Slavia's golden generation just might be able to make it through... I hope.
A Brave New World: Football after the Bosman Ruling (An Alternate TL)
- Thread starter Looper
- Start date
UEFA Champions League matchday 1
Group A: The Group A matches for matchday 1 of the Champions League are between Juventus and Club Brugge in Turin, and Rosenborg and Slavia Prague in Prague. Juventus took care of the Belgian champions easily, as Ronaldo would score a brace in the 4-1 win. Meanwhile, Karel Vacha would score an 88th minute winner, giving Slavia a 1-0 victory.
Group B: In Group B, PSV faces Atletico Madrid at the Philips Stadion, and Rapid Wien plays Steaua București in Romania. Atletico would strike early on through a Simeone header, but PSV would respond late thanks to Wim Jonk, securing a 1-1 draw. Rapid Wien win their match 3-0.
Group C: Auxerre plays Newcastle and Rangers meets Ferencvaros. Alan Shearer scores a penalty, and David Ginola would score one of his own for a 2-0 Newcastle win. Rangers and Ferencvaros would play out a dull 0-0 draw.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund goes head to head with Porto, while Fenerbahce meets Legia Warsaw. Clarence Seedorf would score a screamer for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-0 win, and Legia Warsaw also won 1-0 thanks to Cezary Kucharski.
Group B: In Group B, PSV faces Atletico Madrid at the Philips Stadion, and Rapid Wien plays Steaua București in Romania. Atletico would strike early on through a Simeone header, but PSV would respond late thanks to Wim Jonk, securing a 1-1 draw. Rapid Wien win their match 3-0.
Group C: Auxerre plays Newcastle and Rangers meets Ferencvaros. Alan Shearer scores a penalty, and David Ginola would score one of his own for a 2-0 Newcastle win. Rangers and Ferencvaros would play out a dull 0-0 draw.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund goes head to head with Porto, while Fenerbahce meets Legia Warsaw. Clarence Seedorf would score a screamer for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-0 win, and Legia Warsaw also won 1-0 thanks to Cezary Kucharski.
1996-97 Champions League matchday 2
Group A: Group A action features Juventus heading north to face Rosenborg, and Club Brugge hosting Slavia Prague. In Norway, Juve dominates, with Didier Deschamps and Ronaldo scoring in the 2-0 win. Club Brugge and Slavia Prague play out a dull 0-0 draw.
Group B: Group B sees PSV travel to Vienna and play Rapid Wien, while Atletico Madrid hosts Steaua Bucuresti in Madrid. PSV collects a tough 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Vampeta. Meanwhile, Atletico are stunned 2-1 by Steaua București thanks to a last minute winner from Tudorel Zamfirescu.
Group C: Auxerre meets Rangers in Glasgow, while Newcastle plays host to Ferencvaros. Auxerre sweep past the Scottish champions, winning 2-0 thanks to a Paul Lambert brace, while Newcastle beat Ferencvaros 3-1 thanks to two goals from David Ginola and one from Darren Peacock.
Group D: In Group D, Fenerbahce hosts Dortmund, while Legia Warsaw heads to Portugal to play Porto. Dortmund crush Fenerbahce 4-0, with Karl-Heinz Reidle scoring a hat trick, while Porto and Legia Warsaw split the points in a 1-1 draw.
Group B: Group B sees PSV travel to Vienna and play Rapid Wien, while Atletico Madrid hosts Steaua Bucuresti in Madrid. PSV collects a tough 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Vampeta. Meanwhile, Atletico are stunned 2-1 by Steaua București thanks to a last minute winner from Tudorel Zamfirescu.
Group C: Auxerre meets Rangers in Glasgow, while Newcastle plays host to Ferencvaros. Auxerre sweep past the Scottish champions, winning 2-0 thanks to a Paul Lambert brace, while Newcastle beat Ferencvaros 3-1 thanks to two goals from David Ginola and one from Darren Peacock.
Group D: In Group D, Fenerbahce hosts Dortmund, while Legia Warsaw heads to Portugal to play Porto. Dortmund crush Fenerbahce 4-0, with Karl-Heinz Reidle scoring a hat trick, while Porto and Legia Warsaw split the points in a 1-1 draw.
Last edited:
Sacked at Anfield
Following a 3-1 defeat against rivals Manchester United, in which Ole Gunner Solskjær scoring a hat-trick, Liverpool announce that they are sacking manager Roy Evans, as the club sits in 10th position after nine matches. They announce that former player Emlyn Hughes will take over on an interim basis, and the likes of former England manager Terry Venables and PSV coach Dick Advocaat linked to the job.
Didier Disaster, Liverpool’s new man
In an exciting Serie A match between Juventus and Roma, disaster hits for Bianconari as star midfielder Didier Deschamps suffers a freak injury, tearing his ACL. The challenge left Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi in tears, and had Del Piero looking ill on the pitch. Rubbing salt in the wound, breakout Roma star Francesco Totti scores an added time winner.
In less awful news, Liverpool announced their new boss. After Emlyn Hughes guided the club to wins over Everton, Derby County, and Blackburn Rovers, Hughes would step back for new permanent manager Terry Venables. Hughes wouldn’t have to wait too long for his next job, as he would take over as Oxford United boss.
In less awful news, Liverpool announced their new boss. After Emlyn Hughes guided the club to wins over Everton, Derby County, and Blackburn Rovers, Hughes would step back for new permanent manager Terry Venables. Hughes wouldn’t have to wait too long for his next job, as he would take over as Oxford United boss.
Tournament expansion
UEFA announces a realignment of their European competitions. To begin, the Champions League will expand to 24 clubs. To fill out these 24 clubs, the top two clubs will automatically qualify for the group stage from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The UCL and UEFA Cup winner will also automatically qualify, unless that team already qualified beforehand. The UCL winner will not be replaced, but the UEFA Cup winner will, either by the runner-up, or the highest ranked league champion that hasn’t automatically qualified. The champions of France, Russia, and Portugal will also automatically qualify. A third team can qualify from Italy, Spain, and England through the qualifying playoffs, as well as a second team from France, Russia, and Portugal. They will be thrown in with the champions of the rest of the European leagues in the qualifying rounds, and 10 teams will emerge to round out the 24 team groups.
The UEFA Cup will also expand to 24, with their automatic qualifying being as follows: the 4th place team in Serie A, La Liga, the English Premier League, 3rd place in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie, 3rd in Ligue 1, the Russian League, and the Portuguese league. The ten teams who lost the final qualification playoff for the Champions League will also join. The final 8 teams will be discovered by the playoffs, with the usual league places entering, as well as the domestic cup winners of the 4 best ranked federations. This is somewhat of a merger between the UEFA and Cup Winners Cup, which will be dissolved.
These changes are going to take place starting in the 1998-99 season. One final note is that the leagues that secure automatic entry can change, as the league coefficient rankings change. The coefficient will be based on each leagues European performance in the previous three seasons. So, the leagues that automatically qualify, and how many teams are entered, will be locked in place until the 2001-02 season.
The UEFA Cup will also expand to 24, with their automatic qualifying being as follows: the 4th place team in Serie A, La Liga, the English Premier League, 3rd place in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie, 3rd in Ligue 1, the Russian League, and the Portuguese league. The ten teams who lost the final qualification playoff for the Champions League will also join. The final 8 teams will be discovered by the playoffs, with the usual league places entering, as well as the domestic cup winners of the 4 best ranked federations. This is somewhat of a merger between the UEFA and Cup Winners Cup, which will be dissolved.
These changes are going to take place starting in the 1998-99 season. One final note is that the leagues that secure automatic entry can change, as the league coefficient rankings change. The coefficient will be based on each leagues European performance in the previous three seasons. So, the leagues that automatically qualify, and how many teams are entered, will be locked in place until the 2001-02 season.
Champions League matchday 3, League Cup Shocker
Group A: Juventus hosts Slavia Prague, while Club Brugge gets a visit from Rosenborg. Juve gets a late winner through a Ronaldo penalty, as Slavia fall to the Old Lady, 1-0. Elsewhere, Club Brugge is beaten at home, as Harald Brattbakk scores a brace in an easy 2-0 win.
Group B: PSV hosts Steaua București in Eindhoven, while Rapid Wien welcomes Atletico Madrid to Austria. Goals from Jaap Stamm and Philip Cocu would see PSV secure a 2-0 win, while Atletico Madrid would have their struggles continue, failing to register a shot on target. Thankfully for them, Rapid Wien would also fail to score, and the match ends 0-0.
Group C: Auxerre travels to Hungary to face Ferencvaros, while Newcastle meets Rangers at St. James’ Park. Auxerre easily wins 4-1, while Newcastle and Rangers provide a classic. Alan Shearer would begin the day with a brace within 10 minutes, and Newcastle appear to be cruising. However, Gordon Durie and Jorg Albertz would respond on either side of halftime, leveling the match at 2-2. Alec Cleland would make it 3-2 for Rangers with 6 minutes to go. Newcastle would not surrender, though. After on knocking on the door of the goal, center back Darren Peacock would unleash a missile from 29 yards out, sticking it into the top left corner and leveling the match at 3-3, where it would stay.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund hosts Legia Warsaw, while Porto visits Istanbul and meets Fenerbahce. Dortmund cruises past Legia Warsaw in a 5-0 victory, with Stéphane Chapuisat scoring a hat-trick. Meanwhile, the Fenerbahce crowd fails to rattle Porto, as dragões secure a 3-1 win.
One additional story comes from the third round of the Football League Cup, as Manchester United are stunned by Second Division side York City 1-0, as former Nottingham Forest striker Gary Bull scores a scramble goal in the 88th minute. The match is the first defeat that Man United have had all season.
Group B: PSV hosts Steaua București in Eindhoven, while Rapid Wien welcomes Atletico Madrid to Austria. Goals from Jaap Stamm and Philip Cocu would see PSV secure a 2-0 win, while Atletico Madrid would have their struggles continue, failing to register a shot on target. Thankfully for them, Rapid Wien would also fail to score, and the match ends 0-0.
Group C: Auxerre travels to Hungary to face Ferencvaros, while Newcastle meets Rangers at St. James’ Park. Auxerre easily wins 4-1, while Newcastle and Rangers provide a classic. Alan Shearer would begin the day with a brace within 10 minutes, and Newcastle appear to be cruising. However, Gordon Durie and Jorg Albertz would respond on either side of halftime, leveling the match at 2-2. Alec Cleland would make it 3-2 for Rangers with 6 minutes to go. Newcastle would not surrender, though. After on knocking on the door of the goal, center back Darren Peacock would unleash a missile from 29 yards out, sticking it into the top left corner and leveling the match at 3-3, where it would stay.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund hosts Legia Warsaw, while Porto visits Istanbul and meets Fenerbahce. Dortmund cruises past Legia Warsaw in a 5-0 victory, with Stéphane Chapuisat scoring a hat-trick. Meanwhile, the Fenerbahce crowd fails to rattle Porto, as dragões secure a 3-1 win.
One additional story comes from the third round of the Football League Cup, as Manchester United are stunned by Second Division side York City 1-0, as former Nottingham Forest striker Gary Bull scores a scramble goal in the 88th minute. The match is the first defeat that Man United have had all season.
I forgot to mention the Intertoto Cup, but it goes the way of the Dodo. As for the Cup Winners Cup, it is semi-merged with the UEFA Cup, so some teams that win their domestic cups will be involved in the tournament.
Sacking in Spain
A big story comes out of the Spanish capital, as a struggling Atletico Madrid sack manager Radomar Antić, with the team sitting 7th in La Liga and last place in their Champions League group. Club legend Joaquín Peiró is appointed as caretaker manager. Joe Royle of Everton is among the rumored managerial targets, as is Manchester United assistant manager Brian Kidd.
They are both doing alright, both competing for titles in Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo is about to join the Sporting academy, and when he comes through, I’ll get more into them.
1996-97 UCL matchday 4
Group A: As the fixtures flip, Slavia Prague hosts Juventus and Rosenborg welcomes Club Brugge. Station Eden sees Slavia draw with Bianconeri, 1-1. In Norway, Rosenborg loses to Club Brugge, 2-0, with Sven Vermant assisting both goals.
Group B: Steaua București welcomes PSV to Stadionul Ghencea, and Atletico Madrid gets a visit from Rapid Wien. PSV secure a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a Philip Cocu header, while, in Spain, Atletico Madrid draw their first Champions League match under Joaquín Peiró, 1-1.
Group C: Auxerre hosts Ferencvaros, while Ibrox Stadium hosts the reverse fixture for Newcastle and Rangers. Steve Marlet and Taribo West both score in a 2-0 AJA win, while Newcastle and Rangers fail to replicate the classic that preceded this match, as Paul Brayson scores the only goal in a 1-0 Newcastle win.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund enters Poland to face Legia Warsaw, and Porto hosts Fenerbahce. Dortmund again cruise to victory, as Andreas Möller assists all three goals in a 3-1 victory, while Fenerbahce gets a surprising 1-0 win over Porto, with Elvir Bolic scoring the late winner.
Group B: Steaua București welcomes PSV to Stadionul Ghencea, and Atletico Madrid gets a visit from Rapid Wien. PSV secure a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to a Philip Cocu header, while, in Spain, Atletico Madrid draw their first Champions League match under Joaquín Peiró, 1-1.
Group C: Auxerre hosts Ferencvaros, while Ibrox Stadium hosts the reverse fixture for Newcastle and Rangers. Steve Marlet and Taribo West both score in a 2-0 AJA win, while Newcastle and Rangers fail to replicate the classic that preceded this match, as Paul Brayson scores the only goal in a 1-0 Newcastle win.
Group D: Borussia Dortmund enters Poland to face Legia Warsaw, and Porto hosts Fenerbahce. Dortmund again cruise to victory, as Andreas Möller assists all three goals in a 3-1 victory, while Fenerbahce gets a surprising 1-0 win over Porto, with Elvir Bolic scoring the late winner.
UCL Group Stage concludes
Matchday 5
Group A: Juventus hosts Rosenborg, while Slavia Prague gets to host Club Brugge. Juve is able to eek out a tight win, as Michele Padovano scores a volley from 16 yards out, while Slavia Prague run out 3-1 winners over Club Brugge.
Group B: Rapid Wien meets PSV in the Philips Stadion, and Atletico Madrid visits Steaua București. In Eindhoven, PSV secure a good 2-0 win, and Atletico also wins, but just 1-0.
Group C: Auxerre and Rangers battle in France, and Newcastle leaves Tyneside for Hungary to play Ferencvaros. Auxerre gets a 2-1 win, as Richard Gough gets sent off for Rangers early on. Newcastle win their away match, 3-0.
Group D: Fenerbahce go to Germany to play Borussia Dortmund, and Porto visits Legia Warsaw. Lars Ricken scores a brace in a 3-0 Dortmund win, and Legia Warsaw secures a point in a dull 0-0 affair.
Matchday 6
Group A: Juventus goes to Belgium to play Club Brugge, and Rosenborg hosts Slavia Prague. Juve plays a heavily rotated squad, and Club Brugge takes advantage, winning 1-0. Meanwhile, Slavia Prague overturn a 1-0 deficit with two Karel Vacha goals in extra time, and Slavia beat Rosenborg 2-1.
Group B: PSV visits Atletico Madrid, and Rapid Wien welcomes Steaua București to Austria. PSV dominates possession, and they win 2-0 over Atletico, which is the same scoreline that Rapid Wien sees in their victory.
Group C: Auxerre visits Newcastle, and Rangers go to Hungary to play Ferencvaros. David Ginola and Paul Lambert both score in a 1-1 draw, and Rangers win 2-1 away.
Group D: Porto hosts a dominant Dortmund team, and Legia Warsaw travels to Turkey to meet Fenerbahce. Dortmund get goals from Martin Kree and Michael Zorc in their 2-0 win, while Legia and Fenerbahce play out a 1-1 draw.
Group A: Juventus hosts Rosenborg, while Slavia Prague gets to host Club Brugge. Juve is able to eek out a tight win, as Michele Padovano scores a volley from 16 yards out, while Slavia Prague run out 3-1 winners over Club Brugge.
Group B: Rapid Wien meets PSV in the Philips Stadion, and Atletico Madrid visits Steaua București. In Eindhoven, PSV secure a good 2-0 win, and Atletico also wins, but just 1-0.
Group C: Auxerre and Rangers battle in France, and Newcastle leaves Tyneside for Hungary to play Ferencvaros. Auxerre gets a 2-1 win, as Richard Gough gets sent off for Rangers early on. Newcastle win their away match, 3-0.
Group D: Fenerbahce go to Germany to play Borussia Dortmund, and Porto visits Legia Warsaw. Lars Ricken scores a brace in a 3-0 Dortmund win, and Legia Warsaw secures a point in a dull 0-0 affair.
Matchday 6
Group A: Juventus goes to Belgium to play Club Brugge, and Rosenborg hosts Slavia Prague. Juve plays a heavily rotated squad, and Club Brugge takes advantage, winning 1-0. Meanwhile, Slavia Prague overturn a 1-0 deficit with two Karel Vacha goals in extra time, and Slavia beat Rosenborg 2-1.
Group B: PSV visits Atletico Madrid, and Rapid Wien welcomes Steaua București to Austria. PSV dominates possession, and they win 2-0 over Atletico, which is the same scoreline that Rapid Wien sees in their victory.
Group C: Auxerre visits Newcastle, and Rangers go to Hungary to play Ferencvaros. David Ginola and Paul Lambert both score in a 1-1 draw, and Rangers win 2-1 away.
Group D: Porto hosts a dominant Dortmund team, and Legia Warsaw travels to Turkey to meet Fenerbahce. Dortmund get goals from Martin Kree and Michael Zorc in their 2-0 win, while Legia and Fenerbahce play out a 1-1 draw.
Group A
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | Juventus | 16 |
| 2. | Slavia Prague | 11 |
| 3. | Club Brugge | 7 |
| 4. | Rosenborg | 3 |
Group B
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | PSV | 16 |
| 2. | Rapid Wien | 8 |
| 3. | Atletico Madrid | 6 |
| 4. | Steaua București | 3 |
Group C
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | Newcastle United | 14 |
| 2. | Auxerre | 13 |
| 3. | Rangers | 5 |
| 4. | Ferencvaros | 0 |
Group D
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1. | Borussia Dortmund | 18 |
| 2. | Legia Warsaw | 6 |
| 3. | Porto | 5 |
| 4. | Fenerbahce | 4 |
Ballon d'or winner, January transfer window
A tight race for the Ballon d'or sees Alan Shearer claim the 1996 Ballon d'or ahead of Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and Alessandro Del Piero.
Now we go to the January 1997 transfer window. Early in the window sees a battle between AC Milan and Barcelona for Andriy Shevchenko. Dynamo Kiev, despite being keen to hold on to the striker, sell him after Barcelona makes them an offer they can't refuse, and the Ukrainian moves to Camp Nou for 8.5 million euros.
Another player that gets a change of scenery is Ebbe Sand. After having a breakout 1995-96 season, and continuing that momentum into this season, Werder Bremen secure his signature from Brondby for 7 million euros.
Ruud van Nistelrooy gets a move of his own in January, as Derby County fights off the likes of Duisburg and Genk to bring the 20 year-old to the East Midlands for 9.7 million euros.
FInally, Slavia Prague would make a nice signing, securing Hasan Sas for 8 million euros.
Now we go to the January 1997 transfer window. Early in the window sees a battle between AC Milan and Barcelona for Andriy Shevchenko. Dynamo Kiev, despite being keen to hold on to the striker, sell him after Barcelona makes them an offer they can't refuse, and the Ukrainian moves to Camp Nou for 8.5 million euros.
Another player that gets a change of scenery is Ebbe Sand. After having a breakout 1995-96 season, and continuing that momentum into this season, Werder Bremen secure his signature from Brondby for 7 million euros.
Ruud van Nistelrooy gets a move of his own in January, as Derby County fights off the likes of Duisburg and Genk to bring the 20 year-old to the East Midlands for 9.7 million euros.
FInally, Slavia Prague would make a nice signing, securing Hasan Sas for 8 million euros.