Schalke, Barca, Bayern or Real? CL Draw Friday

Madd Mark · Post by **Madd Mark** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:02 pm

The prob with getting knocked out next round by whomever is the 2 or 3 match tailspin that this seems to inevitably cause. That would knock us out of the FA Cup which I'd like to see us take a decent run at.

worthing gooner · Post by **worthing gooner** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:21 pm

Would prefer Munich because i have never seen The Arsenal play in Germany and what a trip it would be (and Schalke) as i have been to both the spanish grounds before.
But Its looking like more heartache in Barca....

(Still travel though

)

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:35 pm

mikeyb772001 wrote:
A dallying Gus Caesar wrote:On a more serious note, the only thing that is positive about coming second in the group is that you get to play the first leg at home.

I like this as it gives you a chance to build a lead going into the second leg, plus more important than that is the fact that if the scores are still level after 180 minutes, you get another 30 minutes to score an away goal to see you through.

Anyone who remembers getting knocked out to Benfica in 1992 will totally understand the advantage gained from playing the second leg away from home. It felt like a tuck up that night, as this rule is crazy and such an unfair advantage. We may need to take advantage of ourselves though.
I was at the Benfica match, not a nice night!

Tbh the home or away we will be better away. We dont have any home advantage!

I agree. Never understand why poeple think it's such an advantage to play at home in the second leg. Think Benfica. Or more recently, think PSV and AC Milan.

I'd much prefer us to go away knowing exactly what we had to do and knowing that any goals we scored were away goals.

AA23Northbank · Post by **AA23Northbank** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:38 pm

MK Gould wrote:
mikeyb772001 wrote:
A dallying Gus Caesar wrote:On a more serious note, the only thing that is positive about coming second in the group is that you get to play the first leg at home.

I like this as it gives you a chance to build a lead going into the second leg, plus more important than that is the fact that if the scores are still level after 180 minutes, you get another 30 minutes to score an away goal to see you through.

Anyone who remembers getting knocked out to Benfica in 1992 will totally understand the advantage gained from playing the second leg away from home. It felt like a tuck up that night, as this rule is crazy and such an unfair advantage. We may need to take advantage of ourselves though.
I was at the Benfica match, not a nice night!

Tbh the home or away we will be better away. We dont have any home advantage!
I agree. Never understand why poeple think it's such an advantage to play at home in the second leg. Think Benfica. Or more recently, think PSV and AC Milan.

I'd much prefer us to go away knowing exactly what we had to do and knowing that any goals we scored were away goals.

Two-leg ties are quite strange imo, even though you have the home crowd behind you in the second leg, it can work against you if say you get a goaless draw in the first leg like it did with Milan against us in '08. And even if you do get a 2-2 or a high score draw, you could feel you can sit back and settle for a draw at home and lose. I remember United drawing 0-0 against Real in the Bernabeau in 2000 and Fergie fearing not getting an away goal would cost them despite being at home in the second leg, and he was right.

Madd Mark · Post by **Madd Mark** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:07 pm

The Eboue-Man says it doesn't matter who we get! Sorry, just thought you'd like a Cool-Ade update.

Post by **Barriecuda** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:09 am

I've had a feeling that we'd see Bayern/Arsenal this year for quite some time; I'm sticking with Gunners v Munchkins as my prediction.

Hate to say it but I think Real and Barcelona, on their current form, would rip our defense to shreds. But I won't go so far as to say there's no one Arsenal can't beat.

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:08 am

Barriecuda wrote:I've had a feeling that we'd see Bayern/Arsenal this year for quite some time; I'm sticking with Gunners v Munchkins as my prediction.

Hate to say it but I think Real and Barcelona, on their current form, would rip our defense to shreds. But I won't go so far as to say there's no one Arsenal can't beat.

I think what you are saying is that Barcelona v Arsenal is to the Champions League what Arsenal v Ipswich is to the Carling Cup..... We stand a chance, but you wouldn't put much money on it!

worthing gooner · Post by **worthing gooner** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 7:26 am

To realisticly beating Barca we need to learn to keep clean sheets more often starting at utd. The defence need confidence but it must be earned through hard graft and dicipline.

mikeyb772001 · Post by **mikeyb772001** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:07 am

Playing at home 2nd leg is bad for us. Imagine how scraed we will be due to the away goal rule.

What ever happens there is a strong chance were out of this early. As i said before i would love a big test at the grove with Braca or Real.

goonersid · Post by **goonersid** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:25 am

mikeyb772001 wrote:Playing at home 2nd leg is bad for us. Imagine how scraed we will be due to the away goal rule.

What ever happens there is a strong chance were out of this early. As i said before i would love a big test at the grove with Braca or Real.

Group runners up always play home leg first, if that hasn't changed I think that will suit us better, unless of course we play Barca or Real, in which case it won't matter one fuck where we play.

marcengels · Post by **marcengels** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:42 am

Barcelona we can't beat, realistically. If they have a sudden spate of injuries, then a small chance.

Real we can beat, but we'd be second favourites.

Bayern we can beat, tough but I think this is the most level match up. They are a little shit in the league right now, but if after the winter break they are rested and have robben and ribery back and fully fit, they will be dangerous.

Schalke - we would be favourites against. They are not that strong, and should be very beatable. However, they can still do some damage against our vulnerable defence.

woots82 · Post by **woots82** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:24 pm

Lets have Madrid - last time we beat madrid we didnt do too bad

badliebenzell · Post by **badliebenzell** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:42 pm

marcengels wrote:Barcelona we can't beat, realistically. If they have a sudden spate of injuries, then a small chance.

Real we can beat, but we'd be second favourites.

Bayern we can beat, tough but I think this is the most level match up. They are a little shit in the league right now, but if after the winter break they are rested and have robben and ribery back and fully fit, they will be dangerous.

Schalke - we would be favourites against. They are not that strong, and should be very beatable. However, they can still do some damage against our vulnerable defence.

Excellent analysis[/quote]

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:12 am

Capacities of our potential opponents:
- Barcelona = 99.354
- Real Madrid = 80,400
- Bayern Munich = 66,000 (reduced from 70,000 as standing area closed for CL)
- Schalke 04 = 54.142 (ditto from almost 62,000)

The minimum away allocation at these grounds has got to be at least 3,500, so the BIG advantange is that if you want to go then you'll stand a very good chance of getting a ticket

!

cusamano · Post by **cusamano** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:03 pm

I hope we get Schalke. If we do Wenger should start transfer talks about Neuer, their goalkeeper.

We could even kick out Bayern. Their defense (van Buyten, Timoschuck, Breno, Demichelis) is weak.

Real or Barca? bye bye Arsenal