Thread: Premiership Talk
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Old 05-11-2004, 03:26 PM   #16
El Capitano Gatisto
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 91
The earlier rounds were the equivalent of preliminary rounds now i.e. full of shit. Bear in mind that the idea of bringing in 2nd, 2rd and 4th placed teams from top European countries is a recent one, so the tournament was alot weaker back then, overall, with fewer teams.

Certainly the tournament was weaker, but that's because only the best of the best were allowed in it. Now, whilst I personally prefered it that way, being an old school sort of guy, none of this "come 4th in the league but you're the best in Europe" rubbish, I totally understand why they modified it into the modern day Champions League - more big teams playing more matches equals more money spinning ties and bigger TV ratings, exactly the sort of thing you'd expect UEFA to want, so I'm not arguing that at all. Now, if only I can get them to scrap that stupid "You got knocked out of the Champions League? Shame. Fancy a go at the UEFA Cup?" nonsense.

Still, to suggest the tournament was just a load of shit back then is a bit of an exaggeration. That year, the competition included Marseille, Milan, PSV, Porto, Gothenburg, Barcelona and Stuttgart, amongst others, along with Leeds and Rangers, and that era would usually see around a dozen very good teams (champions of England, Scotland, Holland, France, Portgual, Spain, Holland and Italy along with any who made it out of Dynamo Kiev, Gothenburg, Red Star, Steaua, Spartak, Anderlecht and Panathinikos, back when some of those were better than they are now).
Oh yeah, I would prefer it if the competition was restricted to the champions only, myself. The UEFA Cup meant alot more, back then too, which was good. The Cup Winners Cup was always kind of a novelty, though.

The early rounds were, however, full of shit. Glentoran played in it back then. I doubt they could even afford the trip to Milan now if the competition was the same format.

All the teams you mentioned were decent to good, but this is my point. Rangers were only decent to good themselves, so it's all relative. You can't make the point that Rangers were a minute away from getting to a Champions League final and expect that statement to hold the same weight it does now.
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