2011/2012 FSU Champions League

I can't wait to see this CSKA squad take on Europe. Unless we get a straight group of death I have to say that anything less than a last 16 place is a big disappointment.

I'm hoping that our attack can overshadow any defensive mishaps we might have.

 

What makes you think they'll be so strong this season?

 

Considering the form the team's in and the squad we have a last 16 place has to be achieved.

Doumbia, Vagner, Honda, Dzagoev, and Tosic taking on Europe's best.

 

It's a talented squad as long as it remains intact. Defense is still a question mark, but talent alone should get them out of group stage assuming no Group of Death as Dima mentioned.

 

If you were describing an Italian, Spanish or German side that would be the case, but we're talkinng about Russia. Always prone to do something stupid and blow it. Talent alone doesn't help as much in Russia's case, intangibles and blunders always in effect.

 

We've made it to the QF so at least the group stage hurdle has been leaped. I really like this current team's chemistry on the pitch and they have a lot of confidence going for them right now.

 

Well depends on if they are Pot 2 or Pot 3 how easy it will be. I have no idea which they will be.

 

CSKA will be Pot 2.

Zenit Pot 2 or 3.

I was most surprised to find out that Shakhtar could be Pot 1 or 2.

 

Zenit will advance to pot 2 if two of six teams will not qualify to the group stage: Bayern, Arsenal, Lyon, Benfica, Villareal, Dynamo Kyiv, and it is already known that at least one of them will not qualify as there are only 5 places in "non-champions path".

BTW if Dynamo Kyiv will qualify, it will be in pot 2 surely.

Shakhtar to go to pot 1 needs all three of Bayern, Arsenal and Lyon to lose in play-off. Very improbable.

 

Them and CSKA.

 

But even still, I think it will take one of them reaching the last 16 of the CL on a consistent basis for us to proclaim them as one of the elite. I definitely think Shakhtar should start reaching that goal, and hopefully Zenit and CSKA can too.

 

That's true, but there's also no denying Shakhtar are one of the top10 teams in the world just for the fact that they played Barca 3 years in a row in the competition and actually play at their level blow for blow, which no one is able to do cause its downright suicide for most teams to even try. But I agree, Barca isn't the only team in the competition and now they need to be consistently in the knockout rounds or that elite tag is questionable. I just think they've turned into a solid veteran and cohesive side since winning the UEFA Cup and their only going to get better these next few years...

 

I think it's at least debatable.

Barcelona, Madrid, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter, Bayern and Porto all deserve to be ahead of Shakhtar IMO, given their consistency over the past several years.

But you'd definitely put Shakhtar ahead of Liverpool, Lyon, Valencia, Milan, etc?

 

All those teams can beat each other but Shakhtar are definitely among them. Consistency wise they shouldn't even be in the discussion but their talent and current form easily puts them in the discussion. Lyon and Valencia are the last in that group currently.

 

Ha, OK I won't go into a homer rant here, but how can you claim that Shakhtar's recent history is better than this:

07: Porto lose 3-2 to Chelsea in the last 16 of the CL, very closely contested 2nd leg in London.

08: Porto lose on penalties to Schalke in the last 16 of the CL, only Neuer's heroics keeps us out of the last 8.

09: Porto lose to United 3-2 in the QF, after earning a 2-2 draw at OT.

10: Porto lose in the last 16 again, after a bad 2nd leg vs Arsenal.

11: Porto win Europa League.

 

Dude why do you even bother with him lol if you haven't noticed he hasn't got a clue. Any opinion he has usually gets shut down by unanimous 5-0 votes by other posters. and yet he will still hammer away at his false claims lol

 

Ha so anyway, the CL draw for DK and Rubin comes out tomorrow. Rubin will definitely have a tough test, regardless of who they draw.
http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1650571.html#new+entrants+await+third+qualifying+round+draw



LEAGUE ROUTE

Seeded
SL Benfica (POR)*, FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), Panathinaikos FC (GRE)*, FC Twente (NED)*, R. Standard de Liège (BEL)

Unseeded
FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)*, FC Zürich (SUI), Odense BK (DEN), Trabzonspor AŞ, (TUR), FC Vaslui (ROU)