Neowin's Official UEFA Champions League 2005/06

[leesmithg]

No, you really don't. Your squad is of a pathetic size, and you have no quality back-up. Your 2 midfielders are both not as experienced either.

Man Utd to win :cool:

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I think we have a fine chance, Vieira gone means we have a more settled squad, Sol coming back we should have a better defence, I understand what you mean, again I am cheesed off that we have not made a stronger defence and we should have purchased Owen or at least got Crouch before Liverpool did.

[spa2k]

I think we have a fine chance, Vieira gone means we have a more settled squad, Sol coming back we should have a better defence, I understand what you mean, again I am cheesed off that we have not made a stronger defence and we should have purchased Owen or at least got Crouch before Liverpool did.

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At last!!!! Someone recognizes that there is more to Crouch than just his height......

[KzR]

Chelsea! Their team for players and the manager really make for a championship team.

[Powa]

Hahahahahaha Crouch is the most over rated player ever! Arsenal did themselves a favour by not getting him.

Yeah off topic but I thought I would rub it in to all the Man Utd and Man City fans, I'm going to the derby tomorrow! :D

[deuz]

always liverpool....realistically ac milan :(

[FaRSightxc2]

There are so many good teams this year that I think it is almost impossible to pick one team that will win. Therefore, instead of saying who I think will win I will narrow down the list by saying which team, IMO, will not be good enough:

Arsenal - I simply don't think they have the strength or depth in their squad to do well in the Champs league. They have many excellent players, but a tendency to concede. I think if Arsenal want to win anything they need to invest heavily in a new 'keeper and probably a new centre half.

Liverpool - I like Liverpool a lot, not necessarily in the premiership, but in Europe. The only reason I don't think they will win this year is that they will be very hard pushed to improve, or even equal, last years performance. I just don't think they have the momentum to win it two years in a row.

Internazionale - Although they have a very decent squad, their performance in the last two years in Serie A has been very below par. Much like Liverpool?s performance in the Premiership. This might suggest they can do what Liverpool have done and continue to do well in Europe, but I think they just lack the kind of edge you need to win this tournament.

Manchester United - Excellent, strong squad of players and have proved it on many occations. Although you can never write off UTD, I am not sure they are quite what they once were although they are still right up there with the best of them.

Real Madrid - One word: overrated. They have an amazing squad and amazing players with a wealth of money, but I think they lack the team, fighting ethic that you need to win the big tournaments. There is something missing from Madrid, that is not in terms of players, but attitude or mentality.

So, on to the ones I think have the best chance of winning:

Chelsea - I hate Chelsea. I hate Chelsea very much. However, you cannot write them off. They are yet to concede this season in the premiership and were far superior, particularly defensively, than any other British club. I know you need a lot more that this in the Champions League, but they can score from all over the park. I don't tip them to win by any stretch of the imagination, but their chance is as good as the other three clubs in this section.

AC Milan - This is a highflying team that is strong tactically and mentally throughout the team in every position. They score a lot of good goals and aren?t too shabby defensively. They have been excellent in recent years in the Champions League and Serie A and they will certainly be 'The Team to Beat' this year.

Juventus - A very good team, who with the acquisition of a certain midfielder from Arsenal, now have one of the most complete squads in Italy. Their defence is very strong, with some very under-rated players, a solid midfield that can not only break down attacks but create their own. Juve, like AC Milan, will also have the stigma of 'The Team to Beat'.

Barcelona - Another excellent side who can produce something from nothing. They are also strong across the field and very hard to beat because you know you will have to be on top of your game to stop them scoring. They have an excellent chance this year, although I would probably have to say the two Italian sides, AC and Juve, are perhaps favourites.

So who do I think will win? I think it is between Juve and AC. I am sure I will be surprised, though, as the Champions League is never this easy to judge! I am sure there is at least one outsider that no one has mentioned that may come through and cause some upsets.

So, what do you think?

- FaRSightxc2

[spa2k]

wow - a tottenham fan with a sense of realism....and i never thought they existed!!

seriously though, that seems a good summation although i have a bigger belief in liverpool fc than you do.

I genuinely think that chelsea will not come close to winning the CL, there is still something about them that is just not good enough!

[whimblesnack]

FCP (porto)!!! even without mourinho!!! :rofl:

[bigbluepride35]

I already voted but since there's no other thread for the Champions League I didn't know where to put this. Maybe this thread could become a discussion thred for the tournament as it continues.

Anyway, Forza Milan! Ricky Kaka looks like he has returned to his form of two seasons ago :D . He has been performing extraordinarily well in serie A and today in the Champions League he added two more goals. Sheva looks like he's fully recovered from the orbital surgery (again performing well in serie A as well). I'm very pleased with today's result.

Real Madrid's convincing loss was a bit surprising.

[scofo76]

FCP (porto)!!! even without mourinho!!!  :rofl:

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Not a very good start for Porto, but a great win for my team Rangers, winning 3-2 against Porto at Ibrox :D

I already voted but since there's no other thread for the Champions League I didn't know where to put this. Maybe this thread could become a discussion thred for the tournament as it continues.

Anyway, Forza Milan! Ricky Kaka looks like he has returned to his form of two seasons ago :D . He has been performing extraordinarily well in serie A and today in the Champions League he added two more goals. Sheva looks like he's fully recovered from the orbital surgery (again performing well in serie A as well). I'm very pleased with today's result.

Real Madrid's convincing loss was a bit surprising.

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Good idea, this should now be the official Champions League thread from now on :)

Kaka was fantastic tonight against Fenerbahce, his second goal was certainly one to remember!

I must admit i wasn't that surprised with the Real Madrid result, they were poor at the weekend against Celta Vigo, and tonight they were up against a free scoring Lyon side (started with 5 wins and 1 draw in their opening 6 games in the French league), and are gonna be one for the watching in the tournament this season. No team will want to play them.

Edited September 14, 2005 by scofo76

[MEMO.INC]

In this one I root for Barcelona, great team,

[bigbluepride35]

Kaka was fantastic tonight against Fenerbahce, his second goal was certainly one to remember!

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Unfortunately, I will did not get to see the game because here in the States ESPN has exclusive rights to the tournament. And they only show one game per matchday on ESPN2 and usually it's one of the English teams. ESPN Deportes shows taped airings but I don't receive that. :angry: So I have to rely on reports to describe how the Milan games were lol. Well actually, the Fox Sports World Report on Fox Soccer Channel (Fox Sports World to just about every other country) should show highlights. Still, will probably only get to see live games if they make it into the quarterfinals (which they hopefully should).

[karma_police]

Barcelona for me.

[scofo76]

Well it's been another busy night of Champions League action tonight, with Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Benfica and Udinese all recording wins, and Manchester Utd managing to get a draw in Villareal.

Man of the night though is Vincenzo Iaquinta of Udinese, who hit a hat-trick in their first ever Champions League game, against Panathinaikos.

Goal of the night imo goes to Miroslav Matusovic of Sparta Prague, in the 1-1 draw with Ajax.

There were 3 red cards tonight, for Wayne Rooney of Manchester Utd, Robin Van Persie of Arsenal, and Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira. I personally thought all 3 were rather harsh, although i gotta wonder if Wayne Rooney will ever learn to keep his mouth shut.

Rapid Vienna were unlucky not to get a draw with Bayern Munich (Jozef Valachovic missing a penalty for the Austrians), and despite Arsenal leaving it late against little known FC Thun, there were no real surprises tonight. Can't wait for the next round of games :)

[retri]

I voted for Barcelona

For me is the best team: good connection between players and excellent direction (Rijkaard)

Ronaldinho and Etoo are the best forward duplet today

[robertobaggio2k]

juventus won 2-1 they owned the game till the last couple of minutes were anything could have happened...like said above the red card for vieira was unexpected but only beucase of his first yellow foul that wasnt there, so he got punished for nothing...but ah well we still won and played a great game...juve has a strong team that looks very promising this year not only for serie a but for champions as well :D

[felixml]

Chelsea has to win, no excuses.

Glad Rooney got thrown out again,

he has to start thinking about his reputaion and mature fast

[phedot]

The Manchester United group leader... SL Benfica :whistle:

Or maybe Barcelona... Yeah probably Bar?a...

[RebelFX]

Juventus or Barcelona. Both are the best squads in Europe nowadays and it's time that an Italian or a Spanish team wins again the CL this season.

[deuz]

Well it's been another busy night of Champions League action tonight, with Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Benfica and Udinese all recording wins, and Manchester Utd managing to get a draw in Villareal.

Man of the night though is Vincenzo Iaquinta of Udinese, who hit a hat-trick in their first ever Champions League game, against Panathinaikos.

Goal of the night imo goes to Miroslav Matusovic of Sparta Prague, in the 1-1 draw with Ajax.

There were 3 red cards tonight, for Wayne Rooney of Manchester Utd, Robin Van Persie of Arsenal, and Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira. I personally thought all 3 were rather harsh, although i gotta wonder if Wayne Rooney will ever learn to keep his mouth shut.

Rapid Vienna were unlucky not to get a draw with Bayern Munich (Jozef Valachovic missing a penalty for the Austrians), and despite Arsenal leaving it late against little known FC Thun, there were no real surprises tonight. Can't wait for the next round of games  :)

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when does liverpool play?? :rolleyes:

[scofo76]

when does liverpool play?? :rolleyes:

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Yeah they played the night before, a great 2-1 victory over Real Betis away from home. A lot of people thought they would slip up there, but it's an excellent start for the current champions

[Martyn]

when does liverpool play?? :rolleyes:

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You should know if your bothered about them.

If its because your in Australia then LiverpoolFc.tv is your home :)

[deuz]

You should know if your bothered about them.

If its because your in Australia then LiverpoolFc.tv is your home :)

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i support them alot but im not that bothered.....if its on sbs ill watch it or otherwise wait 4 the results to come in the papers......im more bothered bout the NRL and AFL atm :cool:

[Apollo]

FC Porto hehe... well being realistic Barcelone has a great team, they will probably win it.

[scofo76]

Matchday 2 Fixtures:

Tues 27 September:

A Bayern Munich v Club Brugge

A Juventus v Rapid Vienna

B Ajax v Arsenal

B FC Thun v Sparta Prague

C Barcelona v Udinese

C Panathinaikos v Werder Bremen

D Lille v Villareal

D Manchester United v Benfica

Weds 28 September:

E Fenerbahce v PSV Eindhoven

E Schalke 04 v Milan AC

F Real Madrid v Olympiakos

F Rosenborg v Lyon

G Anderlecht v Real Betis

G Liverpool v Chelsea

H Internazionale v Rangers (Match will be played behind closed doors @ San Siro)

H FC Porto v Artmedia Bratislava

All games kick-off 18:45 GMT

Edited September 22, 2005 by scofo76