1 minute ago, charierre said:

Not what the foreign office say.

 

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Azerbaijan. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners, such as international hotels, restaurants and pubs, as well as energy sector facilities. You should take sensible precautions.

Ok, and in London, Barca, Nice? I've been to Baku, it's not dangerous. In fact their fans should be more worried about a terrorist attack traveling to London most likely. 

Edited August 24, 20178 yr by DonAntonio

Tough group but winnable no need to panic. UTC.

Just happy to see Torres back at the bridge. 

Wonder if Rudiger can be useful in aiding us tactically against Roma? 

We can do this, but will be some attritional games.  A bit of intrigue around past/former clubs.  

AM - Filipe Luis, Courtois, Torres, and the obvious Costa sub-plot, even if he doesn't play either way (although agree would be fun to cup tie him)

Roma - Rudiger against his former team, Nainggolan after the strange sort-of pursuit

Qarabag - I got nothing

It's good to be back. 

Edited August 24, 20178 yr by VG
(whoops, forgot Torres - instructive)

It's a tough group, but i think everybody from Pot 1 was expecting a fairly tough draw. It kind of shows the flaw in the way the draw is made when you would prefer to be in Pot 2.

If we've got any sense we try to arrange trip to Baku for September. A cold Tues December evening there could be difficult.

Champs or chumps we'll soon know. 

8 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

Here's our PL games after each CL tie

week 1 - Arsenal at home

week 2 - City at home

week 3 - Watford at home

week 4 - Man United at home

week 5 - Liverpool away

week 6- West Ham away    

Priceless, you would imagine someone is trying to make life difficult for us, but football associations would never allow and form of corrupt behaviour so it can't be that.

5 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

It's a tough group, but i think everybody from Pot 1 was expecting a fairly tough draw. It kind of shows the flaw in the way the draw is made when you would prefer to be in Pot 2.

Totally agree, it should be on seedings, winning is supposed to give you an advantage, 4th and 6th in the league got piss easy draws.

2 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Priceless, you would imagine someone is trying to make life difficult for us, but football associations would never allow and form of corrupt behaviour so it can't be that.

Tough luck, but happens.  At least Liverpool, United and City will be facing similar exertions. Depends a bit on home / away now I guess.  Definitely need depth to ensure we can rotate.

Sneaky bids for Nainggolan and Griezmann then?

 

3 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Priceless, you would imagine someone is trying to make life difficult for us, but football associations would never allow and form of corrupt behaviour so it can't be that.

tough schedule indeed. But that's where we'll see our greatness... or downfall. I'd rather believe that CFC shine whenever the odds are stacked against us, or not so much in our favour ! 

Are Benefica and Basel that bad? I mean, Basel tend to f**k up every english club in their stadium, and Benfica have some storng experience in the UCL. CSKA is not that easy either ... I mean our group is tough, but Man Utd have gone out to both Basel and Benfica in the not so distant past. As well as to CSKA I believe. 

I mean, that's basically the worst group we could have asked for isn't it? 

Just now, ForeverCarefree said:

I mean, that's basically the worst group we could have asked for isn't it? 

Absolute worst would have been : Barcelona Napoli Sporting

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I mean, that's basically the worst group we could have asked for isn't it? 

Almost, Barca/PSG and Napoli would have been marginally worse, mind you we have Barcas number and PSG should be beatable, Athleti are debatably worse for us, Napoli tougher than Roma though. 

2 minutes ago, Londonisblue said:

Absolute worst would have been : Barcelona Napoli Sporting

CSKA would have been harder. Travelling all of the way to Moscow would be hell.

Just now, Scott Harris said:

CSKA would have been harder. Travelling all of the way to Moscow would be hell.

I hesitated between sporting and CSKA indeed. 

Azerbaijan is further 

Just now, DonAntonio said:

Azerbaijan is further 

true. But not a credible threat as far as football goes IMO. Whereas CSKA... Just ask Van Gaal 

7 minutes ago, Londonisblue said:

Are Benefica and Basel that bad? I mean, Basel tend to f**k up every english club in their stadium, and Benfica have some storng experience in the UCL. CSKA is not that easy either ... I mean our group is tough, but Man Utd have gone out to both Basel and Benfica in the not so distant past. As well as to CSKA I believe. 

Nah our group is by far the tougher.

 

Atletico/Roma>>>>>>>>>>>>>Benfica/Basle

3 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Almost, Barca/PSG and Napoli would have been marginally worse, mind you we have Barcas number and PSG should be beatable, Athleti are debatably worse for us, Napoli tougher than Roma though. 

We did have Barcas number, when we had a team of big game players like Lamps, drogba, jt, cech.. I'm not sure I'd be too confident with the current team against them, its a whole new squad. 

11 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I mean, that's basically the worst group we could have asked for isn't it? 

I dunno, I reckon a spud would have something to say about that 

Edited August 24, 20178 yr by Fendieta

4 minutes ago, Zeta said:

We did have Barcas number, when we had a team of big game players like Lamps, drogba, jt, cech.. I'm not sure I'd be too confident with the current team against them, its a whole new squad. 

I liked the tactic against Tottenham, with hazard back it's the type of set-up that beats Barca