Champions League opponents

[aveslacker]

My vote for toughest group goes to either Group A or Group F. But there appear to be no groups as tough as our group of last year.

It is hard not to be somewhat optimistic about the results of the draw. The English media always overrate Arsenal, but I believe it is well within our abilities to get 2-4 points from our matches with Arse-nil.

As for Sparta and Thun, getting 8 points from our four matches with them is also very possible, leaving us with 10-12 points which should likely be enough to put us through.

And looking at the HCE, with PSV seemingly crumbling before our eyes and 010 as shitty as always, there is a good reason to be optimistic, at least as far as results are concerned. Even if the team doesn't play particularly well (which it might not do until the last 1/3 - 1/4 of the season, hopefully culminating in a glorious CL campaign) the apparent lack of quality of the opposing sides could mean that our boys might well hoist some silverware towards at the end of the season.

Simply put, I think the team will be better than last season, not as good as last season's PSV, but good enough to win this year because the competition doesn't look to be very high quality.

I hope I'm not wrong.

[cdnajaxfan]

From FoxSports.com:

Arsenal, which has never got so far as the semifinals, enjoyed the easiest draw of the top teams. It and four-time winner Ajax Amsterdam should progress past Sparta Prague and Thun, a Swiss league runner-up that beat Dynamo Kiev and Sweden's Malmo to reach the group stage but has never won a single domestic title.

- I am not so sure that it is the easiest group. However, I have always thought that either someone at UEFA tries to help Arsenal or the club bribe UEFA to give them an easy group draw. How else do you explain the fact that they have gotten fairly easy draws in the past 4 years? Coincidence? I doubt it! At least someone favors us to move on from this group though!

[SPL]

I think we have done quite well as Arsenal are not a giant of Europe and still rely on Henry for their goals. They have always underachieved in Europe.Thun hopefully should mean 6 points but we said that against Tel Aviv last season.

I watched the 20 mins of highlights of yesterdays game and we will have to defend a bit better against Arsenal. Bronbys goalscorer was unmarked, if we do that against Henry he will destroy us.

[cdnajaxfan]

Didn't Jeremy Alliadiere just sign on with West Ham? I was worried about a trip to Turkey. A group including Arsenal, Sparta Prague, and FC Thun definitely shows promise.Respect everybody,overlook nobody, AND forget this "learning Experience " crap.GO FOR IT!

Danny, you know I like you(is my user name a hint?),but grow some cajones.Better to tell your squad that you're going to bust your asses and go for the second round with gusto.

A PSV rematch with Milan and Liverpool-Chelsea duels definitely make this a draw to follow.Thanks to drawing the Gooners, I'lll be able to see Ajax on tv twice.AWESOME!! Looks like it's try to plan a trip time.

I think it was just a loan deal. I could be wrong though!

[ZoefdeHaas]

Sparta is tough, since they play on the counter one of Ajax's (many) weakness. Arsenal we all know is our toughest opponent, and Thun can show some promise. CHampons League is never easy

[SE6Ajacied]

:D

That's a pretty heavy prediction.

If you nail it you can do all my betting from now on.

It's a promise ;)


My whish is:


Sparta Prague

FC Thun

Not a bad prediction...can you do all of my betting from now on? :D

[SE6Ajacied]

Well Arsenal again, that's half my work mates and all my girlfriends brothers to bait when we beat them twice.

I'm fairly happy with the draw actually. It would have been nice to get a "glamour" team for a bit of drama but in the end I think we are well capable of beating all of this lot if we play well like the second half last night.

Prague is a lovely city to visit. I've actually been to a game at Sparta as well, a couple of years back against a Georgian team in CL qualifying...not a bad atmosphere in the ground from what I remember even though it wasn't even half full.

[Manneken Pis]

Well Arsenal again, that's half my work mates and all my girlfriends brothers to bait when we beat them twice.

Is that (a)"girlfriend's brothers" or (b)"girlfriends' brothers"?

The latter would indicate that you are keeping some kind of hareem there in south east London...... :worshippy: :worshippy: :worshippy:

[Kowalczyk]

News report (with information on our opponents) is up!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2005-2006/ ... -thun.html

K.

[Kowalczyk]

Yeah, nice one. My mate AFCA Madnezz have just booked EasyJet flights to Luton for the Arsenal vs Ajax fixture on 07 December and also to Geneva for the FC Thun vs Ajax fixture on 02 November.

Prague would have been a nice one, but that one will be played in less than three weeks' time. Bad timing, as I'll be very busy. I'll give that one a miss. Switzerland was my favourite anyway, because the opponent is slightly bizarre. I like that.

AFCA ON TOUR - EUROPE, HERE WE COME! :headbang:

K.

[Over Pasanens Head]

Just booked my flights to Geneva from London Luton for £40.98 return. What a bargain :headbang:

Cockney Cloggies On Tour 2005/06

[Kowalczyk]

Just booked my flights to Geneva from London Luton for return. What a bargain :headbang: [/b]

You can say that again. Does that include taxes and stuff?

We paid 104 euros for the flights from Amsterdam to Geneva (£40.98 is just over 60 euros...).

Oh well, 104 euros is not bad either.

K.

[Over Pasanens Head]

Just booked my flights to Geneva from London Luton for return. What a bargain :headbang: [/b]

You can say that again. Does that include taxes and stuff?

We paid 104 euros for the flights from Amsterdam to Geneva (£40.98 is just over 60 euros...).

Oh well, 104 euros is not bad either.

K.

Taxes etc all included.

Who are you flying with - we are with Easyjet

[Kowalczyk]

Who are you flying with - we are with Easyjet

Yeah, me too. I think prices had gone up a bit already when we booked, probably because we were not the only Ajax fans to book tickets to Geneva for that day.

We fly on Nov 1st (the day before the game). Arrival in Geneva 9:55 AM. then a train to Bern (straight from the airport; direct connection). We'll be at Bern Central around midday (12:25 or something like that). We didn't book accommodation yet. That's not gonna be a prob.

K.

[SE6Ajacied]

Well Arsenal again, that's half my work mates and all my girlfriends brothers to bait when we beat them twice.

Is that (a)"girlfriend's brothers" or (b)"girlfriends' brothers"?

The latter would indicate that you are keeping some kind of hareem there in south east London...... :worshippy: :worshippy: :worshippy:

Wow, I'll get in bad trouble for stuff like that.....no, just the one girlfriend but she's got three brothers......best I don't try getting any more girlfriends really then :D

[Apostata]

Talent yes, brains, no! That is why Feyenoord got rid of him.

On another note, I guess you and I will get to see the Arsenal - Ajax games up here! No chance on the Sparta of Thun games though. All in all, I am happy that Ajax will most likely easily advance to the next round and I will get to see one or 2 games.

Fair enough about the brains department - this is soccer after all, not chess (at least when you're on the pitch).

I'm sooo looking forword to seeing Ajax v. Arse - do you know who's broadcasting it up here? Fox?

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Very happy with the draw results.. we should be able too go trough to se second round, problem is that after the group stage we will have to face either Juventus or Bayern Munich, we all know what happened last year :pukey: but still everything is posible after the group stage so lets sit tight enjoy the ride and hope for the best. We should be able to at least elevate our Uefa Coeficient and win some good bucks for the future. ;)

[ZoefdeHaas]

The top 2 of group A go against group B? Damnit I perfer Juventus then, Bayern have a really strong squad since Magath arrived.

[Frans]

The top 2 of group A go against group B? Damnit I perfer Juventus then, Bayern have a really strong squad since Magath arrived.

From Uefa.com

Knock-out rounds
A draw determines who each of the 16 clubs will play in the first knock-out stage, with ties decided over two matches on a home and away basis. The club that scores the greater aggregate of goals advances, or in the event of both teams scoring the same number of goals, the team which scores more away goals.

[jakobg]

Very happy with the draw results.. we should be able too go trough to se second round, problem is that after the group stage we will have to face either Juventus or Bayern Munich, we all know what happened last year :pukey: but still everything is posible after the group stage so lets sit tight enjoy the ride and hope for the best. We should be able to at least elevate our Uefa Coeficient and win some good bucks for the future. ;)

I don't think we should be thinking about this just yet. There are no easy groups in the Champions League, and we all still remember last season's group stage. We aren't guaranteed the second round; we'll have to perform really well to make it there.

I'm not saying we won't make it, just that we shouldn't take it for granted.

[carcajou]

Besides, just like Frans said, a DRAW decides the pairing of teams for the knock-out stage. So it is not automatically Bayern or Juve or whatever.....

[Ayman]

What scares me is that Thun might be another 'Laussane', but then again I thought Brondby were going to do a 'Copenhagen'. But nah I think Ajax are coming back into being AJAX. I expect to us perform the way we did 3 seasons ago in the champions league.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

You're right my bad, still lets hope we beat Arsenal to first place( something i really believe is very posible). Because if we end up second we could have worse fate than juve or bayern.

Then again i think that would be the worse case :eusa_liar: Cheers i really dont think we can screw this one, sure we will have some tough games and problably some disapointing draw or even a couple of loses but if we play moderetly well we should go trough, both Thun and Sparta are of similar quality like Brondby, hard fought games but victory in the end.

I pray to the gods i dont have to eat my words latter. :eusa_pray:

[Kowalczyk]

Because if we end up second we could have worse fate than juve or bayern.

Once again: no.

There will be a draw for the second round: all teams in a bowl and there you go.

If we make it to the second round everything will be 100% open.

K.

[AjaxThailand]

You're right my bad, still lets hope we beat Arsenal to first place( something i really believe is very posible). Because if we end up second we could have worse fate than juve or bayern.

Then again i think that would be the worse case :eusa_liar: Cheers i really dont think we can screw this one, sure we will have some tough games and problably some disapointing draw or even a couple of loses but if we play moderetly well we should go trough, both Thun and Sparta are of similar quality like Brondby, hard fought games but victory in the end.

I pray to the gods i dont have to eat my words latter. :eusa_pray:

I think Sparta is of higher quality then Brondby. Dont think too little of them. It will be 2 very tough matches against them