We're a dark horse in next season's EL

ti vu

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Liverpool 2005.

This is a cup competition .
Focus on getting out of the group then it's a new completion in Feb. Anything can happen.
Liverpool got Rafa Benítez who at the time, was one of the top upcoming manager. We won La Liga and UEFA Cup.

We couldn't even get a final in domestic cups. You still need a bit know how (to win), or we would have seen some absolute scrub like Basel making final.
 

pass.pass.pass

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Feck it, I believe!

I don't think we will challenge in the league, but in Europe, with most big teams wanting to press and dominate, we will be more than a match for them with our fast, lethal forwards and the counter-attacking style we are perfecting. Well, as long as we avoid Atletico in the knockouts, I guess. Or Sevilla :nervous:
 

Remember the geese

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Looking like a big, white, thoroughbred these days. In all seriousness, this trophy is anyone's. I think Bayern and perhaps Liverpool are ahead of the others, but we are firmly in the mix with all of the other big clubs.
 

GBBQ

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I think this season could just be crazy enough for something like this to happen. Not to get carried away on the back of 2 results but this is the weakest Madrid and Barcelona have been in years. Bayern are definitely the team to beat, Liverpool second as they'll not be the same without VVD. Could be a lot of patchy teams going into the knockouts and with the right draw who knows what could happen.
 

reelworld

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I think this season could just be crazy enough for something like this to happen. Not to get carried away on the back of 2 results but this is the weakest Madrid and Barcelona have been in years. Bayern are definitely the team to beat, Liverpool second as they'll not be the same without VVD. Could be a lot of patchy teams going into the knockouts and with the right draw who knows what could happen.
Bayern still too strong I reckon. Barca can turn it on when Messi stop playing around.
 

UDontMessWith24

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Without Bayern looking head and shoulders above everyone else with 3 players in the discussion for best in the world, I’d say it’s completely wide open. You can’t count Madrid either out no matter how bad they look early on.
 

bosnian_red

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100%. Bayern are the clear favorites, but motivation plays a big part in football (and they did lose Thiago). After them? We have a good a shot as any imo, the games suit us well, we have the depth and starting quality to handle it. Do we have the mentality to handle the big games, that remains to be seen. But talent wise, I haven't felt that we genuinely have a real shot to win the CL regardless of opponent in ages. Much more iffy for the league.
 

GBBQ

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Bayern still too strong I reckon. Barca can turn it on when Messi stop playing around.
Oh for sure we'd be hoping for a favorable draw, maybe hope Chelsea or City take out a few of them on the other side of the draw and face them in the final where we'd be in a good position to go toe to toe!
 

Adam-Utd

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100%. Bayern are the clear favorites, but motivation plays a big part in football (and they did lose Thiago). After them? We have a good a shot as any imo, the games suit us well, we have the depth and starting quality to handle it. Do we have the mentality to handle the big games, that remains to be seen. But talent wise, I haven't felt that we genuinely have a real shot to win the CL regardless of opponent in ages. Much more iffy for the league.
he wouldn't start anyway. Kimmich got him sold and they haven't looked back.
 

Eckers99

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Not only is there only 1 outstanding side (in Bayern) but the football across all leagues has been very unpredictable already this season, which makes anything possible. Plus Ole has history getting out of tough groups and beating Bayern Munich.

We're certainly making a name for ourselves, which is great after the last few years. This could also be the season that elevates the promising kids into the footballing elite.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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We are absolutely a contender. The way we set up is absolutely perfect for a competition like the CL, if we can avoid low block pragmatic teams & face teams who will attack us we can kill any team on the counter.

I’d love to see us take on someone like Dortmund. That would be fireworks.

Its unlikely we will win it, but we are far better than 2005 Liverpool & 2012 Chelsea, so of course we have a chance.
 

Shane88

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We won't win it but we could go deep. The 5 sub rule benefits us hugely when you look at who we can bring off the bench.
 

AltiUn

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he wouldn't start anyway. Kimmich got him sold and they haven't looked back.
He's definitely a big miss, they'd 100% rather have kept him but his contract situation forced their hand.
 

Adam-Utd

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He's definitely a big miss, they'd 100% rather have kept him but his contract situation forced their hand.
They'd keep him as a squad player but he wouldn't start. Kimmich / Goretzka are the number 1 midfield these days.
 

bosnian_red

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he wouldn't start anyway. Kimmich got him sold and they haven't looked back.
Yes but whatever they put at right back is a downgrade from Kimmich, while Thiago when on it was the best midfielder in the world arguably (or up there). Kimmich isn't that level at his peak. Kimmich and Thiago together is always better than Kimmich someone else at right back.
 

georgipep

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he wouldn't start anyway. Kimmich got him sold and they haven't looked back.
People don't realise that in a lot of cases when someone let's their contract run down, it is because their club doesn't agree to the player's desired renewal terms...
 

Okey

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We are absolutely a contender. The way we set up is absolutely perfect for a competition like the CL, if we can avoid low block pragmatic teams & face teams who will attack us we can kill any team on the counter.

I’d love to see us take on someone like Dortmund. That would be fireworks.

Its unlikely we will win it, but we are far better than 2005 Liverpool & 2012 Chelsea, so of course we have a chance.
I feel absolutely confident we'd smash Dortmund to smithereens. I don't rate them that highly to be honest. If we keep this form, they're not one of those I'd be worried about.
 

Paul_Scholes18

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Yesterday was superb. But we are still way off being contenders.
Not so sure. I think Bayern is the number one side, but they are weak for quick counter attacks that we do so well.
Although not sure we can stop them from scoring though, but Lyon could have had 2 goals early in the semi final against them.

The nightmare side to face is Sevilla since we always bottle it against them.

The rest I think we stand a good chance against with our style. Of course we need to kickon and keep performing to go very far.
 

Josh 76

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Bayen and Liverpool are the ones that's stand out.
After that, there a number of teams that can win it, including UTD.
 

Paul_Scholes18

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Bayen and Liverpool are the ones that's stand out.
After that, there a number of teams that can win it, including UTD.
Liverpool look like crap so far this season. Been very lucky to have as many points as they have in the league.
I would not fear them without Van Dijk. Although he could be back for the playoff.
 
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Every English club has a chance to win. Bayern are clear favourites, but every other side we can beat - whether we will is a different question. But there’s no one to fear unlike in previous years.

Add in the unpredictability of COVID, and players who might be missing, domestic games being Rescheduled etc. Then it’s the most wide open and unpredictable season for a long long time.
 

Gator Nate

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Much like the EPL, the CL is anybody's to take. I like our chances right now. I may feel differently in February.
 

AltiUn

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People don't realise that in a lot of cases when someone let's their contract run down, it is because their club doesn't agree to the player's desired renewal terms...
They agreed to his terms then he changed his mind ...
“It is a difficult situation,” said former Bayern presidet Uli Hoeness earlier this week.

“A while ago we agreed on a new four-year contract. Some days later he said: ‘I’m looking for a new challenge’. Which is totally okay."
 

Tom Cato

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Bayen and Liverpool are the ones that's stand out.
After that, there a number of teams that can win it, including UTD.
To me it's only Bayern this year. Liverpool are way off base so far from their form of previous season. Still early days so that could naturally change.

Bayern is the team to beat.
 

Smores

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The swing from 'all our players are shit Ole will do well to get 6th' to we could win the champions league is quite a sight :lol:
 

rooney2009

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I think it will be decided by the Team who gets the least injuries to key players
If we can keep our key players fit,we stand a chance with our counter attacking style against the bigger teams
 

Sandikan

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The swing from 'all our players are shit Ole will do well to get 6th' to we could win the champions league is quite a sight :lol:
Classic fickle football fan nonsense.
Don't beat Chelsea next up and the Ole to be sacked and all the player performance threads will be utterly pulsating with abusive posts.
 

Zen86

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It’s a knockout competition at the end of the day, so of course we have a chance of winning it. We’re capable of beating anyone on our day.
 

MZX7

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Looking like a big, white, thoroughbred these days. In all seriousness, this trophy is anyone's. I think Bayern and perhaps Liverpool are ahead of the others, but we are firmly in the mix with all of the other big clubs.
Liverpool without Van Dijk is not much of a threat anymore.
 

georgipep

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They agreed to his terms then he changed his mind ...
I see. I hadn't followed his contract drama at all. Thanks for pointing out. Barcelona, Bayern, Liverpool is quite the nice career trajectory. Can't argue with his logic. I've appreciated his skill but never been a massive fan so can only wish him to fail miserably alongside his new club :D
 

Giggsy13

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I laughed at this thread title the first time I saw it but obviously the last two results are changing opinions. The typical contenders look weaker than usual other than Bayern. A run to the SF would be an impressive achievement. I'm sure Ole will still get stick if we were to lose at that stage but considering where we have been the past 7 years, a SF appearance in the Champions League is a substantial achievement.
 

Falcow

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We won't win it but we could go deep. The 5 sub rule benefits us hugely when you look at who we can bring off the bench.
Great point. Bizarrely some on here think our squad is weak but it's one of the strongest in the competition I think so yes I agree, 5 subs will really benefit us.

I think RB last night thought WTF, when they saw Bruno, Rashford and Mctominay coming on.