Starling2003

Because everyone thought Rosenborg would be 2nd in Chelsea's group? Or that Liverpool would be struggling to qualify? </BLOCKQUOTE>

And that Rangers would be on 7 points already.

retired_zersmiller

For Dutch teams it kind of seems to be.

We're used to the fact that our best players will leave for bigger leagues, it is perfectly understandable.
But it seems our prospects are leaving earlier everytime.

The only time a team like Ajax will perform in Europe like in '95 is if all our prospects break through around the same time.
Prospects are our only hope, the Holland U21 has been dominating europe the last few years, and at Ajax f.e. it's not unusual to see 7 or 8 self-raised players in the starting line-up.

If Platini's rule will go through that every club team has to field at least 6 countrymen that might bring us back to the top a little, because the export of Dutch players will seize a little.

retired_yesmoncar

And that Celtic would beat Milan.

retired_jdupont

This is happening in all leagues that export players.

In the past the richest Euro teams would buy estabilished players only, then they started buying promising players who had some pro football experience. Now they buy young players before they even start playing pro football in their countries.

As for the thread subject, I do think the top teams in Europe are relatively stronger now than they were 10 years or so ago, mostly because they can field anyone they want, while in the past they were forced to field a certain amount of local players.

retired_amadhani

these are how the groups ended up last year and I pretty much can say that 7/8 of the groups go through as accordance to what you would expect.

swapnil

tbf, that was quite predictable.

retired_zersmiller

This is happening in all leagues that export players.

In the past the richest Euro teams would buy estabilished players only, then they started buying promising players who had some pro football experience. Now they buy young players before they even start playing pro football in their countries.

As for the thread subject, I do think the top teams in Europe are relatively stronger now than they were 10 years or so ago, mostly because they can field anyone they want, while in the past they were forced to field a certain amount of local players. </BLOCKQUOTE>

True... getting the 'foreigner rule' back would be the best thing Platini could ever do imo.

retired_jdupont

Yes, I also want to see this Platini rule implemented.

retired_jaydeschizo

No, big wins happened before too

And talking about Valencia- they lost 0-7 to Karlsruhe 13 years ago

retired_omiandrea

Does there really have to be a crappy thread like this every season?