Being a Spurs boy im delighted were back on the European stage. We have played great so far but the problem is they have been against average sides. Both Newcastle and Blackburn have struggled so far in the league yet they have performed just as well as us in Europe. There are some decent sides in the last 32, most noteably Sevilla and Werder Bremen but other than that a random mix of Israeli and Romanian sides, Middle table Portugese sides and Relegation threatened Italian teams like Parma! On that topic Werder Bremen were knocked out of the Champions League, I dont see the logic or sense in putting them in the UEFA Cup other than to make the UEFA Cup look more competitive. As proven already there are too many minnows from Eastern Europe and so on qualifying to the UEFA Cup, I think the majority of the Premiership would qualify through the UEFA Group stages, most teams are of a very poor standard. Scrap the UEFA Cup and re-name the Champions League to something like the European Elite Cup?! Whats the point of having a team that finishes 4th in their domestic league compete in a "champions league". By dropping the UEFA Cup, extend the entrants in to the European Elite so that 7 teams from England & Spain for example qualify, you could have either the top 5 with the cup winners qualify or the top 7 in the league depending on who has won the domestic cups. With that you could have the top 4 going straight in to the group stage with the other 3 going in to the 1st not the 3rd qualifying round. Based on last year you would have Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal going in to the group stage while Spurs Balckburn and West Ham going in to the qualifying round. Extend the Group Stage to 16 groups of 4 = 64 teams with the top two from each group going through to a last 32 and from there on a knock out format. I think countries like England Spain and so on should have more clubs competing at the highest level. What are peoples views? Would people like to see this?
You're absolutely right about the UEFA Cup. It has been severely devalued over the last decade. Personally i wouldn't mind the Champs League and UEFA Cup going back to the old format. The Champions (or maybe top 2) go into the CL and the rest go into UEFA, thereby making it more a more competative and prestigious competition.
Hmm .... I don't see why people who aren't good enough for the Champions League should go into the UEFA Cup, they can't do well in the Champions League, so they should be out of Europe for that season. But I agree with the fact about the Eastern Europe minnows being in it, but then again ... I'm a Chelsea fan, it makes no difference to me.
You make a great point. I must agree with you the UEFA cup is the less regarded out of the 2 cups. I couldnt tell you the past 5 winners for the life of me!! Even when Lazio makes it to the UEFA Im not bothered if they get knocked out, I wouldn't mind seeing them come home with the cup but I am least interestead in the competion. They should go back to the old system, first 2 teams CL and the next 4 UEFA
