GWT: Champions League - League Stage

[luiginb]

I appreciate Real showing what would've happened anyway, even if BVB had finished those chances in the first half of the final. I now don't have to feel too bad about it.

Nah Terzic can coach miles around Sahin, he wouldn't have made those suicide subs

 

[bluesfan94]

This is going to be given as a handball even though I don't think it should be.

 

[JoVel]

Nah Terzic can coach miles around Sahin, he wouldn't have made those suicide subs

BVB's hopes arguably ended in that game as soon as Terzic made his first sub though.

Vinicius vs Emre Can, this can only end well.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Say what you will about Sahin’s coaching ability but he’s one good looking dude.

 

[JoVel]

Say what you will about Sahin’s coaching ability but he’s one good looking dude.

But apparently not good enough to find someone outside his own family to marry and have kids with.

 

[luiginb]

But apparently not good enough to find someone outside his own family to marry and have kids with.

Who are you talking about?

 

[Power Man]

Nice pass on Dortmund's first goal. Everyone was waiting for a cross but he went low instead.

thank you

Had to pick up his jock after a Modric body feint but hey., who hasn't been there?

I can live with that lol

 

[luiginb]

Emre Can to defend Vinicius was the final shit masterstroke from Sahin

 

[SimpleJack]

It’s crazy how true to form both of these clubs turned out to be….once again.

BVB always come up short. Madrid always find a way to win. Always.

 

[JoVel]

Who are you talking about?

Sahin is married to his cousin.

 

[SimpleJack]

Just would like to emphasize how unbelievably stupid it is to willingly and strategically tilt the pitch and give away possession to a side with such elite attacking quality. I mean….are you TRYING to lose???

 

[cgf]

Toure finally wins it in stoppage time for VFB after a goal called back for a sketchy handball, and a missed pen.

I appreciate Real showing what would've happened anyway, even if BVB had finished those chances in the first half of the final. I now don't have to feel too bad about it.

That team had some courage. This team is just flat

 

[Savi]

Tbf for a while it looked like it was going to end in a 2-2 draw because Madrid weren't doing much after they tied it. But then in true Madrid fashion, Courtois make a somewhat lucky save and 30 seconds later Vasquez cuts through the defense with some luck as well and scores, and then Dortmund were done.

 

[Power Man]

well

that was some turnaround

 

[Scandale du Jour]

well

that was some turnaround

One of those Bernabeu nights

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

One of those Bernabeu nights

Imagine being happy beating some random mid table club from Germany.

 

[Savant]

This new format is so ass

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Imagine being happy beating some random mid table club from Germany.

Can't wait for Saturday.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Can't wait for Saturday.

I’ve ran my mouth for a month here and irl. I will be going into hiding from everyone if Barca manage to f*** this up lol.

 

[Moncherry]

This new format is so ass

I've come around to it. Other than the fact that teams are all directly competing against each another with different fixtures, it's much more intriguing than the previous group stage. The last few matchdays will be chaotic.

 

[Savant]

I've come around to it. Other than the fact that teams are all directly competing against each another with different fixtures, it's much more intriguing than the previous group stage. The last few matchdays will be chaotic.

The balancing is completely wrong. You have Pot 4 teams that got way easier fixtures than Pot 1 teams, and they are just running up goal difference on cannon fodder. The quality of the games and matchups aren’t better. You can say maybe it’s a good thing that teams can’t waive the white flag as earlier, but I just have such an issue with the way that this was balanced

 

[Corto]

The balancing is completely wrong. You have Pot 4 teams that got way easier fixtures than Pot 1 teams, and they are just running up goal difference on cannon fodder. The quality of the games and matchups aren’t better. You can say maybe it’s a good thing that teams can’t waive the white flag as earlier, but I just have such an issue with the way that this was balanced

It feels a bit like the NFL.
You go through teams that are 4-3 like the Colts, and then you realize they beat just the absolute worst teams for the 4 wins.
So much depends on the division and who you're lucky or unlucky to play that season, that you really don't get the full picture of how good a team is based on record.
You'll have a 10-7 team in the playoffs - who got there because of a weak schedule (Bears have the softest schedule this season), and a 8-9 team missing out. Then you realize the 8-9 team played against much better teams almost every week.
But a win is a win, and 3 pts in the CL is still 3 pts, regardless if you beat RM, City or Dinamo Zagreb.

The schedule and the draw decides SO much. Any group/league where teams play semi-random other teams, and another team plays another set of teams, means there's a good dose of luck involved.

That, plus the actual games being... "meh" (unless your own team is involved) and I very much preferred the old format.

Yesterday, it was RM-BVB and not much else as a neutral. Today it's Barca-Bayern (though I have the Dinamo game on as well) and that's pretty much it.
More is not always better. I doubt City beating on Sparta or Young Boys - Inter will be massively attractive and alluring for neutrals.

Just take pot 1 teams.

RM plays: Stuttgart, BVB, Lille, Brest, Milan, Liverpool, Atalanta, Salzburg.
Two teams from Germany, two from France, two from Italy, one from England, one from Austria.
7/8 teams come from the "top-5" leagues.

CIty plays: Inter, Slovan, Sparta, Feyenoord, Sporting, PSG, Juve, PSG, Brugge.
2 from Italy, 1 from Czechia, 1 from Slovakia, 1 from Belgium, 1 from Holland, 1 from France, 1 from Portugal.
3/8 from the "top-5" leagues.

Their strength of schedule is not remotely similar.
And that's just comparing the two favorites.
There are likely much worse examples, I just CBA researching.

But TLDR, more teams doesn't mean more quality matches, and I preferred the old format.

 

[cgf]

If you didn’t watch Stuttgart - Juve yesterday, that’s on you, not the format

 

[Corto]

If you didn’t watch Stuttgart - Juve yesterday, that’s on you, not the format

Well:
A - I was watching RM - BVB
B - I was NOT watching Juve, not Stuttgart. Somehow, the football world thinks Mottaball is some new version of attacking football - when it's basically Allegriball, with small changes. Juve games are boring.
So, nothing against Stuttgart.