Europa League

[Greenlizard0]

It's one reason why I've always disagreed with the notion put forward that it's better to play the 2nd leg at home.

Aye, I've said that for years now it's the wrong way round, because football's changed since the times when home/away goals as a rule was made up. It's no longer preferable to hopefully get a close result in the away leg, then, attack at home to win the tie. It's the other way round now. Get a good lead at home, and then hopefully defend it away and play on the counter.

Extra time aside in the second leg, teams really are starting to know each other now, it's roughly the same sides that get into the Europa/Champion's League year in year out.

Also any mistakes from the first leg can be sort of be corrected in the second.

Funniest thing I've heard today is liverpool fans on the radio bleating about how Extra time goals counting double for the away side is "unfair".

One fan was even calling for liverpools lawyers to get involved and challenge the rule.

Honestly, you couldnt make it up.

Doesn't surprise me really. Can't do it on the pitch so attempt to do it off it.

Remember what happened after they won the Euro Cup in 2005 but finished 5th in the league? Even though the rules about qualification for [2006]'s campaign were clear, they still deemed it unfair and eventually a very public campaign got them a spot (no doubt to the annoyance of some other team who by right and the rules, should have instead been in the draw). UEFA even said afterwards that this would never be allowed to happen again, kind of reinforcing what they wanted teams to do to qualify beforehand.

Also sort of reminds me of how the Aussies lobbied to change the Pacific qualification for the World Cup several years ago, thereby pretty much guarenteeing them a place in the finals now.

 

[Tombstone]

UEFA even said afterwards that this would never be allowed to happen again, kind of reinforcing what they wanted teams to do to qualify beforehand.

Although the rule they changed was to make it so that the holders of the CL automatically qualified for the next seasons CL regardless of their league finish position. Thereby , in effect, affirming Liverpools original claim rather than saying it was wrong.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

UEFA even said afterwards that this would never be allowed to happen again, kind of reinforcing what they wanted teams to do to qualify beforehand.

No they didn't. Should the winners of the Champions League finish outside the Champions Leagues spots in their domestic league they replace the lowest qualifier.

Edit: Beaten like an ginger stepchild

 

[Greenlizard0]

Although the rule they changed was to make it so that the holders of the CL automatically qualified for the next seasons CL regardless of their league finish position. Thereby , in effect, affirming Liverpools original claim rather than saying it was wrong.

Mistook what the FA did and what UEFA said.

It's strange as well, it appears this only applies to the Champion's League and not the UEFA Cup. You'd have thought should they change it for one competition they'd have done it for the other. It kind of does reaffirm the point though that the rules were there in place before hand and an excuse was hunted for afterwards though.

 

[HangTime]

I think you're reading too much into it - it was simply that they were too ignorant to foresee the possibility that the winners might not qualify via their league position.

 

[atpbx]

I think you're reading too much into it - it was simply that they were too ignorant to foresee the possibility that the winners might not qualify via their league position.

Well, its amazing how they didnt say anything about it before, or anyone else saying anything about it for that matter.

The rules were the rules, I would have said, ok we will change the rules, but it wont come into effect till next season, thank you for bringing this to our attention.