Some readers of EPL Talk are new or semi new to football, based outside of the continent of Europe yet possess an affection for the UEFA Champions League unmatched to that of even the Premier League. The current format of Europe’s premier club competition allows the majority of the top footballing talent in the world to compete against each other across the width and breadth of the continent in front of millions of watchful eyes across a myriad of countries.

These attentive eyes sit poised in front of massive LCD widescreens, cram together in pubs or bars to drink their team to victory or huddle in front of the smallest of black and white TV sets in anxious anticipation that their idols can produce something memorable.

This is the version of the Champions League that we currently know and enjoy. It’s a version of a more global competition as opposed to interpretation 1.0, the old European Cup, which was without much of the pomp and fanfare that we see today. Yet Europe’s premier club competition – sometimes dominated by England’s finest – wasn’t always the cash cow or world phenomenon it is today. The advent of technology has of course played its part in the competition’s popularity allowing fans and supporters the chance to view matches or highlights from HD televisions, smart phones, and computers from almost anywhere in the world by simply pressing a few buttons.

Additionally, matches come thick and fast in the competition’s group stage which is played from September through December each year as the annual event attempts its best Darwin impression by weeding out the weak.

While there’s little argument that that knockout stage through to the final provides viewers with the most excitement, drama and entertainment, some proof does exist that the bloated and oft-criticized group stage needs at minimum an amending, at maximum an overhaul. But first, back to our soccer newbies.

The ongoing structure in play to crown a club champion of Europe has only been in existence since 1992 and more specifically, since the 1997-98 season which allowed runners up from certain countries the opportunity to compete in group stage play which is how we know the competition today. But before UEFA empowered so many more clubs the chance to compete in a competition many say they have no right participating in, Europe crowned a champion with much less fuss and much more romance, at least that’s one side of the debate.

The European Cup started in 1955 and allowed just the winners of the European football leagues the chance to play for the title by playing in a two-leg knockout format (home and away) until just one club stood victorious over Europe. We of course know that has now changed yet the old guard and romantics still wax poetic over how much better the old format was and that the shiny new(ish) format of more matches, more teams and thus more money has done little to improve the competition while doing more to hinder it.

While it’s certain that the best of the most recent installment of the Champions League is still to come over the course of the next few months, which format is better in allowing European football the opportunity to crown its yearly champion? Sure the current group stage arrangement allows smaller (and more) clubs the chance to play but does more always equal better? When was the last time a European minnow or medium-sized club played in the final or even won?

A quick glance down the European champion list from the last decade or so reads like a who’s who of European giants. Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, AC Milan and Inter Milan all have titles while the absence of a previous year third place German club or fourth place Italian club from the list of champions lends belief to the doubters of the newer format and prompts one to ask the question, “what’s the point of all the additional clubs if they never come close to winning it?”.

Regardless of if you’re a football baby or a fitba grandfather, the question is definitely worth your time. While it’s unlikely-impossible that UEFA would ever consider a change that would see the governing body revert back to the old European Cup format, it’s an interesting debate that football fans continue to have every year between September and December while the group stage trudges on and stumbles its way through until the round of 16.

Just as the knockout stages are now in full swing, maybe, just maybe the answer to the aforementioned question is staring us right in the face as some of the most exciting and dramatic football is now upon us.

Editor’s Note: Jesse Chula is returning to EPL Talk.com after a short trip to England late last year and a stint as contributing Editor for England at SB Nation Soccer. He can be reached for comment by email at jesse.chula@epltalk.com and on Twitter @JesseChula.

Tonight see’s the opening games of the 2010/2011 UEFA Champions League competition. With all 4 English teams in the group stages and this being Tottenham’s first crack at Europe the competition will be given a lot of attention over the coming weeks and months. Few things have truly changed around Europe over the summer but the biggest being the defection of Treble winning Champions League stalwart Jose Mourinho’s to Real Madrid. Madrid have not won the competition –  for which they are the record title holders – since 2002. A period where Barcelona have asserted themselves as the dominant force in European football despite a mid decade slump.

For the English teams the main talking points are Manchester United’s relatively poor start to the season (fans will say they are slow starters) and the plight of their talismanic striker Wayne Rooney. Chelsea fans will wonder if they can continue their dominant league form into the European arena as they try to right the wrongs of being dumped out by eventual Champions Inter (and Mourinho) at home. Arsenal will try to get over their current injury problems and see if they can continue their impressive record of reaching the knock-out rounds and then with a full squad press on to reach the final once more. Let’s just hope they don’t meet Barca again though.

The main point of interest in England will be the plight of Tottenham as I’ll detail later they’ve been dealt one hell of a group and having made the premier club-competition in shaky circumstances how will they cope with the 2 games a week format that their season will take. This shall be the true test of their squad depth and quality. Too often teams who have made it to Europe have suffered in the League and it will be interesting to see where Redknapp’s priorities lie. Third place in the group would not be a disaster but the Europa League could be an unwelcome distraction having been amongst Europe’s elite.

In the first part of my preview I will break down the groups with where I think each club will wind up, tonight it’s groups A through D.

Group A:

Internazionale

FC  Twente

Werder Bremen

Tottenham Hotspurs

Tottenham could not have wished for a tougher group on paper. The defending Serie A champions and oh yes, Champions League holders. The Eredivisie Champions, however now dereft of their Manager and finally the team who finished third in the very strong Bundesliga. They took care of a very strong Sampdoria team in the Qualifiers. Tottenham could not have picked a worse group, bar a trip to Camp Nou and the fact they missed 4^th tier teams of the ilk of MSK Zilina and the Mighty CFR Cluj. This group should provide some very dire matches with a Rafa Benitez team amongst it but it will be very competitive and possibly the hardest to Judge for my money come December it will be.

1.       Internazionale 2. Werder Bremen 3. Tottenham 4. FC Twente or in other words, their seeds. I hope I’m wrong.

Group B:

Lyon

Schalke

Benfica

Hapoel

Another competitive group but one where the big teams are in poor form; Lyon, Schalke and Benfica have all started their domestic seasons poorly (in France nobody is playing well). Hapoel are the weakest team but a trip to Israel is not every team’s favourite flight. Expect the Israeli team to amass some points at home but be cannon fodder on the road. This group may be about who can play to their standards rather than anyone punching above their weight. For me the final group standings will be.

1.       Lyon  2. Benfica 3. Hapoel 4. Schalke

Group C:

Manchester United

Valencia

Rangers

Bursaspor

Manchester United have the edge in this group, the 2008 winners are still an elite team and are meeting three teams who are nowhere near their calibre. Valencia have been forced to sell 2 of their prized assets, they still maintain the tricky Juan Mata but without David(s) Villa and Silva they are not the team they once were, domestically though they have started well. Rangers are on a decline similarly to Valencia crippled by debts investment has not been forthcoming a robust, physical side their technical limitations should leave them floundering away from fortress Ibrox. Bursaspor are the unknowns in this group, Turkey is a notoriously hostile place for visiting fans and they seem to take perverse joy in winding up British teams. They’ve started their domestic in rip-roaring form with 4 wins on the trot so they will be no pushovers. Overall this may be one of the more surprising groups beyond the top dogs.

1. Manchester United 2. Bursaspor 3. Valencia 4. Rangers

Group D

Barcelona

Rubin Kazan

Panathanaikos

FC Kobenhaven

The biggest gift of a group for Barcelona, despite their inauspicious weekend result if they don’t pick up 12 points from this group would be an Embarrassment. Panathanaikos (the SECOND SEEDS) have started with a Win and Draw. The only interesting part of this group would be the fact that both Rubin Kazan and Kobenhaven are in the middle of their seasons and are performing well at home. Barcelona did suffer a shock defeat in Eastern Europe last season but it is unlikely that this will happen again. It will be competitive to finish second to Barcelona but the quality is not that of the other groups. Even with Barcelona present this is the Group Spurs wish they had.

1.       Barcelona 2.Rubin Kazan 3. Panathanaikos 4. Kobenhaven

Manchester United were eliminated from the most coveted Cup competition in the world on Wednesday night in heartbreaking fashion. Having won their home leg 3-2 and finishing off the tie with a level aggregate score of 4-4, United were put to the sword by the dreaded away goals rule.

Such are the laws of the modern day UEFA Champions League competition that Bayern Munich will now face French side Olympique Lyonnais in what’s sure to be a fantastic Semi Final.

Wednesday night’s match was the classic example of the game being a “tale of two halves”. United were by far the better team in the first half as they dominated possession with a strong attacking midfield consisting of Nani and Antonio Valencia on either side of the slyly included Wayne Rooney. The support consisted of a midfield three of Darron Gibson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher.

United got the start they needed as Gibson caught Munich keeper Jorg Butt flat-footed with a fantastic long range strike. Nani struck second with a cheeky, yet brilliant back heel flick and United were suddenly cruising into the semi’s after 7 minutes. As an attacking unit, United were quite possibly at the best they’ve been in 2010 with Antonio Valencia seemingly taking on defenders and crossing at will.

United defender Rafael was the villain on the night after being sent off early in the second half after receiving his second yellow. After his dismissal, United’s attacking prowess was a shadow of it’s former self. It’s almost unbelievable how the absence of one man can destroy a team’s ability to hold up the ball and move out of their own half.

Rafael’s first yellow was a petulant kick out at Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel. The incident was deserved, callow and obvious.  His marching orders came just a few minutes after the restart when he tugged back Franck Ribery who was full speed ahead towards United’s goal. The Munich players were then seen surrounding the referee in hopes they could influence his decision to send off the young Brazilian.

In a controversial statement, Sir Alex Ferguson has described the Munich players as behaving like “typical Germans“. Even as a United supporter, I’m not really sure I get the point of the odd statement and was upset to see Ferguson stoop to such depths.

Six weeks ago, Oliver Kay joined us ahead of the onset of UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16, venturing a prediction that the English Premier League teams would find this year’s tournament rougher than those of the preceding seasons. Today, Oliver joined me to reflect on the knock-out round performances of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Also, we look forward to this Sunday’s match between Manchester United and Liverpool and ask what Liverpool needs to go to maintain their string of good performances over Alex Ferguson’s side.

On this episode of the EPL Talk podcast, Fox Soccer Channel’s Bobby McMahon joined me to discuss Tuesday’s visit by José Mourinho and Internazionale to Stamford Bridge, taking on Chelsea in the second leg of the clubs’ UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. We break down the match as well as talk about FSC’s presentation and the rest of the week’s matches in the Champions League.

Thursday gives the team of Kartik Krishnaiyer, Laurence McKenna and Richard Farley their first chance to reflect on a banner week for the Premiership in the UEFA Champions League. The team gets together to discuss

• Manchester United’s 4-0 (7-2) win over AC Milan,
• Arsenal’s 5-0 (6-2) win over Porto,
• Thursday’s Europa League match for Fulham at Juventus,
• Liverpool at Lille,
• Monday’s Liverpool disappointment at Wigan, and
• the weekend’s important matches in the Premiership.

Dear Monsieur Wenger,

I wanted to take the time to congratulate you on your team’s recent successes in the Premier League and more specifically the UEFA Champions League. You’ve fought back and are in the heat of a title race and reaching the last eight in any competition is deserved of accolades, but the most prestigious Cup competition in the World, that’s something to be proud of.

The way your team played with such utter confidence against Porto at home Tuesday night was something to behold (and look at the turn around in form of one Nicklas Bendtner from his lowly weekend efforts, simply stunning). The confidence your club displayed directly influenced the teams ability to move the ball at will, maintain possession and attack with purpose, not to mention, it was a night supporters of Arsenal won’t soon forget.

5-0 was the end result to a night that saw your team dominate a Porto team who only a few weeks ago were victorious over you. It’s safe to say there was definitely everything to play for Tuesday night and you proved to the world and your detractors that this Arsenal team has something positive to say in this year’s Champions League and Premier League races. For that, I salute you! Well done.

May I take one more brief moment of your valuable time?

I raised a brow in disbelief this very morning when I read that you’re hoping to be pitted against one Manchester United in the next round of this fine Cup competition we’ve been discussing. At first, I chuckled as I assumed your joy at an important win had tainted your mind to a more jovial state. As I continued to read further, aghast, I realized you were in fact serious and even mentioned London foes Chelsea as another possible opponent for your Beautiful Passing Gnomes (a term of affection, I assure you) in the next round of this competition.

Must I remind you Mr. Wenger that you’ve in fact fallen, slain like a lion in battle, in all four Premier League games this season (quite emphatically if I may add) against these very clubs with which you so openly aspire to meet again on the field of battle? This “good opportunity” to meet an English team you so casually throw around could ultimately be your demise. I must take a cautionary moment to speak a wise word of warning: Take heed of the Rooney’s and Drogba’s of the world. They are scary men when provoked. Fear them.

And how soon you forget only last May the 5th this Manchester United team had you sized up, whipped and beaten like a stray dog all neat and tidy like within eleven minutes of that woeful home semi-final encounter. If I close my eyes for a second, I can still see those pretty little red and white scarves wrapped ’round the neck of those hopeful supports. Their spirits so high and vibrant but crushed so soon and violent. The exposition of dominate force, counter-attacking football and all around arse kicking began courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo laserbeam and henceforth secured your opponents second final in a row at your expense. Had you forgotten this eminent engagement?

And if I may just quote your words from this very morning,

“It’s a good opportunity if we get them to show we can do well. If I had a choice I would say yes. If we get them we cannot do worse than we did in the championship, we can only do better”.

Pray tell how?

Shall we keep in thought that one night of brilliance a title contender, world beater or Champions League winner does not make. Also, both clubs you rush to defy to prove how great you’ve become in the last few months have yet to progress through to the next stage. Would not a day or two of celebration with the lads prove more beneficial than the metaphorical waving of your French finger towards all of Europe? Take heed again, there are some large European dogs across the continent that have just caught your scent. They may not bite your hand if you pat them on the head, but be assured, they’ll bite your hand if you smack them in the face.

Lastly, please give a right proper tap to the back of Samir Nasri for me. His goal Tuesday night was a thing of beauty. You do realize now, I don’t dislike you, your team, or your current crop of players one single bit. You are in fact quite good. I just wish to stress the importance of holding your tongue, and most importantly of all Arsene, don’t get ahead of yourself. It’ll only make you look foolish in the end. Good day.

Sincerely yours,

• What a couple of days it’s been for oddly scored goals.

Paul Scholes entered into the fluke goal history books Tuesday night as Manchester United beat AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16 with a 3-2 away win that made a quarter final birth just a bit more attainable. Scholes has scored some incredible goals for Manchester United’s first team over his sixteen year career and will surely retire in the next few years as one of the top English midfielders to ever grace the Premier League. Who can forget that right footed volley at Villa Park in the 2006-2007 season?

I’d love the headline of this post to read “Scholes Unashamedly Smashes United Into Quarters“, but it’s safe to say the Ginger Prince knew nowt of the goal he luckily scored Tuesday night at the San Siro. Scholes’ performance on Tuesday night won’t be remembered for his accurate passing abilities, long range shots, or even his bad tackling. His 36th minute flub was laughable at best and only pinged off his left leg because he whiffed so badly with his more powerful right.

For those that missed Manchester United’s opener, the team who have appeared in two consecutive finals were easily outplayed in almost every position on the pitch until Darren Fletcher took into his own hands what Nani couldn’t do and served United attackers with their first relevant cross of the night. The low cross found Scholes who was perfectly positioned in front of goal and attempted a sort of half volley with his right foot. Totally missing in his attempt, the ball then bounced off his left leg that was motionless and upright supporting his flailing right.

Scholes then witnessed the ball trickling into the Milan goal past an outstretching Dida  in what is sure to have been the luckiest goal he’ll ever score. The Scholes hokey pokey sure to not be forgotten anytime soon.

What sticks out with this incredible piece of luck for United is that they were largely undeserved of the 1-1 halftime scoreline. Milan were giving fits to United’s make shift back line as the usually solid Johnny Evans looked rattled playing in such a massive game.

The question that ultimately surfaces is what becomes of this goal in the grand scheme of United’s season and history if somehow they continue on and win the Champions League? United fans will look back to the 36th minute of an epic European night and that silly little goal scored against the run of play that opened up the scoring and allowed Wayne Rooney to score a brace en route to a famous victory.

Since football fans are still only a few months removed from the notorious beach ball incident at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, which like that of the Scholes blast is sure to go down in history, I’d like to know what are some other incredibly lucky goals that you’ve seen scored in recent years? Surely there’s loads of mistaken kicks, flicks, whiffs, scuffs and misses that have luckily found the back of the net.

This could be fun, feel free to leave a comment below.

• They’re all back, the world’s best club cup competition, Anelka, Van der Sar, photographers and tasty green bottle.

It was a mas o menos weekend as Premier League action gave way to FA Cup fifth round ties. There are a few interesting  replays to look forward to as a couple of Premier League clubs remain in the world’s oldest cup competition, but overall a bit lackluster. Before Premier League action resumes this coming weekend, two of the top three Premier League clubs get their European boots on again, with the other English club lacing up the follow week, as the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg ties are approached with anticipation.

For fans of the Champions League, there are some tasty fixtures with a bit of drama thrown in the pot as some old friendships are rekindled. All three English clubs start their respective two leg ties away in the first leg before returning home to finish out the tie. Chelsea old boy Jose Mourinho will host his former love when the Blues visit Inter Milan at the San Siro on the 24th of February. Headed to the San Siro first though will be last year’s finalists Manchester United as former Red Devil and on loan AC Milan midfielder David Beckham emotionally awaits his old club where he spent his best years. Beautiful Passing Gnomes will clash with Portuguese Champions FC Porto, a battle of quick passing, attacking teams, that’s sure to be an open, two leg affair (a’hem, key immature laughter).

But the question I want to pose to readers of EPL Talk is: can an English club win the Champions League this year? More specifically, will they?

Arsenal seem still not quite ready and are lacking an out and out central striker and midfield tough man (although Barcelona won last year’s tournament with the brilliant, fluid, and visionary passing of Xavi and Iniesta), but Chelsea and Manchester United both have squads deep enough, experienced enough and firing on all cylinders with enough quality and top European talent to reach this years final in Madrid.

The scripts have all been written. Former managers and players knocking heads against each other and their former teams (Benzema and Lyon and the opportunity for many more). The return of a once great midfielder to the club and ground that saw him reach International stardom. The chance for Real Madrid to play the final at home as the galácticos again tempt the stars. Brilliant Barcelona and their attempt to repeat as Champions, already one of the greatest club teams in the history of football. And of course, the chance for English clubs to continue their incredibly successful run in the Champions League having reached the Final every year since 2005.

What are your thoughts on the Champions League matches concerning English clubs this year? Will either one of the three consider fielding a weakened side to focus on the close Premier League title race? Can an English club reach and possibly win the Final? If so, which one? Is the Champions League Arsenal’s only realistic chance at silverware this season?

My prediction for the Final: Manchester United 3 – 2 Real Madrid.

It can’t be much fun to be a football fan in the city of Liverpool these days. With Sunday’s Merseyside Derby approaching, the red side has fallen out of the Champions League and is slipping from its Top Four perch, while the blue side is so decimated by injuries that it’s can’t even stop Hull City from scoring. Reveling in the schadenfreude of the other side’s struggles is really tough when your side seems to be struggling just as badly.

Then there’s the whole prospect of Liverpool and Everton sharing a stadium, something that must make supporters of both sides want to jump off a bridge into the River Mersey just to avoid ever seeing it happen in their lifetimes. Phil Brown probably won’t be there to stop them, either.

Before the “San Scouso” gets built, though, Liverpool FC needs to get its own house in order, and they seem to have figured out something that the supporters need to remember — dropping to the Europa League this season is not the end of the world. Finishing below fourth place in the Premier League is. Yes, the Reds won’t get a shot at Champions League glory, but in terms of cash flow, the Europa League could be just as rewarding.

Liverpool’s already gotten its cash from the Champions League Group Stage. That adds up to €9.1 million in UEFA prize money, not including what they might get at Fiorentina in December. Then there’s the TV “Market Pool” cash. Last year, Liverpool got €10M from that. This year, they get a little more. (Hat tip to The Offside for those numbers.)

So what would have happened if Liverpool had gotten through? Clubs in the round of 16 get €3M each. Quarterfinalists gets another €3.3M. That’s probably as far as the Reds would have gotten this year.

They can make up that €6.3M by reaching the Europa League quarterfinals. The market pool cash in the Europa League kicks in when clubs reach the quarterfinals. Last season, Werder Bremen and Manchester City brought in €4.6M in TV cash for reaching the quarter finals, plus another €420,000 in UEFA prize money. Liverpool’s huge worldwide TV audience means that number could be bigger. That covers the Champions League Knockout Stage losses.

Plus, winning the whole thing — and if Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are healthy during the stretch, that’s a real possibility — will bring in another €4M or so. So financially speaking, winning the Europa League is the same getting to the semifinals of the Champions League, and it comes with a trophy and another €1.4M appearance fee for the UEFA Super Cup next August.

Plus, there is the real possibility of another Merseyside Derby in the Europa League Knockout Stage. Oh, and if you’re a Liverpool or Everton supporter in America, you’d hear Ray Hudson call that game on GOLTV. Tell me that wouldn’t be must-see TV.

So missing out on the Champions League Knockout Stage this year is not the disaster it seems to be. Missing out on the Champions League Group Stage next year, however, would be. Simply put, Liverpool must finish fourth in the Premier League. Don’t rule out their chances, either, because the other contenders for fourth place — Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur — have a history of dropping points they shouldn’t drop, especially late in the season. One good hot streak could put the Reds back above all three of them in a hurry.

Of course, if Liverpool fails to finish fourth but wins the Europa League, maybe they can ask UEFA for special dispensation to the Champions League again. Hey, it worked once before. It might even lead to the Europa League becoming a more “meaningful” competition in the long run.

Then again, what means more to Liverpool supporters right now than beating Everton on Sunday? There’s no better salve for your team’s woes than knocking off a arch rival.