Your opponent of choice

[Mostarac]

My favourite opponent for us in the next round would be Benfica, the teams to avoid at all costs are Milan and Barcelona(the current favourites for the Champions League).

 

[USArsenal]

Lyon will be without Juninho in the first match of the next leg through suspension... he is their catalyst, bar none...

 

[Mostarac]

6) Milan -- I think that we match up well in most parts of the field and their strikers don't concern me too much (except on set pieces). But I would expect Seedorf and Kaka to carve up our defence. Those two are dramatically better than anything that Madrid could throw at us. And their second team midfield (Rui Costa, Jankulovski, Ambrosini, Serginho, Vogel) is slightly better than our starting midfield. Even though their defence is experienced, big and good, conversely they are slow and old. I can see us possibly beating them, but only if we can contain Kaka and Seedorf. [be]25% chance of victory[/be]

All in all, objectively and arguably Milan have a better offensive than us(Kaka, Inzaghi, Shevchenko and Gilardino), better midfield options than we have and a much better defense. If we get Milan, the chances for progress would be extremely small.

 

[Mostarac]

4)I truly believe that they are entering a downward trend with most of their important players at 30 or older (Emerson, Nedved, Vieira, Zambrotta, Thuram, Del Piero, Cannavaro, Camoranesi). They currently have only [be]one [/be]starter under the age of 28. Like Arsenal a few years ago, they are a wonderful team whose core has played together for a number of years. This stability is fantastic for team play and allows the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts. But it also leads to a team collectively aging and players that have forgotten that they need to fight for their place. Like us, their fall will be precipitous. Juve is [be]extremely vulnerable[/be] and it would not surprise me if Milan are within two or three points of them going into the last round of Serie A. And I expect them to be passed by both Milan and Inter next year. Their decline is not just wishful thinking, it is inevitable. And watching them the last couple of months I think it has already started.

I do not agree with this at all. Capello is one of the best(if not the best) managers in the world, and he knows that he will have to renew his team. And to compare Arsenal`s demise to Juventus is very naive, Juventus are a bigger club and will always have a lot of money(they have the best sponsor and TV-deals in the world right now) and they can spend on big stars which will take their club forward, Arsenal do not have the same spending power at all, and must at times go for young and unexperienced players while Juventus pick players from the top-shelf. And guys like Emerson, Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Camoranesi are all getting in their prime-age, even a guy like Del Piero is still great at times. You seem to forget that they also have the best goalkeeper in the world, Buffon is only 27-28 years old. They have a good/young striker in Ibrahimovic, an excellent goalscorer in Trezeguet, a really talented and up-and-coming left-back in Chiellini which is pushing the world`s best left-back(Zambrotta) all the way to the point that Capello has pushed Zambrotta to the right-back in order to accomodate Chiellini at the left-back at times. And Juventus ALWAYS get the referees(the Italian referees always treat Juventus favourably) with them. When you take all that in acount, your anticipation of the fall of Juventus is greatly exaggerated.

 

[Arsenal316]

For me, I would rather face Villareal or Lyon. Just my opinion.

 

[gstew]

All in all, objectively and arguably Milan have a better offensive than us(Kaka, Inzaghi, Shevchenko and Gilardino), better midfield options than we have and a much better defense. If we get Milan, the chances for progress would be extremely small.

Their strikers don't really create goals (especially Inzaghi and Gilardino), the team creates goals for the strikers. That is why I am not overly concerned with them, but am very concerned with Kaka and Seedorf. They are two of the best in the world at breaking down a defence and dragging defenders out of position. That is when their strikers usually score (although Schevchenko does sometimes create his own).

I think a one-in-four chance of victory is fairly accurate. We are a very good team and even an average team has a chance against the giants.

 

[Mostarac]

Their strikers don't really create goals (especially Inzaghi and Gilardino), the team creates goals for the strikers. That is why I am not overly concerned with them, but am very concerned with Kaka and Seedorf. They are two of the best in the world at breaking down a defence and dragging defenders out of position. That is when their strikers usually score (although Schevchenko does sometimes create his own).

I agree about that, but I would not worry too much about Seedorf, he has really been **** this entire season, and Milan are already looking for a replacement this summer.

 

[gstew]

I do not agree with this at all. Capello is one of the best(if not the best) managers in the world, and he knows that he will have to renew his team. And to compare Arsenal`s demise to Juventus is very naive, Juventus are a bigger club and will always have a lot of money(they have the best sponsor and TV-deals in the world right now) they can spend on big stars which will take their club forward, Arsenal do not have the same spending power at all, and must at times go for young and unexperienced players while Juventus pick players from the top-shelf. And guys like Emerson, Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Camoranesi are all getting in their prime-age, even a guy like Del Piero is still great at times. You seem to forget that they also have the best goalkeeper in the world, Buffon is only 27-28 years old. They have a good/young striker in Ibrahimovic, an excellent goalscorer in Trezeguet, a really talented and up-and-coming left-back in Chiellini which is pushing the world`s best left-back(Zambrotta) all the way to the point that Capello has pushed Zambrotta to the right-back in order to accomodate Chiellini at the left-back at times. And Juventus ALWAYS get the referees with them. And when you take all that in acount, your anticipation of the fall of Juventus is greatly exaggerated.

I respectfully disagree with you. Do you remember when Henry was never injured and could play three games in a week at full speed? Henry is the same age as Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Camoranesi, Zebina and Trezeguet. Henry is at the tail end of his prime, just like those five Juve starters. The other starters (bar Ibrahimovich) Vieira, Emerson, Nedved and Thuram are all past their prime. They are still good players, but they are not as good as they once were and they will worsen at a much quicker rate than they improved years ago.

Juve is just finishing a stage where the whole is greater than the sum of their parts. Their team is better than their players. It is true that their financial power will allow them to buy excellent talent. But this is a team sport and they will have a transition period where the sum of the parts that they buy will definitely be greater than the whole. The players will be better than the team. During that period Milan and Inter will be much better positioned and Juve will be extremely vulnerable. I have watched them quite a bit this year and they have worsened throughout the season. They continue to win by being tougher than their opponents. But quite often they are not better.

 

[Ruslan Matuzau]

Arsenal got more chances against Inter, Lyon or Ajax than against Benfica. Believe me.....

 

[USArsenal]

well, we cant exactly play Inter or Ajax, its one or the other that goes through... and i'd take my chances v. Benfica before I would want to play Inter or Lyon

 

[Lukazan]

Benfica or Villareal please, Ajax if they get through.

My heart needs more than 2 weeks rest before I watch another game against a big team in the CL I'm afraid.

 

[gstew]

I agree about that, but I would not worry too much about Seedorf, he has really been s**t this entire season, and Milan are already looking for a replacement this summer.

I have only seen Milan play 6 times this year. But in each game Seedorf has created goal scoring opportunities out of absolutely nothing. In each case he has dragged defenders away from the strikers while carrying the ball from the 40 yard line into the box. He has looked very good to me. He is very similar to Hleb, but with a much better final product.

 

[USArsenal]

i really hope itis Villareal or Benfica, but I have a bad feeling it will be Juve/Barca or Milan

 

[Ruslan Matuzau]

well, we cant exactly play Inter or Ajax, its one or the other that goes through... and i'd take my chances v. Benfica before I would want to play Inter or Lyon

I meant Inter/Ajax whichever one goes through.
Due to the chances I would say like this:
1. Villareal
2. Ajax (if they go)
3. Inter (if they go)
4. Lyon
5. Benfica
6. Barcelona
7. Milan
8. Juventus

 

[Mostarac]

I respectfully disagree with you. Do you remember when Henry was never injured and could play three games in a week at full speed? Henry is the same age as Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Camoranesi, Zebina and Trezeguet. Henry is at the tail end of his prime, just like those five Juve starters. The other starters (bar Ibrahimovich) Vieira, Emerson, Nedved and Thuram are all past their prime. They are still good players, but they are not as good as they once were and they will worsen at a much quicker rate than they improved years ago.

I agree with the part about guys like Zambrotta, Cannavaro and so on who have reached the tail end of their prime, but remember that that tail end is still going to last for a couple of seasons. But I disagree with the point about Emerson, he has not demised at all, I think that he is playing better under Capello, and he has even started to score some very importnant goals for Juventus(he did not use to do this too often before). I still regard Emerson as the world`s best defensive midfielder.

Juve is just finishing a stage where the whole is greater than the sum of their parts. Their team is better than their players. It is true that their financial power will allow them to buy excellent talent. But this is a team sport and they will have a transition period where the sum of the parts that they buy will definitely be greater than the whole. The players will be better than the team. During that period Milan and Inter will be much better positioned and Juve will be extremely vulnerable. I have watched them quite a bit this year and they have worsened throughout the season. They continue to win by being tougher than their opponents. But quite often they are not better.

Juventus had an awful drought(one season they even had to play Intertoto Cup) during most parts of the 1990s(much thanks to Ancelotti and Lippi) and that lasted to the end of that decade. Their up-rise started really when Capello came, and that is really recent, so I really doubt that a drought is going to hit Juventus again so soon. Juventus have been a bit faltering in 2006, but I fully expect them to recover as the true machine they are and under the guidance of the excellent tactician that Capello truly is, they must come back into the rhytm. As for the challengers, both Milan and Inter have more pressing issues when it comes to renewing their team than Juventus. Milan`s defence(and goalkeeper) and some parts of midfield need complete replacement. Milan need a new goalkeeper(rumours say that Frey is coming to replace the faltering Dida this summer), replacements for Maldini, Stam and Cafu are needed aswell. Oddo, Barzagli and maybe Lyon`s Cris are the probable replacements(for those mentioned above). In midfield they have to get rid of Seedorf(a possible replacement is Behrami according to the Italian press) and Gattuso(the not too bad Vogel could take over but that is not likely) is probably going to be replaced by Lyon`s Diarra. As for Inter, mediocre players that are not worthy of wearing that famous Inter shirt such as Mihajlovic, Wome, Burdisso and Favalli are going to be replaced by Maicon and Maxwell(deals already finalised). Thrash such as Cristiano Zanetti, Cambiasso(not exactly thrash but not impressive either) and Solari have to be replaced. And the Moratti will look to get either Ballack or Ronaldo at all costs, which means that either Adriano or Cruz are going to another club. As you see, those teams have bigger problems than Juventus right now. But I expect a team like Fiorentina(with the money of the Della Valle-brothers) to challenge Juventus next season.

 

[Mostarac]

I have only seen Milan play 6 times this year. But in each game Seedorf has created goal scoring opportunities out of absolutely nothing. In each case he has dragged defenders away from the strikers while carrying the ball from the 40 yard line into the box. He has looked very good to me. He is very similar to Hleb, but with a much better final product.

You must have watched him either in the beginning of the season or in the early 2006, because he was not that bad at those times(even though he even than was not playing like he used to), but apart from that, he has been disappointing. I have even watched him live in the San Siro once this season, and he left me disappointed.

 

[lance83]

I want villareal ,benfica or lyon...
No barca or juve immediately....

Later on in the competetion we can beat those teams... right now lets kick some easy ****...

 

[Henry_Pires]

Lyon

 

[Florida Gooner]

Let's save Barca for the final, please...The bigger clubs seem to bring out the best in us, so any of the Italian clubs would be fine, as I believe we match up with them well. I get to see all three of them here every week:
AC Milan seems to either be magnificent or mediocre, no in between. Inzaghi is healthy, on fire and has rescued them regularly this season
Inter is a schizophrenic team, as you never know which team will show up. Adriano has been almost invisible this season.
Juve is boringly consistent; masters of the 1-0 win, although lately they've been giving up goals and have had to win 2-1. The Vieira irony would be sublime, of course.

All 3 of these teams have struggled with relegation teams on a regular basis this year, much like you know who....

But they all play proper football, which gives us a fighting chance. And who can argue with a road trip to Bella Italia?

 

[Ruslan Matuzau]

Doesn't matter. It's going to be Milan anyway.