AFCA
29 Oct 2003, 07:22 AM
Having half the matches played how about we take a look at what's happening. Who's looking good, who isn't?
A
Still very open
Bayern Munchen - Looking quite good, but not getting very good results so far. Having to play Anderlecht and Lyon at home and being ranked first gives them an edge, but they're definitely not there yet.
Olympique Lyon - After missing qualification last year (while deserving it) it seems to me they'll be missing out again this year. Will be needing a win at home against celtic, preferably with 3 goals difference. I don't think they'll make since they seem to lack this thing that real winners have... dunno what it is though.
Anderlecht - definitley have the willpower and quality to make it I believe. A very underestimated side who will probably be the ones battling it out with Celtic and bayern.
Celtic - I sympathize a great deal with the green and white... but in all fairness. They are not a European topside. haven't been one in many years. And this year will be no different I think.
My pick to go through: Bayern and Anderlecht.
B
Inter - although Lokomotiv had them by the balls Inter will go through. Seem to be quality this year instead of luck and Crespo.
Dynamo - strong as always, especially at home. Their fate will probably be decided in Moscow.
Lokomotiv - dangerous team. Will need to beat dynamo at home if they want to make it. Everything is possible.
Arsenal - hilarious. Forget about it.
My pick: Inter and Dynamo
C
Deportivo - Not as great as expected IMO but strong nevertheless. Sure thing to go through.
Monaco - very dangerous side, but very beatable as well. Unless PSV starts to play some ver decent ball they join Depor in the next round.
PSV - mighty psv. The eternal CL underperformers. There is a very slight chance, but let Hiddink's boys do the messing up... fat chance.
AEK - Better luck next time boys!
D
Juve - looking pretty good. Sure thing IMO.
Real Sociedad - Not looking very strong so far but a bit too strong for the greeks and turks. In control of their own fate.
Gala - Not the side they used to be. Hell will probably freeze over before too long.
Olympiacos - a bit dissapointing IMO. don't see them playing a role of importance anymore.
[E]
Stuttgart - maybe all of German football isn't down the toilet yet. Still not THAT convincing. Are leading the table at the moment but will need to be at the top of their toes to go through.
Man Utd - With home games against rangers and Stuttgart it seems like they're favourites to go through. And who actually expects them not to? However, I don't feel they're as strong as they could be. Will need to show a lot more if they want to scare anyone.
Rangers - There's no way they'll make it. They're scottish and might look good sometimes.... but I'm sure they'll fail.
Panathinaikos - like their greek brothers very dissapointing.
F
Real madrid - No problem it seems. Nothing out of the ordinary so far.
Porto - a bit dissapointing maybe, but a home victory over Marseille would see them on course for qualification.
marseille - Looking good. Battling it out with Porto.
Partizan - retired after the Newcastle job. it was great. until next time.
My pick: Madrid, Porto.
G
Chelsea - the team that could have fed the whole world is looking reasonably solid. But that's about all. Will probably qualify though.
Sparta - the X factor in the group. Can go through, can fail... I really don't know.
Lazio - more dependant on Sparta than themselves it seems.
Besiktas - the win against Chelsea was great, but I don't think they'll make it. Then again, they got two home matches so you never know...
My pick: Chelsea and Sparta
H
Ajax - Still not playing too well... but scoring more easily than ever it seems. Still a long way to go with away matches against Celta and Brugge. An all-decisive match against Milan seems like a possibility.
Club Brugge - Might just surprise Ajax at home. Same goes for Milan. Although not very probable thet can make it. And that realization alone will make them very dangerous.
Milan - not all that convincing yet. Nevertheless a quality side and favourites anyway. If they don't improve they might just go out.
Celta - a bit dissapointing but full of quality. Not out just yet.
My picks: Ajax, Brugge
A
Still very open
Bayern Munchen - Looking quite good, but not getting very good results so far. Having to play Anderlecht and Lyon at home and being ranked first gives them an edge, but they're definitely not there yet.
Olympique Lyon - After missing qualification last year (while deserving it) it seems to me they'll be missing out again this year. Will be needing a win at home against celtic, preferably with 3 goals difference. I don't think they'll make since they seem to lack this thing that real winners have... dunno what it is though.
Anderlecht - definitley have the willpower and quality to make it I believe. A very underestimated side who will probably be the ones battling it out with Celtic and bayern.
Celtic - I sympathize a great deal with the green and white... but in all fairness. They are not a European topside. haven't been one in many years. And this year will be no different I think.
My pick to go through: Bayern and Anderlecht.
B
Inter - although Lokomotiv had them by the balls Inter will go through. Seem to be quality this year instead of luck and Crespo.
Dynamo - strong as always, especially at home. Their fate will probably be decided in Moscow.
Lokomotiv - dangerous team. Will need to beat dynamo at home if they want to make it. Everything is possible.
Arsenal - hilarious. Forget about it.
My pick: Inter and Dynamo
C
Deportivo - Not as great as expected IMO but strong nevertheless. Sure thing to go through.
Monaco - very dangerous side, but very beatable as well. Unless PSV starts to play some ver decent ball they join Depor in the next round.
PSV - mighty psv. The eternal CL underperformers. There is a very slight chance, but let Hiddink's boys do the messing up... fat chance.
AEK - Better luck next time boys!
D
Juve - looking pretty good. Sure thing IMO.
Real Sociedad - Not looking very strong so far but a bit too strong for the greeks and turks. In control of their own fate.
Gala - Not the side they used to be. Hell will probably freeze over before too long.
Olympiacos - a bit dissapointing IMO. don't see them playing a role of importance anymore.
[E]
Stuttgart - maybe all of German football isn't down the toilet yet. Still not THAT convincing. Are leading the table at the moment but will need to be at the top of their toes to go through.
Man Utd - With home games against rangers and Stuttgart it seems like they're favourites to go through. And who actually expects them not to? However, I don't feel they're as strong as they could be. Will need to show a lot more if they want to scare anyone.
Rangers - There's no way they'll make it. They're scottish and might look good sometimes.... but I'm sure they'll fail.
Panathinaikos - like their greek brothers very dissapointing.
F
Real madrid - No problem it seems. Nothing out of the ordinary so far.
Porto - a bit dissapointing maybe, but a home victory over Marseille would see them on course for qualification.
marseille - Looking good. Battling it out with Porto.
Partizan - retired after the Newcastle job. it was great. until next time.
My pick: Madrid, Porto.
G
Chelsea - the team that could have fed the whole world is looking reasonably solid. But that's about all. Will probably qualify though.
Sparta - the X factor in the group. Can go through, can fail... I really don't know.
Lazio - more dependant on Sparta than themselves it seems.
Besiktas - the win against Chelsea was great, but I don't think they'll make it. Then again, they got two home matches so you never know...
My pick: Chelsea and Sparta
H
Ajax - Still not playing too well... but scoring more easily than ever it seems. Still a long way to go with away matches against Celta and Brugge. An all-decisive match against Milan seems like a possibility.
Club Brugge - Might just surprise Ajax at home. Same goes for Milan. Although not very probable thet can make it. And that realization alone will make them very dangerous.
Milan - not all that convincing yet. Nevertheless a quality side and favourites anyway. If they don't improve they might just go out.
Celta - a bit dissapointing but full of quality. Not out just yet.
My picks: Ajax, Brugge