Our next opponents in the CL. Who do you want?

[Dark Savante]

Seems as though no one here is talking about the next round of the CL and the possible opponents we could face so i thought i'd make this thread.

Who would you prefer us meet in the next round and why? Here are the teams we could face:

Monaco
Leverkusen
Juventus
Milan
Inter

If I'm honest I'd rather the German team or an Italian one and not Monaco. French teams have the right ingredients to give us real trouble where Italian teams do not. Namely massive amounts of pace and raw power. The Italian teams will only ever have 1 or 2 speedsters in their team and we are alot more comfortable against slower paced teams then those who can exploit GN and GH down the wings which Monaco could definitely do.

Leverkusen look solid in attack but I believe our attack can opress theirs and they do not have a good defence.

Of the Italian teams Milan is one I'd rather us not play until a later stage. Of the 3 they are the ones built for this kind of competition and as we haven't faced them in recent times it would be like throwing a coin up and guessing a winner.

Juventus for sure have a respect for us that can only be generated by the titanic battles we've had with them over the past 8 or so years. So if we drew them it would be a curious battle but one Juve wouldn't relish either.

Inter are the weakest Italian team but the question would have to be: do they have the right components to trouble us? Rio is custom made for a player like Adriano and so that would be interesting I think.

Alot can and will change in the 3months until we play whoever we draw but the bigger the team the more likely they are to be getting into full stride trying to wrap up their league and the more likelihood that even if they aren't looking good in their league they can pull that special performance out of the bag in a 2leg tie so for me that is another reason to avoid Milan rather then Juve or Inter. Capello is a great manager but, man for man Milan have the best team in Italy and possibly Europe.

Thoughts?

[Robert25]

If Liverpool sign Berbatov from Leverkusen, as I have heard speculated, then their attack will suffer. Leverkusen are not an easy team, they dominated Real and can do some damage. But I'd prefer them as they are struggling in Germany and probabley the most vulnerable.

Juventus and AC Milan are the teams I want to see the least. The French..i think we can take them.

[Invincible]

I'd prefer Monaco. Why? Sure, they have a good attack, but so do we, maybe even better. If our defenders do their job and our attackers shine, they'll have problems dealing with us as well. I wouldn't mind Juventus seeing as they've been our beyotch for a few seasons. ;)

[johno]

All great teams... but I would rather we face Monaco than any of the other teams because I feel that they are the weakest of the set and we've already had success against Lyon another French club this season alone so I feel like we would be prepared to face them.

After them I guess it goes... Juve, Leverkusen, Inter, Milan.

[yossarian]

If Liverpool sign Berbatov from Leverkusen, as I have heard speculated, then their attack will suffer. Leverkusen are not an easy team, they dominated Real and can do some damage. But I'd prefer them as they are struggling in Germany and probabley the most vulnerable.



...but won't they have Landon Donovan by then? Be afraid....be very afraid.

[waits for angry Yanks Abroad regulars' responses.... ;) ]

[manc_sean]

I'd like one of the Milan teams, and if Liverpool get the other one it would be even better. To win this competition you have to face the big boys sooner or later, there's no point being a ********** about it and begging for Leverkusen.

[Achtung]

...but won't they have Landon Donovan by then? Be afraid....be very afraid.

I'm afraid... that he'll complain of homesickness during the game and cause Keane to unleash a Haaland-style tackle, thus jeopardizing the entire future of American soccer. Anyone but Leverkusen!!!

[yossarian]

I'm afraid... that he'll complain of homesickness during the game and cause Keane to unleash a Haaland-style tackle, thus jeopardizing the entire future of American soccer. Anyone but Leverkusen!!!

....all the leaves are brown....and the sky is gray......

[BillyManutd]

I'd like us to face Monaco, Leverkusen and anyone of the Italian teams. I look at final group standings and I think it would have been better to finish first. All opponents in the CL are strong and we have a strong enough squad to face and defeat them.

[Mac_Howard]

If we draw Inter then we'd have the fascinating prospect of coming up against a rejuvenated Veron :)

[manuniked]

We have to avoid Milan they're class. Inter and Juve would be very tough too, then Leverkusen and our best hope...Monaco.
Had we finished top....
We would have to avoid Barca (best team in tournament), Madrid and Munich would be very tough, then PSV, werder and best of all Porto.
So it really made NO difference and was good for the kids to learn.
Would like Barca v Arsenal and Chelsea v Madrid too.
It would be better to avoid the best teams as a good draw can really help.. look at Porto's run last year (we were the best team they faced) and in '91 we faced Legia Waraw in a semi whilst Barca had to battle past Juve in the other semi.

[CrisRicHeldTiago]

look at Porto's run last year (we were the best team they faced) and in '91 we faced Legia Waraw in a semi whilst Barca had to battle past Juve in the other semi.FC Porto also faced Lyon, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, and a Monaco (the giant killers). The road wasn't all smooth you see! All were strong sides.

[KopThat!]

Whoever you get, I hope you go through, then maybe 'Pool and Manure will play each other in the quarter or semi. Wouldn't it be lovely to thrash the arses off you lot?

And just think, you'll have the opportunity to visit Anfield and experience a TRUE European night for perhaps the first time in your lives. You'll maybe then learn a few things about noise and passion ya prawn munchers! :)

[Mac_Howard]

Whoever you get, I hope you go through, then maybe 'Pool and Manure will play each other in the quarter or semi. Wouldn't it be lovely to thrash the arses off you lot?

And just think, you'll have the opportunity to visit Anfield and experience a TRUE European night for perhaps the first time in your lives. You'll maybe then learn a few things about noise and passion ya prawn munchers! :)

One win and the glory years have returned :D

[dude8]

who cares who we play, just bring on the games, and try and keep everyone healthy until then.

[manuniked]

FC Porto also faced Lyon, Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, and a Monaco (the giant killers). The road wasn't all smooth you see! All were strong sides.
Madrid were in a group stage with 2 teams going through.
Lyon, deportivo and monaco are certainly not European giants. That's my point. Of course they would not be terrible teams in last 16 of champs league but they are no Milan, Barca, Juve, Inter, Munich..etc and it gave porto an easier run than they might have had.

[Soccerholic]

When is the draw for the next round?

[BTFOOM]

When is the draw for the next round?

December 17th.

[Dark Savante]

Juventus for sure have a respect for us that can only be generated by the titanic battles we've had with them over the past 8 or so years. So if we drew them it would be a curious battle but one Juve wouldn't relish either.



Del Piero fears Euro trio

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero has conceded that he hopes to avoid Barcelona and Manchester United in the next round of the UEFA Champions League.

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=242873&CPID=5&CLID=&lid=15&title=Del+Piero+fears+Euro+trio&channel=Germany

----

I guarantee any of the players there who have faced us over the past near decade will not want United in any capacity.

[EdgarDavids20]

Seems as though no one here is talking about the next round of the CL and the possible opponents we could face so i thought i'd make this thread.

Who would you prefer us meet in the next round and why? Here are the teams we could face:

Monaco
Leverkusen
Juventus
Milan
Inter

If I'm honest I'd rather the German team or an Italian one and not Monaco. French teams have the right ingredients to give us real trouble where Italian teams do not. Namely massive amounts of pace and raw power. The Italian teams will only ever have 1 or 2 speedsters in their team and we are alot more comfortable against slower paced teams then those who can exploit GN and GH down the wings which Monaco could definitely do.

Leverkusen look solid in attack but I believe our attack can opress theirs and they do not have a good defence.

Of the Italian teams Milan is one I'd rather us not play until a later stage. Of the 3 they are the ones built for this kind of competition and as we haven't faced them in recent times it would be like throwing a coin up and guessing a winner.

Juventus for sure have a respect for us that can only be generated by the titanic battles we've had with them over the past 8 or so years. So if we drew them it would be a curious battle but one Juve wouldn't relish either.

Inter are the weakest Italian team but the question would have to be: do they have the right components to trouble us? Rio is custom made for a player like Adriano and so that would be interesting I think.

Alot can and will change in the 3months until we play whoever we draw but the bigger the team the more likely they are to be getting into full stride trying to wrap up their league and the more likelihood that even if they aren't looking good in their league they can pull that special performance out of the bag in a 2leg tie so for me that is another reason to avoid Milan rather then Juve or Inter. Capello is a great manager but, man for man Milan have the best team in Italy and possibly Europe.

Thoughts?
If I could pick any team out of these five, I would pick Leverkusen. They aren't doing spectacularly in league play and they barely qualified for CL. There defense isn't great at all (Roque Junior?), and their midfield lacks some creativity. Juventus has lost to my recollection only one game in league play and 0 in CL play. They are the team to beat IMHO and I'm not entirely sure we can do it. Monaco, despite losing Rothen and Guily are still a rather potent team and could pull the upset. Milan are always a tough team to play even though Shvechenko seems to be the only person scoring for them. Inter are an enigma, playing so so inleague play but absolutely dispatching teams at will during CL. It also doesn't hurt having one of the most prolific stirkers in the business in Adriano. So all things being equal, I think Leverkusen would be the safest bet.