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[Looney]

Whoever actually comes to this board, how far do you think Newcastle will progress in the Champion's League?

[doz]

Echo.:D

[BLAUGRANA]

2nd group stage at best. ECHO, ECHO, ECHO. :eek: :D

[Looney]

Well if you two helped to convince the rest of the Toon mob at Soccernet to come over I wouldn't have kick your asses for echoing! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Roberto Abrego]

:D


they wont pass first stage.

[Robledo]

Bellamy.Dyer,Robert,Shearer,Solano will kick arse whoever we will play. I don't know if the same can be said about the defence though, we're in need of a commanding centre back, and I have every confidence that SBR will buy the right player.

Keown for a season or 2 will do

[Looney]

Darn right! We'll get past 1st group at least! As long as we get that centreback.

[Robledo]

Champions League draw

Third Qualifying Round

Lillestrom or Zeljeznicar Sarajevo v NEWCASTLE UNITED

Very good draw considering the other teams we could have faced

[Looney]

I've heard of lillestrom, but Z$#%@#$ Sarajevo? Isn't that a food? :confused:

[Looney]

Feyenoord, Juventus and Dinamo Kiev, not easy, but not that hard. Tricky but no where near impossible!

[Azerkid]

I preety sure they can make it to the 2nd group stage ;)

[Looney]

At the expense of who, that is the question. Juve being an Italian club may well crash, but they are the favourites for good reason. Feyenoord is about as strong as Newcastle but they are the UEFA Cup champions after all. Dinamo Kiev has a proud tradition too.

[Robledo]

18th September : Dynamo Kiev (a)
24th September : Feyenoord (H)
1st October - Juventus (a)
23rd October- Juventus (h)
29th October - Dynamo Kiev (h)

Juve don't usually qualify so easily during the group stages, burt always manage to scrape through. I believe the 2 Black and White teams will prevail. Picking up maximum points at St James' is essential

[Looney]

10 points should see us through, 12-14 to top the group. hopefully 6 points from dinamo kiev, 3-4 from feyenoord and hopefully 3 against Juve.

[soccer fanatic]

Hard to say, I can only say don`t underestimate Feyenoord. Their new signings played great against Twente and their entire team is experienced in Europe. Feyenoord isn`t just Pierre van Hooijdonk. Watch out for them in your away game. I would prefer that Newcastle and Feyenoord will go through, but I don`t see that happen.

Prediction is that Newcastle crash out in the first round. Feyenoord at home is very difficult to beat. Newcastle should at least improve their current form to stand a chance. Too bad, I like the team and the coach, lets hope for a miracle.

I think:
Juventus
Feyenoord (Good for the Dutch league`s name in Europe.)
Newcastle (UEFA CUP aint too bad :), ask Feyenoord)
Dinamo Kiev

I hope:
Feyenoord (weird as an Ajax fan, but own country first)
Newcastle United
Juventus/Dinamo Kiev (doesn`t matter.)

[Robledo]

I hope what you hope!

Van Hooijdonk is an obvious threat, but Shinji Ono is a dangerous player as well, and he's hardly been mentioned

The CL is proving a big distraction for the team at the moment. Even Solano admitted that. If we crash out early, we can concentrate on the league which is the main priority. UEFA Cup glory would be nice if we finish 3rd :D Hell a TROPHY would be nice!

I'm stayin positive, and we'll finish 2nd along with the other black and white team

C'MON THE TOON!!!

[soccer fanatic]

I help you hope. Robson is a fantastic man who really breathes football. Shearer is one of my favourite players. He wants to win, and even if you don`t see him for an entire match, he can tottaly surprise you and score.

Newcastle in form is a threat to everyone in this pool, but they will have to play their best.

Key will be their results in away games, it`s an incredible hard pool but, weird enough no one is unbeatable.
Juventus is no Real Madrid.

But like I said I hope Newcastle and Feyenoord will go through, and why not, it`s football, differences are small and everything can happen.

Looking forward in meeting your team in the final!! :D

[Robledo]

Well we played quite well tonight, but didn't have the luck. Zoetebier saved everything, and never spilt a shot !:mad:

As usual, we were our own worst enemy, a defensive mistake led to the Feyenoord goal and cost us the game in the end. And that goal took a deflecton.

Hit the bar also , Solano wasting a free header. Lua Lua missed a guilt edged chance at the end. Damnit , we should've took at least a point ! But that's Europe , you get punished for stupid mistakes at this level

[Robledo]

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy has been found guilty by UEFA of nutting Tiberiu Ghioane of Dynamo Kiev and will serve a three match european ban with immediate effect.

"Bellamy deliberately headbutted an opponent in the face. Since the referee did not see the incident the decision was rendered on the basis of video evidence as well as the statement made by Craig Bellamy."

The player will be available for our final first group stage, game away to Feyenoord.

Time to unleash Lomana Lua Lua :D

[Looney]

This is like champman! we dominate a game and crack off a billion shots and their keeper saves everything then we concede a cheap goal and lose! :mad:

We'll need to beat Juventus at least once to have any hope of qualifying now. In any case tho, the UEFA Cup is certainly easier to win than the Champion's League!

[soccer fanatic]

Yes Zoetebier did good work, but also Feyenoord missed a lot of chances. I`m disappointed in Newcastle, but also amazed by Juventus. They play very attractive for an Italian side, that deserves some credit. It is still a shame that the chances of Newcastle reaching the next round are almost zero, they have great support and are able to beat the teams in this poule if they play to their possibilities, they proved this last year. They just didn`t have the luck in the CL. Still a third place is at least something. I don`t see Newcastle advance anymore to the next CL round. The still have two matches against Juve and one against Feyenoord away, extremely difficult. Believe me, Feyenoord away is a very hard task, but hey, although chances are very small, there is always a chance. I would seriously take into consideration that chances are Newcastle won`t advance, better be prepared of the disappointment.

[Looney]

Yeah I don't think we'll qualify, we'll need to beat Juve at least once, go to Rotterdam and win and beat Dinamo at home, no easy task. 6 points is within reach tho, that may take us to 3rd.

[Robledo]

With Bellamy out suspended, do you think SBR will start Lua Lua against those minnows on Wed?

With it being Juve, I could see Dyer playing just off Shearer, and Lua Lua being dropped. Damn, I just want to see Lua Lua take on the whole Juve defense and run rings around Montero and lulliano and score the greatest ever Champions League goal. He deffo has the ability:D

[Looney]

Can we still make the UEFA Cup?

[Robledo]

Originally posted by Looney
Can we still make the UEFA Cup?

Well we need to finish with more points that Dynamo! Even if we finish level on points with Kiev, we're probably out, unless we score more than 3 against them at St James'.

It's gonna be tough getting 3 points from Juve at St James', and Feyenoord away. Juve still need at least 1 more win to guarentee qualification, so they'll be sending out a full strength team.

And Feyenoord are strong at home, but if we we get the breaks (which we didn't at St James'), I think we can get at least a point at the De Kuip. They were lucky not to lose against Kiev the other night

But again, we're dependent on other results going in our favour.

Time for the Toon late show:D

[Looney]

Well we'll need to start scoring that's for sure. One of the best attacking teams in the EPL can't score, it's heresy!

[Robledo]

Newcastle defeat the curent Italian champions (inflict 1st defeat this season) 1-0 at St James'!!!

JJ outplayed Davids (who was taken off at half time), and Harper looked very competent coming out for crosses and made a crucial save.

Well we got no choice but to win our next game against Dynamo (after they won tonight). The last time we played them, we beat them with Sheva and Rebrov:D

And Juve must defeat Feyenoord for autmoatic qualification into the next phase. Whilst round 2 could be difficult, the group is still open for 2nd place, only just!


TOON TOON!!!

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by soccer fanatic

Looking forward in meeting your team in the final!! :D

i already bought my ticket, how about you? :D

Seriously though, great work the last three matches. :)
Newcastle really seemed out but came back from nowhere. Great match today, I think both teams would have been a deserved winner. Newcastle won, so good luck in the next round.:)

[Robledo]

Damn, that defense was giving me heart attacks tonight. But hunchback Bellas came up with the goods, come 91 mins!

Now time to mix it with the big guns, Real Madrid, Milan ,Ajax anyone?

I hope we avoid Lokomotiv Moscow, a trip to Russia in December in -10 degrees wont be very appealing

Did anyone ever doubt the Toon?:D

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by Robledo
Damn, that defense was giving me heart attacks tonight. But hunchback Bellas came up with the goods, come 91 mins!

Now time to mix it with the big guns, Real Madrid, Milan ,Ajax anyone?

I hope we avoid Lokomotiv Moscow, a trip to Russia in December in -10 degrees wont be very appealing

Did anyone ever doubt the Toon?:D

You are in luck, I don`t think itbis possible to meet Lokomotiv.
Too bad we can`t meet either.

[Robledo]

Yeah, too bad Ajax and Newcastle can't meet. I would surely have made the trip to to Amsterdam, for purely football reasons of course ;)

the only teams we can meet are the following:

Pot 1
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia

Pot 2
AC Milan, Inter Milan

Pot 3
Bayer Leverkusen , Borussia Dortmund

Personally I'd like to see us play the big guns/former winners, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, from that list of possibles.

Beware,the rest of Europe should not underestimate us:D

BRING EM ON !!!

[soccer fanatic]

There are only good teams left, there won`t be a truly easy poule. And you are damn right they shouldn`t underestimate us. Newcastle in form can beat everyone. Winning matches away to Juve and Feyenoord is very hard, no reason to fear anybody. Ofcourse we are outsiders, but this doesn`t mean we can`t progress again. :)

I wish you a good draw.

[Looney]

By the way things are going, we'll probably Milan....... which means I'll be robbing banks to finance a trip to see those matches..... and quite possibly we'll draw Barcelona again, in which case we already know the results, 3-2 at St. James's with a hat-trick by Bellamy, then probably 2-1 at Barcelona with two by Shearer!

[Looney]

Well we did draw Barca, and Inter and Bayer.... tought group but not one we can't get out of right?

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by Looney
Well we did draw Barca, and Inter and Bayer.... tought group but not one we can't get out of right?

Depends on how you guys play. If you can pplay these 6 matches like you did in the final three of the first stage, it is surely possible, but difficult. Barca is difficult, but if you get your defence organised, I see chances against Inter. They didn`t impress me at all.

[Looney]

Inter are the luckiest pricks in Europe right now, so I don't know about them, but I think our results against them are the most crucial. Bayer I'm thinking we can beat, Barca if we play like we can should be 3 points each.

[Robledo]

Well whatever happens, we're gaining a 'fearsome' reputation in Europe right now. Inter, Barca and Bayer think we'll be the biggest obstacles for the top 2 places

German international Nowotny said: "This is a group of giants - all three teams are among the best in their country.

"Other people may worry about Inter and Barcelona but the biggest challenge we face is from Newcastle.

Bayer Leverkusen skipper Jens Nowotny insists United are the greatest obstacle to his team's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Barcelona star Carlos Puyol is similarly concerned, predicting Newcastle will be a far tougher proposition than when they lost to the Catalan giants in a pre-season friendly at St James's Park.

And Inter Milan's vice-president Giacinto Facchetti fears the consequences of playing their opening Group A game at St James's Park just three days after contesting a local derby against city rivals, AC.

German international Nowotny said: "This is a group of giants - all three teams are among the best in their country.

"Other people may worry about Inter and Barcelona but the biggest challenge we face is from Newcastle.

"We have never played them but it is well known that it is very difficult to win on their home ground."



Also mentioned was that Milan and Inter are playing a little derby a few days beforehand. This could work in our favor when facing Inter, after a thrashing by Milan and their confidence demoralised. Hopefully Mlan will inflict another 6-0er, like 1 or 2 seasons back:D

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/news/page.cfm?objectid=12370896&method=full&siteid=50081

[JD]

thought it was worth posting congrats2 Newcastle- I didn't think tney could do it!(def didn't think Juve would win a dead rubber in the Ukraine!) anyay well done the Toon did the EPL proud

[Looney]

Well I'm happy, my two teams gets to whomp Inter within three days of each other. :D

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by Looney
Well I'm happy, my two teams gets to whomp Inter within three days of each other. :D

I help you hope. :)

[Robledo]

jeez, we like doing things the hard way. Bellamy sent off after 5 minutes. IMO, it was a very harsh decision. Yellow card at the most. Canavarro and his constant shirt pulling, was lucky not to be sent off.

Anyway, it was all pre-planned ! Like Phase 1 of CL, Bellamy will return for the final game, and score the winning goal in the final minute, and we'll qualify for the quarters:D :D :D

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by Robledo
jeez, we like doing things the hard way. Bellamy sent off after 5 minutes. IMO, it was a very harsh decision. Yellow card at the most. Canavarro and his constant shirt pulling, was lucky not to be sent off.


I can`t blame Bellamy, Materazzi is the most irritating player on the planet. I think it was a bit harsh too, even though the rules say red. So early in the match is a real blow.

[Robledo]

Yeah, we were always going to struggle against 12 men, ie: the referee may as well have been considered a damn Inter player!

Unlucky Ajax btw , I thought you'd won that game. A point away from home is a good result, but a little disappointing for you guys to concede so late on

Not many teams can get even 1 point at the Mestalla.

[Looney]

Tragic...... I dunno but I think our defense has yet again been ripped to shreds........ 9 goals in 2 matches......

[Robledo]

I heard Shearer might have his European ban , reduced to 1 game on appeal. That would do nicely

[Looney]

Carl Cort may start?

[Robledo]

Originally posted by Looney
Carl Cort may start?

Well there's no chance of that now, the match has been called off !!! waterlogged pitch. Who would've thought, the Nou Camp's pitch would resemble Darlo's

[Looney]

I think that's actually a good thing, we get to another day's rest after the tiring Villa match.

[Robledo]

ahhh 3-1 loss to Barca, on another day it could've been 3-3, but that's what happens when you have rookie strikers up front.

Shola was outstanding though, how often can you say that !;)

[Looney]

All coming to plan..... our chances have been completely written off, time for the comeback! :D

[Robledo]

Bellamy's been banned for 3 matches. It could've been alot worse IMO, coniserin he got red carded in the last round

http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=124354&cpid=5&title=Uefa+hand+Bellamy+three-game+ban

I think he's avail for our quarter final decider against Inter though;) :D

[yks_barca]

I've been once to St. James Park when Newcastle beat Juve 1-0 , that was in the 1st group stage ... I was with Newcastle fans on that day ...

It is known that the Box Office in St. James Park Stadium don't sell tickets for the away supporters ! And that's what made me buy a ticket with Newcastle supporters ...

Now is it possible to buy a ticket for Newcastle VS Barcelona but with Barca supporters ? Or do i have to sit with Newcastle supporters again ?

P.S : One of the staff in the Box Office told me on the Newcastle Juventus match : " Juventus gives tickets, not us, you have to buy the ticket from Juventus Football Club !! "

That's absolutely ridicules !! What about if someone isn't italian or English and wants to see the match ??

[Robledo]

Originally posted by yks_barca


Now is it possible to buy a ticket for Newcastle VS Barcelona but with Barca supporters ? Or do i have to sit with Newcastle supporters again ?

P.S : One of the staff in the Box Office told me on the Newcastle Juventus match : " Juventus gives tickets, not us, you have to buy the ticket from Juventus Football Club !! "

That's absolutely ridicules !! What about if someone isn't italian or English and wants to see the match ??

Yeah, you probably have to sit with us Newcastle supporters.

I'm not upto date with the ticketing policy, but its probably there for safety reasons. There is no doubt that the Barca game will sell out, and fans will be looking for more tickets. The box office wont sell them to us incase there's any 'trouble'.

But hey, if you sit with the away supporters, you wont see any of the game. The Sir John Hall Upper stand (where the away supporters are situated) is pretty bad in terms of view ! Like the Nou Camp middle/upper tiers, you need to take binoculars !

If you want a good view,sit with the Newcastle supporters:D At least you'll get to see the game !

[Looney]

Just beware the white hanky when we thrash Barca 5-0! :D

[Robledo]

Is there a better time to play Leverkusen and Barca? Both are going through turmoil at the moment and Bayer have just sacked their coach after another defeat (fighting relegation)

Then again, will the new manager curse strike? Antic just got his 1st win with Barca, and hopefully the curse wont strike again on Tue night with Leverkusen's new coach being in charge (their players I suspect will want to impress)

It's Sir Bobby's birthday on Tue as well, 70 years young.

Also JJ's apparently

Howay, let's dent the Kraut's confidence even more this Tue night!

[soccer fanatic]

Yes, especially leverkusen isn`t exactly going strong in the Bundesliga, there are good chances against them, playing twice in a row could make sure Newcastle get close too the too leaders Barca and Inter, two important matches, I think Newcastle should atleast grab 4 points.

[BLAUGRANA]

Shearer scoring vs. Bayer:

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/UCL/56183_600X400.jpg

[soccer fanatic]

Newcastle are totally back in now. Now lets hope for a good result away against Inter.

[VAN BASTEN]

do you think Newcatle can win in the San Siro?

[soccer fanatic]

Originally posted by VAN BASTEN
do you think Newcatle can win in the San Siro?

Why not, I mean, the strenght of Inter is not too underestimated, but it is ofcourse possible. Inter is a good team but even Ajax had chances in the away match against Inter, we lost but weren`t less than Inter. It will be very dificult, but Newcastle appears too be in good form right now, if they can maintain that it is possible, atleast a draw should be possible. Problem is Inters last match is against Leverkusen and Newcastles is against Barca, so only a win would probably keep the gates open for the QF, seeing I don`t expect Leverkusen too beat Inter.

But both in league and the latest two ties in CL were good of Newcastle, and ofcourse Leverkusen isn`t the Levcerkusen they were before, but still two relative easy victories are impressive even if they have 0 points.

There are chances and if they believe in them they have a chance, pressure won`t be on Newcastle but on Inter.

[Robledo]

On current form we can match anyone. Inter's only fit striker will apparently be Vieri, considering Batistuta is ineligible, Kallon injured, and Recoba suspended.

Do they still have Ventola?

Bayer "Loserkusen", the nickname fits

[Robledo]

Add that relatively unknown striker Crespo to that list

[yks_barca]

it's strange ... they say 3rd march ... tickets go in general sale for Newcastle vs Barcelona ... but whenever i call the box office i can't get any ***ken response .. it's all damn busy !!

how could i get a ticket if i'm not living in Newcastle :s ??

[JD]

isn't crespo out?

[Robledo]

Originally posted by JD
isn't crespo out?

Yes