New Uefa Champions League Format

[Celtic501]

Apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere but what are your thoughts on the new format 24-25 onwards?

I'm mixed about it.

[Sunderland AFC]

Awful. 

Not sure how it can be fair to play 8 teams from 30 odd. Can easily have top sides at home and decent one away making it really tricky.

All about money.

[fc.cadoni]

Awful, indeed. The big money want more, so they created something which will take many years (or not) in order to be accepted from a vast land (EU).

[phantombandit]

In real life I dont really mind it too much, but in FM, I always use a mod that keeps the original format.

First, I dont like the number of teams that go up. It is all or nothing. More teams go up but the ones that dont just get kicked out entirely. It basically makes the game both too easy and too difficult at the same time, based on your situation.

Second, I love the group stage draws. Its cool and exciting, but who cares about the match draws.

Third, I dont like the idea of a single consolidated league. The league has a winner so to me it almost feels pointless to have the knockouts. Just give the winner of the league the cup? I prefer different group stages and the competition is to decide which group stage winner is actually best.

[rusty217]

I like the idea of a big league table and playing a wider variety of opponents rather than just 3 teams 2 times each. But I really wish they'd add back the drop down to Europa League etc.

If it were up to me I'd change the knockout playoff to just 1 leg, then the losers play a second 1 leg playoff against Europa League teams for a place in the Europa League round of 16 instead.

Wouldn't mind if it went back up to the originally proposed 10 league stage games too, and maybe play a few of them on weekends rather than just weekday evenings as well. I know domestic leagues would hate that, but oh well.

[kingjericho]

In FM I'm enjoying it. In reality maybe it can work but the classic CL groups will be missed.

[Pafnus]

İ really like new format. Older format is boring because you play only 3 different opponents 2 matches. İn new format you play against 8 different teams. İt is really so so so much enjoyable.

[JordanMilly]

14 hours ago, Pafnus said:

İ really like new format. Older format is boring because you play only 3 different opponents 2 matches. İn new format you play against 8 different teams. İt is really so so so much enjoyable.

I actually agree, I like the idea of playing 8 different teams rather than the same 3 teams twice. It not only sets teams up against a wider variety of opponents, which IMO tests their ability more, but also increases the chances of a few of the smaller teams that were never going to get through the initial group stage of pulling a few big teams out of the hat, bringing them additional much needed revenue.

[turnip]

I'll like it when it means Real Madrid, PSG or Man City fail to make the knockouts. 

Until then, I'll just assume it's rigged like always and ignore it.

[Carambau]

I hate it. Both in FM and real life (if it ever materializes)

[priority76]

3 hours ago, Carambau said:

(if it ever materializes)

Is that a possibility? I'm going to get my hopes up now! I'm very much against the change as I love a group stage.  I'd be in favour of scrapping all leagues and replacing them with a group stage.

[Carambau]

I honestly dont know. Maybe it was more wishful thinking..

[Maviarab]

Does it actually really matter?  The champions league hasn't been the 'champions' league for years when 95% of the teams in the comp have not won a damn thing.  Whole thing is an ironic mockery of itself these days.

I miss the old days of the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup etc....alas, not enough money involved for FIFA though.

[Kyle Brown]

Personally really enjoy it in FM, and hoping in reality it'll help my own club progress to the knockouts (rather than losing 6 out of 6 games with a -22 GD )

[wearesporting]

Sorry but most Champions League groups are fairly predictable. Even if you win your first three games in the new format there is still a risk of not getting through to the best round as you won't always have the two teams to thump a second time.

[paracoolo]

On 09/04/2023 at 13:34, kingjericho said:

In FM I'm enjoying it. In reality maybe it can work but the classic CL groups will be missed.

its not really classic because before 2000s CL was only a knockout tournament no groups. The same could be said for UEFA Cup and the other cups. What I would love to see is the cup winners cup coming back

[USASoundersFan]

On 10/04/2023 at 23:36, Pafnus said:

İ really like new format. Older format is boring because you play only 3 different opponents 2 matches. İn new format you play against 8 different teams. İt is really so so so much enjoyable.

Then have nine-team groups.

I don't like that not everybody in the same group plays the same opponents the same number of times. But, whatever, there are other things in football that bother me a lot more than this. And at least the strength of schedule for everybody will be roughly equal.

[ElJuanvito]

I really like it. It needs a couple of tweaks, though.

 

- January matches will screw teams in calendar year leagues (or leagues with long winter breaks).

- If there are still going to be January matches, you need to be able to register transfer before each match, and not just after the window closes.

[kingjericho]

17 hours ago, paracoolo said:

its not really classic because before 2000s CL was only a knockout tournament no groups. The same could be said for UEFA Cup and the other cups. What I would love to see is the cup winners cup coming back

Knockout- only tournaments would be fun but that would mean less matches on TV so won't happen I reckon

[Maviarab]

On 14/04/2023 at 16:06, kingjericho said:

Knockout- only tournaments would be fun but that would mean less matches on TV so won't happen I reckon

Of course it won't ever go back, not about the competition anymore or prestige, it's all about the money.

[\'Appy \'Ammer]

32 minutes ago, Maviarab said:

Of course it won't ever go back, not about the competition anymore or prestige, it's all about the money.

Exactly this. Greed pure greed. Bring back the old style competitions and I'd be a happy man. I only ever play FM this way and have done since I learnt how to work the editor for my own means. 

[phantombandit]

On 13/04/2023 at 06:54, Maviarab said:

Does it actually really matter?  The champions league hasn't been the 'champions' league for years when 95% of the teams in the comp have not won a damn thing.  Whole thing is an ironic mockery of itself these days.

I miss the old days of the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup etc....alas, not enough money involved for FIFA though.

is there a mod for that old format?

[Maviarab]

18 minutes ago, phantombandit said:

is there a mod for that old format?

Possible, never looked myself.

[\'Appy \'Ammer]

Here's my one. 80s style competitions

That is for 23.3 but if you scroll down to my last post there is a download for a working 23.4 version until si do a hotfix for 23.4.

Edited April 16, 2023 by \'Appy \'Ammer

[phd_angel]

It's cool. This hybrid format tries to combine the fairness of a league with the conciseness of a cup. It's different but I like it.

[Pafnus]

6 saat önce, phd_angel said:

It's cool. This hybrid format tries to combine the fairness of a league with the conciseness of a cup. It's different but I like it.

It is so cool and  enjoyable.. so good

[iAlwaysWin]

Just another change to the current format, uefa have always changed things up but it never lasts, i personally dont like the new setup and am sure in 10 years time it will be different again so whatever.