The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

A ranking of some sort, I take it?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient#Club_coefficient

The club coefficient rankings are determined by the results of clubs in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League over the previous five seasons, as well as by the coefficient of the clubs' association. The club coefficient is the sum of the points earned by the club over the five seasons plus 20% of the club's association coefficient.[11][12]
The clubs receive two points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a defeat in games of the main stage of the Champions League and the Europa League (group stage). Qualifying round results are only taken into account if the team is eliminated in one of the rounds (see table below). Otherwise, the qualifying round results are taken into account only for the calculation of the association's coefficient and are halved.[11] The clubs do not receive any points for elimination in the Champions League third qualifying round or the play-off because those teams move to the Europa League and receive points from participation in that competition. In addition, results of penalty shoot-outs do not affect club coefficients.[

 

So yeah, it makes sense if you think about where the respective clubs were five years ago. City hadn't started their climb at that stage.

It's a highly retrospective system, along the same lines as the idiotic FIFA rankings that have England third and Brazil 13th.

Carroll to West Ham on loan, in other news.

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4512993/Andy-Carroll-transfer-Carroll-signs-on-loan-for-West-Ham.html

The Liverpool striker was in London to begin a medical tonight, after changing his mind about moving to capital.
But even if he helps keep the Hammers in the Premier League this term, there is NO commitment to a permanent deal at the end of the season.
West Ham have agreed to pay all off the giant Geordie’s wages, plus a £1million loan fee, effectively putting £6m into the Anfield coffers.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4512993/Andy-Carroll-transfer-Carroll-signs-on-loan-for-West-Ham.html#ixzz253Zvit5C


If true, a big blow for LFC.

 

9.33: BREAKING NEWS: Aston Villa have had an offer of £7million accepted for Clint Dempsey. It's now up to Liverpool and Sunderland to match that if they want to get involved in the action.
However, Liverpool have already made enquiries for Daniel Sturridge, so it may be up to the Black Cats to gazump Paul Lambert.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2195775/Transfer-deadline-day-live.html#ixzz256y3Zc7f

 

C'mon Sunderland! You can do this! I don't want Dempsey playing at farking Villa.

 

Ian Darke said Deuce refused the transfer (didn't know you could do that) to Villa.

 

You have to negotiate a new contract with the team that buys you, so yeah, in the end, a move is down to the player.

 

Dempsey might wind up playing rec league in San Antonio this year if he's not careful.

 

Tottenham with a late bid for Dempsey.

 

Now that would make this guy happy.

 

Grant Wahl said on twitter that three sources have said Dempsey will probably end up with Liverpool but no guarantees at this point