[vb-saan]

UCL draw is out:

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmo FF.

Group B: Real Madrid, FC Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets Razgrad.

Group C: SL Benfica, Zenit, Bayer Leverkusen, AS Monaco.

Group D: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht.

Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, AS Roma.

Group F: Barcelona, PSG, Ajax, APOEL.

Group G: Chelsea, Schalke 04, Sporting CP, NK Maribor.

Group H: FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Athletic Club, BATE Borisov.

Out of the 4 English clubs, Chelsea looks to have the easiest group. And it looks relatively easy for Arsenal also.
Liverpool got a tough return with Real Madrid, and Man. City again got in with Bayern!

[deetjohn]

I actually prefer Liverpool' draw to AFC'. One very glamorous draw and two very beatable teams. CL is all about that.

I really don't know how Chelsea manages such easy groups year after year. Very tough draw for City, but others in the group will be worried about the English champions.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

I actually prefer Liverpool' draw to AFC'. One very glamorous draw and two very beatable teams. CL is all about that.

I really don't know how Chelsea manages such easy groups year after year. Very tough draw for City, but others in the group will be worried about the English champions.

True, both Dortmund and Galatasaray can be a handful on their day. That said, Basel managed to give a scare to Chelsea in last year's group stages.

On a side note, the last time Liverpool played Real Madrid in the Champions League this happened

[joslicx]

What a crazy crazy summer for Manchester United!!!

We lost 3 top defenders in Rio, Vidic and Evra. Midfield was already in shambles. Nani has moved on. Chicharito has moved on (to Real!!!) and maybe Welbeck will also move on.

To compensate, we appointed a mad genius as manager and since then have signed 3 leftbacks (but no central defender)!!!! 1 Central Midfielder (thank God for that) and 2 world class attacking players!!! Di Maria has come and looks like Radamal Falcao is another big big (literally big) signing!

The club has gone absolutely bonkers. Exciting times ahead. I'm loving it!

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by joslicx

What a crazy crazy summer for Manchester United!!!
...
...
The club has gone absolutely bonkers. Exciting times ahead. I'm loving it!

20 million for a 1-year loan looks really heavy (for Falcao). Di Maria, though expensive looks like a great addition. But really, I don't think the current back 3 formation is working well with the likes of Evans, Jones and Smalling.

And in other news, ex-teammates meet at Melwood!

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by vb-san

20 million for a 1-year loan looks really heavy (for Falcao). Di Maria, though expensive looks like a great addition.

Who cares. Its Glazers money Its been ages they've been pocketing all the profits. United make about 100m pounds in profits every year and its just gonna increase massively with the Chevy/Aon/Adidas deals. Time for some payback to the club.

But really, I don't think the current back 3 formation is working well with the likes of Evans, Jones and Smalling.

Meanwhile somebody tweeted this:

Utd: RvP, Rooney, Falcao.
CFC: Costa, Drogba, Remy.
LFC: Sterling, Sturridge, Balotelli.
City: Jovetic, Dzeko, Aguero

Arsenal: Sanogo

[naveenroy]

Yeah Sanogo. No go.

Oh well, being an Arsenal fan is always misery. This season is no different. Sanchez, Ozil can never make any difference.

4th place. Maybe.

[Chetan_Rao]

I'd love to hear a sane argument why Arsenal aren't interested in a striker.


Scratch that, I'd love to hear any argument why they aren't signing someone!

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Yeah Sanogo. No go.

Oh well, being an Arsenal fan is always misery. This season is no different. Sanchez, Ozil can never make any difference.

4th place. Maybe.

I just cant believe Wenger couldnt sign Falcao when he was quite clearly available! The guy is going to a team that is not in the CL!!! I just dont understand Wenger. He is a genius but so infuriating.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by joslicx

Who cares. Its Glazers money Its been ages they've been pocketing all the profits. United make about 100m pounds in profits every year and its just gonna increase massively with the Chevy/Aon/Adidas deals. Time for some payback to the club.

True, and big money signings are always expected from a club of Man U's stature, with or without UCL.

Originally Posted by joslicx

I just cant believe Wenger couldnt sign Falcao when he was quite clearly available! The guy is going to a team that is not in the CL!!! I just dont understand Wenger. He is a genius but so infuriating.

Well, his argument was, Man. City lost to Stoke with four established strikers, and it was just a draw for his team!

Wenger does wonders with young/upcoming talents, but I am not sure how much he extract out of the established stars he sign. Ozil now looks a shadow of his earlier self, and it will be interesting to see how much of a positive impact Alexis can make.

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by joslicx

I just cant believe Wenger couldnt sign Falcao when he was quite clearly available! The guy is going to a team that is not in the CL!!! I just dont understand Wenger. He is a genius but so infuriating.

True that. Genius. Stand by his decisions but pushes you to the edge in frustration. I couldn't even watch the last match.

[vb-saan]

Saw this on Facebook

Falcao: "It was my dream to play for United."
Reporter:"u said earlier that ur dream was to play for Real Madrid."
Falcao: "I have a lot of dreams"

[joslicx]

Originally Posted by vb-san

Saw this on Facebook

Falcao: "It was my dream to play for United."
Reporter:"u said earlier that ur dream was to play for Real Madrid."
Falcao: "I have a lot of dreams"

This guy is class. Absolutely top answer that.

By the way, Wenger did finally sign a striker, albeit one who doesnt score that many goals. Welbeck is a top player though and could really thrive in Arsenal as Arsenal play much faster game than United these days. He just needs to learn to put the ball in the net (the only thing missing from his game. If he can learn that he'll be the next Henry)

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by joslicx

This guy is class. Absolutely top answer that.

By the way, Wenger did finally sign a striker, albeit one who doesnt score that many goals. Welbeck is a top player though and could really thrive in Arsenal as Arsenal play much faster game than United these days. He just needs to learn to put the ball in the net (the only thing missing from his game. If he can learn that he'll be the next Henry)

Yeah, know that. But somehow, I get no sense of "feeling" from signing Welbeck. No joy.

[iliketurtles]

Welbeck, in time, will be a top signing for Arsenal. He's got loads of pace, is a great target man, works hard off the ball and has fantastic tactical discipline. It's his composure in front of goal that lets him down, he's an instinctive finisher. Give him time to think over it and he fluffs it, but that's something that will come with time. He'll come good for Arsenal, no doubt in my mind.

I'm very disappointed to see him leave United, but with James Wilson in the ranks, who's a much better finisher, we have a devastating attacking lineup. Van Gaal is going the Keegan way; you score 3, we'll score 4!