UCL Draw Thread

[bethos1 802]

The more "boring" the better in the group stage.

Means we can rotate and keep players fresh, remember what happened the last time we had a "entertaining" group?

That is if we actually will rotate this season..

[Tomo 21,733]

That is if we actually will rotate this season..

We did a lot box rotating (for our standards) in the group stage last season.

The group stages is the best time to take calculated gambles with selection.

[marketing media pet 27]

Piss easy group mate !

[Adnane 1,101]

First José trip to Porto after leaving ?

[Clockwork 1,794]

The more "boring" the better in the group stage.

Means we can rotate and keep players fresh, remember what happened the last time we had a "entertaining" group?

I do, isn't football about entertainment and memories? The shakhtar game(Moses header especially) and the ones against Juve( Oscar debut especially) is as momrable as any group stage matches.

The only thing i can remember from last season group stage are the results........scratch that i can even remember that all i can remember is we advanced.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea would have been a treat, a matchup to savor and remember for many years.

[Tomo 21,733]

I do, isn't football about entertainment and memories? The shakhtar game(Moses header especially) and the ones against Juve( Oscar debut especially) is as momrable as any group stage matches.

The only thing i can remember from last season group stage are the results........scratch that i can even remember that all i can remember is we advanced.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea would have been a treat, a matchup to savor and remember for many years.

Can't we get that in the knockout rounds?

Ask any manager and they would want the group stage to be as stress free as possible.

[yuvala 2,167]

To decide if I want to head to Portugal for the away leg.. Anyone been before? Is it safe?

Why wouldn't it be safe? it's quite a popular travel destination.

[Steve 10,227]

Why wouldn't it be safe? it's quite a popular travel destination.

I don't mean the area, I mean the homes fans to travelling fans.

[yuvala 2,167]

I don't mean the area, I mean the homes fans to travelling fans.

Oh right.. makes sense now.

Cant help with that :\

[Steve 10,227]

Oh right.. makes sense now.

Cant help with that :\

All good

[Cosmin 2,484]

Can't we get that in the knockout rounds?

Ask any manager and they would want the group stage to be as stress free as possible.

An easy group can make you look better than you really are. It doesn't prepare you good enough for the knockout rounds. You walk against these weak opponents and then, when you meet the big boys, you get knocked out just like last season. I would've loved a group with two weaker teams like Maccabi and Kiev BUT with another team that is stronger than Porto. Let's say Real Madrid. If you get a group like this, you will surely qualify, since Maccabi and Kiev are clearly not better than Chelsea but you will also see how good you really are by playing against Real Madrid. If you can only get the second spot, then so be it, but at least you don't finish first and think that "wow, we're so good" and then PSG comes and eliminates you in the first knockout round.

If we are going to want easy opponents and fear the big boys, we will never be one of the big boys, to be honest.

[Fernando 6,454]

I still think we can make it far if Mourinho doesn't screw up with his tactics like last season.

That was borderline pathetic and we should have been playing against Barcelona.

Chelsea always plays good against Barcelona no matter who the coach is. So we missed a great game last season with them.

Let's hope Mourinho is not so conservative in the knockout phase.

Conservatism can be great in league games where you get points, but not good in CL where away goals can kill you!

[bethos1 802]

We did a lot box rotating (for our standards) in the group stage last season.

The group stages is the best time to take calculated gambles with selection.

I agree with that but still I would've liked some more exciting teams in our group.

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

Man City make audacious £100m bid for Man Utd’s Champions League group

Manchester City have made an audacious £100m bid for Manchester United’s Champions League group, claiming those fixtures are all it requires to reach the knockout stages of this year’s competition.

The move comes after City were drawn with Juventus, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach, a difficult situation which the club are keen to throw some more money at.

Man City owner Sheikh Mansour said, “We see United’s fixtures against PSV and Wolfsburg to be just what this club needs to take it to the next level, and we’re willing to back the manager to make that a reality.”

“We will not be held to ransom, but if our manager wants it, we will open our chequebook and start writing a number with lots of zeros.”

Man City Champions League draw

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini spoke of his excitement at possibly securing Manchester United’s group.

Pellegrini told reporters, “Obviously Manchester United has a highly desirable fixture list, and maybe it is not right for me to talk about another club’s fixtures, but we would like these games at the City of Manchester stadium, for sure.”

However Manchester United are set to reject any approach.

A United spokesperson told us, “We’ve worked hard on UEFA for twenty years now to ensure we get an easy group year on year, and we have no intention of selling that – no matter what price they offer.

[Tomo 21,733]

An easy group can make you look better than you really are. It doesn't prepare you good enough for the knockout rounds. You walk against these weak opponents and then, when you meet the big boys, you get knocked out just like last season. I would've loved a group with two weaker teams like Maccabi and Kiev BUT with another team that is stronger than Porto. Let's say Real Madrid. If you get a group like this, you will surely qualify, since Maccabi and Kiev are clearly not better than Chelsea but you will also see how good you really are by playing against Real Madrid. If you can only get the second spot, then so be it, but at least you don't finish first and think that "wow, we're so good" and then PSG comes and eliminates you in the first knockout round.

If we are going to want easy opponents and fear the big boys, we will never be one of the big boys, to be honest.

Tbh if we get complacent against Barcelona because we beat Tel Aviv then quite frankly we don't deserve to get anywhere. I'm sure Barca had pretty easy groups on the way to winning their four CLs in the last ten years, Real in the group stage we would use up lots of energy on them and could be knackered for a league game and drop two vital points that could cost us in the league.

Furthermore, Porto will be a decent test anyway, especially at The Dragao, it is probably the equivalent off going to White Hart Lane which isn't easy at all.

[Clockwork 1,794]

Hehe city got another tough one.

Just like I was saying those tipping city to win the title.

They always fall apart by December January time frame and always dissapoint in the CL.

Until they prove that otherwise they don't scare me.

Do you think we could have done better then City in the CL with their draw?

Last two seasons they have been knocked out by Barcelona, no shame in losing to argubly the best side in football. Three years ago they were in a group with Real Madrid, Dortmund, and Ajax. Madrid and Dortmund were both simi finilist in that year competition. They have dissapointed in the past, but in recent years i don't think so. City and the rest of PL are not good enough to compete with the best clubs in the world.

On the other hand we have been quite lucky with our draws, we honesly should have done better especially last season.

[Oscar 441]

freakin United and their easy draws every year...

This is like the first time in a while that madrid was grouped in a challenging group stage.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

of course a home tie against Bradford City was gonna be easy and boring..