Champions League Knock-Out Stages

[SasaS]

Tough because of the way they play but don't think Atletico would be too happy either.

[magicrat]

Quite honestly this is worst toe we could have got imo. If we get through, crucially with no injuries, I'll be surprised.

[johnsusername]

Funny how quickly football changes - all of those teams would have feared getting drawn to us. 

[RobbieOR]

Only reason why I'd be fearful is they can be cunts but we're the much better team than them these days. It's not even close. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

Think we are playing the week 18/19th. 

 

So Before first leg Norwich away, after first leg West ham home. 

 

Before second leg Bournemouth home, after second leg Everton away.

 

Not a bad run of games either side, only the derby game should prove a bit difficult. 

 

 

[Aventus]

Our fixtures aren't anything to worry about around the Atletico games so I imagine we can get away with a fair amount of rotation. 

 

City have a very tough run though:

 

Tottenham A

West Ham H

Madrid A

Leicester A

Arsenal H

United A

Madrid H

Burnley H

Chelsea A

Liverpool H

[johnsusername]

3 minutes ago, Pistonbroke said:

Not a bad run of games either side, only the derby game should prove a bit difficult. 

 

 

Did you keep a straight face typing that?

[Guest Pistonbroke]

1 minute ago, johnsusername said:

Did you keep a straight face typing that?

 

Dunc will have his shirt and pants off for that game. 

[Colonel Bumcunt]

Looking forward to Atletico.

Not played them in ages, and a top team with a top stadium and top fans.

 

They don't stand a fucking chance.

They don't score enough, and we will love both atmospheres.  Fucking get in. 

[Colonel Bumcunt]

17 minutes ago, magicrat said:

Quite honestly this is worst toe we could have got imo. If we get through, crucially with no injuries, I'll be surprised.

Nahhhh.

 

Cant imagine their defence coping well against our speed and movement.  They're grocks, too rigid, and Trippier is their fucking right back. 

 

Their top scorer is Alvaro Morata

[Dr Nowt]

Can just see a risk of this having echoes of Benfica in 2006 as defending champions in the last 16, for some reason. Certainly more than any of the other teams we could have drawn. They’ll be looking for a smash and grab, you keep the ball we’ll keep the result affair. Provoking endlessly and hoping to profit from any reactions, with an approach we won’t usually come up against to anything like the same level of proficiency in the dark arts.

 

This team has evolved so much in recent years and passed so many tests, proving itself and it’s improved mentality time and again. Just suspect this tie will be one where they are forced to show how much of a quantum leap their street smarts and worldliness have taken, since Bert Raccoon was dumping the soft underbelly of the team Klopp inherited out of an FA Cup semi final.

[sir roger]

Two months off so things can change considerably , but all being equal we will beat them, may not be too much of a spectacle though.

[Bruce Spanner]

Simone has been playing a more expansive style, with varying results, now his dogs of war are retired or in the queue at the glue factory, but he’ll try and revert to type in the cup, but won’t  have the players to rely on to do it.

 

1-3 first leg & 2-0 in the second.

[A_S]

Hendo can resume his stare-down of Costa. 

[Bjornebye]

9 minutes ago, Lizzie Birdsworths Wrinkled Chopper said:

Can just see a risk of this having echoes of Benfica in 2006 as defending champions in the last 16, for some reason. Certainly more than any of the other teams we could have drawn. They’ll be looking for a smash and grab, you keep the ball we’ll keep the result affair. Provoking endlessly and hoping to profit from any reactions, with an approach we won’t usually come up against to anything like the same level of proficiency in the dark arts.

 

This team has evolved so much in recent years and passed so many tests, proving itself and it’s improved mentality time and again. Just suspect this tie will be one where they are forced to show how much of a quantum leap their street smarts and worldliness have taken, since Bert Raccoon was dumping the soft underbelly of the team Klopp inherited out of an FA Cup semi final.

First thing I thought. Some idiot has mentioned Simao on here today as well so I can only assume that means we are fucked. 

[Butch]

58 minutes ago, SasaS said:

Tough because of the way they play but don't think Atletico would be too happy either.

We should be OK, after all we are the champions of Europe. Second leg at home is a big plus. 

Happy for city to get decent opposition for a change, both snidy bastard teams. 

[Trumo]

The big surprise of that draw is that City got paired with Real Madrid.

 

As for Atletico, Simeone is known for keeping things cagey and his players are well-versed in shithousery. It's 10 seasons since they knocked us out of Europe (the semi-final stage of the Europa League) so we owe them. It also represents a return to the scene of one of our greatest triumphs.

[Mcfaggen]

52 minutes ago, Pistonbroke said:

Think we are playing the week 18/19th. 

 

So Before first leg Norwich away, after first leg West ham home. 

 

Before second leg Bournemouth home, after second leg Everton away.

 

Not a bad run of games either side, only the derby game should prove a bit difficult. 

 

 

Dates for FA Cup & League Cup in around then too, no? 

[Baltar]

They're a horrible team, going to be scrappy and have to put up with plenty of cynical shit from those bastards. We're a better team and should prevail but it's going to be a tough one.

[Guest Pistonbroke]

17 minutes ago, Mcfaggen said:

Dates for FA Cup & League Cup in around then too, no? 

 

Between Norwich 8th Feb and the away tie 18th Feb there's a 10 day break, not for F.A cup and no international friendlies until end of march. League cup is all done and dusted in January and then the final in March. Fuck knows what the break is for unless I've missed out international friendlies. 

[SasaS]

51 minutes ago, Trumo said:

The big surprise of that draw is that City got paired with Real Madrid.

 

As for Atletico, Simeone is known for keeping things cagey and his players are well-versed in shithousery. It's 10 seasons since they knocked us out of Europe (the semi-final stage of the Europa League) so we owe them. It also represents a return to the scene of one of our greatest triumphs.

Actually, unlike domestic cups, they always seem to get tough draws in Europe. Had to play Barcelona a couple of times at early stages too, as far as I recall, and us and Spurs last couple of years in the QF.

[Sugar Ape]

27 minutes ago, Pistonbroke said:

 

Between Norwich 8th Feb and the away tie 18th Feb there's a 10 day break, not for F.A cup and no international friendlies until end of march. League cup is all done and dusted in January and then the final in March. Fuck knows what the break is for unless I've missed out international friendlies. 

It’s the winter break this year. We’ll probably go and do some warm weather training somewhere to prepare for the game. Couldn’t have come at a better time. 

[Guest Pistonbroke]

3 minutes ago, Sugar Ape said:

It’s the winter break this year. We’ll probably go and do some warm weather training somewhere to prepare for the game. Couldn’t have come at a better time. 

 

Cheers SA, totally forgot about this new week off they had planned. Like you say, comes at a great time for us. Before that away game AM also have to play Valencia away in the league, planned for 2 days before, but that will no doubt be changed by the Spanish F.A. . 

[El Rojo]

1 hour ago, A_S said:

Hendo can resume his stare-down of Costa. 

I’m getting a hologram tattoo of those moments for Christmas. 

[moof]

I think the main difference between now and 2006 is that back then we weren’t very good whereas now we’re the best team on the planet.