Champions League

[snaw]

DUh, domestic sides

I thought you were talking about rugby for a minute there ...

[wendigo100]

There used to be a limit of four foreigners per team, including subs.

Coincidentally, Stuttgart came unstuck in 1992/3 for bringing on a fifth foreigner as a sub in the last minute while 3-0 up, against Leeds. They were forced to replay, lost, and Leeds went on to lose to Rangers in the next round.

Those were the days when only Champions took part. Man Utd got knocked out early in the next two seasons, and on both occasions they had to drop one of their foreigners for the crucial games. So they campaigned to get rid of the rule, and were helped by the case of a cr * p Belgian player called Bosman.

Nowadays, Arsenal just take the p*ss, and most of England's strikers are kicking their heels week after week on the bench instead of getting quality net-bulging time on the pitch.

[shaunbhoy]

and most of England's strikers are kicking their heels week after week on the bench

Or, more accurately, in the treatment room!

[wendigo100]

Or, more accurately, in the treatment room!

They are the only two who get a game!

[BoredBloke]

"Those were the days when only Champions took part. Man Utd got knocked out early in the next two seasons, and on both occasions they had to drop one of their foreigners for the crucial games."

Not quite - they had to drop loads of players. This is where Beckham and the rest got their early starts. I remeber games where the discussion was would they play Peter the red nosed goalie or Cantona. There were other overseas players who could have played but they had to play English fringe players instead. During those games our bench looked like a youth club.