***Official Premiership, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Champions League etc. Thread***

[ryguy469]

what the hell is going on inside United? Di Maria must be kicking himself.

[mrignatious]

United didn't field anything near a first team squad today, I wouldn't hit the panic button yet. Van Gaal has a long term plan in place and has experience managing at some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

[whodat]

Originally Posted by 42graystreet

4-0 Milton Keynes Dons over Manchester United Football Club. On the day they spent an English record transfer fee.

Van Gaal has said at least 3 months to get this setup, but the summer games inflated the honeymoon and plan in place that things would happen faster.

With that being said, the team has to either stay the course as rough as it gets, alter the plan to work with the players currently on board since they obviously don't fit the new system or cut bait now.

[johnsonc1]

Originally Posted by 42graystreet

3-0?!? Now it's just funny. Let's have a laugh while we can

I watched the whole game.

[42graystreet]

Why does this sport bring out the schadenfreude more than any other sport. I had as much fun today watching Man U get embarrassed as I would have if I was watching Chelsea beat MKD 4-0.

[whodat]

One mustn't forget that when Van Gaal took over for Bayern he won only one of his first four games in charge. This was after taking over for Klinsmann who didn't fare so well in his tenure, ala Moyes. His big signing that summer when he took over was Robben from Madrid and we all know how that has worked out. Not saying that Di Maria will do for United what Robben has done for Bayren, but it is uncanny the current course, results and the team that the big signing has come from this summer.

[ryguy469]

Originally Posted by mrignatious

United didn't field anything near a first team squad today, I wouldn't hit the panic button yet. Van Gaal has a long term plan in place and has experience managing at some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Oh I did the exact opposite of hit the panic button. I purchased a home Di Maria jersey.

[42graystreet]

Deadspin's review of the game is pretty funny and spot on...

Milton Keynes Dons of League One—that's the league below the league below the Premier League—put a goddamn hurting on Manchester United in a League Cup match today, beating them 4-0 to the delight of nearly everyone in the world.

This is incredibly embarrassing for United; Premier League teams may take it easy in matches like this, but the whole point of being Manchester United is that you should be able to roll out some starters and a few kids and crush fools.

[DaveHead36]

Yikes! Just saw the score. Regardless of what squad was fielded or who is manager; these last three matches have shown the world that United is very very beatable. I think that aura of "oh christ we have to face United this week" has just gone out the window. That is hard to repair.

[42graystreet]

Are we all still falling for the whole "it was Moyes' fault?"

[DaveHead36]

But Van Gaal is a genius. He just needs time!

[johnsonc1]

Arsenal down to 10 men for the last 15 minutes of this game vs Besiktas. One goal could send them out of the champions league...

[DaveHead36]

Two weeks in and I've already used my wildcard in the fantasy league. God my team was crap! On the plus side, my striker for Burnley might earn me some massive points in this weekends clash with United!

[42graystreet]

I'm off to Gorge in the morning. Hold down the fort, fellas. I'm meeting a real, live Stoke City fan from Stoke! Stoked!

[jrkarger]

Originally Posted by johnsonc1

Arsenal down to 10 men for the last 15 minutes of this game vs Besiktas. One goal could send them out of the champions league...

Would you kind folks explain to a n00b how the Champions League fills out its brackets?

I understand there are three playoff rounds before the group stage and that the top 4 teams from the EPL are automatically entered into the 32 team group stage; and similarly for the other major euro leagues.

How are the three playoff/play in rounds filled out/ceded? Arsenal was 5th in last year's EPL standings so they had to play in, correct?

EDIT: When I said they were 5th last year I was looking at this year's current standings. They were 4th last year; which ironically confuses me even more hahaha.

[whodat]

Originally Posted by 42graystreet

I'm off to Gorge in the morning. Hold down the fort, fellas. I'm meeting a real, live Stoke City fan from Stoke! Stoked!

Have a great time Chad and safe travels.

[DaveHead36]

Originally Posted by jrkarger

Would you kind folks explain to a n00b how the Champions League fills out its brackets?

I understand there are three playoff rounds before the group stage and that the top 4 teams from the EPL are automatically entered into the 32 team group stage; and similarly for the other major euro leagues.

How are the three playoff/play in rounds filled out/ceded? Arsenal was 5th in last year's EPL standings so they had to play in, correct?

EDIT: When I said they were 5th last year I was looking at this year's current standings. They were 4th last year; which ironically confuses me even more hahaha.

All clubs are put into one of four pots. Things like how often/recently you've played in the CL and how deep you go affects which pot you are in. Hence why Arsenal and Chelsea (though 3 and 4 in the league last year) are in the first pot and Citeh and Liverpool are in the third pot (despite being 1 and 2 in the league).

The pot is today. They select one team from pot 1, pot 2, pot 3 and pot 4. This makes up one group; rinse, repeat. No club can play another club from the same league until the quarter finals.

After the selections are made a knockout stage will commence. You play every club in your group twice (one away one home). Top two clubs in the group continue on, 3rd place gets placed in the Europa League.

I'm still relatively unfamiliar with how the playoff rounds to get in to the group stages works. I always thought 1st in the league is automatically in and 2-4 had to play their way in. But Liverpool didn't have to play in so who knows. Maybe someone with better knowledge than I can comment on that.

[DaveHead36]

Also you can watch the draw live here: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html

I believe it starts today at 10:45 AM CST (could be wrong though)

[jrkarger]

^ thanks. Definitely interested to see how it falls out. Yeah the group stage draw is pretty straight forward on how that works. Still confused though on how the automatically qualifying teams are determined versus the ones who have to play in; like Arsenal.

I guess though it doesn't matter since really since the big boys automatically qualify.

[DaveHead36]

A quick peruse on wikipedia should give you some insight. Basically since Spain, England and Germany are the top ranked leagues, their clubs that ranked 1-3 place are automatically qualified for the group stages. Their 4th placed clubs are qualified for the 3rd round playoff. Other leagues below them (60 in all) have to complete in 1st and second round playoffs. The higher your leagues rank the more clubs that qualify.

For example France and Italy only get to have 3 clubs compete. So the clubs that got 1st and 2nd are automatically seeded for a group stage draw. 3rd place has to play in the playoffs.

[jrkarger]

^ I actually just finished reading that. Makes sense now; sort of. .

[DaveHead36]

Champions League draw is complete:

Group A: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos, Malmo

Group B: Real Madrid, Basel, Liverpool, Ludogorets

Group C: Benfica, Zenit, Leverkusen, Monaco

Group D: Arsenal, Dortmund, Galatasaray, Anderlecht

Group E: Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moskva, Roma

Group F: Barcelona, Paris St-Germaine, Ajax, APOEL

Group G: Chelsea, Shalke, Sporting, Maribor

Group H: Porto, Shaktar Donetsk, Athletic, BATE

I really like Liverpool's chances in our group. I'm glad we got a glamor club in Real Madrid. Groups D, E and F should be exciting. Ajax, Roma and Galatasaray could provide massive upsets in their respective groups. Benfica, Atletico, Chelsea and Porto should have the easiest chance of getting out of their groups.

[clayj41]

Excited to watch Bayern and Man City play a couple of times.

[johnsonc1]

Originally Posted by clayj41

Excited to watch Bayern and Man City play a couple of times.

It's frustrating that city are in almost the same group as they were last year. Even tougher this year with the addition of Roma.

I thought about using my wildcard as well but since I am close to the top gonna wait until later in the season. Now that I understand the format I am really enjoying the league!

[whodat]

Some positive things to take from today's draw. United looked better in the last 20, but do need to find the back of the net to build confidence. Thought Di Maria looked good at times, the late subs all did their part to push the game, but the back line continued to make ill advised passes that put undo pressure deep in their own end.

Looks like Blind is a done deal. Have to think that will be it for the summer signings. Now it is time to find comfort in the system, the right players to execute it (I think Walbeck is a great fit, too bad Van Gaal doesn't see it that way), and build on it.

[whodat]

Nice to see Stoke get the win... And over City!

[DynastyDrummer1]

Liverpool looked pretty solid today. Liked what I saw out of Balotelli.

[whodat]

Well it took United all summer, but looks like they are finally getting some business done on deadline day. Bummed to see Hernandez go, Kagawa never really seemed to find a spot, but excited by the prospect of Falacao and Blind coming on board. Time for Van Gaal to find the right starting XI and building some momentum, and that may include sitting RVP for Walbeck.

[aeroshady]

Been out of the loop for a few weeks really. United making all kinds of moves. Just landed Falco on loan.

Also, looks like I will be rooting for Bayern in the CL.

[42graystreet]

Originally Posted by whodat

Nice to see Stoke get the win... And over City!

As luck would have it, the moment I met Craig and his wife Anna at the campground, was Saturday morning. I pulled up the NBC Sports live stream of the Stoke/City game for him to watch. Unfortunately, the reception wasn't very good, but in bits and pieces he got to see his club pull off the upset of the year. We celebrated by taking a picture in our respective kits. I'll send a link when I have one.