Yeah in the old format, the European cup was clearly more prestigious than the UEFA league and also harder to qualify for, as you actually had to come 1st in your league. Once in it though, you could argue it was easier to win in a way than the UEFA league. You had a lot of good teams in the UEFA league that you would need to overcome. In the European cup you could often end up playing derp teams like Spartak Disco ball.
Not all trophies are of equal significance. The league title is the the bread and butter of club football and for me, and most match-going fans or ST holders, is always the trophy we care about the most. There is also an evident hierarchy amongst certain trophies. For example, European Cup/Champions League is more prestigious than Uefa Cup/Europa League. FA Cup over the League Cup. The league cup is a pointless competition imo. I know it might sound a bit rich from a Barca supporter, but only English football has league cup. The other leagues I follow, Spain, Germany and Italian football has only the FA Cup equivalent. So hope you understand where I am coming from. Milan has won 7 EC/CL compared to Juve's 2. Yet, in reality, Juve are widely regarded as the biggest club in Italy. Because they holds the record for most Scudettos and Copa Italia. Milan, is the Italian club with the greatest pedigree in European competition. Liverpool are the Milan-equivalent in English football. Just my two cents.
where as Barcelona more like inter Milan, not won there title the most and far from there countries most successful side in European competition
Champions League / European Cup is the most prestigious, Real Madrid hold their position of primacy because of their (40% illegitimate) European Cups. I wanted the league more though for obvious reasons, and its what we all want primarily. Jamal Lewis guys? At £10m I'll be quite happy with that, might not have had the best season but clearly has talent, stylistically looks like he'll fit in and next to VVD won't be quite the same as Norwich's unfortunate rolling cast of unsuitables/injury covers. Doesn't get a load of expectation thrown on him immediately either as he's got arguably the best about ahead of him so it'll be known he's here as backup initially. Also fills Lallana's homegrown squad spot. Shows just how much of a bargain Robbo was too!
I’d take it but I don’t think Norwich will, they are very well set financially and £10m seems a bit light.
Not sure I'd fully agree with that. I just think Spain views European competition in higher regard than England does. Of course English teams want to win the European cup, but the domestic league is more competitive. Look at how many different sides have won it, or at least put a decent challenge in, even over the last decade. Spain is a two team league, either Madrid or Barca win it, depending on who has the better season and then winning in Europe is their mark of a good season.
Disagree on this mate, the CW Cup was always seen as the weakest by a long way. It was that bad they scrapped it I know the old European Cup had some weak teams in it i.e. champions of Iceland, Finland, etc but these were at least usually the very best these countries had to offer. whereas the CWC would often have lower league clubs from these countries. Hell you'd even see Wrexham, Bangor City, etc in there via the Welsh Cup Of the three comps the UEFA Cup would often be the hardest to win.
I think you have misread/misunderstood what I was saying chief. I wasn't saying CWC was as prestigious as UEFA Cup. I am saying the context of trophies changes over the years, and that it was more prestigious than Europa League is now (though the CL place recently probably changes that to some extent, which really just backs up my point really). Though at least you had to win something to qualify for it and of course Bangor played as many times in old UEFA Cup as they did CWC
