Anyone happy to finish outside top 4, if it brings about real change?

[Coney]

The Joker want us to lose and drop out of the top 4 too. Which is funny because they'll be the ones dropping out.

Fixed it for you.

[Özim]

I don't want us to drop out of the top 4, however when I watch the CL every season I'm left wondering why the hell everyone harps on about this shite competition, the group stages are largely a bore and in reality only the knockout stages bring any real excitement (at which point we always get knocked out disappointingly).

This competition would be much better as a straight knockout tournament like in the old days, that's when you would get to see some shock results.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't want us to drop out of the top 4, however when I watch the CL every season I'm left wondering why the hell everyone harps on about this shite competition, the group stages are largely a bore and in reality only the knockout stages bring any real excitement (at which point we always get knocked out disappointingly).

This competition would be much better as a straight knockout tournament like in the old days, that's when you would get to see some shock results.

Usually one decent game crops up. This year it was Milan, last was Barca. We lose but we usually go down fighting (and being cheated out of it by some **** ref)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't want us to drop out of the top 4, however when I watch the CL every season I'm left wondering why the hell everyone harps on about this shite competition, the group stages are largely a bore and in reality only the knockout stages bring any real excitement (at which point we always get knocked out disappointingly).

This competition would be much better as a straight knockout tournament like in the old days, that's when you would get to see some shock results.

If it was still two legged, then no you probably wouldn't see many shock results.

[Kano]

valencia, bayer leverkusen, arsenal, porto and monaco all been in the final over the past ten years

def no surprises in the comp anymore

[Özim]

If it was still two legged, then no you probably wouldn't see many shock results.

I disagree, the away goals rule means big clubs are more likely to lose, particularly in the early stages when some teams are unknown quantities. The group stages really give you several chances to get it right.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I disagree, the away goals rule means big clubs are more likely to lose, particularly in the early stages when some teams are unknown quantities. The group stages really give you several chances to get it right.

It gives the bigger teams another chance to put it right anyway. In any case, you complained about Schalke being in the semi-finals last year given how limp a challenge they posed to Man Utd but theoretically for you your revamp of the competitions would have teams of that quality progressing further on a more regular basis. Doesn't really make any sense.

More often than not they'll make it through the early rounds and I can't see how UEFA would allow it to be a open draw from the beginning given the huge TV rights that are available now (that weren't in its previous iteration).

[Kano]

apart from the forest and villa wins, from 1972 to 92, there were no real shock winners.

as i listed above, the 'smaller' teams have had chances to win in the final but haven't taken it.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

IF it means that Arsene Wenger will be moved on or we have major changes in the footballing aspects of the game, I am all for us dropping out of the top 4. I am sick of us making the 2nd round, QF's of CL's knowing that unless we get the greatest draw in CL, we will be defeated the moment we face a half decent team.

However it is highly unlikely or should I say impossible that AW will be sacked or that he will walk, so I say that I want us in the top 4.

I dont want us to finish out of the top 4 in that i dont want us to lose or drop points in any way.

However if we did finish 5th or more likely 6th then would i be as upset about it as i would have been before Wenger turned shite? Probably not.

If its for the greater good then so be it

Agree with both idealy id want us to be in top 4 but if we finished 5th id not be too upset like i would have been in preivous seasons.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I don't want us to drop out of the top 4, however when I watch the CL every season I'm left wondering why the hell everyone harps on about this shite competition, the group stages are largely a bore and in reality only the knockout stages bring any real excitement (at which point we always get knocked out disappointingly).

This competition would be much better as a straight knockout tournament like in the old days, that's when you would get to see some shock results.

Your right Zimm and i feel the same way the CL has become a biore competition but the group stages of the Europa league would be far worse lol.

Like you say they need to change the CL format to make it interesting again.