Aug 28
Manchester United’s 08/09 Champions’ League Opponents
Today is the Champions’ League draw. This, coupled with the lack of progress on the Berbatov front (only four days to go), have made my job infinitely easier — I don’t have to come up with a longish post today.
Since the Champions’ League draw starts at 4:30pm (BST) I will leave the stage to you to come up with your predictions for our opponents. (I know, I can be a lazy prick at times).
So here are the pots:
Pot One
Manchester United
Chelsea
Liverpool
Barcelona
Arsenal
Lyon
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Pot Two
Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven
Villarreal
AS Roma
FC Porto
Werder Bremen
Sporting Lisbon
Juventus
Pot Three
Marseille
Zenit St Petersburg
Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos
Bordeaux
Celtic
Basel
Fenerbahce
Pot Four
Shakhtar Donetsk
Fiorentina
Atletico Madrid
Dynamo Kiev
CFR Cluj
Aalborg
Anorthosis Famagusta
Bate Borisov
Okay, let’s see who gets their predictions right. The winner will get to do what no one else would be able to: swell with pride as much as Fat Frank on a pie-only regime, and boost his ego to an extent that would make Ronaldo squirm.
So, over to you…
PS: We’ll update this when the results are up.
Update:
Here’s our Group:
Manchester United
Villarreal
Celtic
Aalborg
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Tags: Daily Roundup
August 28th, 2008 at 10:07
im sure sky sports online should be showing it, they did last year…i think.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:07
United
FC Porto
Basel
CFR Cluj
August 28th, 2008 at 10:10
United
FC Porto
Bordeaux
Athletico Madrid
August 28th, 2008 at 10:14
Manchester United, Roma (inevitably
), celtic and Dynamo Kiev.
thats what will happen knowing how the draw is fixed.
chelsea however will end up with PSV Bordueux and alborg or something pity like that.
personally i want to play roma just to beat them again, celtic would be two great games, what with a lot of my mates celtic/utd fans it would be a win win for them. and out of the last pot preferrably a team that we can crush like small dog.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:29
My ‘worst case’ view:
United
Juve
Zenit
Atletico
We always seem to have a tough run. Bet you Chelsea get the easiest route
August 28th, 2008 at 10:41
Ideally:
Lisbon
Basel
Aalborg
Realistically:
Villareal
Zebit
Fiorentina
August 28th, 2008 at 10:41
Villarreal, Dynamo Kiev, Marseille
August 28th, 2008 at 10:42
Manu,Porto,Basel & Aalborg
August 28th, 2008 at 10:44
I reckon …
PSV , Bordeaux and Dynamo Kiev
Ditto re: Chelsea
August 28th, 2008 at 10:56
i’d really like to avoid bayern they have by far the best squad in pot b. Also athletico and Fenerbahce are potential banana skins.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:58
Worst case scenario(s):
United
Juve / Bayern
Zenit / Celtic
Atletico / Dynamo Kiev / Fiorentina
Best case:
United
Sporting Lisbon
Basel
Anyone other than the three mentioned above
August 28th, 2008 at 11:01
manchester,Roma
we,ve got that young player they wanted to keep.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:10
Untd,werder,bordeaux,fiorentina. I really feel am absurd
August 28th, 2008 at 11:11
@Beachryan:
I agree, except I might be tempted to slot Bayern in over Juventus. I suppose that depends chiefly on Ribery’s timetable to return, but if he is fit I would personally give Bayern a slight edge. I agree with Zenit and Atheltico. A. Madrid is the only team I am slightly nervous about drawing. Whichever group they end up will surely be labeled the “Group of Death.” I’m praying they end up in Chelsea’s group, but as Beachryan mentioned those pricks always get seem to get the easiest route.
My guess:
Manchester United
Bayern Munich
Bordeaux
Fiorentina
August 28th, 2008 at 11:15
We put 8 past Dynamo Kiev last season and it could of been more. They are an alright team but I have no worries coming up against them again.
I’d like to see United, Porto, Bordeaux and Bate Borisov (last one was random pick pretty much)
August 28th, 2008 at 11:16
Seldom an easy passage for us so I expect:
Bayern
Zenit (inevitable, like Pompey and the No 47 bus, come in batches) &
Fiorentina.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:19
United,juventus,panathinaikos,shakter donetsk
August 28th, 2008 at 11:27
Trust me this will happen
(AS ROMA)..the rest st beuchrest and kiev..
August 28th, 2008 at 11:29
Man United
Juventus
Zenit St.Petersberg
CFR Cluj
……….
August 28th, 2008 at 11:32
Just saw the official team photo - Saha and Manucho are both in it, I didn’t realise they were in the UK!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:39
United, PSV, Fenerbahce, Anorthosis Famagusta
August 28th, 2008 at 11:43
Bayern
Marseille
Atletico (best team in pots 4 and 3)
Liverpool
Bremen
Basel
either the Belarusian team or the Cypriot team
August 28th, 2008 at 11:44
I sincerly hope we get easy opponents since we have all teh important league away matches in first half of the season
my pick wud be
United
Villarreal
Steaua Bucharest
Bate Borisov
August 28th, 2008 at 11:54
Hope that’s for us
Manchester Untd FC
Sporting Lisbon FC (so as we have no problem to get to 16)
Panathinaikos FC (so I can watch the match in OAKA!!!!!!!!! please God!!!!BEGGING)
Aalborg (so I can watch Anderson make some carazy things such as these throgh passes he makes for ….. himself ) LOL
August 28th, 2008 at 12:22
posse-bon-bon-bon
not as good as anderson
posse-bon-bon-bon
but better than kleberson
to the left to the right
makes gerrard look like s***e
he is cool, a touch of class
and s***s on fabregas!
thats a good tune, i didnt make it up though, its on 606.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:23
@Beachryan: link?
August 28th, 2008 at 12:31
I keep reading that Chelsea have a better coefficient and thus a higher seed than us in the draw. How is this possible? Can anyone help shed some light?
August 28th, 2008 at 12:34
@IBleedRed: They do, as do Arsenal, Liverpool and Barca…
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=740905.html
It’s based on performance over a 5 year period.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/calc.html
August 28th, 2008 at 12:41
Manchester United
AS Roma
Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico Madrid
August 28th, 2008 at 12:48
Peter Schmeichel is doing a live chat here at 15:20 CET (14:20 UTC?)
http://www1.en.uefa.com/portal/uefacom/liveblog.html
Should be good
August 28th, 2008 at 12:51
@dan(u-ol):
Dan: here u go…
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/08/27/in-pictures-official-manchester-united-squad-photos-released-115875-20713822/
August 28th, 2008 at 13:07
Manchester United
FC Porto
Basel
CFR Cluj
August 28th, 2008 at 13:34
@Ghost: thanks!
August 28th, 2008 at 13:35
Thanks Ghost, was just about to post that.
If Manucho is in the UK for the photo and training, does that mean we sorted his work permit? Unfortunately Fergie says he’s not fit due to metatarsal break still, but regardless, will be nice to see him in the reserves. I fear we’ve all hyped him up to be the next Drogba, but that’ll take years at this level. Still, he could be a useful impact sub, given height, speed and strength.
Is this Berba thing ever, ever going to end?
August 28th, 2008 at 13:51
Worst
Manchester United
Bayern Munich
Zenit
Atletico
Best
My prediction
Manchester United
Juventus
Marseille
Shaktar Donestk
August 28th, 2008 at 13:56
I don’t see the Berba thing going on till the last minute…it should be either done by this Fri or it won’t be! I think I’ll almost feel like we’ve just sold someone if Berba doesn’t sign..cos the last few weeks it has sure felt as if he’s already in our team!
Anywayz, my pick for the draw -
ManUtd
Villareal
Celtic
Fiorentina
Would be very interesting if we got Zenit in our group though, that way the Super Cup would almost feel like a 1st leg of a 3 match series
August 28th, 2008 at 13:57
You missed the ‘best’, Colver
August 28th, 2008 at 14:12
United,Sporting,Basel,Shaktar
August 28th, 2008 at 14:16
Manchester united
Bayern Munich
Celtic
CFR Cluj
August 28th, 2008 at 14:27
@Beachryan: It will never end, we will hear the imortal words for the 2132th time “another 48 hours we will know more” it is the year 2024, Fergie will be in his 80’s, Berba will be 43, but SAF will never give up until he gets his man, actually he will be a similar age to Laurent Blanc when we finally snared him.
August 28th, 2008 at 14:53
united, bremen, pana, shakhtar
August 28th, 2008 at 14:54
is there a site i can watch the draw live?
August 28th, 2008 at 14:55
Ronaldo has gone with the team to Monaco, though he won’t be playing. I think he’s planning to take part in the celebrations if we win.
August 28th, 2008 at 14:57
manchester united
werder bremen
bordeaux
fiorentina
August 28th, 2008 at 15:09
I really want Celtic to make it to the latter stages so any draw avoiding Juve, Bayern and Atletico would be fine for them. Wouldnt mind them being in our group as long as its with Sporting or someone like that. Its stupid that a team who have made it to the 2nd round 2 times in a row are seeded lower than a team who haven’t been in the tournament the last 2 years. Celtic do have a habit of getting groups of death when they are 3rd seeds though. Barca and Milan it was last time
August 28th, 2008 at 15:25
im not sure if you can watch it on a site but sky sports news are showing the draw at 4:30
hope Ferdinand wins defender of the year award 
August 28th, 2008 at 15:28
@ Krishnan - Nope, it’s the player of the year awards tonight in Monaco too. He was presumably invited
Not to say he won’t cheer us on. But there you go.
Am I the only one not 100% looking forward to him returning to the team?
August 28th, 2008 at 15:30
Manchester United FC
FC Porto
Celtic
Atletico Madrid
August 28th, 2008 at 15:41
@Beachryan: I think it’s also because he could share in the celebrations if we do win the trophy. After all he did play some part in us winning the CL.
August 28th, 2008 at 15:50
lads, this is season ending for us, im afraid to report, that, dongs contract has been terminated, thats right, he is no longer a united player… How can we win anything without a dong, i mean, with dong, this is season ending, we need to find a replacement ASAP!
August 28th, 2008 at 15:59
@dan(u-ol): Honestly dan, we are going through a striker crisis and SAF goes and terminates one of our best strikers’ contract
. What was he thinking???
August 28th, 2008 at 16:04
@dan(u-ol): @OllieY: You guys serious?
August 28th, 2008 at 16:08
@dan(u-ol): haha I saw that earlier, shirt sales will plumit now and we will find are selves borrowing money from are ex-chairmen(city jab). All joking aside I heard it was mutual Dong is 23 would have made it a long time ago if he was the ‘new Batistuta’ as SAF was claimed(rumour has it). Oh well time to find a replacement
Infact in the gaffers latest press conference he has AGAIN suggested that we are unlikely to bring anyone in(rumour again, if someone can verify please do). If this falls back on us I will be so pissed of.
Anyone pissed off they bought the perfectly okay black away strip of last season, only to see United’Nike department issue a Blue ‘anniversary’ 3rd away special edition HD bonus features included waste of £40 rip me off new kit out?
The CL draw is on Sky from 4.30 bst> half an hour.
I predict we get either Villareal or Roma and another hard ream.
The scouse will draw Sporting and the Cypriot team that sounds like a Serbian cage fighter. They and Chelski always blag easy draws.
August 28th, 2008 at 16:14
anyone know if sky sports channels apart from ss news are showing the draw live? Im at work and got my psp with location free player but only have virgin media…
August 28th, 2008 at 16:14
@AGP: This is Manchester United mate what do you expect?! Value for money!!
August 28th, 2008 at 16:25
@Stephen: True i guess but I won’t be buying either the white or blue away strips, it irratates me that Nike, Adidas, Umbro etc have contracts where-as they can issue new strips every season (2007-2008 man united black away) for example. That isn’t to say I won’t buy a united shirt again, plus I’m only irrated because last year I bought both the home/away(black) from the offical site at a more-than profitable sum whereas I could have bought both from certain websites that will charge a mere £8 for the famous jersey.
The 2006/2007 home only ran for one season also, you can’t suggest it isn’t a little unfair to the fans!
August 28th, 2008 at 16:29
My prediction:
Manchester United, Villareal, Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
By the way, does anyone know if non-UK residents can watch online at Sky?
August 28th, 2008 at 16:33
These time converter are driving me crazy…
Can somebody please tell me how many hours there are to go for draw to start?
August 28th, 2008 at 16:36
30 mins till the actual draw starts. programme is on now… not that I can watch it… anyone know any alternative coverage apart from sky sports news?
August 28th, 2008 at 16:36
@Jezta: Of course not dummy!
When you use the words “Dong”, and “great player” in the same sentence (or make a reference to those words) then you can only have sarcasm pasted all over it. There is no other way round it.
August 28th, 2008 at 16:38
@AGP: Well my season ticket has gone up this year by a third, now thats unfair!
August 28th, 2008 at 16:39
Dong is the worst player ever to pull on a United shirt, and yes worse than Colin Gibson.
August 28th, 2008 at 16:48
http://www.skysports.com/live_draws/video
August 28th, 2008 at 16:49
just found out, uefa.com is showing LIVE video of the CL draw free..
August 28th, 2008 at 16:54
@Red Ranter: Was being sarcastic too mate, guess I forgot to put a hint in the post.
August 28th, 2008 at 16:56
Bayern are 20-1 to win the tournament according to the guy on Sky. Might be worth a tenner. Toni and Klose weren’t even on the list for top scorer which finished at 14-1. There could be money to be made there.
August 28th, 2008 at 16:58
@Stephen: Yeah ok the season ticket dilema you have wins over. You can have that one. I’m afraid you will have to lay off Dong he scored 30+ goals in Belguims second division and has a goal in the Olympics, only injuries ruled him out of being as legendary as William Prunier.
God I hate Skys line-up for the draw>
Big nose Thommo talking up boring Liverpools chances, Charlie Nicolas who is clearly bedazzled by Arsenal and the ‘pretty football’ he has to remind me about every week. Thats not forgetting Wilkins(I apoligise in advance) I was born when he was balding, but I can’t believe that clown ever wore are jersey. He has for the 3rd year running claimed that Chelsea will win everything, and he has his shinny head so far up Deco’ arse its laughable.-What a bunch of biased t**ts!
August 28th, 2008 at 16:59
@t_reason: Thanks for the tip… It works.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:03
did everyone see Sky’s cock up
August 28th, 2008 at 17:08
cech!!! NOOOOO, y not VDS…what has he won
August 28th, 2008 at 17:08
Fergie isnt letting Calderon get anywhere near Ronaldo. He practically has him on his lap
why did Cech get best goalkeeper?!
August 28th, 2008 at 17:14
Cech? Surely a poor joke
August 28th, 2008 at 17:17
Has it started already?
August 28th, 2008 at 17:17
I knew Cech would pull out Chelsea first. I smell a fix
August 28th, 2008 at 17:21
The female presenter is gorgeous. I’m going to have to change my shirt I’m drooling so much. Anyone know her name?
August 28th, 2008 at 17:23
f****ing hellllll!!! terry !! wats going on…think drogba will be the forward then..and lampard the midfielder
August 28th, 2008 at 17:23
August 28th, 2008 at 17:23
fecking fixed….terry? u have got to be kidding me
August 28th, 2008 at 17:23
Terry!!!!!!!! What a F*c*i* joke
August 28th, 2008 at 17:24
Terry? Best Defender? What did he said he was full of? Full of crap more like it lol
August 28th, 2008 at 17:24
How to become European defender of the year and england captain:
cry like a bitch when you get to cocky and lost a CL final…
August 28th, 2008 at 17:24
wtf! Cech then Terry did everybody suddenly forget that it was him who had the Champions league trophy in sight and then lost it??? Honestly!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 17:25
John Terry? What a $ucking boaster! No class at all…am I surprised? No
August 28th, 2008 at 17:26
shit not a good start
August 28th, 2008 at 17:27
PSV- pool get the easy ride
Villareal
August 28th, 2008 at 17:27
I think Villareal is a decent draw. We avoid Athletico, who I see as major spoilers.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:28
UTD
VILLAREAL
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
if lampard or any other player wins this over ronaldo i want a recount and an investigation.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
FIXED!!! Fat Frank??? OMFG
Where was Ronaldo? He must be in the Forwards group
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
lampard. is second the new first?
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
all awards to chelsea!!!!!!!!!! crappppppppppppppp…
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
Cech, Terry, Lampard.. What charity!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 17:32
fecking rigged…Fat Frank?
August 28th, 2008 at 17:33
FFS! Terry? Lampard?
Is there any justice?
August 28th, 2008 at 17:33
did we win the Champions League last year! Bobby had to give the award to fucking Frank. At least it wasn’t Gerrard but this is getting ridiculous
August 28th, 2008 at 17:33
is someone taking the piss??? who won the friggin champs league?? who won the friggin prem?? whats with this chelski nonsense!!! FAT FRANK FOR FRIG SAKE!!!!! aaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhh
August 28th, 2008 at 17:36
oh well we’ll get our revenge when Ronnie collects the next 2 unless, Messi
August 28th, 2008 at 17:36
If Drogba or Anelka win forward of the year, I am going to throw my computer out the window…
August 28th, 2008 at 17:39
This is good pinboard material to get our players riled up for this season…oh well…lets have celtic as well
August 28th, 2008 at 17:40
I had quit the blog but these players awards have left me gobsmacked and I have to rant about it somewhere.
Are the managers all blind, how can you pick Cech, Terry and lampard as the best. All 3 missed significant amounts of the season injured, Lampard was so piss poor for England that he was greeted with more boos than any other player and Terry was just generally disgraceful in his attitude.
I’m guessing we will see Drogba win the Forwards one now
August 28th, 2008 at 17:41
Celtic
August 28th, 2008 at 17:42
UNITED
VILLAREAL
CELTIC
I’m on track..Oh my God
…I have Fiorentina next.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:42
at last a bit of justice
August 28th, 2008 at 17:42
finally
August 28th, 2008 at 17:42
thats great. but he is a winger. nonsense.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:43
‘thank you my team mates’… i was expecting a ‘and my manager’
August 28th, 2008 at 17:43
Ugh, another season of the “Battle Of Britain” shit. It gets old and it always makes the bastards play better. And the British media love it and go oooooooooooooooooooooooooon about it. Boooooooooooring.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:44
he doesnt seem very happy to have won though
August 28th, 2008 at 17:45
yes finaly a easy peasy team
August 28th, 2008 at 17:45
aalborg it is….with villareal, celtic
August 28th, 2008 at 17:46
pretty easy group, we should go through, but this is blatantly fixed…
August 28th, 2008 at 17:47
Athletico should go to group H….that should be good
August 28th, 2008 at 17:48
oooooooooh, Torres to go back to Atletico. I hope he cant do it and fooks the scouse in the games.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:49
Phew…thank God it’s Aalborg and not Fiorentina..I would have freaked out…
August 28th, 2008 at 17:49
Liverpool are going out
August 28th, 2008 at 17:49
wow loserpool have a tough group
August 28th, 2008 at 17:50
I pity Bate Borisov…poor poor side..wat a Group of death for them!
August 28th, 2008 at 17:50
Phil is gutted
August 28th, 2008 at 17:52
the bindippers get athletico. j-u-s-t-i-c-e.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:53
@antsBoy: that’s a great draw for them. The money will be great for them
August 28th, 2008 at 17:55
@Liam: Yeah, looking at it that way…it’s good. Thinking about their “Goals Against” stats, not so good.
August 28th, 2008 at 17:59
I have an explanation for the wierd awards:
Goalkeeper of the year sponsored by http://www.geckoheadgear.com/
Defender of the year sponsored by http://www.kleenex.com/
Midfielder of the year sponsored by http://www.pukkapies.co.uk/
See it all becomes clear…
August 28th, 2008 at 18:04
Wakey - Feck mate, why did you quit the blog?. I wondered where you had got too. Hope you are staying now - where else you go