The Seeding System

[BenedictineMonk]

Just posting what I was thinking about a minute ago. Do you think that the seeding system is stifling the beautiful game?

The way I see it is that the Champions League is classed as the Greatest (or second) Football tournament on Earth yet it consistantly brings up the same teams against each other. It is designed to keep the so called 'big' teams together and make it hard as fuck for the teams from 'lesser' countries to progress. Basically I think that its a fucking joke that Liverpool can struggle to get through their qualifier yet bounce right into pot 1. Every year at the draw we seem to be getting paired with the 'usual suspects'.

What I'm trying to say is that if Uefa or FIFA have the best interests of the game at heart then they would make it a fairer more sportmanslike competition where the Champions of each country in the EU get to mix it with each other to see who can reign supreme. The way it is now is starting to piss me off just a tad.

[hoopymo]

I 100% agree.

[topbhoy1967]

I thought the seeding was pish to be honest.

How can a team like Sporting be above us and 2 ahead of Shaktar!

[Renegade T]

liverpool v Marseille etc etc ,Its allways the same teams , i was pissed off last season drawing milan again

a little something different adds extra spice

[Ricardinho]

I don't think it's fair a team that got in the last 16 like us are in pot 3 and a team that got to the last 8 like Fenerbache were going to be in pot 4 until Schalke went out last night.

If it was up to me I'd have all the Champions in pot 1, all the runners up in another, etc.

[McNaka]

I think it's partly the UEFA Cup that fucks up the seeding numbers. Five years is also a long time to go back for points and records at club level.
Anyway, pretty much the entire football system is designed to widen the gap between the top and the bottom. Every qualifier and group seeding is done like that.

[Airdrie Onion]

I was just about to post what rICARDINHO JUST POSTED. tHE Champion's league should be for Champions, or at least pot 1 should be Champs, 2 runners up and then seeding for all those that sneaked in because of their big league status.

We could never go back to simple old knockout stages, though it would be far nicer for football. The drama would be there, small teams could go far. Remember Malmö in 1979? Dundee Utd winning 2-0 at home to Roma in the semis in the 80s....before going out. I'd love to see luck of the draw, there'd be far more excitement. I've always hated the seeding system.

The problem is I can't think of a viable alternative.

[Bhoy Al Arab]

The whole competition is there for TV. In recent years the Champions League has become extremely repetitive due to the seeding system. Everyone should be given a fair and equal chance so seeds should go. It is also a disgrace that certain nations get four clubs entering when the Champions of many countries do not qualify for the Champions League. We hear how great English football is due to the number of finalists they have, it might have something to do with English clubs taking 1/8 of the places. How can teams like Liverpool who do not even compete in their domestic league be considered more important than Champions.

[pHatRon67]

They should do it in the same way every other draw is done. Everyone goes into the hat on even terms, whoever you get is who you get. You could get 3 big teams, or 3 small teams or a mix, it is pish and simply designed to stop 'bigger teams' being knocked out at the group stage.

[Dempsey]

Originally Posted by BenedictineMonk

Just posting what I was thinking about a minute ago. Do you think that the seeding system is stifling the beautiful game?

The way I see it is that the Champions League is classed as the Greatest (or second) Football tournament on Earth yet it consistantly brings up the same teams against each other. It is designed to keep the so called 'big' teams together and make it hard as fuck for the teams from 'lesser' countries to progress. Basically I think that its a fucking joke that Liverpool can struggle to get through their qualifier yet bounce right into pot 1. Every year at the draw we seem to be getting paired with the 'usual suspects'.

What I'm trying to say is that if Uefa or FIFA have the best interests of the game at heart then they would make it a fairer more sportmanslike competition where the Champions of each country in the EU get to mix it with each other to see who can reign supreme. The way it is now is starting to piss me off just a tad.

Platini is trying to change the system, e.g. only 3 max from each country being the first step , but is meeting resistance from the leagues that will loose the most from this; italy, england, spain.

Personally, I think Platini should press ahead with the changes as he has whats good for the European game in mind, individual leagues dont and he should ignore their moaning.

[hoopymo]

I like platini but i worry that he is just blowing empty with his ideas, as the bigger nations will never stand for it and we know how much fifa and uefa lay down to them

[BenedictineMonk]

Originally Posted by Dempsey

Platini is trying to change the system, e.g. only 3 max from each country being the first step , but is meeting resistance from the leagues that will loose the most from this; italy, england, spain.

Personally, I think Platini should press ahead with the changes as he has whats good for the European game in mind, individual leagues dont and he should ignore their moaning.

Exactly, UEFA are the ones who have the power to change things in their competition. They are the ones who must ignore the greed of the rich and start getting back to something called a game.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by BenedictineMonk

Just posting what I was thinking about a minute ago. Do you think that the seeding system is stifling the beautiful game?

The way I see it is that the Champions League is classed as the Greatest (or second) Football tournament on Earth yet it consistantly brings up the same teams against each other. It is designed to keep the so called 'big' teams together and make it hard as fuck for the teams from 'lesser' countries to progress. Basically I think that its a fucking joke that Liverpool can struggle to get through their qualifier yet bounce right into pot 1. Every year at the draw we seem to be getting paired with the 'usual suspects'.

What I'm trying to say is that if Uefa or FIFA have the best interests of the game at heart then they would make it a fairer more sportmanslike competition where the Champions of each country in the EU get to mix it with each other to see who can reign supreme. The way it is now is starting to piss me off just a tad.

Completely agree. Sadly it's not about 'sport' anymore, it's about money.

[Renegade T]

This is the type of thing that's ridiculous :

GROUP G:Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kiev

complete waste of time of a group

[hoopymo]

I agree, the prime example was last night when standard liege,(who clearly deserved to get through) had to play liverpool, and unfortunately lost. Pity because liege are the belgian champs and liverpool came 4th in their league

hmm 'champions' league is it now?