Grumpy of Crumbie wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 8:40 am
As I’ve posted on another thread I’m in the disillusioned camp for this once great tournament. Like others I never understood the format before the ridiculous situation with a repeat of so many fixtures in the knock out stages. Is there really such a need to provide the top sides with such an advantage right through to the final? How is this supposed to incentivise supporters and attract more fans to games?
What happened to the good old groups of four providing three homes games and much needed revenue?
If 24 teams need a place and a round of 16 then 6 groups of 4, top 2 and 4 best third place finishes. No problem with group winners and 2 best runners up getting home advantage keeps the groups interesting to the end, but why not go to a free draw for the quarter finals onwards? Provides another level of interest and the potential for a more open competition.
If 6 group games and a round of 16 are too much to fit in to the fixture schedule then bin the round of 16. Top 6 and 2 best runners up would make for competitive groups. Wait a minute isn’t that how it used to be?
As it stands it’s a shambles.
Now if we could find space for home and away quarters and semis as well...
Tigers would still get dumped out by Leinster every single season, but at least it would make sense...
Robespierre wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 7:18 pm
Just got home from the Bath match in a sold out Stade Ernest Wallon. An excellent game and Bath oh so nearly had the nerve to snatch from Toulouse and I think they deserved the losing bp which may have given them a home match in the next round.
Jack Willis not being available for England is a travesty as he was enormous this afternoon. I also heard that he's signed a one-year extension to his contract. Evidently. la vie est belle for him in Toulouse!
The little green god sits on my shoulder.
Exile Wigstonite living in Wales.
Poet laureate of the "One Eyed Turk".
Bar stool philosopher in the "Wilted Daffodil"
It takes a special kind of administrator to move a competition that was rated by many as the best club competition in the world to the farce we are currently experiencing.
