True. I don't think any side goes for a top 4 spot, more a case of those who fail, settle for it. I like the CL as it is now. In the past, with two group stages, that was a hell of a slog for sides competing at the very top. You get to see the best of Europe go head to head. The name is corny, perhaps keeping it as the European Cup would have fit it better but its not worth quibbling over really. We have always been Champions when we have won the CL technically, as both times, we have won the title a few weeks before hand. We were also champions in 67.
. Or Things you got to 2nd League title 2 European titles 3 European titles 4 European titles 5 European titles 18 league titles The League and Fa Cup double Winning 3 trophies in one season twice Shirt sponsorship First game on Match of the day in colour Semi final of the European Cup Reach a European final Employ Matt Busby Etc etc.
Money isn't the problem. It's how its used. Other countries like Germany and Spain invest a lot of it in youth football. Germany started this around the millennium as they were kind of old and ****e back then. We pretend to want to progress the game at grass roots level but nothing ever comes of it. We either have the right players and wrong manager or right manager, wrong players. If we are looking to develop technically gifted kids, then we need a modern manager to be leading the national team. Otherwise, what's the point? Over here the money is spent on players, so much wasted by all clubs. Some clubs invest very little, or only what they are required to in the development side of the game, preferring to waste millions on players who, ironically would sign for European sides at half the cost. Or you have agents laughing all the way to the bank thanks to English football.
"technically" Nah, you either are or aren't reigning champions when you enter the competition, you never entered the CL in your treble season as champions.
So, Utd have won it by default in the Fergie years as opposed to the legit win under Matt Busby's managership.
Was just reading your post on the Klopp sackwatch thread on the utd board, you ask where is the money coming from for Klopp's LFC rebuild. You are deffo on the windup or lying to yourself if you reckon we can't afford to spend big, the evidence is all over the internet to show we can. His problem won't be money to buy players it will be persuading the big name players to sign for us, Muller says its all about the money and lots of top players would agree, unless FSG are prepared to pay the wages that match the transfer fees the players won't come.
Make your mind up, at first you say the evidence is all over the internet that you can spend big, then say you may not be able to attract big name players because it's all about the money. You have paid big transfer fees (for you) when you have made big sales. You need to be able to pay those fees without selling your best players (only way to improve) and pay the wages to match.
We entered the comp as champions in 07-08 as we won the league in 06-07 (we weren't supposed to win it but Rooney and Ronaldo were quite good).
You're being pedantic, of course they're able to afford to pay big wages, but not paying them because it doesn't suit their failed strategy is/was their weakness.
OK buy why? Why spunk £80million on average players like Lala, Markovic, Balotelli and Lovren to "only" pay them, what, a combined £300k a week on a four year contract (total spend - £140million) when you could spend £50million on Sanchez, who I think is the best player in the PL, and pay him £200k a week on a 4 year contract (total spend £90million)?
