Champions League 2008-09 Thread

[ACF]

The draw for the Champions League
will be tonight at 18:00 (CET) in Monaco.
It'll be very interesting to see
which teams end up in which groups.

On a personal note, I'm really looking
forward to this year's CL.
Danish champions Aalborg BK got through
to the group stage by beating Kaunas 2-0
yesterday (4-0 aggregate) so that's very
cool from a Danish standpoint. It's only
the fourth time a Danish team is through
to the group stage. Of course, my favorite
team is FC Copenhagen, but naturally I'll
root for AaB, which is the abbreviation
for Aalborg.

Other than that, I hope Manchester United
will be able to come out on top once again.

I hope a lot of you join me in discussing
this season's edition of the Champions League.

Here's the link to UEFA's CL page:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=740905.html

[celticmaestro]

It'll be difficult this year for United, no one has ever won the CL back-to-back. I think United are the favorites, but I can see someone like Real Madrid or Chelsea, or Bayern to take it down.

Had Milan qualified, I'd have put them down as favorites.

[ederson]

It`s a 4th CL group draw for Denmark but the first for Cyprus and Belarus.

It`s very interesting that Real is pretty low on points. I guess it should be expected since they haven`t done much lately but still it looks strange.

I`d like sto see Sir Alex repeating too, i don`t see it happening. I`d say that favourites are Inter (i hate myslef for saying this) and Real Madrid.

PS I can`t believe that liver*ool won the 3rd consecutive scoring a goal at the last 4-5 mins

[Max Power]

I think the favourites are Man U, Chelsea (with or without Robinho) and Mourinho's Internazionale. Outsiders  are Barça, Liverpool and off course my Real Madrid. The surprise will be A.C. Roma, the last chance for Totti to win a Champions League, I like this team midfield, Totti, De Rossi, Aquillani and Baptista.

[ederson]

Roma is something like Lyon a couple of years ago. Good team, nice to watch , difficult to beat but not good enough to go all the way.

I can`t believe that liverpool will reach the semis again. They have a bad roster and play awful.

[Max Power]

Roma is something like Lyon a couple of years ago. Good team, nice to watch , difficult to beat but not good enough to go all the way.

I can`t believe that liverpool will reach the semis again. They have a bad roster and play awful.

I'm agree, the defence isn't good enough, but Benitez is a lucky coach.

[celticmaestro]

Liverpool have no chance of winning the competition. Neither do Arsenal. The only English teams that will get past the 1/4 final are UNited and Chelsea.

[cordobes]

I wouldn't mind to have AaB in our group, ACF. They're having a terrible season. But I'd rather play Anarthosis. BATE is too far away. Here's the draw I'd like for my club:

Lyon
Porto
Basel
Anarthosis

A funny one, to meet old friends:
Inter/Chelsea
Porto
Celtic
Atletico Madrid

A terrible one:
Inter
Porto
Zenit
Atletico Madrid

CL winners are unpredictable. Liverpool was incredibly lucky last night versus Standard. As usual.

[Who]

I expect all four English teams to make it to the quarter finals and beyond.

I'm surprised everyone is so down on Liverpool and Arsenal. Arsenal have started slowly because they're missing their best player and have no depth, Fabregas' return will get them back on track, it's only a temporary blip. Rafa does his best work in Europe and Liverpool have an excellent European team. They're incredibly difficult to beat in the knockout stages.

[ACF]

I wouldn't mind to have AaB in our group, ACF. They're having a terrible season. But I'd rather play Anarthosis. BATE is too far away. Here's the draw I'd like for my club:

Lyon
Porto
Basel
Anarthosis

A funny one, to meet old friends:
Inter/Chelsea
Porto
Celtic
Atletico Madrid

A terrible one:
Inter
Porto
Zenit
Atletico Madrid

CL winners are unpredictable. Liverpool was incredibly lucky last night versus Standard. As usual.

Yeah, AaB have done terrible so far
in the Danish league but I think they'll
do better in the CL. Usually it's like this
for the small teams in the group stages:
All losses away from home and then maybe
a win and a couple of draws at home. Copenhagen
did quite well two years ago, beating
both Man Utd (1-0) and Celtic (3-1, in a
game I went to at Parken stadium).

The most important thing for AaB is that
they will make a lot of money, which will
help them sign players in the future.

It`s a 4th CL group draw for Denmark but the first for Cyprus and Belarus.

It`s very interesting that Real is pretty low on points. I guess it should be expected since they haven`t done much lately but still it looks strange.

I`d like sto see Sir Alex repeating too, i don`t see it happening. I`d say that favourites are Inter (i hate myslef for saying this) and Real Madrid.

PS I can`t believe that liver*ool won the 3rd consecutive scoring a goal at the last 4-5 mins

Yeah, I hope you're not an
Olympiakos fan, ederson 

[celticmaestro]

Man Utd
Villareal
Celtic
AaB

How do you feel ACF? I'm pretty content. Celtic will be tricky, and a bittersweet tie for you in United-AaB.

[cordobes]

Mourinho is such a lucky Edited for profanity.  Please do not do it again.. Barcelona also have an easy group. Group D is funny.

Arsenal, Fener and Kiev...doable.

[celticmaestro]

Mourinho is such a lucky ****. Barcelona also have an easy group. Group D is funny.

Arsenal, Fener and Kiev...doable.

Arsenal are nothing. I think you can take 4 points off them.

Liverpool I think also have a tricky group. Yet again Chelsea have an easy group. Bayern and Lyon will qualify from their group.

Question for you, how do Porto fans feel about Mourinho?

[cordobes]

Mourinho is such a lucky ****. Barcelona also have an easy group. Group D is funny.

Arsenal, Fener and Kiev...doable.

Arsenal are nothing. I think you can take 4 points off them.

Liverpool I think also have a tricky group. Yet again Chelsea have an easy group. Bayern and Lyon will qualify from their group.

Question for you, how do Porto fans feel about Mourinho?

Most of us feel gratitude and admiration, obviously. When Chelsky played here he got a standing ovation from the supporters. Although he's not an idol or loved like some former coaches, say, Sir Bobby Robson or Artur Jorge (the guy who was the coach when we won our first CL). There's a good deal of indifference. There's also a minority who really dislikes him (and it's mutual). A very small minority, but a very vocal one (the "ultras"). It all began with a sordid story, too sordid to be told here. But yeah, apart from those nutjobs, fans like him, but don't really love him. There was never that kind of connection, don't know exactly why.  I'm just hoping he takes Quaresma out of our hands for €25M or something.  That would do wonders for his reputation.

[celticmaestro]

Mourinho is such a lucky ****. Barcelona also have an easy group. Group D is funny.

Arsenal, Fener and Kiev...doable.

Arsenal are nothing. I think you can take 4 points off them.

Liverpool I think also have a tricky group. Yet again Chelsea have an easy group. Bayern and Lyon will qualify from their group.

Question for you, how do Porto fans feel about Mourinho?

Most of us feel gratitude and admiration, obviously. When Chelsky played here he got a standing ovation from the supporters. Although he's not an idol or loved like some former coaches, say, Sir Bobby Robson or Artur Jorge (the guy who was the coach when we won our first CL). There's a good deal of indifference. There's also a minority who really dislikes him (and it's mutual). A very small minority, but a very vocal one (the "ultras"). It all began with a sordid story, too sordid to be told here. But yeah, apart from those nutjobs, fans like him, but don't really love him. There was never that kind of connection, don't know exactly why.  I'm just hoping he takes Quaresma out of our hands for €25M or something.  That would do wonders for his reputation.

Interesting, I've always wondered what fans thought after he just left and didn't celebrate after winning the CL with Porto.

As for Quaresma, good player but come on, €25M? He's not that good.