Champions League 2009/10

Chances = VERY slim.

 

I probably should day this, I wasn't just trying to crap all over Celtic, because I have developed a soft spot for them. Not a supporter, I only support one team in Europe, but better they win than Rangers. And no, I have no quarrel with Rangers at all.

 

Bricking it.

It will have to be perhaps the most amazing effort and performance in the history of My Little Scottish Champions League Club.

 

I'll be seriously considering a bumble-bee kit if they pull this off.

 

I feel relatively safe now, at 4-0 agg, in saying, "I'm safe."

New Cup Half Full: I've got two chances in the Europa Cup!!

 

If my only two shirts were a Celtic shirt and an Everton shirt I would wear the Celtic shirt 7 days a week.

 

I honestly believe the Everton shirt is the worst I've seen this season (or in many a season) and is detri-mentally causing their shitty start to the 2009/10 campaign. It is just so wrong in so many ways.

 

Arsenal look good before Arshavin came on and very good after he was subbed in. I think he is my favorite non-Fulham player to watch right now. Big engine, big heart, doesn't go down easy and he makes such terrific runs.

 

Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux, Maccabi Haifa
Group B: MANCHESTER UNITED, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg
Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich
Group D: CHELSEA, FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, APOEL
Group E: LIVERPOOL, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debrecen
Group F: FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Dinamo Kiev, FC Rubin Kazan
Group G: Sevilla, RANGERS, Stuttgart, Unirea
Group H: ARSENAL, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard

 

Rangers got a fun draw.

Group G
Sevilla
Rangers
Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni

I don't know anything about the last team, but given the players that Sevilla and Stuttgart lost, I see the top three as being pretty even; any 2 of them could get out of the group. That's good for Mo Edu and the USMNT.

My run down of the other groups
A: If Chamakh stays at Bordeaux, then it'll be a 3-way fight bewteen Bayern, Juve, and Bordeaux for the top 2 spots.
B: Could be a 3-way fight to determine who comes 2nd behind ManU.
C: Milan got lucky, as they have the inside track to getting 2nd behind Real Madrid.
D: Easy draw for Chelsea. Between Atletico Madrid and Porto for 2nd.
E: Liverpool should be ok, with Lyon and Fiorentina fighting for 2nd, but they'll need to step it up from their current form.
F: If Dyanmo Kyiv get Sheva, they could make a fight of it; otherwise, it's the Barca-Inter show.
G: above.
H: Arsenal got probably the easiest draw, and are arguably the team that needs the least help. I'd pick which teams would fight for 2nd, but don't think it matters - they'll be easy fodder for whoever they face in the elimination rounds.

 

I'm officially on board with the people who say the draw is fixed. Inter and Barca were put there on purpose so that Inter can show Ibra what a punk he is for leaving. I'm so excited to have the chance to watch Eto'o go back to the crappy Nou Camp. Hopefully he scores a hat trick. Screw you Ibra.

 

THE Predictions:

Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus
Group B: MANCHESTER UNITED, Wolfsburg
Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid,
Group D: CHELSEA, Atletico Madrid
Group E: LIVERPOOL, Lyon
Group F: FC Barcelona, Inter Milan
Group G: Sevilla, Stuttgart,
Group H: ARSENAL, AZ Alkmaar

 

they did do seeding, but based upon their club's coefficients. so despite being 4th in the EPL and entering via the qualifying rounds, Arsenal are ranked 6th in the CL.

based on the pot rankings, Arsenal got the best in pot 3 and second best in pot 4. but its still an easy ride.

More info: http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uef ... ml?080828a

 

Whine whine whine. Barcelona gave Inter a ridiculously massive pile of money to make that switch, you have absolutely no right to be upset about this.

And what a ridiculously easy group Arsenal got. Fulham would advance out of that group.

 

Today's WhitesBhoy Picks, in bold:

Home Away VENUE
Atlético Madrid v Apoel Nicosia (Vicente Calderon)
VfL Wolfsburg v CSKA Moscow (Volkswagen Arena)
Chelsea v FC Porto (Stamford Bridge)
Maccabi Haifa v Bayern Munich (Kiryat Eliezer)
Marseille v AC Milan (Stade Vélodrome)
Juventus v Bordeaux (Olimpico Grande) Torino
FC Zürich v Real Madrid (Letzigrund Stadion)
Besiktas v Manchester United (Besiktas Inönü)

 

WhitesBhoys favorites for the Tournament, in order:

1. BAYERN (Out of all the Bundesliga clubs, figure they have the best chance. And after such a long, dry spell for any club outside The Prem, La Liga, and Serie A, figure my ancestors and das Vaterland deserve a shot.)
2. WOLFSBURG (See above.)
3. INTER (The Academie US98 Soccer founded is called Soccer Academie INTER98, and we wear the black and blue stripe with pride. Used to be in part because of Zlatan and because of the unique history of the club, but I like Eto'o and his sublime shot the other day.)
4. ATLETICO MADRID (Diego Forlan is one of my new favorites. Two seasons in a row Europe's top goal scorer, and with little fan fare.)
5. BARCELONA (One word: Zlatan.)
6. STANDARD LIEGE (Don't have a snowballs chance now with Dafour and provably Witsel out, but for Gooch's old times sake...)
7. FC PORTO: Just to hump Chelscum.
8. SEVILLA: To hump and dump Rankers.
9. FIORENTINA: Because purple sometimes really is super-FAB-U-LOUS! (Three snaps and a twirl.)