Hey all,
I know we have all talked about this at some point this season, but I thought I’d create a thread to both share an in depth explanation of the leaked/proposed format, and start a discussion of its implications for Sevilla FC.
First, as an American (estadounidense, for you Spaniards who are somehow hurt by the former term), the idea of this being like Tennis or a Swiss model… frankly make no sense to me. However, I think a simpler way to explain it to Yanks like me is that it’s more or less like March Madness. A tournament with brackets where you spread out the seeds to try and ensure a final with the strongest teams rather than ending up with the strongest teams facing each other in the Round of 16 or something.
I personally don’t have a strong opinion, but see it as a trade-off between two factors. The competitiveness factor, that I just described, and the logistics factor. I suspect that teams will like the change mostly, in the sense that it allows for a bit more forward planning. The team can make a reservation for hotels in two different cities and cancel one, instead of having to make 7 reservations (or more likely scramble to pull it together last minute). Obviously a hotel is a minor logistics cost for the team, but I think it’s just the general principle of this model allowing for a bit more forward planning.
I suspect some folks will be opposed on the ground of “it takes away the magic of the draw each round”, which I guess I understand. But anyone who has seen March Madness knows that it is far from lacking in magic. And I think the seeds actually create an even stronger storyline when a team can “overcome the odds”.
Thoughts? Debates? Blame :poop:? Fire Lopetegui?
