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Thed draw for the group stages:
Group A
AS Monaco
Slavia Prague
Hamburg
CSKA Sofia
Viking Stavanger
Group B
Lokomotiv Moscow
Espanyol
Palermo
Brondby
Maccabi Petah-Tikva
Group C
Hertha Berlin
Lens
Sampdoria
Steaua Bucharest
Halmstad
Group D
AZ Alkmaar
Middlesbrough
FC Dnipro
Grasshopper Zurich
Litex Lovech
Group E
AS Roma
Basel
C Zvezda
Strasbourg
Tromso
Group F
CSKA Moscow
Marseille
Heerenveen
Levski Sofia
Dinamo Bucharest
Group G
Vfb Stuttgart
PAOK Salonika
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rennes
Rapid Bucharest
Group H
Besiktas
Sevilla
Bolton
St Petersburg
Vitoria Guimaraes
For those who don't know, each team only plays four matches in the group stages, 2 at home and 2 away. Middlesbrough have been unlucky enough to have to go away to AZ Alkmaar but I'd still fancy them to get through as it's the top 3 teams per group that progress. Bolton should also get to the next round but their group is a bit tougher.
Group A
AS Monaco
Slavia Prague
Hamburg
CSKA Sofia
Viking Stavanger
Group B
Lokomotiv Moscow
Espanyol
Palermo
Brondby
Maccabi Petah-Tikva
Group C
Hertha Berlin
Lens
Sampdoria
Steaua Bucharest
Halmstad
Group D
AZ Alkmaar
Middlesbrough
FC Dnipro
Grasshopper Zurich
Litex Lovech
Group E
AS Roma
Basel
C Zvezda
Strasbourg
Tromso
Group F
CSKA Moscow
Marseille
Heerenveen
Levski Sofia
Dinamo Bucharest
Group G
Vfb Stuttgart
PAOK Salonika
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rennes
Rapid Bucharest
Group H
Besiktas
Sevilla
Bolton
St Petersburg
Vitoria Guimaraes
For those who don't know, each team only plays four matches in the group stages, 2 at home and 2 away. Middlesbrough have been unlucky enough to have to go away to AZ Alkmaar but I'd still fancy them to get through as it's the top 3 teams per group that progress. Bolton should also get to the next round but their group is a bit tougher.
Yes, one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership. Whenever I hear any pundit talk/write about Jussi, they've got nothing but praise for him. And for good reason, too. He's an incredible shot-stopper - just look at the save from Francis at the weekend, and Bolton's defensive record speaks for itself.
I can't remember the last time I saw Jussi make a mistake. I'd rate Cch above him, and Van Der Sar on a par. There's no-one else as good. Of his closest competitors, Robinson is prone to the occasional daydream and I've lost count of the times I've seen Reina flap at crosses already.
Anyway, Bolton don't really need a profilic striker. They play a 4-3-3, and most of their goals come from the widemen or midfielder. Wasn't Stelios the leading goalscorer last season?
Although, I must say, why did they bother buying Borgetti if they're just going to bring him on for 15 mins at the end of the match?
I can't remember the last time I saw Jussi make a mistake. I'd rate Cch above him, and Van Der Sar on a par. There's no-one else as good. Of his closest competitors, Robinson is prone to the occasional daydream and I've lost count of the times I've seen Reina flap at crosses already.
Anyway, Bolton don't really need a profilic striker. They play a 4-3-3, and most of their goals come from the widemen or midfielder. Wasn't Stelios the leading goalscorer last season?
Although, I must say, why did they bother buying Borgetti if they're just going to bring him on for 15 mins at the end of the match?
Stryke wrote:
> one of the best goalkeepers in the Prem
...
Bolton need a really good striker. I haven't seen much of their strikers, (I'm not counting Diouf now, because I think he plays out on the wings more often) but when I have they've been pretty anonymous. Maybe I've seen the wrong bits. Most of their goals seem to come from midfielders. I am impressed with their midfield though: Okocha; Nakata; Stelios; Campo etc. Pretty good. They almost got Benayoun as well, although I'm glad he avoided the boring teams.
> one of the best goalkeepers in the Prem
...
Bolton need a really good striker. I haven't seen much of their strikers, (I'm not counting Diouf now, because I think he plays out on the wings more often) but when I have they've been pretty anonymous. Maybe I've seen the wrong bits. Most of their goals seem to come from midfielders. I am impressed with their midfield though: Okocha; Nakata; Stelios; Campo etc. Pretty good. They almost got Benayoun as well, although I'm glad he avoided the boring teams.
Yes, but Bolton are awesome these days. Solid defensively, one of the best goalkeepers in the Prem, real attacking flair and a midfield as sturdy as they come. Plus they're really physical so the Spanish get scared.
I'd get scared of Kevin Davies.
I'd get scared of Kevin Davies.
Sevilla will top that group, Jesus navas is a real talent
I think Bolton can top that group without too much trouble. Besiktas aren't up to much (don't they have Kleberson?), but Sevilla could present a little problem. Except that they keep on selling people like Reyes and Baptista. Jaidi and N'Gotty can handle Kanuote without much trouble and the last time Javier Saviola scored a goal without handballing it (still grates, that does) was 2001. Probably.
Yup, introduced last year, and it worked quite well.
I think it's something they only introduced within the last couple of seasons or so. If they did it Champions League style, each team would be playing 8 group stage games which would take far too long.
Think both will progress but didn't know they only played 4 games?
Thed draw for the group stages:
Group A
AS Monaco
Slavia Prague
Hamburg
CSKA Sofia
Viking Stavanger
Group B
Lokomotiv Moscow
Espanyol
Palermo
Brondby
Maccabi Petah-Tikva
Group C
Hertha Berlin
Lens
Sampdoria
Steaua Bucharest
Halmstad
Group D
AZ Alkmaar
Middlesbrough
FC Dnipro
Grasshopper Zurich
Litex Lovech
Group E
AS Roma
Basel
C Zvezda
Strasbourg
Tromso
Group F
CSKA Moscow
Marseille
Heerenveen
Levski Sofia
Dinamo Bucharest
Group G
Vfb Stuttgart
PAOK Salonika
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rennes
Rapid Bucharest
Group H
Besiktas
Sevilla
Bolton
St Petersburg
Vitoria Guimaraes
For those who don't know, each team only plays four matches in the group stages, 2 at home and 2 away. Middlesbrough have been unlucky enough to have to go away to AZ Alkmaar but I'd still fancy them to get through as it's the top 3 teams per group that progress. Bolton should also get to the next round but their group is a bit tougher.
Group A
AS Monaco
Slavia Prague
Hamburg
CSKA Sofia
Viking Stavanger
Group B
Lokomotiv Moscow
Espanyol
Palermo
Brondby
Maccabi Petah-Tikva
Group C
Hertha Berlin
Lens
Sampdoria
Steaua Bucharest
Halmstad
Group D
AZ Alkmaar
Middlesbrough
FC Dnipro
Grasshopper Zurich
Litex Lovech
Group E
AS Roma
Basel
C Zvezda
Strasbourg
Tromso
Group F
CSKA Moscow
Marseille
Heerenveen
Levski Sofia
Dinamo Bucharest
Group G
Vfb Stuttgart
PAOK Salonika
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rennes
Rapid Bucharest
Group H
Besiktas
Sevilla
Bolton
St Petersburg
Vitoria Guimaraes
For those who don't know, each team only plays four matches in the group stages, 2 at home and 2 away. Middlesbrough have been unlucky enough to have to go away to AZ Alkmaar but I'd still fancy them to get through as it's the top 3 teams per group that progress. Bolton should also get to the next round but their group is a bit tougher.