UCL Draw Thread

[Tomo 21,751]

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 21,751]

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 6,585]

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.