European Royalty

[Hansern]

Benfica getting Real Madrid in the knock out rounds is pretty funny.

 

[Frogfish]

I like the fact you play 7 different teams, instead of home and away against three teams. BUT, not playing everyone in your league distorts the eventual standings.

Alternate format - I'd almost prefer six groups of six, and add in a wildcard sixth game versus someone from another group.
- The top two of each group going through to playoffs,
- Third and forth going through to playoffs making 12 teams in the playoffs, but only four teams make it through to next round
- The playoff round is four groups of three - one winner per group.
- This gives you a more real group stage, where people play all the teams in their initial group.

Talk about convoluted !

 

[localny]

Right-ee-o...


"Convoluted" originated in the 17th century from the Latin convolūtus (past participle of convolvere), meaning "to roll together, coil, or twist". Originally used to describe physical, coiled, or spiral objects—such as intestines or shells—the term evolved in the 18th century to metaphorically describe complex, intricate, or difficult-to-follow arguments, plots, and ideas.
Etymology and Historical Development:

• Root: The word derives from the Latin con- ("together") and volvere ("to roll"), tracing back to the PIE root *wel- ("to turn, revolve").
• Early Usage (1690s–1750s): The verb form convolute appeared in the 1690s, while the adjective convoluted (as a past-participle adjective) appeared around 1752.
• Physical to Metaphorical Shift: Initially, it described literal shapes (e.g., twisted, folded structures). Over time, it transitioned to mean "involved," "intricate," or "hard to unravel," describing convoluted logic, plots, or bureaucracy.

Meaning and Usage:

• Literal: Rolled or wound together, coiled (e.g., in botanical or anatomical contexts).
• Figurative: Extremely complex, involved, and difficult to understand.
• USAGE: Sometimes used by SCM fans to describe next level organizational thinking in football.

It is often used in modern English to describe unnecessarily complicated explanations or narratives that twist like a maze."