Champions League 2011.2012

[johnnyondioline]

Can't believe nobody has posted this tonight. (Apologies if i've missed a thread)

We are at worst the 22nd best team in Europe as 22 of the 32 Group stage slots are now sorted

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80 ... roup_stage

I cannot believe the run we have been on. After the Liverpool away debacle 'typical city' seemed to be kicking in and the usual fears and defence mechanisms were firmly in place.

But we have delivered & we get a stress free summer to relish.

3rd means so much more than 4th.....Champions league GUARANTEED, rather than a 2 leg knock out v Bayern or Villareal or someone we may not be ready for come mid august.

Full uninterrupted pre season

The mind boggles for next season. I always expected we would do it the hard way. IE finish 4th & lose the playoff & take an extra year. Beat the rags but lose to Stoke & take an extra year.....etc

But, for once, we have exceeded expectation and we should rejoice :)

[glossopblue]

hear, hear. well said.

[Chopper]

Well spotted

[theboltonianblue]

just wondering when will the draw be for the groups?

[Midnight Blue]

just wondering when will the draw be for the groups?

Draw date for group stage is 25 August 2011 according to Wiki.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I kind of hope we draw Barcelona. I'll be doing Nou Camp without a doubt. I have been to Barcelona game there about ten years ago and Nou Camp is just AMAZING stadium. Best I've ever been to.

[Beefymcfc]

The guaranteed 3rd place guarantees new signings Champions League. This was one of my biggest concerns and by getting 3rd it allows me a pain free summer.

Happy Days!!!

[Goaters 103]

We will be in the third pot so will have 2 big times in our group, poss Barca, Real, Inter, AC - one of those will do fine.

If we can get out of the group stage it will represent progress for us.

[Chinners]

I'd say the fact that we got in the group phase in the first place represents progress

[brite blu sky]

It will be interesting to see who we get in the group. For me, i'm looking at the CL as an opportunity to pitch ourselves against different opposition and some of the best around, without the pressure of having to do anything. It would be great to get out of the group for 'respectability' and confidence issues, but in truth i would rather we didn't take our eye off solidifying our Prem status for anything.
To put it another way, having gotten into the top 4 for the first time in the Prem, are we all expecting that the minimum is to stay there.. or more, expecting to build on the 3rd ( = 2nd ) position? I would offer that the majority of fans, the club and the players would be saying yes to that. That would still imo be no mean feat and nothing at all should take our concentration away from that. CL is fantastic but if we are expecting to be back in it the year after, then we can just have a nice little practice this season and get used to the whole thing while seeing how we pitch up against well experienced top teams. In other words learn all we can and leave it at that. By that argument i would be very happy for us to land Real or Barca or close equivalent in the group.

[Beefymcfc]

I'd say the fact that we got in the group phase in the first place represents progress

I reckon just getting into the fucker is progress ;-)