2016-17 UEFA Champions League - Part I

[Live in the Now]

Hope Roma doesn't draw City. Would suck for them to go straight out like that.

 

[maclean]

Hope Roma doesn't draw City. Would suck for them to go straight out like that.

Who, City?

 

[Evilo]

Would be fun to see City out really

 

[YNWA14]

Agreed. Would love to see Roma bounce City.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Yup, Roma beating City would be swell. Would once again show how overrated the English clubs are.

 

[YNWA14]

So most responses seem to think that Roma would beat City; what makes them overrated exactly?

 

[Evilo]

So most responses seem to think that Roma would beat City; what makes them overrated exactly?

My message didn't suggest that actually. Be it Roma or anyone else, I'd love to see City out of the CL.

 

[YNWA14]

oic

I'm with you also, on that, but I still think people overplay this whole 'EPL is overhyped' nonsense. I don't think there are many out there that believe any of the English teams are favourites for the CL or anything. Most people I see posting about the subject just think that the EPL is the best league in the world due to it's depth and parity. There's no doubt that the quality is not the best in the world, and the teams are not the best in the world either.

Now, whether that holds true in 5 years with the influx of top managers and money (also depending on the effects of Brexit I guess) remains to be seen.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

oic

I'm with you also, on that, but I still think people overplay this whole 'EPL is overhyped' nonsense. I don't think there are many out there that believe any of the English teams are favourites for the CL or anything. Most people I see posting about the subject just think that the EPL is the best league in the world due to it's depth and parity. There's no doubt that the quality is not the best in the world, and the teams are not the best in the world either.

Now, whether that holds true in 5 years with the influx of top managers and money (also depending on the effects of Brexit I guess) remains to be seen.

EPL teams are certainly not overrated HERE, but the media does overrate them.

 

[gary69]

Agreed. Would love to see Roma bounce City.

With Edin Dzeko scoring the winner

 

[HajdukSplit]

Playoff draw...

Champions Route
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL) vs. Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Celtic (SCO) vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva (ISR)
FC Copenhagen (DEN) vs. APOEL Nicosia (CYP)
Dundalk (IRL) vs. Legia Warsaw (POL)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) vs. Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)

Celtic got a bit fortunate with the draw but Hapoel did eliminate Olympiakos so won't be too easy, APOEL has a habit of drawing teams from northern Europe and generally does well against them. Legia was the lowest seeded team but they drew the lowest unseeded team. Dinamo face Salzburg again, last two times they met Salzburg scored 9 goals against them in 2 matches but half that Salzburg team is now in the BL. Ludogorets-Plzen is the 50-50 tie of the round

League Route
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Manchester City (ENG)
FC Porto (POR) vs. Roma (ITA)
Ajax (NED) vs. Rostov (RUS)
Young Boys (SUI) vs. Borussia Monchengladbach (GER)
Villarreal (ESP) vs. Monaco (FRA)

Man City got the most ideal draw, Porto-Roma is the tie of the round and really the Italian clubs have little luck at this stage of qualifying. Ajax-Rostov is a tough one to call too. Gladbach will be happy with their draw, but Young Boys are good at home and play on artificial turf. Second season in a row Monaco draw a La Liga side in the playoffs

 

[Savi]

edit: beat me to it

 

[Evilo]

Of course, the easiest would have been Ajax, but it could have been worse for Monaco.
Tough draw but doable.

 

[takk]

Well Legia has no excuses now. Should be the first Polish presentation in CL since 1997.

 

[maclean]

League Route
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. Manchester City (ENG)

Somehow I had a feeling about this draw, wish Sparta had managed to go through as I would've liked to go see that match in Prague

 

[Ceremony]

I'm sure The Greatest Fans in the World will be very welcome on their away trip to the Middle East

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/c...-supporters-after-posting-support-for-israel/

 

[HajdukSplit]

Dundalk will play their home match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin...wonder if they will sell out the stadium, but you also suspect Legia will be well supported

 

[Ceremony]

I'm sure The Greatest Fans in the World will be very welcome on their away trip to the Middle East

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/c...-supporters-after-posting-support-for-israel/

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bigot-brands-celtic-star-nir-8605486

chortle

 

[cgf]

Yann Sommer supposedly fit for action again, unclear if he'll be in for the CL-quali against YB Bern.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Maybe, Sterling isn't the worst player?

 

[JWK]

Aguero x 2

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

If you're still not over the first penalty why take another...incredibly dumb.

 

[YNWA14]

Maybe, Sterling isn't the worst player?

He's not, but the defender made that laughably easy for him.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bigot-brands-celtic-star-nir-8605486

chortle

That game is going to be such a **** show. Celtic can add to their UEFA infraction collection and can envision some for Be'er Sheva too if last year's Beitar/Charleroi was any indication. Though, some of Beitar's supporters are straight up scum anyway.

 

[Live in the Now]

Maybe, Sterling isn't the worst player?

He's so much better than everyone here wants to admit. The combination of anti-English people and Liverpool fans makes it hard for anyone to acknowledge him.

Can't wait for Pep to get credit for Sterling being good, that'll be fun.