Who won't win the Champions League this season?

Cal?

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Barcelona
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Chelsea
Man Utd
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Inter Milan
Arsenal
AC Milan
Juventus
Bayern Munich

Top 10 favourites according to the bookies, name one side who you think won't win it and why?

Barcelona - nobody ever retains the CL.
 

Anderson Searl

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The bolds wont... I can't look past those top 4, if the draw falls wouldnt be shocked if that was the semis... imagine, people would think the competition was rigged

Real - United... rivals
Barca - Chelsea... re-match
 

phelans shorts

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real, dressing room unrest will cause huge bitch fights and pellegrini getting sacked and raul appointed unoficial manager whilst they get in another faceless drone to pretend to be manager
 

Epic

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Think Chelsea just might do it this year. Ancelotti is a continental minded coach and he's got a good record.
 

Cal?

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i think Barca may be the side that bucks the trend this season.
If we couldn't do it last season, I really hope they don't this time, anyone to win it but them (except Liverpool obviously).
 

dumbo

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If I was a betting man I would lay Real Madrid.

Expect them to get crushed by the first English opposition they face.
 

kietotheworld

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No team outside of the 5 of United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea or Barcelona have been knocked out by anyone outside that 5 in the last two years in the Champions League. Can't see the winners coming from outside those five and Real Madrid.
 

ch7

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I not convinced they can win it but I will be keeping a close eye on how Juventus get on in the Champions League this season. I've been impressed with the ambition they have shown in the transfer market taking into account the amount of money they have spent. Everyone at the club is now aware that it is now time for Juventus to be seriously competing for the major trophies again. There appears to be a decent balance between the tough, experienced, tactically intelligent players and the more creative element in the squad. In one off matches a midfield consisting of the likes of Marchisio, Melo and Sissoko will be very competitive physically and tactically perhaps allowing the likes of Diego, Camoranesi, Giovinco, Amauri, etc... to make the difference on the counterattack in those tight away matches during the knockout stages. If they get a decent draw the semifinals could be a possibility for Juve.
If I were to be pushed though I think this may well finally be Chelsea's year in Europe.
 

Walrus

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I wouldnt be entirely surprised if we saw a repeat of last year - Barcelona beating us in the final.
 
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AC Milan wont win because everyone can see they have serious flaws in their squad at the moment. They still look too slow and lacking in players who are on top of their game.
 

Rowem

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I don't think United will win it this year in all honesty.

A bit too much inexperience in certain areas, and not quite enough quality in other areas to make up for this. I don't mean this in a doom and gloom sort of way - I just think it's a necessary step in building a new team.
 

Dyslexic Untied

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Realistically all of the top five (including Liverpool) are in with a good shout to win it this year.

I don`t think we will win it, and like always winning the League would be more than enough for me. Have a feeling Chelsea might just get it this year. Which will be deserved, in a way.
 

noodlehair

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Barca are still going to take some beating.

The fact they don't have anything to prove, and replacing Etoo with Zlatan, just about makes them vincible, but they're still the side to beat.

Most of the rest on that list wont even be in contention.
 

MUFCgal

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I think it'll be us, Barca, Real and Chelsea in the semi's. I'd love to win it again, that night watching the final in 2008 was such a magic time. It was one of the best nights of my life.
 

Rowem

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Barcelona: The trophy has never been retained
Milan and Arsenal: Not good enough
Manchester United : Not enough fire power ATM
Juventus: Will concentrate on domestic matters
Liverpool: Will concentrate on domestic matters
Depends if they are still putting up a real title fight in February

There's no real reason Barca won't win it again next year. They're good enough to break the status quo.

Agree with the others, although I'd lump Juve in the 'not good enough' category :)
 
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Depends if they are still putting up a real title fight in February
If only.... :D

There's no real reason Barca won't win it again next year. They're good enough to break the status quo.
So were a number of others before them.

Agree with the others, although I'd lump Juve in the 'not good enough' category :)
TBH they fit in both categories. I can't see them really bothering in Europe with what they know they can't win, really.
 

Rowem

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It's possible. There's a first time for everything. Liverpool winning the Premier League for example! :keano:
 

charlenefan

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Barcelona - No team has ever retained the trophy, Barca wont buck that trend
Real Madrid - Despite the attacking players they still lack a top class manager and a top class defence
Chelsea - Possibly, really an unknown quantity at this stage Scolari's arrival last season looked great for them 12 months ago and look how that turned out
Man Utd - Wont be considered favourites due to Ronaldo's departure but we're about as likely as anyone IMO. We'll make at least the Semi's if not win the whole thing
Liverpool - Nope, losing Alonso is going hurt these lot massively. Simply put they wont have the squad or the quality to go all the way in either the PL or UCL
Inter Milan - Not enough quality in defence or midfield to win it IMO
Arsenal - Are just as likely to completely piss all over Real Madrid as they are to be knocked out of the whole competition by a PSV. I'd make them 3rd favourites behind us and Chelsea at this point.
AC Milan No chance, will be the high profile departure from the Group Stage
Juventus Unless they avoid all the English teams as well as Barcelona and somehow face a Porto in the final then no
Bayern Munich I reckon they'll make the semi's but no further

At this point then I'd go with Us as favourites, Chelsea second, Arsenal third and Barca 4th
 

vijay

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Barcelona - No team has ever retained the CL, true yet I dont rule out a team with Messi, Zlatan, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi and Henry to be beaten by any other team over two legs, definitely the second biggest threat to lift the trophy behind Chelsea, if not for the curse.

Real Madrid - They are not that formidable would take at least a season for all their buys to gel in.

Chelsea - They have some big names on paper that had ran close to win the CL, also they are managed by a tactician who has the best record in the CL in the last decade or so, they are the favorites.

Man Utd - Definitely not a CL winning team without that player, but not every time the best team in the fray has won triumphed in Europe yet now we only have an outside chance.

Any team that had Ronaldo, Rooney, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Tevez Vds etal cannot be beaten over in two legs, unless injuries to big players, we have proved that point for the last three seasons. But without Ronaldo we are only a dark horse.

Liverpool - They would win the CL only if the four teams mentioned above pulls out of the Champions league

Inter Milan - Definitely a threat this season on par with United.


Arsenal - They can have a decent run in the CL but wont win the trophy

Juventus and Milan:
Their squad as a whole lacks quality run by managers that are bit clueless

Bayern Munich:
With Van Gaal they would fare a bit better than they had coughed up in the previous seasons.

Threats

Chelsea
Barcelona

Dark Horses
United, Inter Milan

Also Rans
Real Madrid, Liverpool


Shotakans

Arsenal, Bayern Munich