Other games (2024/25)

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

I think there have been far more interesting matches we would not ordinarily get due to the seedings but then with it being a massive table it's not so easy to understand the jeopardy and keep up with what's needed

 

As a neutral I think I do prefer this slightly to previous years as there has been more matches I've wanted to watch but it's probably one of those we can't properly judge until it's complete and maybe even need to wait a couple of editions to see if it's better

 

I'm well aware the primary motive for UEFA is money but it's possible for them to get what they want out of it and it end up being a better format too 

 

The previous groups were getting so diabolical, with just a few having teams that had to compete to get through.

 

Was usually just a couple of teams that everyone knew were going to come through, beating up on some minnows.

 

The table for this format looks a bit mad with do many teams in it, but it's pretty straightforward to understand.

 

A lot more less obvious teams seem to at least be in with a shout of progressing, and the bigger teams are getting more of a test that some are in danger of failing.

[Geordie Ahmed]

2 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

The previous groups were getting so diabolical, with just a few having teams that had to compete to get through.

 

Was usually just a couple of teams that everyone knew were going to come through, beating up on some minnows.

 

The table for this format looks a bit mad with do many teams in it, but it's pretty straightforward to understand.

 

A lot more less obvious teams seem to at least be in with a shout of progressing, and the bigger teams are getting more of a test that some are in danger of failing.

 

I understand the table and how it works, it's more remembering where teams are sitting is not so straightforward

 

I know it's easy enough to check via apps/online but first world problems and that 

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

 

I understand the table and how it works, it's more remembering where teams are sitting is not so straightforward

 

I know it's easy enough to check via apps/online but first world problems and that 

 

Yeah, I hear you. That's what I was trying to say 

 

It's just such a long table.

[The Bonk]

19 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

I think it's shite tbh.

 

You got the drama in the group stages going into the final last one or two games.

 

I honestly couldn't tell you who's doing what other than Liverpool are top and Villa are in and around the top aswell.

 

Feels completely devalued to me.

 

15 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

It's absolutely shite.

 

Enshitification at it's finest. The new format absolutely sucked the life out of the group stages in favour of squeezing money out of viewership. I guess from a revenue perspective for the clubs involved, it's a positive? 

[The Bonk]

27 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

The previous groups were getting so diabolical, with just a few having teams that had to compete to get through.

 

Was usually just a couple of teams that everyone knew were going to come through, beating up on some minnows.

 

The table for this format looks a bit mad with do many teams in it, but it's pretty straightforward to understand.

 

A lot more less obvious teams seem to at least be in with a shout of progressing, and the bigger teams are getting more of a test that some are in danger of failing.

 

Sometimes those minnows were capable of upsets, which is what I, as a neutral want to see. It just feels over saturated to me now and prolonged. 

 

[The College Dropout]

The new CL format is way better than the old one - sorry. 

 

City & PSG is a must win for both teams. The loser is in danger of going out or having a very tough tie in the play-off.

 

Real also in jeapardy. 

 

Praying Villa end up in the play-offs. And that they get through. I think that does them in for the top 5. 

 

Celtic at home is a banker though.

[The College Dropout]

One bad thing about the new format is it's difficult to understand the dynamics because of so many clubs.

 

Celtic actually have a great chance of making the play-offs. The seeded play-offs means far less dead rubbers. That middle chunk want to finish as high as possible.

[KaKa]

40 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

Sometimes those minnows were capable of upsets, which is what I, as a neutral want to see. It just feels over saturated to me now and prolonged. 

 

 

They still are in this format though.

 

Think it's a much better balance overall.

 

Instead of always having them in tough four man groups were the bigger teams always have it easy.

[Alberto2005]

32 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

The new CL format is way better than the old one - sorry. 

 

City & PSG is a must win for both teams. The loser is in danger of going out or having a very tough tie in the play-off.

 

Real also in jeapardy. 

 

Praying Villa end up in the play-offs. And that they get through. I think that does them in for the top 5. 

 

Celtic at home is a banker though.

I don't see how City and PSG struggling has anything to do with the new format.

 

City have just been shite this season, and would probably have been out of the group stages by now if it was the old format.

[The College Dropout]

5 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

I don't see how City and PSG struggling has anything to do with the new format.

 

City have just been shite this season, and would probably have been out of the group stages by now if it was the old format.

Old format was almost always boring though. Rarley had more than 3 or 4 matches of consequence.

[KaKa]

23 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

I don't see how City and PSG struggling has anything to do with the new format.

 

City have just been shite this season, and would probably have been out of the group stages by now if it was the old format.

 

City have had to play Inter, Sporting, Juve and Feyenoord alongside Sparta and Slovan.

 

They unsurprisingly hammered both Sparta and Slovan, who are the sort of teams they usually have in their group. They would have qualified already by now.

 

They don't get off that easily this time around though.

[joeyt]

Apart from the season we were in it I've not cared about Champions League for a number of years.

 

I think the move from ITV to BT influenced that, even though I can still watch all of the games

[Groundhog63]

Haven't watched 1 game so far. 

[KaKa]

Akliouche starts for Monaco and about to go up against Villa.

 

Should be interesting.

[The College Dropout]

I pretty much only watched Real in the CL group stage.

 

I still pretty much only watch Real but the other results have been interesting and actually there's usually one big name tie every week worth watching.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Singo gives Monaco the lead 

[KaKa]

Monaco lead. Wilfred Singo header.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Should Martinez do better with that save? Palm it over or away, maybe I'm being a bit harsh

[KaKa]

2 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Should Martinez do better with that save? Palm it over or away, maybe I'm being a bit harsh

 

Agree. Should have done better.

[JUICE690]

Fair play to Villa, seem to be coping with these extra games pretty well. At a glance they seem to field the same players. Have they just been more fortunate with injuries?

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by JUICE690

[LFEE]

59 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

Haven't watched 1 game so far. 

I’m trying to think if I have. Think a half of a game at most. New format awful IMO. Wasn’t a massive fan of previous. Give me KO football. Instant jeopardy from first game.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Good save from the Monaco keeper, though Watkins should really have got them level

[Elma]

Just now, Geordie Ahmed said:

Good save from the Monaco keeper, though Watkins should really have got them level

 

Majecki looks decent. Got down well and handling has been excellent. 

[The Butcher]

1 hour ago, Groundhog63 said:

Haven't watched 1 game so far. 

Usually watch the final. Can't be arsed with owt else.

 

Watched our games ofc.

[Abacus]

Think this is one of the first CL games I've watched this season - the seemingly endless format puts me right off.

 

Anyway, I know they're losing, but Villa looks pretty well set to not get quite as knackered from these games compared to us last year- a far less frantic pressing style than we had in Europe. 

 

Then again, since I haven't watched their previous euro games, that may well be pure nonsense.