Top 3 teams qualify for CL group stages from 2009

[DeeGame]

Champions League set for revamp

Uefa is set to revamp the Champions League on Friday with the top three clubs in the Premier League qualifying for the group stages from 2009.
Under the plans, the fourth-placed side will now face a play-off against a team from another of Europe's leagues.

The Scottish champions will also go straight into the group stages but the runners-up face two qualifying rounds.

Previously in England, the top two sides qualified by right and the next two joined the third qualifying round.

It is likely the fourth-placed Premier League side will face a tougher play-off compared to playing in the third qualifying round of the Champions League against weaker opponents.

In Scotland, the champions have previously needed to come through a qualifying round.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/7120518.stm

Good news hey

[The Glove]

Re-vamp it by cutting down on the teams in it, bringing back the CWC and sorting out the ****e fest that is the UEFA Cup

[Blind Melon]

Re-vamp it by cutting down on the teams in it, bringing back the CWC and sorting out the ****e fest that is the UEFA Cup

agree mate, the uefa cup is a ****e fest these days!

[Rocket]

agree mate, the uefa cup is a ****e fest these days!

when we won it in 2001, it had quite a few decent teams in it like roma, barca, porto etc.

granted, the final was a ****e fest, didn't alves or whoever they were beat the german team like 7-0 on aggregate in the other semi

[Shaggy]

Alaves beat Inter Milan on the way to the final (5-3 on agg, I think) and put nine past Kaiserslautern in the semi.

[Kilteragh]

CL Final Moved to Saturday

Definitely an LFC topic

Should save us taking three days off work each year!

Uefa moves Champions League final

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...pe/7120518.stm

The Champions League final will move to Saturday from 2010, with Wembley in the running host it that year, says Uefa.
The Intertoto Cup is to be abolished and the format of the Uefa Cup altered.

Qualification for the Champions League will also change, with 22 teams earning places based on their league finish and a two-part tournament for the rest.

Five places will be disputed by 15 teams from leading nations, and the rest contested by teams from Uefa's 40 other member nations.

The decisions were taken at a Uefa executive committee meeting in Lucerne.

Format changes also mean that three Premier League teams will qualify automatically for the group stage, as will the champions of Scotland.

606: DEBATE
Your views on the Uefa shake-up

But the fourth-placed Premier League side will face a stiffer test in the qualifying round, as they are more likely to face stronger opponents than under the current format.

"We are all of the opinion that this is a great competition which provides a considerable spectacle," said Uefa president Michel Platini about the changes.

"I also hope that playing the UEFA Champions League final on a Saturday will give families, especially children, the chance to see the game."

The Uefa Cup is also to be substantially changed between 2009 and 2012.

There will be 12 groups of four teams, with the top two of each group progressing to the knock-out stage, where they will be joined by the eight clubs that finish the group stage of the Champions League in third place.

Berlin's Olympiastadion, the Allianz Arena in Munich, Valencia's Mestalla and Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium are the other venues on the shortlist for the 2010 Champions League final with Wembley.

[Morph]

It's not good news for the team in 4th tho, just means their season starts earlier because they have to negotiate 2 qualifying rounds if i recall correctly, however the team in 3rd will now automatically qualify which is good

[Morph]

uefa cup should be knock out start to finish, the champs league is **** during the group stages and these are the supposed 'top teams' (at least we made it exciting this year) - just look at some of the groups in this years uefa cup, it's not about entertainment it's about cash plain and simple

[Johnny]

It's not good news for the team in 4th tho, just means their season starts earlier because they have to negotiate 2 qualifying rounds if i recall correctly, however the team in 3rd will now automatically qualify which is good

The team in fourth will most probably be one of the traditional "Top 4" and will have the squad to manage a few extra games early in the season.

[sonsofthedesert]

I like the idea of a Saturday final, means you can make a weekend of it.

[Morph]

The team in fourth will most probably be one of the traditional "Top 4" and will have the squad to manage a few extra games early in the season.

they will, but i seem to remember rafa not being to happy when we had to play a few more matches, sure it's not the end of the world, but it's a pain during pre-season, it doesn't matter to us anyway, because we won't be 4th

[Johnny]

they will, but i seem to remember rafa not being to happy when we had to play a few more matches, sure it's not the end of the world, but it's a pain during pre-season, it doesn't matter to us anyway, because we won't be 4th

There`s nothing like a few CL games in pre season to focus the players,Chelsea should get through qualifying!!!!!

[Imy]

Also the final will move from a Wednesday to a Saturday from 2010

[Red_hot]

I like the idea of a Saturday final, means you can make a weekend of it.

And not have to take days off following due to hangovers.

[lfcruleus]

I like the idea of a Saturday final, means you can make a weekend of it.

It just means the can give even more tickets to the Uefa Family.....and thier families, they even said it will make it easier for families to go, less tickets for the fans of the clubs involved IMHO