Does this prove small clubs can still make it big in Europe?

[DanielS]

There have been comments in the media over the past 10 years that the Champions League is all about the same old clubs making the finals over and over again. Given the fact that this years final sees one of the finalists having absolutely no European pedigree at all does it disprove the media criticism?

 

Is it true that small, "no-history" clubs can still succeed? Or was this just a fluke outcome?

Edited May 1, 2008 by DanielS

[Guest Rafa's Receding Hairline]

Not really.

 

Money, greed and corruption can buy your way into a Champions League final as we saw yesterday.

 

Oh and what a coincidence that it's in Moscow *yawn*

[Gravy]

Chelsea have had maybe gthe easziest run in in history to get to the CL final. Olympiakos in the 2nd round, Fenerbache in the DF, and their group was the easiest of all - until they met us they hadn't played a proper team.

[MFletcher]

If I was being cruel, I'd suggest that they're only here because they've spent close to half a billion to get to this point. Furthermore, I would suggest that they didn't deserve to go through over two legs and - if Riise hadn't inexplicably headed into his own net the previous week - probably wouldn't have went through over two legs.

 

Never mind that they just about got past Olympiakos and Fenerbahce.

 

I don't want the Mancs to win the EC, but to see a team like Chelsea win it would annoy me just as much.

 

It's a no win situation.

[Billy Dane]

I think it's a victory for small clubs everywhere. Like Cardiff I hope Cheslea can bloody the nose of one of the big boys come their big day.

[rowlho]

sour grapes this thread

[ChrisC]

Not really.

 

Money, greed and corruption can buy your way into a Champions League final as we saw yesterday.

 

Oh and what a coincidence that it's in Moscow *yawn*

 

The venue is decided the season before.

[Cobs]

sour grapes this thread

and you've waited over 4 years to post that

[DanielS]

sour grapes this thread

 

Not really. le2red has the gist of the point of it.

[owenthomas]

sour grapes this thread

[John am Rhein]

Is it true that small, "no-history" clubs can still succeed? Or was this just a fluke outcome?

 

Yes. Fluke happen and will continue to happen.

[Ostrich Man]

I think it's a victory for small clubs everywhere. Like Cardiff I hope Cheslea can bloody the nose of one of the big boys come their big day.

arent liverpool one of the big boys then?

[Billy Dane]

Of course, that's why it's such a fairytale for Chelsea.

[DanielS]

arent liverpool one of the big boys then?

 

We're talking about finals. You should be greatful we've included the corporation you support as one of the "big boys".

[Ostrich Man]

only finals then....not league run-ins?

[DanielS]

only finals then....not league run-ins?

 

The topic of the thread isn't that hard to follow. Mentions Europe in the heading and everything.

[Ostrich Man]

The topic of the thread isn't that hard to follow. Mentions Europe in the heading and everything.

yeah i know....but id argue your grasping at their no history small time thing is a bit blah now theyve won the league a few times, reached a few semis in europe and now the final.

[Billy Dane]

So Chelsea are now your best mates? Well they say money attracts money don't they.

[Ostrich Man]

sweet jebus....hardly...theyre our main competitors this season

 

but saying theyre a small, no history club is a bit tired nowadays isnt it...theyve a history its just not as trophy laden as some others.

[Mikey]

Love thread titles like this, makes us look like right idiots.

 

Chelsea don't have the history we do, but their present is more successful than ours isn't it?

 

Small club indeed, PL champions twice, runners up once, 2nd on goal difference this year and 2 CL semi finals and 1 final - all in 4 years; not mentioning their Billionaire owner who actually spends his own money on the club not the fans.

[Billy Dane]

I don't really think that anyone is seriously suggesting that a club that has spent over £570m in the last 4-5 years is a small club.

 

Having said that their European pedigree is somewhat limited, so they are the new kids on the block. In that regard they are still an Everton type club.

[CarraLegend]

Love thread titles like this, makes us look like right idiots.

 

Makes us look like idiots? It does?

 

Oh no, a Chelsea supporter on another internet forum might call all Liverpool supporters idiots because of one persons thread title. How can we survive that?

[Guest Linton]

Makes us look like idiots? It does?

 

Oh no, a Chelsea supporter on another internet forum might call all Liverpool supporters idiots because of one persons thread title. How can we survive that?

 

Why is it when there is people who doesn't hate everything except Liverpool and doesn't always agree with everything we do, they are immediately called fans of other teams? Grow up ffs!

[CarraLegend]

Why is it when there is people who doesn't hate everything except Liverpool and doesn't always agree with everything we do, they are immediately called fans of other teams? Grow up ffs!

 

Who's called who a "fan" of another team?

[RedBilledChough]

There's a few on here that need new batteries in their irony-detectors.