UCL Draw Thread

[iseah100 5,612]

Man they're gonna fuck us up.

[Essien19 1,415]

Yes, PSG are steamrolling the league, again, good on them, but is that really an advantage?
That means no real test and challenge till our boys are coming, i don't want to have that, honestly speaking.

They can rest some players, but you need to be really up for it in one decisive moment, is that possible when tinkering?
The resumes of Mourinho and Ancelotti in cup competitions don't exist without case.
For me, you need maximum knowledge of your mates, where they will be at which times, that's learning by doing.

Whatever happens, i don't see PSG favorites just because of these stated reasons, sorry.

It's obvious, but we have to improve at defending set pieces, especially headers.
Kompany already bossed us in that department in this season, we have seen it all before, sadly.
Sometimes i think Mourinho overestimates the impact caused by aerial threats, but now we need it, who is gonna bail us out?
Costa is not a beast in the air, Matic is off-limits, are Ivanovic, Cahill and Terry really up for it? Doubt it...
I see one man, Zouma, but that won't be enough, just don't know yet what to do to solve the problem.

Can anyone tell if Papy could do the job? Otherwise we need to buy as soon as possible!
Don't want to see men against boys...

We are in desperate need of leadership. PSG players are bullies, who is gonna stand up for us?
Someone has to give Costa valerian tea, otherwise he will most likely be sent off, they will target him, Luiz and others are just nasty.

We need to pass quickly, they will go after Hazard and Willian, tackle or simply cut them down, disgusting.

More direct play instead of shifting the play from one side to another, no silly turnovers and as a result of devastating counter attacks
with the likes of Lucas, Di Maria, Pastore Cavani and so on orchestrated by maestro Verratti. If than can't be executed, sweep it away.
Keep it tight!
Costa and Hazard are liabilities, imo, don't even want to think about Cesc and Ivanovic.

Courtois, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Willian, maybe Oscar, would be up for it today, imo, thank fuck there is still some time left.

Since 2011, Guardiola, Heynckes, Simeone, Klopp, Blanc got the better of Mourinho.
He is still one of the best coaches around, but the special aura of invincibility has been gone for quite some time, imo.

Even if we lose, i still be in his corner, because for me it's not just about winning, but i think for a number of footie fans his reputation is on the line,
Jose Mourinho really needs to pull off a masterclass and continue in this competition.
No one can take away his achievements which were won in the past. Sometimes shit happens, but it can't happen over a number of years.

I'm really pumped by this news, i wanted to play them badly, because i think they are beatable for us, but we need to bring our a-game.

That's what Champions-League is all about, at least for me.

Someone already said it: PSG are the new Liverpool.

Bring your shit!

Greetings.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Yes, PSG are steamrolling the league, again, good on them, but is that really an advantage?

That means no real test and challenge till our boys are coming, i don't want to have that, honestly speaking.

They can rest some players, but you need to be really up for it in one decisive moment, is that possible when tinkering?

The resumes of Mourinho and Ancelotti in cup competitions don't exist without case.

For me, you need maximum knowledge of your mates, where they will be at which times, that's learning by doing.

Whatever happens, i don't see PSG favorites just because of these stated reasons, sorry.

It's obvious, but we have to improve at defending set pieces, especially headers.

Kompany already bossed us in that department in this season, we have seen it all before, sadly.

Sometimes i think Mourinho overestimates the impact caused by aerial threats, but now we need it, who is gonna bail us out?

Costa is not a beast in the air, Matic is off-limits, are Ivanovic, Cahill and Terry really up for it? Doubt it...

I see one man, Zouma, but that won't be enough, just don't know yet what to do to solve the problem.

Can anyone tell if Papy could do the job? Otherwise we need to buy as soon as possible!

Don't want to see men against boys...

We are in desperate need of leadership. PSG players are bullies, who is gonna stand up for us?

Someone has to give Costa valerian tea, otherwise he will most likely be sent off, they will target him, Luiz and others are just nasty.

We need to pass quickly, they will go after Hazard and Willian, tackle or simply cut them down, disgusting.

More direct play instead of shifting the play from one side to another, no silly turnovers and as a result of devastating counter attacks

with the likes of Lucas, Di Maria, Pastore Cavani and so on orchestrated by maestro Verratti. If than can't be executed, sweep it away.

Keep it tight!

Costa and Hazard are liabilities, imo, don't even want to think about Cesc and Ivanovic.

Courtois, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Willian, maybe Oscar, would be up for it today, imo, thank fuck there is still some time left.

Since 2011, Guardiola, Heynckes, Simeone, Klopp, Blanc got the better of Mourinho.

He is still one of the best coaches around, but the special aura of invincibility has been gone for quite some time, imo.

Even if we lose, i still be in his corner, because for me it's not just about winning, but i think for a number of footie fans his reputation is on the line,

Jose Mourinho really needs to pull off a masterclass and continue in this competition.

No one can take away his achievements which were won in the past. Sometimes shit happens, but it can't happen over a number of years.

I'm really pumped by this news, i wanted to play them badly, because i think they are beatable for us, but we need to bring our a-game.

That's what Champions-League is all about, at least for me.

Someone already said it: PSG are the new Liverpool.

Bring your shit!

Greetings.

Sorry but this is the same lies English fans tell themselves over and over again and that is simply not true.

Having an easier ride in the League does indeed help big clubs in Europe. That statement of "no real test" to prepare therefore bad performance when it counts hasnt been proven right at all. Just look at how well clubs with easier schedules have done in UCL compared to English sides.

I will repeat it for the hundredth time, the harder the EPL gets, the worse teams will do in the Champions League. Managers have been quite vocal about this in the past couple of years and its true. It isnt because they are cry babies or anything...

[ZOS 580]

fuck David Luiz, it's pay back time. Come on Chels!!

[Henrique 9,133]

I'm the only one who think this draw is pretty suspicious?

[manpe 10,861]

PSG again. We have to get our revenge

Last year was PSG's revenge for the year before (Demba Baaa!!). We're even now and starting on clean slate, there is nothing to avenge.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Football is so predictable now. I knew we were going to get them, and only them.

[Henrique 9,133]

Sorry but this is the same lies English fans tell themselves over and over again and that is simply not true.

Having an easier ride in the League does indeed help big clubs in Europe. That statement of "no real test" to prepare therefore bad performance when it counts hasnt been proven right at all. Just look at how well clubs with easier schedules have done in UCL compared to English sides.

I will repeat it for the hundredth time, the harder the EPL gets, the worse teams will do in the Champions League. Managers have been quite vocal about this in the past couple of years and its true. It isnt because they are cry babies or anything...

You are brave to read Essien18 books. Anyway, you just wrote another myth. EPL is not getting that harder, actually the top dogs are getting weaker. Just compare Chelsea and United squad from last decade. In terms of quality of both teams, for me 08 Final was the best UCL since Milan vs Juventus derby in 2003. The fact this Chelsea squad easily won the league last season speaks loud about the current state of things. Years ago, while Barcelona and Bayern were getting easy rides in their domestic league, Liverpool who was struggling to in 3rd or 4th place of PL were clearly stronger than them.

PL poor record in recent seasons is not related with PL getting harder as if the league had so much more quality at this point. Its more related with top dogs unable to emulate the former glory due to bad market decisions and lack of tactical inovations.

[LAM09 6,777]

Last year was PSG's revenge for the year before (Demba Baaa!!). We're even now and starting on clean slate.

The manner in which we went out was awful. We need avenge that

[DYC. 7,542]

Hopefully we'll be in a beast form when we're playing PSG. This really looks fixed though. PSG again? Barca-Arsenal again? Nah fuck this shit.

Last time Arsenal faced Barca was in 2011. 2010 in the 1/8 finals after beating Porto. It's not that regular tbh.

It's not that it's fixed but the regulations really limit the options. They should just throw 16 teams in a pot and draw, regardless of country or previous meetings in group stage. Chelsea met Liverpool five times in a row at one point. This with PSG is nothing yet.

They should also get rid of the not being able to face clubs out of the same country in the group stage too. That would make the CL more fun. The quality in the knock-out rounds would drop but now it's becoming too much of the same. The big clubs already have the money advantage, hogging all the talent.

It's amazing how Chelsea never faced Real btw.

[Chelsea4 1,521]

We will win,come on Chelsea. :blue scalf:

[LAM09 6,777]

For some reason, I'm quite confident. We'll hopefully buy well in Jan and return to form.

[lucio 5,418]

I'm the only one who think this draw is pretty suspicious?

I think it's straight rigged , but nothing we can do or say

[The Power 147]

It really does feel like Arsenal play Barca almost every campaign

Oh well, I'm hoping we can beat PSG but honestly, I'd rather we took our chances back in the Europa League... hopefully we can strengthen in the January transfer window (I'd say a new LB like Bertrand, a CM like Cabaye and a new striker like maybe recalling Bamford) and get our season back on track!

[Spike 12,049]

Booooring. A new match would be nice.

[Essien19 1,415]

Sorry but this is the same lies English fans tell themselves over and over again and that is simply not true.

Having an easier ride in the League does indeed help big clubs in Europe. That statement of "no real test" to prepare therefore bad performance when it counts hasnt been proven right at all. Just look at how well clubs with easier schedules have done in UCL compared to English sides.

I will repeat it for the hundredth time, the harder the EPL gets, the worse teams will do in the Champions League. Managers have been quite vocal about this in the past couple of years and its true. It isnt because they are cry babies or anything...

Okay man, i think we have to differ between having an easier schedule around the big clashes and having other big clubs within the league.

Two different arguments, imo.

I think tweaking the schedule can help you, but does it make that huge of a difference?

How often does the Spanish league (currently the top dog) change their schedule just because of some Champions-Leauge knockout games?

As far as i'm aware of not so often, i think before a game against Bayern Munich there were changes for Real Madrid, but otherwise?

How often does Barcelona get facilitations? I don't remeber any, sorry, can you back it up?

The German Bundesliga sees it similar, i think.

Back in the day, the Premier-Leauge destroyed Europa, no matter how the schedule was, they were just that good, imo.

The quality of the top teams have regressed, imo. How many world-beaters are currently playing in England?

Most of the very best don't even play in England anymore and some of the tactical systems went down the drain, imo.

No more flexibility and the systems can easily be countered. Technical abilities> physical abilities (imo).

Manchester City played often with 2 strikers in Europa, they payed the price, imo.

Some years ago i read an article in a big German newspaper about the innovations in the Premier-League (~2008);

quick passing, scouting system and so on, they fucked it all up, imo.

Not so long ago Bayern Munich were nowhere near the level they currently possess.

The Bundesliga lacked a consistent and aggressive competitor, then Dortmund showed up and gave Bayern a good run for their money.

Overall the whole league has upped their game in the last years and look what has happened?

Bayern has become a real Europan powerhouse. For me, because of the harder competition.

The top ~8 clubs in Spain are really good, imo and they challenge each other for the championship.

Yes, only the top 3 win it in the end, but Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and others are able to beat the top dogs any day.

Just rewatch yesterday's match: Real Madrid against Villarreal.

But i don't think the Spanish clubs did too badly in Europa over the last years, did they?

League 1 don't offer a good competition: there is only PSG and no one is able to keep up with them over a whole season, imo.

How do you improve when you don't know exactly about your strengths and weaknesses?

Final words:

I hear you, mate.

The English league is hard and one loses a lot of strength participating in it.

But the clubs are able to have big squads around the house and should (have done) better.

I think we can speak of a cocking pot; a lot of ingredients have been put in and they make one hell of a cocktail in the end of the day.

There is a grain of truth in your thinking, i don't want to deny it, but your equations and are too simple.

"Having an easier ride in the League does indeed help big clubs in Europe"

"the harder the EPL gets, the worse teams will do in the Champions League"

Agree to disagree.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Okay man, i think we have to differ between having an easier schedule around the big clashes and having other big clubs within the league.

Two different arguments, imo.

I think tweaking the schedule can help you, but does it make that huge of a difference?

How often does the Spanish league (currently the top dog) change their schedule just because of some Champions-Leauge knockout games?

As far as i'm aware of not so often, i think before a game against Bayern Munich there were changes for Real Madrid, but otherwise?

How often does Barcelona get facilitations? I don't remeber any, sorry, can you back it up?

The German Bundesliga sees it similar, i think.

Back in the day, the Premier-Leauge destroyed Europa, no matter how the schedule was, they were just that good, imo.

The quality of the top teams have regressed, imo. How many world-beaters are currently playing in England?

Most of the very best don't even play in England anymore and some of the tactical systems went down the drain, imo.

No more flexibility and the systems can easily be countered. Technical abilities> physical abilities (imo).

Manchester City played often with 2 strikers in Europa, they payed the price, imo.

Some years ago i read an article in a big German newspaper about the innovations in the Premier-League (~2008);

quick passing, scouting system and so on, they fucked it all up, imo.

Not so long ago Bayern Munich were nowhere near the level they currently possess.

The Bundesliga lacked a consistent and aggressive competitor, then Dortmund showed up and gave Bayern a good run for their money.

Overall the whole league has upped their game in the last years and look what has happened?

Bayern has become a real Europan powerhouse. For me, because of the harder competition.

The top ~8 clubs in Spain are really good, imo and they challenge each other for the championship.

Yes, only the top 3 win it in the end, but Sevilla, Valencia, Villareal and others are able to beat the top dogs any day.

Just rewatch yesterday's match: Real Madrid against Villarreal.

But i don't think the Spanish clubs did too badly in Europa over the last years, did they?

League 1 don't offer a good competition: there is only PSG and no one is able to keep up with them over a whole season, imo.

How do you improve when you don't know exactly about your strengths and weaknesses?

Final words:

I hear you, mate.

The English league is hard and one loses a lot of strength participating in it.

But the clubs are able to have big squads around the house and should (have done) better.

I think we can speak of a cocking pot; a lot of ingredients have been put in and they make one hell of a cocktail in the end of the day.

There is a grain of truth in your thinking, i don't want to deny it, but your equations and are too simple.

Agree to disagree.

Sorry but you always tackle weird points in peoples arguments. You wrote all of this and none of it was about the main point of my argument. But w/e, if you didnt understand theres nothing I can do. Nothing against you, but I am over with properly debating on TC. I am past the point when I would actually engage on conversations and try to properly explain my point of view.

[iseah100 5,612]

They're gonna smack us like 8-2 on aggregate.