The odd thing about the Liverpool-Celtic ties is that Everton is still considered the 'Catholic' club of the city. Modern history of signings makes that seem counterintuitive (and you think 'bluenose' for each...) but that was confirmed to me by a good mate who's an Everton fan. As for the Champions League: thank goodness the second group stage is set to go next year, meaning that it'll be two-leg knockout from the last 16. A step away from the European league, and a smart move too, as the attendences alone proved that there was no appetite for the 'dead games' of the group phases. Oh, and I can't help but feel a little aggrieved that the Man Utds and Newcastles have knocked out actual league champions, when I don't think they should even be in the competition. In the past, the UEFA Cup was interesting because it tended to feature clubs that were on the rise, when the European Cup often had champions who had peaked the season before. But with the current setup, it does seem to be just a bit same-old-same-old for the later rounds. Just as the Brazilian team lost some of its magic when the top players started playing in Europe, rather than only appearing, it seemed, for the World Cup, the magic of 'European night' has diminished somewhat when Man Utd vs. Bayern Munich becomes a twice-yearly occurrence. (Rather like the impact of interleague play on Major League Baseball, I imagine.)
Found this on the Guardian site: This week there's been tonnes more correspondence about Liverpool being a Protestant club and Everton being Catholic. Thanks to everyone who wrote in. Our favourite anecdote comes from Dr C.P. Bailey of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He says one of his Grandad's favourite stories was that "when he married my Nana in the 20s, he had to renounce Catholicism (she was Protestant), and thereby severing all ties with his family. When asked to change is football team to Liverpool from Everton, however, he told his future in-laws where to go. He did get to marry my Liverpudlian Grandma, but remained a proud Evertonian!" he says. However Sam Johnstone of the Football Research Unit at Liverpool University says those speculating on the origins of the Liverpool-Everton, Protestant-Catholic thing are talking nonsense. "Both clubs were founded by the same people (essentially the wealthy, protestant middle classes of 19th-century Liverpool) from the same church (St Domingo's, a protestant church)," he says. "The story of Liverpool's formation is familiar to all. Everton were formed in 1878, team falls out with John Houlding (the guy who owns Anfield), Houlding forms Liverpool FC in 1892, the rest we know about. What is more interesting is the involvement of the Masons. The guys who formed LFC and EFC were wealthy, middle class, protestant, businessmen and, importantly, pillars of the political and religious establishment (Houlding went on to become Lord Mayor of Liverpool). Freemasonry attracted these very people (for many reasons) and it is known that Houlding and his friend W. Barclay were in the Lodge. "And, of course, this was repeated nationwide. For those teams that didn't come specifically from the Catholic church (Celtic), it was likely that the factory and mill owners were involved in charitable organisations, religion and politics (all masonic activities). It is no coincidence that the meeting that led to the formation of the FA took place in a pub called the Freemason's Tavern. Or am I just a conspiracy theorist?"
etagloh: I disagree with you about allowing non-Champions into the Champions League. A competition to determine to best team in Europe should have all the best teams competing in it. The fact that both Manchester United and Newcastle United knocked out league champions only illustrates how the calibre of the tournament has improved. In the past, the UEFA Cup often looked as strong as the European Cup. These days the winners of the Champions League are unambiguously the best team in Europe. I don't see why it is supposed to be boring when Manchester United seemingly play Bayern every year, yet it not boring when Tottenham play Everton every year.
