Wow. Most of us here voted quarterfinals. That's a bit low.

I think last 8 is what we can do and should do. Beyond that is a coin toss.

Why the hell are people wishing for a group of death? Have you learned nothing from 12/13?

Would be great if we got out of the group in first place, then we'll see from there. With no striker atm and iirc this possibly being Lukaku's 1st time leading the line in the CL, I'm keeping my expectations to a minimum

check this out : you can make your own draw for the UCL https://draw.inker.fun/#/cl/gs 

on one hand i would like us to go far, but knowing how tough it will be, i wonder if it would be better to get a tough group, go out and then go into europa and win that so at least we get europe next year. at the end of the day, it's not the taking part that counts in this game, it's the winning. if we aren't good enough to beat tough teams in the group stages, we won't win the thing. 

With a fully-fit and firing squad, we're definitely in the Juve/Atletico tier of clubs. However there is a gap between this tier and the next, where Barcelona and Bayern sit above and Real Madrid lie atop them too.

The great thing about cup football is character and tactics have just as much influence as outright talent - how you react to a lucky/unlucky situation is so important - and any team can beat any other over two legs (except Madrid)

20 minutes ago, SydneyChelsea said:

With a fully-fit and firing squad, we're definitely in the Juve/Atletico tier of clubs. However there is a gap between this tier and the next, where Barcelona and Bayern sit above and Real Madrid lie atop them too.

The great thing about cup football is character and tactics have just as much influence as outright talent - how you react to a lucky/unlucky situation is so important - and any team can beat any other over two legs (except Madrid)

We have been absolute pants in the CL for the last couple of years, we are a level below Juve and probably Atletico too. We couldn't even beat arsenal in a FA cup final, not sure why you think with a weaker squad than last season we are going to be far better. Spurs absolutely dominated us at Wembley, and our team is absolutely useless under pressing, which any high level european side is very good at.

Might want to turn down you expectations just a tad.

Yeah my expectations are quarter finals. We really aren't that good, the premier league top teams have fallen behind the Europe's best.

Real Madrid, PSG, Atleti, Bayern, Barcelona (shambles at the minute though) Juventus and City probably have a better chance than we do.

QF would be decent.

12 hours ago, enigma said:

on one hand i would like us to go far, but knowing how tough it will be, i wonder if it would be better to get a tough group, go out and then go into europa and win that so at least we get europe next year. at the end of the day, it's not the taking part that counts in this game, it's the winning. if we aren't good enough to beat tough teams in the group stages, we won't win the thing. 

Not a chance. I would rather see us go out at the last 16 of CL than go into Europa. 

Also take away the manchester clubs and who do you seriously think can come above us in the league? Tottenham have a worse squad than we do (despite the media rarely bringing this up) and no home games. Arsenal are a shambles. Liverpool can't defend. 

In terms of tiers anyway and how I see the CL this year.

Madrid (far and away the best side in Europe)

Munich (shambles) / Barca (shambles) / PSG (Neymar) / City (best "on their day side" in the PL)

Juventus (debatable if they are still in this tier after their summer) / Chelsea / Man United

Then you get your Liverpool, Atl Madrids, Napolis, Monacos, Dortmunds.

Avoiding anyone from the top 2 tiers, we should compete. 

Looking forward to doing my first european away game this season. Hoping for a nice draw in that respect. Any grounds people have visited before/hoping for?

5 hours ago, JMaher94 said:

Real Madrid, PSG, Atleti, Bayern, Barcelona (shambles at the minute though) Juventus and City probably have a better chance than we do.

QF would be decent.

I'm not so sure about City in all honesty. Unless they sort out their defensive frailties ( which is something Guardiola seem's to be taking lightly ) then i can see many teams taking them out. I think you are going to need a defence that can cope with pressure against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Honeslty, what team would you rather have defending a 20 minute spell of pressure, us or City ? City would crumble, just like they did against Monaco. Guardiola doesn't have a defensive plan to cope with sustained pressure. The only way they could cope is if they dominated possession against the big teams, but that will never happen. There will always be a period where those teams will go through a phase of dominating possession and that is when City will concede goals.

Thinking back to when English clubs were up there with Europe's best, they had English players at heart of the team - Gerrard + Carragher, Lampard + Terry, Rooney + Carrick + Ferdinand.

22 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

Thinking back to when English clubs were up there with Europe's best, they had English players at heart of the team - Gerrard + Carragher, Lampard + Terry, Rooney + Carrick + Ferdinand.

I think it was more to do with the quality of those players rather than them being English. The foreign players of those teams cared as much and put in as much effort. We had Cech, Drogba, Makelele and Essien who were just as important as Terry and Lampard.

You can watch the draw live here from 5:00 BST 

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2018/draws/round=2000881/index.html

 

One big team and two lesser minnows would be nice. 

Please no Atlético !!!! No Barça!!!! OK with Dortmund or PSG!!

f**k!!!! I

well... QF wont be that bad after all 

2 hours ago, Londonisblue said:

well... QF wont be that bad after all 

Last 16, q/f, s/f or final is irrelevent to me. First is first and second is nowhere. Go out swinging not on a whimper like yesterday...

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Last 16, q/f, s/f or final is irrelevent to me. First is first and second is nowhere. Go out swinging not on a whimper like yesterday...

Here here

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Last 16, q/f, s/f or final is irrelevent to me. First is first and second is nowhere. Go out swinging not on a whimper like yesterday...

I agree. But since yesterday's result, I am not as confident ... but of course, we must be fighting whatever the circumstances in the UCL!!! if we won it with bosingwa, mikel, meireles and kalou, I don"t see how we cannot win it with hazard morata kanté and Azpi! Granted we had also Drogba, Lampard, Cole, Cech and Terry ... but we have now Batman so anything is possible

Edited December 10, 20178 yr by Londonisblue

All we can do is try and win. Rather get stuffed by psg trying to take them on and beat them than sit back and hope to Nick it and lose 1-0 with a limp display like yesterday.

Let's be honest, looking at how poor we've been in games this season, we don't really stand a chance. In 2012 we weren't great, but we had a fantastic team spirit and never-say-die attitude. I only see that in a couple of players in this squad.