I know I have said this before but there just seems to me to be something fundamentally wrong about English clubs making up half the quarter-final line up for the European Cup. It's supposed to be about different countries, different styles and yet we're liable to have Arsenal v Liverpool or similar in the quarter-final.
I just don't like it - I'd be much more interested in watching eight different nations going head to head than I am watching games I can see in the Premier League twice a season already....
Arsenal 2-0 Blackburn
Bolton 1-1 Fulham
Everton 2-0 Stoke
Hull 1-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 2-1 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-2 Portsmouth
Sunderland 2-1 Wigan
Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City
West Ham United 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
wildcards from some random cup thingummies
AFC Telford 1-1 York City
Stevenage 2-1 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 0-0 Rangers
It should be just for the 1st place teams in each country. Champions League should mean just that.
ReplyDeleteThis has reduced the importance of the UEFA Cup and put an end to the Cup Winners Cup.
Now it's only about 'top-four' in England and no one cares about the UEFA Cup, instead it's about the money.
Aston Villa dumped thempselves out of the UEFA cup so they could concentrate of finishing 4th, but isn't the whole idea about competitive football about winning trophies?
Alas it's all about the money now.
Despite it being awash with English teams, the Champions League has felt remote for a long time. It's this that enables me to appreciate games such as Walsall v Hartlepool, Crewe v Hereford, and Port Vale v Darlington. Actually, not that last one.
ReplyDeletePredictions:-
Arsenal 1-1 Blackburn
Bolton 1-0 Fulham
Everton 1-2 Stoke
Hull 0-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 1-2 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 2-1 Portsmouth
Sunderland 0-0 Wigan
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City
West Ham United 1-1 WBA
AFC Telford 2-1 York City
Stevenage 2-1 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 2-1 Rangers
How many English players in an Arsenal v Liverpool clash though?
ReplyDeleteArsenal 2-0 Blackburn
Bolton 0-0 Fulham
Everton 1-0 Stoke
Hull 2-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 3-1 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-1 Portsmouth
Sunderland 2-1 Wigan
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
West Ham United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
AFC Telford 1-1 York City
Stevenage 2-2 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
Arsenal 2-0 Blackburn
ReplyDeleteBolton 1-1 Fulham
Everton 1-0 Stoke
Hull 1-2 Newcastle
Man Utd 1-1 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-1 Portsmouth
Sunderland 2-2 Wigan
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City
West Ham United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
AFC Telford 1-0 York City
Stevenage 2-1 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
Thanks for the reminder of my club's exit from the FA Trophy at the quarter-final stage with those wildcards. My prediction for York City is based on teary bitterness alone.
I think the whole concept of the Champions League has pissed on the old European Cup idea. It's blatantly, and nakedly about the money now, and having a league format means that everyone plays more games and doesn't have the same risk of an ignominious early round exit. If you make the league, then even if you don't win another game, then you're still minted. It's wrong, and it's not purely about finding the best. It's about the sponsors and it's about UEFA... it's been a long time since it was really about the football.
ReplyDeleteAs a thought though, if it was just about the champions of every european nation, would the overall quality drop, and would we be more likely to see multiple winners from the same old countries? (actually, I suppose it's the same old countries winning anyway, perhaps this would level the playing field a bit)
Anyway, to the business in hand.
Arsenal 1-0 Blackburn
Bolton 0-0 Fulham
Everton 1-0 Stoke
Hull 1-0 Newcastle
Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-11 Portsmouth
Sunderland 1-0 Wigan
Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City
West Ham United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion
wildcards:
AFC Telford 1-0 York City
Stevenage 3-0 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 1-0 Rangers
ST
Arsenal 2-1 Blackburn
ReplyDeleteBolton 0-0 Fulham
Everton 2-0 Stoke
Hull 1-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-0 Portsmouth
Sunderland 0-1 Wigan
Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham
Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City
West Ham United 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
AFC Telford 1-0 York City
Stevenage 2-1 Ebbsfleet United
Celtic 1-1 Rangers
Also...I know you all like your footy so wondered if you wanted to join my online footy management league? Read my blog post to find out more.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Adem