Champions League 2011/12

[Jim05]

Rangers have once again flopped by losing to Swedish side Malmo in the 3rd Qualification Round and therefore missing out on Group Stage. Trailed 1-0 after shock home loss last week and went a man down after 19 minutes this morning. Rangers scored first but then had a second man sent off halfway through 2nd half before conceding an 80th minute equaliser and losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Hilarious stuff watching those tossers get knocked out so early

[smithy]

What is this competition you speak of ?

[Jim05]

What is this competition you speak of ?

Champions League.
This was the 3rd qualification Round. The next round sees sides like Arsenal enter and they play for a spot in the main group stage.

[smithy]

What is this competition you speak of ?

Champions League.
This was the 3rd qualification Round. The next round sees sides like Arsenal enter and they play for a spot in the main group stage.

Thanks Jim05.
One day I hope my club can participate in such a competition.

[Jim05]

What is this competition you speak of ?

Champions League.
This was the 3rd qualification Round. The next round sees sides like Arsenal enter and they play for a spot in the main group stage.

Thanks Jim05.
One day I hope my club can participate in such a competition.

You buggers have won it enough, let someone else have a go

[devilsadvocate]

YAWN.....

[pels]

Draw was made tonight, ties being played August 16/17 and 23/24,
Play-off Round - Best-placed Path
Odense v Villarreal
FC Twente v Benfica
Arsenal v Udinese
Bayern Munich v FC Zurich
Lyon v Rubin Kazan

Play-off Round - Champions Path
Wisla Krakow v APOEL Nicosia
Maccabi Haifa v Genk
Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo
FC Copenhagen v Viktoria Plzen
BATE Barisov v SK Sturm Graz

[Jim05]

Tough fortnight for Arsenal, the Udinese matches are wedged between Liverpool and United league fixtures. Can see them not getting through

[TOS_lad23]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

[Jim05]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

Its a joke that these teams are even considered for CL. Arsenal finished 4th and dont deserve to play amongst the elite.

[smithy]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

Its a joke that these teams are even considered for CL. Arsenal finished 4th and dont deserve to play amongst the elite.

The competition clearly needs renaming but the rules regarding qualification are only there to stop a EURO breakaway league.

[Jim05]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

Its a joke that these teams are even considered for CL. Arsenal finished 4th and dont deserve to play amongst the elite.

The competition clearly needs renaming but the rules regarding qualification are only there to stop a EURO breakaway league.

Will happen within 10 years IMO. Real Madrid and Barca will be pushing for it the most, 2 horse race in Primera evry year and half the sides in it are English championship standard. How long before they get sick of finishing 1-2 and whipping sides each week. At least the EPL realistically has 4 or 5 that can win the league.
BTW what was wrong with the old name : European Cup?

[devilsadvocate]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

Its a joke that these teams are even considered for CL. Arsenal finished 4th and dont deserve to play amongst the elite.

Brilliantly put! Bravo!

[Jim05]

Arsenal 1-0 Udinese
Udinese unlucky not to get an away goal, played Arsenal off the park in the 2nd half. Good to see an away side really take up the challenge, Di Natale was fantastic and skill wise looked a cut above most others. Should be an interesting return leg

[Bully]

Arsenal, Udinese, Twente and Benfica will feel very hard done by there. All good teams that would have fancied their chances to qualify for the group stages. Bayern, Lyon and Villareal will surely progress into the next round.

Its a joke that these teams are even considered for CL. Arsenal finished 4th and dont deserve to play amongst the elite.

Brilliantly put! Bravo!

i have been saying this for years. Champions league measn CHAMPIONS....not runners up or 3rd,4th.

Like tottenham last year....they didnt deserve to be in it either

[Swooper16]

If you had only the champions of each nation then you would probably only get 12-16 teams competing (half of which would be pretty poor – Rangers for example).

16 teams means a lot less games and a LOT less money. IF they did this then the super elite clubs of Europe (Barca, Man Utd, Real, Milan x2 etc) would form their own breakaway league which I don’t think anyone wants.

It does seem rather odd that it is called the Champions League when most teams aren’t in fact the champions of their domestic league. But I believe the format is right – altho the early group games do drag on a bit.

[Bully]

still...champions league means champions IMO and have always stated that runners up should not be there, only the champions of ever league each year

[Jim05]

Turkish club Fenerbache has been kicked out of the comp due to being implemented in the match fixing scandal. Trabzonspor will take their spot in the group stage.

[Jim05]

Arsenal should be safe now, back to 1-1, Udinese need to score twice now

[Jim05]

Udinese are awarded a dodgy penalty, but is brilliantly saved