Really like our draw solely based on the travel.  Combine that with who we drew, and it has to be one of our most favorable outcomes.

A bonus - all 3 of these teams have potential transfer targets for us that we’ll get to see up close and personal.

Ajax have lost two of their best players, Lille have lost Pepe and we have no long journeys midweek to cock up our PL campaign.
The big priority for us this season is rebuilding the team ready for an injection of cash next season and trying to get top 6. Obviously all us fans would be delighted with a higher position but at this point I don't see the CL as being a high priority. It would be a bonus if we got out of the group.

We should qualify from the group and the players will demand the best possible lineup for these games. With CL you can't calculate, you go all in. It will affect our league games for sure.

58 minutes ago, evissy said:

1 hour ago, Andy North said:

Ajax have lost two of their best players, Lille have lost Pepe and we have no long journeys midweek to cock up our PL campaign.
The big priority for us this season is rebuilding the team ready for an injection of cash next season and trying to get top 6. Obviously all us fans would be delighted with a higher position but at this point I don't see the CL as being a high priority. It would be a bonus if we got out of the group.

We should qualify from the group and the players will demand the best possible lineup for these games. With CL you can't calculate, you go all in. It will affect our league games for sure.

In my mind, we should be winning our first 4 games and then be in a position to rest players. We are much better than the three other teams for the reasons outlined. 

In even better news. United drew Astana in the Europa league, long journey for them! Wahey

In my mind, we should be winning our first 4 games and then be in a position to rest players. We are much better than the three other teams for the reasons outlined. 
In even better news. United drew Astana in the Europa league, long journey for them! Wahey

Ajax is significantly weaker side. DeJong basically did everything for them and De Ligt were their backbone. They barely made the CL this time. Tough side to play but a win and a draw against them.

11 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

In my mind, we should be winning our first 4 games and then be in a position to rest players. We are much better than the three other teams for the reasons outlined. 

In even better news. United drew Astana in the Europa league, long journey for them! Wahey

I just checked and the flight is 7h 10m. On a Thursday too. Heh, heh. Hope we are playing them the Sunday after having just smashed Lille in the CL a few days earlier.

15 minutes ago, Andy North said:

I just checked and the flight is 7h 10m. On a Thursday too. Heh, heh. Hope we are playing them the Sunday after having just smashed Lille in the CL a few days earlier.

We won't play them until the next year as we already played them in the first fixture of the PL (understandably you've probably removed the memory...).

16 minutes ago, RMH said:

We won't play them until the next year as we already played them in the first fixture of the PL (understandably you've probably removed the memory...).

 I was referring to the return fixture.  What makes you think I forgot?

3 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

Really like our draw solely based on the travel.  Combine that with who we drew, and it has to be one of our most favorable outcomes.

A bonus - all 3 of these teams have potential transfer targets for us that we’ll get to see up close and personal.

Which players are those that we would be interested in from Ajax,Lille and Valencia? 

10 hours ago, Droopy said:

We should take this group very seriously, we can't rotate too much. We are going to need RLC and CHO for the second part of the season because I don't believe Mount, Pulisic and Tammy can continue with this type of performances for an entire year at their age. And I don't want to see Willian and Pedro taking over in the middle of the season.

it will depend on how well they can recover.

10 hours ago, Valerie said:

I wonder how long a wait to expect at customs, 5 days after Brexit....

You’re top of the ‘Dodgy Foreigner refuse entry’ list so I’ve heard 

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

You’re top of the ‘Dodgy Foreigner refuse entry’ list so I’ve heard 

So those bribes didn't work...

5 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Which players are those that we would be interested in from Ajax,Lille and Valencia? 

Quite a few players that we could target.

Ajax: Ziyech, Neres, Alvarez, maybe van de Beek (though I think we are set in midfield for now)

Valencia: Guedes, Diakhaby, Soler, Gaya, Gomez

Lille: Bamba, Osimhem

Not sure we would necessarily be interested in any of them, but a lot of good and mostly young players that we’ll be able to scout easily.

9 hours ago, Andy North said:

 I was referring to the return fixture.  What makes you think I forgot?

Well, our home fixture is in February, and they will have (or not) gone through by December to the next stage. So no chance of playing them after their trip to Astana. No other intention ? As to forgetting the first fixture, well, I was there and still trying to forget the result!

8 hours ago, RMH said:

Well, our home fixture is in February, and they will have (or not) gone through by December to the next stage. So no chance of playing them after their trip to Astana. No other intention ? As to forgetting the first fixture, well, I was there and still trying to forget the result!

Aston Villa at home is after Astana

Norwich away is after Belgrade. 

 

But I can't see united finishing above us anyway this year. 

 

I reckon we're in for a huge surprise in this year's UCL ... That surpise may involve a young inexperienced coach, back at his favourite club, winning big in the most prestigious competition in european football. And also spurs getting spanked in group stages hopefully.

1 hour ago, Londonisblue said:

I reckon we're in for a huge surprise in this year's UCL ... That surpise may involve a young inexperienced coach, back at his favourite club, winning big in the most prestigious competition in european football. And also spurs getting spanked in group stages hopefully.

The mental thing is the way things are with us it wouldn't actually surprise me, we showed vs Liverpool we can compete in one off match situations against anyone, favorable last 16 draw and a Benfica esque pull in the quarters and you just never know.

However in the likely event that doesn't happen i want a memorable run, atleast one famous CL night to remember as it's been too long.

After our performances in the PL, I don't hold my breath. I will travel with the team, but don't expect to get through to the next stage. We have a young team to grow up and massive defensive problems. It will be a great experience for the likes of Mount and Abraham.

.

Edited September 1, 20196 yr by Londonisblue

30 minutes ago, RMH said:

After our performances in the PL, I don't hold my breath. I will travel with the team, but don't expect to get through to the next stage. We have a young team to grow up and massive defensive problems. It will be a great experience for the likes of Mount and Abraham.

this is exactly why an upset could happen. the game vs pool showed some signs of it : as @Argo pointed out, mental and grit are definitely characteristic of that team when it comes to big european games. in such one off opportunities, there's chances we could do an ajax (or a repeat of 2012 if lucky). And the fact that the board FINALLY seems to have understood that ambitions had to be lowered AND youth had to be trusted, there's absolutely no pressure for the team. An early exit would be no biggie since the team is going through major changes as well as the club. Therefore any progress will be seen as positive and a huge boost for the team's confidence. Now of course the PL run this season wont certainly look great. But who cares that you finished 6th in the league when you won the big ears and the fa cup in the same season ?*.

 

*: although securing top 4 would be welcomed just in case we get barcelona or real madrid in the last 16 ^^. Or even worse and we have to actually defend our europa league vs manure ?

8 hours ago, RMH said:

After our performances in the PL, I don't hold my breath. I will travel with the team, but don't expect to get through to the next stage. We have a young team to grow up and massive defensive problems. It will be a great experience for the likes of Mount and Abraham.

That's my view as well. Let's be modest in our expectations, this isn't a fairytale. Just beat Ajax twice 

After our performances in the PL, I don't hold my breath. I will travel with the team, but don't expect to get through to the next stage. We have a young team to grow up and massive defensive problems. It will be a great experience for the likes of Mount and Abraham.

I believe our best bet of getting CL next season would be Europa league so finishing third in our CL group. Miracles have happen before but this one would be the micrales of all micrales

2 hours ago, Brutos said:

I believe our best bet of getting CL next season would be Europa league so finishing third in our CL group. Miracles have happen before but this one would be the micrales of all micrales

f**k the Europa League, we’ll just have to win the CL!

Valencia are in crisis with the owner having sacked the coach this week and the players are not happy with the decision. Let's see if we can beat next week this Valencia in turmoil, we could really do with a win in Europe.

https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2019/09/11/5d7959b422601d967b8b4570.html

Some great away days this year in the group stages. I have stupidly used all my days off this year but hoping for a tasty one if we get through. Very excited about next week now and Valencia in turmoil ?

I haven't seen any on sale dates for the away matches, or have I overlooked something?