- Jul 20, 2017
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We are going to win the champions league
Sorry to disappoint you. I think it's quite clear that my predictions are pretty crap so I'll stick to something a little easier to predict like the National Lottery...
Looking at the last round of games, I think Roma may top that group. They should beat Qarabag easily and Chelsea would need to beat Atletico.As it stands we're likely to be drawn against one of:
- Juventus - Rather avoid
- Bayern Munich - Rather avoid
- Napoli / Shaktar - Dangerous but could play into our hands
- Roma - Confident we'd get past them
- Sevilla - Confident we'd get past them
- Basel - Potential banana skin as too similar to last season
- Porto / RB Leipzig - Confident we'd get past them
Only ones I'd like to avoid are Juve, Bayern and Basel. All the others will be decent games.
Woooha, you arrived at 25% chance for winning CL?
I think there are plenty of similarities between the match vs Chelsea, United and Arsenal. It's not really about sitting back defensively, it's more about cruise control to wait out our errors. To a degree, I think we deserved a loss in all those matches, because we simply weren't up to the task. All I'm saying is that way of playing, that pattern that those three matches follows, it makes me worried because it's too much of a painting by numbers way to defeat us.
I'm not. I was present for Chelsea and is voicing exactly what I said during and directly after the game. Whats Chelsea, United and Arsenal back to back. You'll see what I mean (if you have eyes ).I think you are hindsighting - both Chelsea and United were very fortunate to beat us, especially United.
Which I think they'll do...Looking at the last round of games, I think Roma may top that group. They should beat Qarabag easily and Chelsea would need to beat Atletico.
Logic with Basel is based on how we generally play against different types of teams. We play better against teams who look to attack us and we can nick the ball and quickly expose the space left behind. Basel are generally quite difficult to break down and have a history of decent results in Europe against English teams.Don't understand the logic with Basel - we are a different animal in Europe to last year's campaign and judging by those potential ties, then Basel would likely represent the best draw for us.
I'd also rather play Juventus than Napoli personally
Just on the points in bold, you're saying Juventus would be a more difficult opponent than Napoli, but you'd prefer to draw them ?Which I think they'll do...
Logic with Basel is based on how we generally play against different types of teams. We play better against teams who look to attack us and we can nick the ball and quickly expose the space left behind. Basel are generally quite difficult to break down and have a history of decent results in Europe against English teams.
2011/12 Drew with Utd at home and beat them away in CL
2012/13 Knocked us out of EL on penalties (after drawing home & away)
2013/14 Beat Chelsea both home & away in CL
2017/18 Beat Man Utd at home in CL
One or two decent results could be dismissed as luck but they've shown they can be dangerous if underestimated.
Interesting on the Juve/Napoli one... Personally I would take Juve over Napoli any day of the week. Yes Napoli are in form at the moment but Juve are a much tougher prospect and have more quality to call on (can see Napoli falling away after Christmas).
Ah no, just my bad grammar I would rate Juve above Napoli, more quality across the squad and proven performers in crunch games.Just on the points in bold, you're saying Juventus would be a more difficult opponent than Napoli, but you'd prefer to draw them ?
Woooha, you arrived at 25% chance for winning CL?
I think there are plenty of similarities between the match vs Chelsea, United and Arsenal. It's not really about sitting back defensively, it's more about cruise control to wait out our errors. To a degree, I think we deserved a loss in all those matches, because we simply weren't up to the task. All I'm saying is that way of playing, that pattern that those three matches follows, it makes me worried because it's too much of a painting by numbers way to defeat us.
Logic with Basel is based on how we generally play against different types of teams. We play better against teams who look to attack us and we can nick the ball and quickly expose the space left behind. Basel are generally quite difficult to break down and have a history of decent results in Europe against English teams.
My thinking is that we 'can' struggle to break down a well drilled deep block though and I think that was our big downfall in the CL last season. We controlled possession against both Monaco & Leverkusen at Wembley as both sat back, let us attack them and hit us on the counter. We played into their hands and were punished in both games.I'm not sure that's really true. Our counter-attacking strategy is a relatively new one (we saw it at the Bernabeu this season, but not that often in previous years under Poch). Our core footballing DNA is surely based on us having possession, not the opposition.
Yes, hope so but as one gets closer to returning we lose another at the moment. It will be a big determinant of our season, we desperately need good injury luck.I'm just going to say this: if Toby, Wanyama and Lamela all return to fitness and last season's levels before next Februar, and we don't suffer any more major injuries, then I like our chances against any rival... and I mean any.
can we talk about Europa results in here ?
lolololololol
As it stands we're likely to be drawn against one of:
- Juventus - Rather avoid
- Bayern Munich - Rather avoid
- Napoli / Shaktar - Dangerous but could play into our hands
- Roma - Confident we'd get past them
- Sevilla - Confident we'd get past them
- Basel - Potential banana skin as too similar to last season
- Porto / RB Leipzig - Confident we'd get past them
Only ones I'd like to avoid are Juve, Bayern and Basel. All the others will be decent games.
In Seville our fans will get beaten to pulps by Spanish police and probably not even let into the stadium. No thanks.In terms of combining an away trip with a nice City you would actually want to visit and a chance of getting though Porto and Sevilla would be nice
I'd rather play the highest profile teams in Europe. It's just more fun, win or lose.
Bring on Bayern or Juventus.