Stan 9,007 Posted August 25, 2017 Pot 1: Arsenal, Zenit, Lyon, Dynamo Kiev, Milan, Villarreal, Bilbao, Lazio, Viktoria Plzen, RB Salzburg, Copenhagen, Braga Pot 2: Steaua Bucharest, Ludogorets, BATE, Everton, Young Boys, Marseille, Real Sociedad, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lokomotiv Moscow, Nice, Hertha BSC, Austria Vienna Pot 3: Astana, Partizan, Hoffenheim, Koln, Rijeka, Vitoria, Atalanta, Zulte Waregem, Zorya, Rosenborg, FC Sheriff, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Pot 4: Apollon, Istanbul Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Vitesse, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Skenderbeu, Fastav Zlin, AEK Athens, Lugano, Vardar, Ostersund 48 teams. 12 groups. Possible 'groups of death' - Arsenal, Marseille, Hoffenheim, Red Star Milan, Everton, Hoffenheim, Red Star Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smiley Culture 1,269 Posted August 25, 2017 From a Köln perspective, that's got potential to be such a difficult campaign. Pot One has Arsenal, Lyon, AC Milan, Villarreal, Zenit, Bilbao, Lazio and then even Copenhagen and Braga wouldn't be easy. Pot Two has Everton, Nice and Marseille and even Pot Four has some tough sides in there that might be slightly unknown but definitely won't be pushovers. Arsenal or AC Milan; Austria Wien, 1. FC Köln and FC Zlin would be my preference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Bruce Almighty 2,757 Posted August 25, 2017 What time do the managers and club pundits get interviewed and say "I just really hope we get drawn against 3 teams within a 35 mile radius of us, any further and we will lose loads of league games " Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Storts 1,741 Posted August 25, 2017 2 hours ago, Stan said: Pot 1: Arsenal, Zenit, Lyon, Dynamo Kiev, Milan, Villarreal, Bilbao, Lazio, Viktoria Plzen, RB Salzburg, Copenhagen, Braga Pot 2: Steaua Bucharest, Ludogorets, BATE, Everton, Young Boys, Marseille, Real Sociedad, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lokomotiv Moscow, Nice, Hertha BSC, Austria Vienna Pot 3: Astana, Partizan, Hoffenheim, Koln, Rijeka, Vitoria, Atalanta, Zulte Waregem, Zorya, Rosenborg, FC Sheriff, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Pot 4: Apollon, Istanbul Basaksehir, Konyaspor, Vitesse, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Skenderbeu, Fastav Zlin, AEK Athens, Lugano, Vardar, Ostersund 48 teams. 12 groups. Possible 'groups of death' - Arsenal, Marseille, Hoffenheim, Red Star Milan, Everton, Hoffenheim, Red Star Reckon Istanbul Basaksehir are the best team in pot 4 Stan, the one to avoid Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,007 Posted August 25, 2017 14 minutes ago, Storts said: Reckon Istanbul Basaksehir are the best team in pot 4 Stan, the one to avoid was meant to put them instead of Red Star in the 2nd group of death . I saw they held Sevilla few days ago and noticed they had some good names in their squad! Didn't realise Inler had found his way there too. Clichy & Adebayor amongst others too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HK85 267 Posted August 25, 2017 France, Italy and Cyprus. Nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
True Blue 850 Posted August 25, 2017 Everton probably got the hardest draw of them all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,007 Posted August 25, 2017 Arsenal drawn with BATE, Koln and Red Star Belgrade Everton in a group with Lyon, Atalanta and Apollon. Not too bad travel wise! Milan get Austria Vienna, Rijeka and Athens - they should qualify comfortably from that. Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim and Istanbul all drawn together looks to be a tough group. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Smiley Culture 1,269 Posted August 25, 2017 Delighted for Köln, I'm really going to try and get a ticket in the away end at the Emirates. Arsenal aren't going to take it seriously apparently, which offers hope, though away's at BATE and Red Star will be tough, though a result at either of those and wins at home against them to should be enough to see Köln progress. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandoEFC 4,251 Posted August 25, 2017 Tough group for us but there's no reason we shouldn't get through it. Atalanta and Lyon away will be difficult but we need to be making sure we win the other four games and we'll be fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Bruce Almighty 2,757 Posted August 25, 2017 Non of the Arsenal games are very appealing. Everton v Lyon and maybe Atlanta sounds worthy of tuning in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6666 814 Posted August 25, 2017 Koln games might be decent just for Poldi's tweets but overall the group stage will be a good opportunity to play the fringe players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 9,007 Posted August 25, 2017 1 hour ago, RandoEFC said: Tough group for us but there's no reason we shouldn't get through it. Atalanta and Lyon away will be difficult but we need to be making sure we win the other four games and we'll be fine. Playing your games at Sassuolo as well as Atalanta's stadium being redeveloped. 8 minutes ago, 6666 said: Koln games might be decent just for Poldi's tweets but overall the group stage will be a good opportunity to play the fringe players. Don't think your fringe players will like the Belgrade atmosphere Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gunnersauraus 629 Posted August 25, 2017 4 hours ago, 6666 said: Koln games might be decent just for Poldi's tweets but overall the group stage will be a good opportunity to play the fringe players. Hopefully Wenger will play better players later in the competition. It probably depends on how we are doing in the league Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
