UCL Draw Thread

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Everything you need to know about the draw from a Chelsea perspective: http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/18738-champions-league-group-stage-draw-who-can-chelsea-draw

[Jase 43,479]

To those wishing we get the big teams in the group stage, don't forget that immediately after 4 of our 6 group matches, we'll be facing Man City(A), Arsenal(H), Liverpool(A) and Man United(A) in the league.

[DYC. 7,542]

give me Dortmund, Ajax and Anderlecht

very little travel, not to hard a group, teams we've not faced before (alot)

Bizzare. That's exactly the group I wanted when looking at the pots haha.

[King11Didier 916]

Also who the fuck are Ludogorets Razgard??

A team from Bulgaria with very rich owner. I'm far from liking or supporting this team, but today made a really dramatic win over Steaua. Read more here:https://eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/defender-moti-goes-goal-champions-league-play-off-215048886.html

And I'm hoping Chelsea to drawn with them so I can go to the game in Bulgaria

[boshman 1,073]

Hmm... If they knocked Steaua out they must be half decent. I hope for your sake we draw them so you can watch us! :-)

[the Blues 11 19]

I hope we get Donetsk, Ajax and Ludogorets. That would be a nice group so we could focus on the prem. I think we'll get Schalke, Lisbon and Roma.

[Tomo 21,751]

Would like at least one of Dortmund/Juventus. Easy draws are boring.

Well you got your wish a couple of year's back and looked what happened?

I want the easiest possible (on paper) group stage and to get through after four games.

[The Chels 2,502]

Well you got your wish a couple of year's back and looked what happened?

I want the easiest possible (on paper) group stage and to get through after four games.

This team (and manager) is much better than the one we had in 12/13. I think your viewpoint is more common but personally I'd prefer us having a reasonably difficult group.

[LAM09 7,043]

Hmm... If they knocked Steaua out they must be half decent. I hope for your sake we draw them so you can watch us! :-)

They knocked Lazio out of the EL last season as well.

[Jase 43,479]

Can't understand people's fascination of wanting a tough group. It's like they have some death wish or something. Better off playing it in FIFA or FM!

[Jype 6,398]

Can't understand people's fascination of wanting a tough group. It's like they have some death wish or something. Probably better off playing in FIFA or FM!

Exactly. Last season we played 12 games in the Champions League and the weekend before these important CL games our record in the league was 5 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses. Points lost to Everton and Spurs could have happened any time and the timing for some of the other losses might have been just a coincidence too but if 6 out of our 7 losses in the league came before European games the easiest explanation would be that some of the lads already had their mind set on the CL and the team's preparation to face teams like Stoke or Crystal Palace might not have been as good as it should have been.

If we get an easy group and confirm first place after just four games we can just play the youngsters in the remaining fixtures and focus on the league. Also the difference between first and second place is huge, just look at Arsenal who finished second behind Dortmund in their group last year and were immediately drawn against Bayern München whereas for the group winners there were teams like Olympiacos, Milan etc. available.

No matter what there will be plenty of important games against big teams from February onwards so it's definitely best to just get out of the group stage unscathed and try to win as many league games as possible.

[Jase 43,479]

Exactly. Last season we played 12 games in the Champions League and the weekend before these important CL games our record in the league was 5 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses. Points lost to Everton and Spurs could have happened any time and the timing for some of the other losses might have been just a coincidence too but if 6 out of our 7 losses in the league came before European games the easiest explanation would be that some of the lads already had their mind set on the CL and the team's preparation to face teams like Stoke or Crystal Palace might not have been as good as it should have been.

If we get an easy group and confirm first place after just four games we can just play the youngsters in the remaining fixtures and focus on the league. Also the difference between first and second place is huge, just look at Arsenal who finished second behind Dortmund in their group last year and were immediately drawn against Bayern München whereas for the group winners there were teams like Olympiacos, Milan etc. available.

No matter what there will be plenty of important games against big teams from February onwards so it's definitely best to just get out of the group stage unscathed and try to win as many league games as possible.

Precisely. And like I pointed out previously, immediately after 4 of our 6 group matches, we'll be facing City, United, Liverpool and Arsenal with the first three being away games. Having to play 2 big games and potentially high tempo and intensity ones in 3-4 days is rather suicidal, when we can (hopefully) avoid such scenario.