The Official 15/16 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

A South American footballer with tax issues.....

no way...

this is way out of left field...

I know! Its unheard of!

[GirlySports]

expanded format has many cool teams in this time.

Northern Ireland, Wales and Iceland already.

Albania gets in with a win today over Armenia!

[CroFlames]

I preferred the 16 team tournament. It felt so exclusive and prestigious. The best of the best.

However, national teams are becoming more competitive across the board, so we won't be seeing ridiculous match-ups like we sometimes do at the world cup. Still 24 is a weird number. To me it needs to be 16 or 32 to make sense.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I preferred the 16 team tournament. It felt so exclusive and prestigious. The best of the best.

However, national teams are becoming more competitive across the board, so we won't be seeing ridiculous match-ups like we sometimes do at the world cup. Still 24 is a weird number. To me it needs to be 16 or 32 to make sense.

Yeah, I'm not totally sold either. 16 is too few and 32 is too watered down.

But even 24 is kind of weak, but some of the teams that have been lesser lights over the years are really starting to improve, teams like Poland, Austria and Belgium.

[Locke]

Does anyone else think England might be going into the Euros at a disadvantage? They've won a bunch of games in a row but they've been playing creampuffs, maybe they'll enter the Euros unprepared to take on some of the contenders?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

Does anyone else think England might be going into the Euros at a disadvantage? They've won a bunch of games in a row but they've been playing creampuffs, maybe they'll enter the Euros unprepared to take on some of the contenders?

How's that different from any other tournament? Qualify with relative ease, then crash and burn.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

How's that different from any other tournament? Qualify with relative ease, then crash and burn.

Fair enough.

[d_phaneuf]

what big nation hasn't played creampuffs? that's what you get for being in pot 1

take them for example against Germany, coming in to qualifying the Swiss had a better performance at the world cup than Poland or Ireland

plus they have booked friendlys against real teams, they play France, Germany, and Spain before the Euro's

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

Does anyone else think England might be going into the Euros at a disadvantage? They've won a bunch of games in a row but they've been playing creampuffs, maybe they'll enter the Euros unprepared to take on some of the contenders?

Pessimism of that grade, would get you a good gig with the English media.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Locke

Does anyone else think England might be going into the Euros at a disadvantage?

England have a big disadvantage because their back four are still terrible.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by rubecube

England have a big disadvantage because their back four are still terrible.

id like to see

Shaw, Jagielka, Stones, Clyne

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

id like to see

Shaw, Jagielka, Stones, Clyne

Will Shaw be fit by then?

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Will Shaw be fit by then?

Good question.

[d_phaneuf]

I would only take him if he gets in a month of play before the end of the season

Baines can fill in just as well but I wouldn't want to risk a spot when either of Bertrand/Rose/Gibbs while not great are more than a capable backup

Baines/Stones/Smalling/Clyne

the BBC had a bunch of writers putting Stones at RB, which is such a waste, we need width from the full backs because outside Sterling the front 3 forwards all like to cut in

[d_phaneuf]

I also hope they do the right thing and don't have Rooney play as a main striker, just look how much better he's been for Man U since Martial went up top

He needs to be behind Kane or Sturridge

I would have one of them up top

Sterling/Rooney/Barkley behind

[cam_wmh]

Don't dismiss Walcott either.

I really hope Roy doesn't start Cahill.

[d_phaneuf]

Just say no to Cahill please Roy, wouldn't even have him in the squad. Smalling/Stones/Jagielka/Dier/Jones. Gives 5 CBs and Dier/Jones can play DM as well

I think Walcott would definitely be involved, I would either have him as a 2nd half sub when the defense get's a bit tired

or if they want to go more attacking, move Barkley back to CM beside Carrick or Henderson, and have Walcott along the front 3

[CroFlames]

Don't wanna kill the conversation... but this is the club news thread.

Group F in CL opening up. Bayern obviously runaway winners, but with Aresenal laying two eggs in their first two matchdays, a very interesting dynamic emerging.

Dinamo or Olympiacos could conceivably beat out Arsenal for spot #2.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Don't wanna kill the conversation... but this is the club news thread.

Group F in CL opening up. Bayern obviously runaway winners, but with Aresenal laying two eggs in their first two matchdays, a very interesting dynamic emerging.

Dinamo or Olympiacos could conceivably beat out Arsenal for spot #2.

Yep, valid points that many spoke to on the previous page.

[Locke]

Bayern throwing Arsenal a bone.

Looks like players unavailable for Bayern will be:

Robben, Ribery, Douglas Costa, Kingsley Coman, Javi Martinez, Gotze, Benatia and Badstuber (obviously).