World Soccer Thread II

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Do you actually think that Liverpool is one of the two best teams in Europe this year? They played well in the tourney, but Chelsea finished 30+ points above them in the Premiership!

I never said the current CL setup is perfect to out the best team.

You can't compare Champions from one country to those of another unless they play against each other,

Yes you can, the coefficients themselves are based on past success of that leagues teams in europe. And by that I meant the champions of Latvia and say Liverpool.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Ah, the deluded fan.

Give it up... they won't do it... no way, no how.

two questions for you Imran...

1) Are you a betting man?
and
2) Have you got a Paypal account?

Ive got $20 that says if Liverpool win the CL this year, they will be in it next year whether they finish fouth or not?

Your analogy with American sports doesn't hold water either, the CL is not the same as the play-offs, it's a separate competition from the national leagues, the play-offs are part of the American national league seaso. Most of your leagues have no relegation or qualifying criteria at all.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes you can, the coefficients themselves are based on past success of that leagues teams in europe.

So coefficients based on past success of league teams in Europe can accurately predict how a Champion will do this year in the CL!! Hehehe.

How high was the Portugese league rated last year?

They are the best way to attempt to rate leagues, but they can't tell you how Champions will do against each other in the current year.

two questions for you Imran...

1) Are you a betting man?
and
2) Have you got a Paypal account?

Ive got $20 that says if Liverpool win the CL this year, they will be in it next year whether they finish fouth or not?

I don't have Paypal, but I can place a bet down. $20 is fine. I can always set up a Paypal account for the money... does a Paypal account cost money to set up?

If Liverpool win the CL and finish less than 4th, I bet they won't go to the CL next year. Of course both have to happen for the bet to be on.

Or, if you want to do an avatar bet, I can do that as well.

Or both .

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Yes you can, the coefficients themselves are based on past success of that leagues teams in europe.

So coefficients based on past success of league teams in Europe can accurately predict how a Champion will do this year in the CL!! Hehehe.

They are the best way to attempt to rate leagues, but they can't tell you how Champions will do against each other in the current year.

They predict better than you apparently, not all champions are equal you know.

What you are saying is we cant predict how the Latvian champions would fare in the CL compared to Chelsea, until they play each other. Yes theyre both champions, but theres a huge gap between the Premiership and whatever the top league in Latvia is.

[Imran Siddiqui]

What you are saying is we cant predict how the Latvian champions would fare in the CL compared to Chelsea, until they play each other. Yes theyre both champions, but theres a huge gap between the Premiership and whatever the top league in Latvia is.

Perhaps so, but the Latvian Champions can beat Chelsea, can they not? You can't be totally sure unless you have them face off. You can guess, but there have been some monument upsets the past.

Btw, again, how highly was the Portugese league rated last year?

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


Or both .

Both it is then, Paypal is free to set up BTW

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

What you are saying is we cant predict how the Latvian champions would fare in the CL compared to Chelsea, until they play each other. Yes theyre both champions, but theres a huge gap between the Premiership and whatever the top league in Latvia is.

Perhaps so, but the Latvian Champions can beat Chelsea, can they not? You can't be totally sure unless you have them face off. You can guess, but there have been some monument upsets the past.

Btw, again, how highly was the Portugese league rated last year?

I wonder how well Portugese teams did before Porto won the CL, and how well theyll do in next 10 years compared to the big four or five leagues.

Its for the Latvian champions to prove, as Porto have, by showing they have the quality to hold it with the rest of Europes champions. But if they dont do it consistantly theyre rating will fall again, which is fair. They or any team from the Latvian top league have hardly set the european footballing world alight recently, thats why they only have one qualifier, so why should we assume they can do anything more and give them an easier time.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Its for the Latvian champions to prove, as Porto have, by showing they have the quality to hold it with the rest of Europes champions.

Yet, if they are deemed a 'crap' squad and thus another team from a BIG league can take their place then how are they supposed to prove it to you? What if Milan in 2003 didn't finish in their Top 4 and because they won the CL, UEFA decided to give them the spot in place of Porto because Portugal was decided to be a crap league (forget that they get two spots for a second)?

Remember, there have been some interesting champions of the Champions League (Steaua Bucuresti in '86 comes to mind as does Red Star Belgrade in '91). You give those other countries a chance because they could surprise you.

In a European CHAMPIONS League, I think the first thing to do is to secure that every league's champion gets in. Then you worry about the non-champion qualifiers.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Its for the Latvian champions to prove, as Porto have, by showing they have the quality to hold it with the rest of Europes champions.

Yet, if they are deemed a 'crap' squad and thus another team from a BIG league can take their place then how are they supposed to prove it to you?

How about qualify for a start?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Being Champions of their league when it is named the European CHAMPIONS League isn't good enough for you? If it isn't, I think they need a new name for the competition then.

[Maquiladora]

They do get into the CL, but they cant even get past the first stage. What more of a chance do they need?

[Imran Siddiqui]

What exactly are you talking about? If you are happy with them getting into the first stage why complain that they are there?

[Maquiladora]

Ive been complaining about giving them any easier chance, eg a full knockout system.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If they win on a home and home (where only the Champions of leagues face off against each other), doesn't that prove they belong there? I mean would you favor the FA Cup being a round robin? I think the best part about tourney's like that is the chance at an upset.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
If they win on a home and home (where only the Champions of leagues face off against each other), doesn't that prove they belong there?

?

I mean would you favor the FA Cup being a round robin? I think the best part about tourney's like that is the chance at an upset.

Of course thats the great thing with the FA cup, the best league team in the country isnt necessarily the best cup team, which is why a purely knockout tournament wont out the best team in europe.