Champions League Draw
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northbankdamien
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I have a friend who is a Milan fan (his name is Carlo 
). I have been mailing him about the game and this is a quote from him
he has lived here for years.
). I have been mailing him about the game and this is a quote from himDon't worrry that his english is better than most of us on hereSeriously, you are right. It’s an old team, at the end of a cycle, our defense averages 37 years old… there are many problems, hidden by a few, but not constant super performances by Kaka… but we are indeed suffering. So it is a good year, and I think that THIS Arsenal stands a very good chance of making it through. And besides, it was declared by all at ACMilan that the main objective for this year was the Intercontinental Cup… so motivation now could be running down. I hope it’s going to be a great match and if you get an extra ticket, think of me.
he has lived here for years.-
DB10GOONER
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Ben-gooner14
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Very hard draw but at the end of the day no team in the draw today wanted to come up against us so this is also bad for AC rather than just us
Great great test ahead i just hope Moscow will have Arsenal playing in May & it would be wonderful to get a win (even a draw) against a top side like AC plus they are the champions which brings more to this game
Great great test ahead i just hope Moscow will have Arsenal playing in May & it would be wonderful to get a win (even a draw) against a top side like AC plus they are the champions which brings more to this game
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I Hate Hleb
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I WROTE THIS LAST THURSDAY:
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD UNDER-ESTIMATE INTER MILAN. THEY ARE A SQUAD FULL OF QUALITY AND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS, WHO HAVE BEEN ON A GOOD RUN FOR A FEW MONTHS AND ARE THEREFORE VERY CONFIDENT.
APART FROM THE OBVIOUS PORTO, I BELIEVE THAT THE NEXT EASIEST TIE FOR US WOULD BE A.C. MILAN, WHO ARE AN OLD TEAM COMING TO THE END OF THEIR TIME (A BIT LIKE JUVENTUS IN 2006). AFTER THAT, I WOULD TAKE BARCELONA BEFORE MADRID BECAUSE I BELIEVE BARCA HAVE MORE DEFENSIVE VULNERABILITIES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I AGREE WITH BOTH REBEL AND DB10GOONER. THIS MILAN TEAM IS THERE FOR THE TAKING AND I WOULD RATHER FACE THEM - ALBEIT WITH OUR FIRST CHOICE 11 - THAN INTER MILAN; WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT LIVERPOOL WON'T BEAT INTER.
INDEED, IF ANYTHING, INTER ARE THE TYPE OF SIDE THAT COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INEXPERIENCE AND GIVE US REAL TROUBLE, WHEREAS BENITEZ LOVES COMING UP AGAINST SIDES LIKE THAT AND MAKING IT A TACTICAL BATTLE. SO I MAKE THAT A 50/50 MATCH.
AS FOR US AGAINST AC MILAN, ALTHOUGH THEY OBVIOUSLY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE THAT MORE OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE 'PAST IT' AND IF WE PLAY ANYWHERE NEAR OUR BEST, WE WILL JUST HAVE TOO MUCH LEGS FOR THEM. THEREFORE I MAKE US 60/40 FAVOURITES.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS NORMALLY PESSIMISTIC!! 
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD UNDER-ESTIMATE INTER MILAN. THEY ARE A SQUAD FULL OF QUALITY AND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS, WHO HAVE BEEN ON A GOOD RUN FOR A FEW MONTHS AND ARE THEREFORE VERY CONFIDENT.
APART FROM THE OBVIOUS PORTO, I BELIEVE THAT THE NEXT EASIEST TIE FOR US WOULD BE A.C. MILAN, WHO ARE AN OLD TEAM COMING TO THE END OF THEIR TIME (A BIT LIKE JUVENTUS IN 2006). AFTER THAT, I WOULD TAKE BARCELONA BEFORE MADRID BECAUSE I BELIEVE BARCA HAVE MORE DEFENSIVE VULNERABILITIES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I AGREE WITH BOTH REBEL AND DB10GOONER. THIS MILAN TEAM IS THERE FOR THE TAKING AND I WOULD RATHER FACE THEM - ALBEIT WITH OUR FIRST CHOICE 11 - THAN INTER MILAN; WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT LIVERPOOL WON'T BEAT INTER.
INDEED, IF ANYTHING, INTER ARE THE TYPE OF SIDE THAT COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INEXPERIENCE AND GIVE US REAL TROUBLE, WHEREAS BENITEZ LOVES COMING UP AGAINST SIDES LIKE THAT AND MAKING IT A TACTICAL BATTLE. SO I MAKE THAT A 50/50 MATCH.
AS FOR US AGAINST AC MILAN, ALTHOUGH THEY OBVIOUSLY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, I BELIEVE THAT MORE OF THEIR PLAYERS ARE 'PAST IT' AND IF WE PLAY ANYWHERE NEAR OUR BEST, WE WILL JUST HAVE TOO MUCH LEGS FOR THEM. THEREFORE I MAKE US 60/40 FAVOURITES.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS NORMALLY PESSIMISTIC!! 
Overall, I think a good draw. Not one of those first placed teams would have wanted us out of the "hat" today and I think Milan will fear us more than we'll fear them. Our boys have definatly been making a few waves around Europe so far this season. It leaves no room for complacency, which possibly could be levelled at the PSV match last year, and gives us something to look towards seeing as it's a good while still till the first leg. And ultimatly, we knocked off the big guns early on en route to the '06 final, so yes, lets give it a real go gentlemen, knock em out and leave the rest of Europe dreading being drawn against AFC in the Quarters!
I don't think we should take Milan for granted, as they are a very talented side, so I would encourage many of the people on this site who are saying this is one of the easiest draws to think twice. After all, only seven months ago, they were good enough to win the Champions League; something which we've never done. So please, let's not underestimate them - let's not be To*tenhamesque about all of this...
With that said, I'm quite optimistic about this tie, which I understand is a first for me! I'm sure that we are capable of beating Milan. I reckon this will live up to the billing and, providing we win, will be one of the great European nights.
P.S. the game at the Grove is on my birthday. I'll be there. I'd like to buy a few of you a drink. Especially you, Smoothie
With that said, I'm quite optimistic about this tie, which I understand is a first for me! I'm sure that we are capable of beating Milan. I reckon this will live up to the billing and, providing we win, will be one of the great European nights.
P.S. the game at the Grove is on my birthday. I'll be there. I'd like to buy a few of you a drink. Especially you, Smoothie
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I Hate Hleb
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- Joined: Wed May 16, 2007 3:36 pm
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NO-ONE IS UNDERESTIMATED AC MILAN. IT'S JUST SOME OF US BELIEVE THAT THE DRAW COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT AND THAT MILAN ARE THERE FOR THE TAKING - ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR OLD DEFENCE.
YES THEY WON THE TROPHY LAST YEAR, BUT APART FROM A GREAT PERFORMANCE AT OLD TRAFFORD, THEY WEREN'T EXCELLANT A STAND OUT TEAM IN MOST OF THE MATCHES. IT'S COMMONLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE MILAN SIDE THAT WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WASN'T A PATCH ON THE WON THAT LOST A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE YET ANOTHER YEAR OLDER BUT NOT PERCEIVABLEY ANY STRONGER.
AS FOR THEM BEING WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS, THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN WE SHOULD QUIVER WITH FEAR JUST BECAUSE THEY BEAT TWO AVERAGE SIDES IN A TOURNAMENT MANIPULATED TO ENSURE THAT THE SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS PLAY THE EUROPEAN ONES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M NORMALLY A PESSIMIST AND ESPECIALLY HATE MAKING PREDICTIONS ON ARSENAL MATCHES. YET ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WILL STILL BE A DIFFICULT TIE, I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE ANYWHERE NEAR OUR BEST, WE WILL BEAT AC MILAN.
IT'S JUST SOME OF US BELIEVE THAT THE DRAW COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DIFFICULT AND THAT MILAN ARE THERE FOR THE TAKING - ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR OLD DEFENCE.YES THEY WON THE TROPHY LAST YEAR, BUT APART FROM A GREAT PERFORMANCE AT OLD TRAFFORD, THEY WEREN'T EXCELLANT A STAND OUT TEAM IN MOST OF THE MATCHES. IT'S COMMONLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE MILAN SIDE THAT WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WASN'T A PATCH ON THE WON THAT LOST A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE YET ANOTHER YEAR OLDER BUT NOT PERCEIVABLEY ANY STRONGER.
AS FOR THEM BEING WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS, THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN WE SHOULD QUIVER WITH FEAR JUST BECAUSE THEY BEAT TWO AVERAGE SIDES IN A TOURNAMENT MANIPULATED TO ENSURE THAT THE SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS PLAY THE EUROPEAN ONES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'M NORMALLY A PESSIMIST AND ESPECIALLY HATE MAKING PREDICTIONS ON ARSENAL MATCHES. YET ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WILL STILL BE A DIFFICULT TIE, I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE ANYWHERE NEAR OUR BEST, WE WILL BEAT AC MILAN.
While I agree & understand where a lot of your comments are coming from IHH, I still believe it is one of the toughest draws we could have got. It is all well & good saying that this milan team isnt as good as they team that they had a few years ago but that could apply to a lot of teams - I know this current Arsenal team wouldnt be able to live with the Arsenal teams from 2002-2004 while the current manure team would likewise be taken apart by their teams containing keane,schmecial(??),beckham,cole & yorke not to mention younger versions of giggs and scholes(I wont even mention scouse team from the past as it is nearly 20 years ago).
The fact is that on our day we can stand toe to toe with any team but we have to be 100% on our game. Today's game v spuds showed inconsitant we have been for the last 6 weeks or so and facing better opposition today we could have come away with nothing. However we did come away with the 3 pts and that in itself is a tribute to the team determination but it is soooo obvious lately that this team needs another injection of quality in the transfer window and if we make the right additions then we can take milan and anybody else - failure to make these additions then I fear a deja vu from last season where everything was lost to us in a couple of weeks.
The fact is that on our day we can stand toe to toe with any team but we have to be 100% on our game. Today's game v spuds showed inconsitant we have been for the last 6 weeks or so and facing better opposition today we could have come away with nothing. However we did come away with the 3 pts and that in itself is a tribute to the team determination but it is soooo obvious lately that this team needs another injection of quality in the transfer window and if we make the right additions then we can take milan and anybody else - failure to make these additions then I fear a deja vu from last season where everything was lost to us in a couple of weeks.
The fact is that on our day we can stand toe to toe with any team but we have to be 100% on our game. Today's game v spuds showed inconsitant we have been for the last 6 weeks or so and facing better opposition today we could have come away with nothing. However we did come away with the 3 pts and that in itself is a tribute to the team determination but it is soooo obvious lately that this team needs another injection of quality in the transfer window and if we make the right additions then we can take milan and anybody else - failure to make these additions then I fear a deja vu from last season where everything was lost to us in a couple of weeks.[/quote]
Augie, would you agree that the inconsistencies of the last 6 weeks would directly co-inside with RVP being out of the team, since before he got f***ed we were flying. So without the need for re-enforcements in the window, a fully fit returning RVP might just, no pun intended, 'spur' us on to greater heights?
Augie, would you agree that the inconsistencies of the last 6 weeks would directly co-inside with RVP being out of the team, since before he got f***ed we were flying. So without the need for re-enforcements in the window, a fully fit returning RVP might just, no pun intended, 'spur' us on to greater heights?
