 2nd in that group.

I thought you went out at the group stage

Or did only one go through that season? It being the first champions league and all. Format was completely different those first couple of seasons. Knockout round or two before the group stage for all clubs.

Edit - ps aren't you at least impressed that I knew Bruges were in your group

 

[cpr]

IIRC it was two groups with the winners of each meeting in the final.

 

[GIMH]

IIRC it was two groups with the winners of each meeting in the final.

Yeah just looked it up, spot on

Apparently it was the second year to have a group stage which I must say I hadn't realised. Think it was the first time the champions league title was used though it only referred to the group stage itself according to wiki. Definitely rings a bell that it was still called the European cup at that point

 

[sledger]

Slightly off point, but getting rid of the second group stage was such a brilliant move - the competition is so much the better for it.

 

[Tom Halsey]

I dunno. Maybe it was just because I was younger and therefore recall the entertaining games rather than the dull ones but I have fairly fond memories of the second group stage. With there only being four groups you're guaranteed some decent match ups without many of the lesser teams who have been weeded out in the first phase, and it just means more good quality football, even if there is the odd meaningless game at the end of a group. Recall our 3-1 victory over Fiorentina at OT in 2000 in what I think was the second phase being a hell of a match. Think we had good clashes with Bayern and Juve in the second phases in various years as well. Think Valencia were in that same group with us and Fiorentina in 2000 as well actually, and they were one of the top sides then. It only had two group stages for four seasons also IIRC in all fairness.

As I say, my views are probably slightly clouded compared to most and I know most are pleased it was done away with.

 

[Cabinet96]

I think it's kind of like the old super 8 stage in cricket world cups. I quite like it but everyone else always seemed to despise it. Second group stage in the CL was before my time but I probably would've liked it.

Most calls I see are for the CL to go back to just knockout, which would really piss me off.

 

[sledger]

I dunno. Maybe it was just because I was younger and therefore recall the entertaining games rather than the dull ones but I have fairly fond memories of the second group stage. With there only being four groups you're guaranteed some decent match ups without many of the lesser teams who have been weeded out in the first phase, and it just means more good quality football, even if there is the odd meaningless game at the end of a group. Recall our 3-1 victory over Fiorentina at OT in 2000 in what I think was the second phase being a hell of a match. Think we had good clashes with Bayern and Juve in the second phases in various years as well. Think Valencia were in that same group with us and Fiorentina in 2000 as well actually, and they were one of the top sides then. It only had two group stages for four seasons also IIRC in all fairness.

As I say, my views are probably slightly clouded compared to most and I know most are pleased it was done away with.

I think on the whole the more knockout games between the quality sides the better. There were not necessarily a shortage of good games in the second group stages, but like you say you could quite often end up with a load of games towards the end of the groups that would be dead rubbers, as one or more teams had either already gone out or gone through. More knockout games kind of preclude that possibility and just make everything more exciting, for my money.

Mind you I am probably biased the other way - I seem to recall Arsenal making a mess of the second group stage on at least one occasion.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah I think aside from the seeding issue, which they seem to be sorting anyway, it is just fine now.

Europa league should certainly go back to straight knockout though.

 

[Cabinet96]

What do people actually reckon is the best way for players like Ødegaard to develop?

 

[Pothas]

Come play for Brentford.