Europe, the CL and the giants of the game. [R]

[Dark Savante]

So now that we're getting a clearer picture of how the big boys are going to look going into next month's CL openers, where would you rate us and our squad?

Who do you think would be an early favourite (based on paper, obviously)

Are we finally equipped for the competition in a way we won't be humliated again..?

And so on and so forth.

If this thread's a grower we can analyse the giants in it throughout the competition or until we are out of it at which point it doesn't exist. ;)

If Bayern had've been in this comp I would've probably put them as favourites.

I am surprised at Chelsea, they've lost so much guile in Robben. If Ballack and Shevchenko don't come good, they've lost near all there class big game players in one fell-swoop.

It'll be very interesting watching Liverpool juggle two proper competitions for once... let's see what they're really made of if they are not out of the title race by Feb like usual.

Arsenal are hard to call.

I think RM have a really strong and ambiguous side this season. It's not too mediterranean or overloaded with too many players of a certain type.. if you want a scrap, they can actually bring one your way for once. Ruud's a universal striker, no style of defence will bother him and same goes for Diarra. They look dangerous on paper.

Barca STILL haven't thrown Valdes out of goal! Their backline is questionable. Curious about them.

Milan are Milan. Old, sensible, experienced and classy. Still think they have what it takes to go all the way and Ronaldo is on a mission this season and he's another universal striker who can't be contained by any kind of defence if he is up for it ...

There are other sides Inter, Lyon, Valencia and so on.. but outside of the giants, Sevilla are a real dark horse for me this season. Their style of play and their pedigree makes them a big time threat in Europe this season. One of the few teams in Europe right now who are capable of humliating any side if they are in the mood.

[sdotsom]

Good analysis. I think if RM can figure out what they want to do once their squad is finalized, they ought to do well. They've reduced the age in their squad, lot of youth, and combined with the youngsters already there in Robinho, Gago, Diarra (kinda young anyway) they can really set up something fun to watch and good for a win.

Barca only added Gaby Milito, who is good not great, but they did add Eric Abidal who is a top LB. Those 2 with Yaya Toure as a DM in midfield will help build the platform for Henry, Eto'o, Messi, etc.

Milan will be the same. Add Ronaldo to the mix and they're even better. That's a team that just doesn't age, it seems. They will contend again, and the goalscoring load will not be on Kaka in the CL. They'll finally have a real striker. I've seen pictures of R9 in the news this summer, and he actually looks like he's gotten fit.

Lyon look vulnerable at the moment - maybe last 8 for them. Inter blows in Europe, and I don't expect that to change. I am looking forward to seeing Valencia and Roma though.

EDIT : As for us - Hargreaves will be huge for us here. If he's fit and we're clicking, I see no reason for us not to reach the semifinals/finals.

[J'can]

So now that we're getting a clearer picture of how the big boys are going to look going into next month's CL openers, where would you rate us and our squad?

.

DS, havent you been reading my posts? What is the matter with you?? :D

Seriously, this is going to be shocking coming from me but it is too early to tell. If the other posters (yourself included) are to be beleived (which means I would be utterly wrong) the way the team will look in say 1 month will not be as it looks today. So, holding onto the notion that things will be different in the upcoming month, my diagnosis would be different that it is today.

Today, looking at what has transpired in the first 3 games, I would not give us a shot at the CL. Hopefully, that view changes come next month.

[Invincible]

This year's Champions League will be very, VERY interesting to say the least. I think we'll be treated to some superb attacking football, with teams like us, Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid in it. I dont expect Milan to do as well, because now they actually have to go for the Scudetto, they're expected to because they have no points deduction. Therefore come that crucial second half of the season, they should be battle weary like any other team challenging on multiple fronts.

Sevilla? I like them. They've improved every season consistently now and the CL needs another attacking team to counter these boring, midfield ball hogging, energy sapping, score on the one chance they get teams. Barcelona? I'd put them as favorites. I think Ronaldinho will have a bit of a Renaissance, Henry will undoubtedly improve them, Eto'o will be his usual self and Messi will continue to torment. Real Madrid are a bit of an unknown to me. They seem to have good players who can step it up, but I'm not sure if they can win it this season. Chelsea? Liverpool? I put them in the same boat. Quarterfinals at most, unless Liverpool decide to give up on the league again and focus on the CL. Then they MIGHT make the semis, but there's just too much attacking teams this year for boring teams to make it to the final.

Us? I think we have an outside chance....if we somehow manage to have Hargreaves, Anderson, Tevez and Saha fully fit and raring to go. If we manage to get all our players fit and in full rotation, I feel sorry for any defence we come up against. This is what I'd like to see against major teams in the CL:

-------------------------Saha----------------------
--------Tevez/Rooney------------------Ronaldo

----------------------Scholes-------------------
--------------Hargreaves------Carrick
Evra-------------------------------------Neville
-------------Vidic-------------Rio
-----------------------VDS

Scholes needs to learn to stay forward and stop coming back to pick up the ball in front of the defense. Let Carrick or Hargreaves do that. We need to have a targetman for this formation to work, period. That's become blatantly obvious, so I hope we go for Anelka or hope we have Saha fit, though I doubt it. If we're up against lesser teams, we can try Anderson in the Scholes role and Nani for Ronaldo or Rooney/Tevez. I feel that formation above will be extremely hard to stop and it can take us to the final.

My prediction? I think we'll make it to the final alongside an attacking Spanish side.

[Stud83]

Today, looking at what has transpired in the first 3 games, I would not give us a shot at the CL. Hopefully, that view changes come next month.

Don't you think we actually have a much better shot at CL if we are not competing for the league title?

[Invincible]

Today, looking at what has transpired in the first 3 games, I would not give us a shot at the CL. Hopefully, that view changes come next month.

Actually, I'd give us more of a chance at winning the CL because of our poor start and injuries because the best is yet to come, and players who've missed games will be eager to impress and get the club on the right track. Football's a funny old game.

[J'can]

Actually, I'd give us more of a chance at winning the CL because of our poor start and injuries because the best is yet to come, and players who've missed games will be eager to impress and get the club on the right track. Football's a funny old game.

Sorry, let me clarify my position. I can't predict the feature so I am going off of what is happening today. Invincible (can I just put IV for short), you are right in thinking that the best is yet to come. We HOPE that this is the case. But so far I have zero evidence of it and the whole season still to play. Remember that teams are not allotted a certain amount of injury. Therefore the fact that we are hit with injury now does not mean that we cant get it later as well. And hte fact that we have a poor start now does not mean we are immune to a poor run later.

So today here at work lurking on BS, I can only answer based on what I know now. I have no hard evidence to say we will improve on our results. When the improvements start I will gladlfully (is that even a word) relinquish this position.........

[J'can]

Don't you think we actually have a much better shot at CL if we are not competing for the league title?

If we were Liverpool yes. But remember, we still have to finish in the top four to get in CL the following season unless we win it of course. So even though it is possible that we may be out of the running for the league, we still have to play to finish in the top 4 as there are quality teams waiting to grab the open spots. Sure we will have a little bit more room but we still have to play well in the league.

Besides, we are not Liverpool............... :D

[Invincible]

Sorry, let me clarify my position. I can't predict the feature so I am going off of what is happening today. Invincible (can I just put IV for short), you are right in thinking that the best is yet to come. We HOPE that this is the case. But so far I have zero evidence of it and the whole season still to play. Remember that teams are not allotted a certain amount of injury. Therefore the fact that we are hit with injury now does not mean that we cant get it later as well. And hte fact that we have a poor start now does not mean we are immune to a poor run later.

So today here at work lurking on BS, I can only answer based on what I know now. I have no hard evidence to say we will improve on our results. When the improvements start I will gladlfully (is that even a word) relinquish this position.........

Good points, but I'm just going by what my(somewhat limited) experience in watching football has taught me. Rarely have I seen a team have such injuries like ours, for the whole season. The pattern is usually injuries and bad form in one or some parts, then good form and fitness in other parts. I HIGHLY doubt a team of our caliber will go through what we're going through for the whole season.

[SirManchester]

If Barcelona cannot win it this season, it'd be an embarrassment to football. They should have won it last season as well but they let the loss of Eto'o get to them. Now they have no excuses. Despite their shaky backline, they have the best attack in Europe, no question and in Europe that can go a long way.

Madrid is still not there. Schuster isn't very experienced and it'll take a while to accommodate all these new players into the team, nevermind one competing for La Liga and the Champions League. However, when they do get it together, they will be dangerous.

Chelsea, Liverpool, and Milan are still the three best equipped teams for Europe. The former two implement tactics that will always take them far into the competition and the latter still has a system capable of reaching a final, no matter what age their players are.

I see Sevilla like I saw Porto four years ago. They are new to the Champions League but they have a balanced squad and are very direct at how they'll go about winning games. Also, the fact that other teams in the Champions League haven't yet had the chance to play Sevilla will only help them more. I can see them going to the semis this season.

I'd like to think Roma will do well again, but it's difficult to tell. They will have to focus on their league even more this season and that might mean the sacrifice of European success. Then again, they have another great attacking system that has the potential to take them far again. As of no I'd rate Roma's attack right along ours and Barcelona's.

I can't possibly see Lyon have the same kind of impact they've had in the past three season. They have fallen apart so far in Ligue 1 and although it's still early to tell what the outcome will be in France, it's easy to see this isn't the same Lyon side that we've come to know.

[Stud83]

Schuster may not be experienced, but given the fact that he is capable of motivating a ********ing Getafe to blow out Barcelona in style, I would be shocked if Real is not a major contender in every competition.
Right now, I would call them overwhelming favorites to win La Liga and main favorites for CL title as well.

[SirManchester]

Schuster may not be experienced, but given the fact that he is capable of motivating a ********ing Getafe to blow out Barcelona in style, I would be shocked if Real is not a major contender in every competition.
Right now, I would call them overwhelming favorites to win La Liga and main favorites for CL title as well.


Still, experience at that level goes a long way. And if it's not that, it's evident from the competition's recent history that teams go a long way when they are organized and have a sense of togetherness in the locker room and on the pitch, and that includes proper organization and tactical awarenss. As of right now, I don't think Madrid are there yet. And I don't blame Schuster. It's such a packed team and so many new faces are there, it will take time to work properly.

[Stud83]

As of right now, I don't think Madrid are there yet. And I don't blame Schuster. It's such a packed team and so many new faces are there, it will take time to work properly.

I don't disagree. I fully expect them to struggle until January or so, and then once they finally "get" the new system, they'll just start rolling. Which is perfect for a CL run.

[SirManchester]

I don't disagree. I fully expect them to struggle until January or so, and then once they finally "get" the new system, they'll just start rolling. Which is perfect for a CL run.

Well, I don't think they'll do all that within this upcoming season. If they do, credit to Schuster.

Also, I desperately try to avoid thinking about any kind of Champions League success coupled with Real madrid.

[BusbyBabes]

A lot of the media believe that united are concentrating on the CL this year and I suppose the bad start could just add weight to that argument. With it being the 50th anniversary of Munich next year there is the possibility that united will try doubly harder to win it. If you think about it both Liverpool and Arsenal had bad seasons during their run to the CL finals and who is to say that that wont happen with united?

[sdotsom]

Europe is always Fergie's desire though - he really hasn't made too much of a secret of that. So I don't think it's any different than this one. And I don't think we're a club that would sacrifice our league position for the CL.

[prymetyme]

Europe is always Fergie's desire though - he really hasn't made too much of a secret of that. So I don't think it's any different than this one. And I don't think we're a club that would sacrifice our league position for the CL.

Agreed. We won't sacrifice the league for the CL campaign, but in two months and because of our current situation we are 10 points behind the leaders, are we going to go full out in the league or are we going to go full out in the CL. I think the CL is what we'll make a run at this year, especially with our start from this season.

[benni...]

Well my number one favourites to be in the final with us are Barcelona. I think even though they only made one key addition to their backline, Milito along with Yaya Toure will go a long way in suring them up. Even if they hadnt bought Henry, they still would have been my favourites. They have depth as well.

Milan have Kaka and thats all they need. They can rely on him all the way through the group phase. Ronaldo's fitness is going to be important obviously. I dont think they are going to get past the semi's though.

Inter are going to flop. Im not convinced by their backline or their center midfield.

Real Madrid are my other favourites for the Semi's. They have quality players and if Schuster can do his thing without interferance from the board, then he may keep his job for more than a year. Diarra, Gago, Sneijder is going to be a hard midfield to compete against when in possesion. Drenthe is a nice young player. Not to mention all the talent they already have. They will be a problem.

Lyon are going to be better than before. Karim Benzema... watch out for this kid.

[Bronaldo]

if valencia can pick up VdV or someone similar i think they can win it. Even with the squad they have now they can put foward a good showing. Villa will always score and the flank play of silva and joaquin is amazing. When barja and abelda are fit they have a very good midfeild. Neither player is amazing at distributing the ball, but they play it outwide and let the wingers take care of it. Their second striker may not be as good. Zigic is huge, and thats about it.

[Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10]

yes Benzema has been the one bright spot for them so far

my picks who will do well

Milan,Barca,Valencia,MUFC,chelsea

some might be surprised to see Valencia there but i think they now have a target man in Zigic. they havent lost anyone significant besides Ayala and they were quite unfortunate to lose out to chelsea last year.

i'd really like to say Inter and a part of me feels they will reach far but im seeing a last 8 defeat to us in my mind.

Lyon, well this may very well be the end of their monopoly on Ligue 1 and even with Juninho they dont have enough imo. i dont even know who plays alongside him now that Tiago Mendes is gone. i guess Kallstrom? or is he a wide man? regardless dont see it working

RvP can only take arsenal so far. if he is properly shut down in the CL who do they turn to? Adebayor can do fairly ok in the prem but the CL? Da Silva did well in Croatia but thats Croatia...

pool? i think they have done something they havent in a long time and thats improve the squad but even so Torres has no CL exp and Voronin hasnt had that much CL experience either. thats not the reason why though. they have good defense but if a mistake occurs or they get breached by a potent attack i just cant see who will bail them out. that being said defense is key in europe and i think they will also go out last 8 or R16 after coming up against a top side

Madrid? still the same circus just new clowns. i dont think they will be able to adapt and gel well enough this season. i also expect some player juggling to try keep all egos in check and that might be their undoing as well. if they do gel however they will be a force albeit with a somewhat questionable defense

i really hope we win it and my dream is to get a United CL jersey with UEFA's patch of honour whether we win it 3 times in a row or 3 more times before i die i want to see this