The Football.....

[No Ta Doctor]

Modern day football. Money buys success.
I fully expect 2 of those 8 to be out next round and the usual suspects to play out the quarterfinals.

Jonathan Wilson has an interesting take on it.
Basically, yes, money buys you the best players to play strong pressing muscular football that the rest of the continent can't cope with, but you play that all season against even mid and lower table teams that contest every ball and the continent doesn't, so by March you're knackered and they stroll in and nick the silverware.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...as-power-faces-reckoning-with-european-giants

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I see that Bodo/Glimt sneaked into the play offs too - that must be amazing for such a small club

Definitely one to avoid in a knockout. Astroturf? In the Arctic? In winter? No thanks!

 

[T4tomo]

Definitely one to avoid in a knockout. Astroturf? In the Arctic? In winter? No thanks!

although to be fair their away record is marginally superior to their home record in the league phase, its not like they just snuck thru due to the home advantage

 

[No Ta Doctor]

although to be fair their away record is marginally superior to their home record in the league phase, its not like they just snuck thru due to the home advantage

Yeah, it was more a comment on the nature of knockout football, and not wanting nasty surprises like the bounce of a ball on astroturf or having to adjust to sub-zero temperatures. We played them last season and they were tricky, not just because of the astroturf. They're also in pre-season at the mo, which is a bit of a double edged sword - their compatriots Rosenborg used to feed off the big names in qualifying (their mid season in the summer) because they were already up and running, but I think that with no season games they'll just be focused and well trained specifically for whoever they draw.

 

[Accy cyclist]

How poor of the FA to block such an intended good deed!👎

FA block Crystal Palace from refusing Macclesfield gate receipt money | The Standard https://share.google/a4VY4rGJMLlMnrUc3