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Post by rurourin on Aug 26, 2011 2:35:34 GMT 1
Does anyone have an opinion about the draws for United and for the other teams. (I was hoping that City got into the same group as Barcelona, just to end their run in the beginning, but Bayern, Villareal and Napoli can do that job as well )
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Post by RobRedDevil on Aug 26, 2011 20:03:03 GMT 1
I think we have a relatively straight-forward draw to be honest. I was hoping that we would avoid Villarreal and we did just that. We have been drawn against Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati. I know who Benfica and Basel are, but Otelul Galatic, I have absolutely no idea. I can see us getting possibly 4 points against Benfica, 6 points against Basel and 6 points against Otelul. That should give us 16 points and puts us at the top of the group. As for City, they have Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli. For them, they can get 6 points against Napoli because Italian football is no longer a force to be reckoned with. Secondly, they might get 2 points at best against Villarreal, and they might get 1 point against Bayern Munich. This will get them 9 points at best.
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Post by rurourin on Aug 27, 2011 4:45:25 GMT 1
I think Napoli can cause an upset or two. They have a decent bunch of players. I was impressed by Hamsik in the World Cup and i would have no qualms if United got him into the team. They do not have "household" names per se but they can cause a flutter in the group.
As for United's group, it looks a stroll, but it isn't over till its over. All I know about Otelul is its from Romania. Absolutely nothing else about it.
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Post by Red Devil on Aug 30, 2011 23:11:05 GMT 1
I think benfica have weakened alot since david luiz and coentrao left the club, i think our toughest game is the first game away to benfica (in which i think we will get atleast a point), the rest of the matches are pretty straight forward..I expect the young players to play in both the ties against Otelul (they are the new romanian champions btw after 47 years). I am already looking fwd to the knockout phases.
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Post by obstacle2 on Aug 30, 2011 23:50:48 GMT 1
We got a great draw, in my opinion. Perhaps some of our fans underestimate Benfica, but I'm confident our team won't.
Arsenal's draw is relatively tough though.
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Post by Red Devil on Aug 30, 2011 23:53:53 GMT 1
Considering how arsenal are playing right now without a solid bac 4 and no creativity in midfield, i think even swansea home for them is tough let alone the teams in the UCL but with plenty of players coming back i think arsenal will finish 2nd in the grp and get eliminated in the knockout phases.
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Post by obstacle2 on Aug 31, 2011 0:06:24 GMT 1
Arsenal going out in the knockout stages?
Not the boldest prediction you will ever make!
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Post by RobRedDevil on Aug 31, 2011 20:09:20 GMT 1
Considering how arsenal are playing right now without a solid bac 4 and no creativity in midfield, i think even swansea home for them is tough let alone the teams in the UCL but with plenty of players coming back i think arsenal will finish 2nd in the grp and get eliminated in the knockout phases. To be honest, I think Arsenal have a better chance of getting through to the knock-out stages with the likes of RVP, Walcott and their new player; Gervinho who took the Premier league by storm in his first game against Newcastle. Since he has been red-carded, Arsenal miss someone bombing down the left-hand side.
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Post by obstacle2 on Sept 1, 2011 20:38:05 GMT 1
I'm very excited about seeing Young and Arteta in Europe. I always wondered whether those two could make the step up... I think they both will.
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Post by RobRedDevil on Sept 1, 2011 20:42:10 GMT 1
I agree with you there Rob. I think Arteta has been waiting for this opportunity to play in Europe for years. I think he will make it. As for Youngy, he has the ability to make it in Europe too, plus I feel that he is playing better than he has ever played. This helps having Evra right behind him and when they double-up, it makes for great viewing. Young on the left and Nani/Valencia on the right is a recipe for success in Europe.
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Post by obstacle2 on Sept 1, 2011 20:53:40 GMT 1
What are your thoughts on Mertesacker?
My initial impression is that the British media & public seem to seriously underrate him.
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Post by RobRedDevil on Sept 1, 2011 20:57:07 GMT 1
I think Wenger has made the right choice in Mertesacker. He cannot continue with the likes of Squillaci, that is for sure. If there was one area that was needed to improve, it was definitely the defence, as was proved last sunday where only one of there back-four was a recognised player. I think he has the ability to make it in the Robert Huth mould when he used to play for Chelsea.
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Post by obstacle2 on Sept 1, 2011 21:00:41 GMT 1
I think so too. I see what you mean.
Obviously he's better than Huth though.
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Post by RobRedDevil on Sept 1, 2011 21:07:01 GMT 1
He will be judged by his skills and his physic, and to be honest, it is depressing to see Wenger buying all these players from France when most of them have little to no skill whatsoever. I am obviously making reference to players like Squillaci.
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