New format is rubbish. Loads of games, but a feeling of zero stakes to pretty much all of them: I never felt less engaged by a group stage of the CL.
Okay, the city game last night was must win - but that's one game and in the end they went through, as they were likely to do.
I'm sure the knockouts will be better, but let's not pretend that the group stage has been improved.
Well I can't disagree with any of this!
The previous format was a bit **** anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Found myself not watching many group games in recent years (including this one). It's grand to dip in and out of if there's a game that catches my eye, but certainly not essential viewing. It's been the case that it only really kicks off in the knockout rounds for years now.
It's not like the upcoming changes to the World Cup format where they're altering the perfect format for a new, terrible version.
It occurred to me earlier if they put all the last games in the old group stage on at the same time, that would probably be far more exciting from the couch than this.
Edit: Anyway, looking forward to hearing the post mortem tomorrow.
Still a terrible format. This last round of games were the only possible really interesting ones for a neutral and then with them all being on the same time (which i know they had to be) a big waste
Well I mean City are highly unlikely to win the Premier League this year either.
That's not because of the format.
Well, City have to play one of Bayern or Madrid in a playoff and Lille have gone straight through.
One of the three pre tournament favourites are guaranteed to be eliminated before the Round of 16. Hardly predictable.
Too many games to get excited about but I will say it was great for smaller clubs like Celtic that they had a hope of qualifying.
The format that took 8 rounds of games to end up with every single one of the teams we all knew would qualify getting through? Gosh it was exciting.
The nay-sayers being proven so wrong about the new format will never get old
Just because you're not paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you 😀
Feeling rather unwell after listening to Ken masticate loudly
Just because they're right once in a while doesn't mean they're not paranoid 😋
They weren't paranoid. They were correct 👍🏻
*Not red
Jesus who cares about an Arsenal red card??
Whatever about whether it should've been a red card or not, the Arsenal fans continue to come across as paranoid nutters. Which is always fun.
Imagine defending that red card. Absolutely hilarious carry on. Some people are just football daft.
On a sidenote the audio level is shocking all week again.
If it's a red card every time a stud touches someone there'd be 6/7 in every match.
Glad some common sense prevailed and also more importantly that Arsenal weren't robbed of points this time.
When you haven't heard it in a while the Jack Charlton Conor Walsh interlude is outstanding.
Lol - they literally said it was a mistake and rescinded it. And some people still can't accept it. I'm no Arsenal fan, but those Oliver stats were incredible.
Yes , which I think was a mistake
You know the red has been overturned by the FA?
I mean it was a sure fire red . A professional foul stopping what could have been a goal scoring opportunity. Delighted to see it
Well the FA agree it was a mistake to give a red.
No force, low speed, player not endangered. I'd call that shite not reckless. Common sense prevailed.
I'm not sure of the the argument ,, but the arsenal red was one
More US Murph and US sports, less rugby and gah 😃
A shite attempt at a trip is reckless if it causes you to scrape studs though
I was surprised both SCs and the Joe Molloy pod both argued that they could see why Oliver gave a red.
I thought it was a really bad decision and Im glad common sense prevailed. I think its odd people call it "reckless", it was just a shite attempt at a trip.
Well that's fair enough, on balance I didn't think it was a red.
The issue wasn't the professional foul, which is an automatic yellow. It was the nature of the trip. It was a little reckless, studs raking down the leg with the ball nowhere near. As I say, not a red for me but I can see why Oliver might have felt it was.
