Champions League 18/19

[Slinky Skills]

For me this year we play full strength in every league game and if there is any rotation required (which there obviously will be) it's for the European games. I'd rather get knocked out in group stage if it helps us win the league. I'd rather we did both but realistically it won't happen.

[The_weatherman]

Which gives us less than 72 hrs prep after Arsenal; less considering we have to fly there.

It's the last game, we'll just have to secure qualification before that




Edit: Scratch that :duh:

[PTP]

Am I missing something - everyone I spoke to seems to think we're ****ed or we got a group of death

After last season's run, we look stronger this year, we should have the confidence to progress from this group imo

Also, imo being in Pot 3 it could have been much much worse.

The Chelsea draw in the carabao cup is a ballache as it doesnt' allow much room for rotation players - but as it is, we could line up in that game with Mig/Moreno/Lovren/Matip/Clyne - Henderson/Fabinho/Lallana - Sturridge/Shaqiri/Solanke - all players fighting to get in the team etc.

I cant wait for the champions league to get under way.

[The_weatherman]

Am I missing something - everyone I spoke to seems to think we're ****ed or we got a group of death

After last season's run, we look stronger this year, we should have the confidence to progress from this group imo

Also, imo being in Pot 3 it could have been much much worse.

The Chelsea draw in the carabao cup is a ballache as it doesnt' allow much room for rotation players - but as it is, we could line up in that game with Mig/Moreno/Lovren/Matip/Clyne - Henderson/Fabinho/Lallana - Sturridge/Shaqiri/Solanke - all players fighting to get in the team etc.

I cant wait for the champions league to get under way.

I love it, will be so much fun seeing Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani at Anfield, surely the players want to play the best. Napoli will be fun as well and Red Star is a historic club as well. I think it's a great draw, would have preferred Real Madrid but it would be even better to get them in the knockouts.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Am I missing something - everyone I spoke to seems to think we're ****ed or we got a group of death

After last season's run, we look stronger this year, we should have the confidence to progress from this group imo

Also, imo being in Pot 3 it could have been much much worse.

The Chelsea draw in the carabao cup is a ballache as it doesnt' allow much room for rotation players - but as it is, we could line up in that game with Mig/Moreno/Lovren/Matip/Clyne - Henderson/Fabinho/Lallana - Sturridge/Shaqiri/Solanke - all players fighting to get in the team etc.

I cant wait for the champions league to get under way.

Am really happy with the draw. Up against strong teams, also having the chance to help tip one strong team out before the knock out stages, and having to fear no team in the comp.

[Kenneth]

Can't wait for PSG, they're going to play right into our hands. Napoli not so much.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Can't wait for PSG, they're going to play right into our hands. Napoli not so much.

Hard to know with Napoli as to whether or not they will play into our hands or not.

Last season , good as they were, I would have said they would suit us. This season with them having a new manager they may or may not change their style of play.


The players they have are technically very good and seem to have a strong team mentality/ethos, but the same could be said about us and then some.


PSG will be a fascinating team to see us go against imo. Verratti out is a massive blow for them. In many ways they are the best and worst sort of team to take us on. They will come to win home and away and like us have the firepower to get two or three goals in a burst.

I don't fear PSG though, and fancy us to get 4 points against them, same as I do against Napoli.

[marcus50bucks]

Thought it would be useful to see who our rivals are facing before and after their CL games.

Liverpool

01/09 - Leicester (A)
15/09 - Spurs (A)
18/09 - PSG (H) - Champions league
22/09 - Southampton (H)
25/09 - Chelsea (H) - League Cup
29/09 - Chelsea (A)
03/10 - Napoli (A) - Champions League
07/10 - City (H)
20/10 - Huddersfield (A)
24/10 - Crvena Zvezda (H) - Champions League
27/10 - Cardiff (H)
03/11 - Arsenal (A)
06/11 - Crvena Zvezda (A) - Champions league
11/11 - Fulham (H)
24/11 - Watford (A)
28/11 - PSG (A) - Champions League
01/12 - Everton (H)
04/12 - Burnley (A)
08/12 - Bournemouth (A)
11/12 - Napoli (H) - Champions League
15/12 - United (H)

Man City

15/09 - Fulham (H)
19/09 - Lyon (H) - Champions League
22/09 - Cardiff (A)
29/09 - Brighton (H)
02/10 - Hoffenheim (A) - Champions League
07/10 - Liverpool (A)
20/10 - Burnley (H)
23/10 - Shakhtar Donetsk (A) - Champions League
28/10 - Spurs (A)
03/11 - Southampton (H)
07/11 - Shakhtar Donetsk (H) - Champions League
11/11 - Man Utd (H)
24/11 - West Ham (A)
27/11 - Lyon (A) - Champions League
01/12 - Bournemouth (H)
08/12 - Chelsea (A)
12/12 - Hoffenheim (H) - Champions League
15/12 - Everton (H)

Man Utd

15/09 - Watford (A)
19/09 - Young Boys (A) - Champions League
22/09 - Wolves (H)
29/09 - West Ham (A)
02/10 - Valenica (H) - Champions League
06/10 - Newcastle (H)
20/10 - Chelsea (A)
23/10 - Juventus (H) - Champions League
27/10 - Everton (H)
03/11 - Bournemouth (A)
07/11 - Juventus (A) - Champions League
11/11 - Man City (A)
24/11 - Crystal Palace (H)
27/11 - Young Boys (H) - Champions League
01/12 - Southampton (A)
08/12 - Fulham (H)
12/12 - Valencia (A) - Champions League
15/12 - Liverpool (A)

Spurs

15/09 - Liverpool (H)
18/09 - Inter Milan (A) - Champions league
22/09 - Brighton (A)
29/09 - Huddersfield (A)
03/10 - Barcelona (H) - Champions League
06/10 - Cardiff (H)
20/10 - West Ham (A)
24/10 - PSV (A) - Champions League
28/10 - Man City (H)
03/11 - Wolves (A)
06/11 - PSV (H) - Champions league
10/11 - Crystal Palace (A)
24/11 - Chelsea (H)
28/11 - Inter Milan (H) - Champions League
01/12 - Arsenal (A)
08/12 - Leicester (A)
11/12 - Barcelona (A) - Champions League
15/12 - Burnley (H)

[Norbs]

Pretty balanced on first reflection

[Fredo]

City have definitely got the easiest run.

[Angryred]

City have definitely got the easiest run.

OF course, they are the champions...must be given the benefit of the doubt!

[Doc_Piptorious]

Having a home game after every one of our CL games is a nice bonus.


Both Manc teams have away trips after three of their CL games. And of those away games both Manc teams get to face us, and there is a Manc derby after a CL round too. City also have Spurs right after a CL game.


Spurs have four away games following CL games, with two of their games after CL games being against Arsenal and City.


Think we have done pretty well with how the CL games (and the games that directly follow) have fallen for us this season compared to our domestic rivals.

[Bender]

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on UCL draw: “We are bitter, I will ask for an explanation from UEFA. Liverpool, [the] Champions League finalists, are put in pot 3? It is a disastrous anomaly.”

[topscorer]

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on UCL draw: “We are bitter, I will ask for an explanation from UEFA. Liverpool, [the] Champions League finalists, are put in pot 3? It is a disastrous anomaly.”

I love it, I hope we absolutely batter them, twice!

[The_weatherman]

Well, to be fair, I happen to agree with him, but I also agree with Bender