Quote:
Originally Posted by rcgills
Just out of interest, Wazik, how did Rangers get knocked out of the cup that year? Do they tend to put out a weakened side in the early rounds of the cup? Because if they do, presumably they wouldn't if they knew there was a risk they'd end up out of the running for Champions League qualification as a result. Obviously though it's a bit of a bugger if they draw Celtic 
Going off on a slight tangent now, and not saying I'd necessarily be in favour of the idea, but as a potential solution to people saying that lower league teams can do well in the cup with a lucky draw and without playing any top teams - what about seeding the cup draw? Let's face it, the vast majority of lower league teams who get to the third round only want to draw a "big" team anyway, so they'd be happy enough. And it means anyone getting to the final would have to beat seeded teams along the way (or teams that had knocked out seeded teams). |
Rangers got knocked out, with a full team, at bottom of the table Dunfermline RC. Dunfermline made the final but were also relegated. It would be farcical if they had won the final and Scotlands CL reps were Celtic and Division 1 Dunfermline.
As for seeding the Cup, nah, again, not worth it. It destroys, certainly in the UK, what the cup was set up for, a random drawing of teams. The Cup should get its reward for winning it but it should be a place in the
UEFA Cup, which I think should be straight knockout, therefore Cup winners go into a European Cup winners compeition which is run along the same lines as the competition they won to qualify for it. That seems a logical progression to me. Probably too logical for
UEFA
The
UEFA Cup was bastardised to try and cash in on some of the CL TV money but to be honest its a complete non event with this group stage part of it. Just there to ensure each team gets 4 games and "their fair share". Which is bollocks IMO. Thing is no TV company, apart from the Germans, will pay any sort of decent amount of money to show these games.