An "easy" or "memorable" run to a final?

[JSArsenal]

I mean there will come a time where you usually have to face a big side before the final, the semis, but up to that point would you rather face smaller/midtable teams or face the very best sides.

When Real won the 2016 Champions league they faced Roma, Wolfsburg and City. No disrespect to those teams but its easier than facing say Bayern, Barcelona then Juventus.

In Arsenal's 2015 round win the most difficult opponent we faced was United.

I prefer an easier run, if Atletico got knocked out of Europa the next round and we drew the easiest team possible en-route to the final and winning the trophy, I would be ecstatic. Having a greater chance of winning means more to me than memorable games.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I mean there will come a time where you usually have to face a big side before the final, the semis, but up to that point would you rather face smaller/midtable teams or face the very best sides.

When Real won the 2016 Champions league they faced Roma, Wolfsburg and City. No disrespect to those teams but its easier than facing say Bayern, Barcelona then Juventus.

In Arsenal's 2015 round win the most difficult opponent we faced was United.

I prefer an easier run, if Atletico got knocked out of Europa the next round and we drew the easiest team possible en-route to the final and winning the trophy, I would be ecstatic. Having a greater chance of winning means more to me than memorable games.

Given the choice, I would choose easy.

With hindsight, though, a trophy won after a tough run definitely seems more worthy. I loved the way we had such a tough semi in ‘99. The adversity made the achievement that much sweeter.

 

[Akshay]

I prefer an easier run, if Atletico got knocked out of Europa the next round and we drew the easiest team possible en-route to the final and winning the trophy, I would be ecstatic. Having a greater chance of winning means more to me than memorable games.

Agreed. The important thing is to win the trophy, and anything that makes that more likely is a good thing in my book. Plus you know Arsenal can make even games against minnows memorable .

 

[Oaencha]

Pretty straightforward choice for me. Winning is obviously the goal so I would rather win with an easy route than lose with a hard route. If we don’t win it then I would rather it was memorable.

 

[Offside]

Easy and memorable where you make a meal of every round against easy teams but still win. United’s 2017 Europa League campaign is what I’m talking about. That Vigo 96th minute sitter will live long in the memory.

 

[Varun]

Erm, if the run to the final is guaranteed, give me all the tough teams.

 

[roonster09]

Easy draw.

 

[Florida Man]

There’s a certain satisfaction with facing and knocking out the giants in the Champions League, or any tournament for that matter. I get the practicality of preferring the easy run, but in my opinion, a true winner would want to face and defeat the best. And we as fans strive to see our club in the Champions League because of those big matches.

That being said, I’ll take a few easy runs to the trophy until we get to 5 or 6 since Liverpool had the pleasure of dicking small clubs back in the day before the UCL format. Getting them to shut the feck up about their “5 times” would be glorious in its own right.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Whomever and however so long as we are in the final. That said, perhaps the team will be more focused going in as an underdog against one of the heavy weights. Might be better for us mentally

 

[Nick7]

During draws or before the tournament, easy. In hindsight a memorable one is better.

 

[walkinhop]

Weird question. If it's a run to the final, obviously memorable. If it's the draw we discuss, obviously the easiest.

 

[JB7]

Winning European Cups with runs to final of Crusaders, Trabzonspor, St Ettienne, Zurich or a bye, Dresden, Benfica, Monchengladbach or OPS, Aberdeen, CSKA Sofia, Bayern or Odense, Bilbao, Benfica, Bucharest never stopped Liverpool fans celebrating and remebering them forever.

You take whatever run you're given and I for one honestly wouldn't care who we were beating if we reached the final.

 

[Brightonian]

Given the choice, I would choose easy.

With hindsight, though, a trophy won after a tough run definitely seems more worthy. I loved the way we had such a tough semi in ‘99. The adversity made the achievement that much sweeter.

I've always loved getting the sides with a big name that their current team doesn't quite live up to. Gives the games the feel of a prestigious European classic without the same fear factor. Milan in 2010 was the best example. You just knew we were going to walk that game but they were still AC Milan, and they still had Ronaldinho, Pirlo, Seedorf, Inzaghi... and Beckham! So the game had a proper Rolls Royce feel to it.

 

[harms]

I obviously prioritise a win over a memorable loss. But in your question the place in the final is guaranteed? In this case I would obviously choose a memorable path (can't think of anyone who wouldn't)

 

[harms]

Winning European Cups with runs to final of Crusaders, Trabzonspor, St Ettienne, Zurich or a bye, Dresden, Benfica, Monchengladbach or OPS, Aberdeen, CSKA Sofia, Bayern or Odense, Bilbao, Benfica, Bucharest never stopped Liverpool fans celebrating and remebering them forever.

You take whatever run you're given and I for one honestly wouldn't care who we were beating if we reached the final.

To be fair, Mönchengladbach were quality at the time, as were Breitenigge's Bayern.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Most cherishable moments:
1. "Both" ( = dominating vs top teams).
2. "Memorable" ( = win vs top teams).
3. "Easy" ( = win vs not top teams).

Personally, would prefer to be up against the not so top teams, more reassuring, since the main aim is to win the cup.

Than again, for me, CL is never easy.

 

[JSArsenal]

I obviously prioritise a win over a memorable loss. But in your question the place i the final is guaranteed? In this case I would obviously choose a memorable path (can't think of anyone who wouldn't)

No a place in the final isn't guaranteed, in either route.

 

[Rado_N]

When it's United I want easy games so we have more chance of winning and if if oppo fans cite an easy route to a trophy I'll just call them bitter and count our trophy wins.

If it's another team I'll tell their fans it's less impressive because they had an easy run.

 

[SirAF]

I'd definitely take an "easy" run - much like United had in 2011.

 

[Mihai92]

Inter 2010 is a memorable run. It's not easy to defeat in a few months the champions and the domestic cup winners of England, Spain and Germany. Not to mention that Barcelona was, in my opinion, the best team that ever existed.

 

[King.of.Red]

easy of course, but with memorable final.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

Since both scenarios put you in the final might as well make it memorable

 

[Theonas]

Easy of course. I would worry that it would confuse some of our fans or worse, our hierarchy, that we are a great team already but at the end of the day, our CL record is extremely average for a club our size and we are in a position where we need to improve that number no matter what for the sake of our narrative and European image. There is also the other element of dreading watching us against the giants of Europe, I just don't like watching backs against the wall performances where we are reduced to the role of spoilers.

 

[whatwha]

Since both scenarios put you in the final might as well make it memorable

Exactly

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

When it's United I want easy games so we have more chance of winning and if if oppo fans cite an easy route to a trophy I'll just call them bitter and count our trophy wins.

If it's another team I'll tell their fans it's less impressive because they had an easy run.

Exactly right.

I've stopped taking winning trophies for granted after Fergie retired so I always want the easiest possible draw in any cup.

 

[Fortitude]

Harder is the stuff of legend, but that's only meaningful if you win the thing. Then you're in the company of great(er) winners. Memorable... that only matters to the wider audience - I think any major trophy win is memorable to the select fans who get to witness it.

I think fans and clubs start caring about prestigious runs when they're used to getting to semi's and finals and winning trophies. If that's not the case, you're grateful for any which way your club is victorious.

 

[Sky1981]

If both options reaching the final then it's no brainer.

Hard semi or easy finalist more likely

 

[Anustart89]

Erm, if the run to the final is guaranteed, give me all the tough teams.

This. How are people answering anything else?

It also increases the chances of an easy final...

 

[Sky1981]

There’s a certain satisfaction with facing and knocking out the giants in the Champions League, or any tournament for that matter. I get the practicality of preferring the easy run, but in my opinion, a true winner would want to face and defeat the best. And we as fans strive to see our club in the Champions League because of those big matches.

That being said, I’ll take a few easy runs to the trophy until we get to 5 or 6 since Liverpool had the pleasure of dicking small clubs back in the day before the UCL format. Getting them to shut the feck up about their “5 times” would be glorious in its own right.

Facing giants isn't without consequences. Sure it might be memorable if you win, but it could also be painful if you lost.

Madrid, barcelona, i would trade them for easier teams if it means we won the tie.

 

[ti vu]

Erm, if the run to the final is guaranteed, give me all the tough teams.

I prefer having a choice in outcome of the final. Give me whatever that give my team the trophy

Teasing

 

[Sky1981]

When it's United I want easy games so we have more chance of winning and if if oppo fans cite an easy route to a trophy I'll just call them bitter and count our trophy wins.

If it's another team I'll tell their fans it's less impressive because they had an easy run.

Yes.. madrid first 5 champion league is dodgy as feck. They probably face 1 giant in the final and the rest is a suspect team... doesn't erase the fact they're 10 times winner in the history.

A win is a win, anything else is a bonus. We'd be lucky to win a cl these days, let alone wanting it to be a memorable one.

 

[FlawlessThaw]

I can't stand the bastards who say "I want Barcelona in the next round".

 

[Moonred]

So easy that it’s memorable. I want to beat the best to win, feck that.

 

[Hercules]

The OP took the fun away by including the final. It should be more like beating the lesser teams or beating giants (that too is not worth any discussion).

The topic should be, beating the likes of Barca/Chelsea/City/Bayern/Real to reach the final and get beaten or to get the likes of Porto/Sevilla/Besiktas and then meet any of the former teams in the finals. Both ways, I'd want my club to win every tie and win every trophy there for the taking.

That said, Juve are like that, they have been into a couple of finals and lost both. So no matter who you beat, you have to have a chance to win it.

 

[Peter van der Gea]

What do you want out of it? Like for example, we used to be the pinnacle of European football. Then, for true satisfaction, personally I wanted to beat every big boy on the way to winning it. Then every game was full on exciting.

When we were the best in England, but not in Europe, I wanted an easy route until the quarters at least. I needed to not have a heart attack every week, but I also wanted us to prove ourselves.

The last few seasons I would have taken any route to a final. Basically because winning teaches you how to win.

 

[Gopher Brown]

The whole point of supporting a football club is to make us feel emotions.

I felt more alive when Paul Scholes scored against Barcelona than when Fellaini scored against Celta Vigo

 

[Josep Dowling]

Based on tonight’s performance I would like to play a better side, at least we might try to play football then.

 

[shamans]

piss easy. I want champions league.

 

[AndyJ1985]

I'd rather watch us play against the best teams.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Jinxed.