Another p!ss easy draw for the mancs and Chelsea while Liverpool have it tough yet again. Oh well, onwards we go...

Hardly easy? And what do you mean another? Lyon, Roma, Milan are the last draws United have gotten in the KO stages. Far from easy.

Roma just knocked out the La Liga leaders comfortably....

Noone else find the 'fixing' scadal abit odd? It's on the Mirrors' site now so more than likely to hit the papers in the morning

Liverpool are unpredictable and no doubt a strong cup team.

Although I do think we're better and I think Wenger knows how to beat Benítez, but it'll be very difficult.

Again, it's all about the middle of the park and we're stronger.

i disagree, but each to their own. I think it is very evenly matched in the middle of the park

I can't believe no0ones paying that much attention to that thread posted by Becks!

i'm not too happy with the draw for United. i don't understand why people think Roma was an easy draw. it's an OK draw, at best. they threw Real out of the competition, they're challenging for the title in Italy, they have some world-class players... need i go on? don't let that 7-1 result fool you. i'm a bit worried about this, to be honest.

as for Barca, i couldn't be happier with the Schalke draw because with all the problems the team has right now (Messi's injury being the biggest) it's a stroke of luck to avoid all the big guns. still, i hope the players and Rijkaard don't underestimate the Germans.

as for the English battle between Arsenal and Liverpool, it is indeed very hard to call. Arsenal can play some great football, while Liverpool has improved lately and Torres is on top form. i'd give Arsenal a 55% chance of going through.

Chelsea got lucky again, being draw against a team from an inferior league (like Olympiakos in the previous round). of course, Fener are better than Olympiakos and are extremely dangerous on their day, so i do give them a slight chance (say 15%) of going through.

as for the draw being fixed, i wonder what would happen if that was proven to be the case! call the whole thing off or something?

Chelsea wont pass Fenerbahce because they and their fans thinking easy match but they wont come out from Hell of Kadikoy!And they will eliminate like Sevilla

It's incredible. There's no way in hell it was just a lucky guess.

Thinking about it, was it just a coincidence that Liverpool and Chelsea drew each other in the group stages 2 years ago?

The draws always seem fixed but you never actually think they properly are - this would suggest otherwise...

predictions:

ManU, Barca, Arsenal and Chelsea to go through.

ManU to beat Barca, Chelsea to beat Arsenal

ManU to beat Chelsea in final

(i should emphasize that the only United game i'm confident about is Chelsea in the final and that might not even happen, if Arsenal or Liverpool have their say)

I'd say:

Arsenal to beat Liverpool; Fenerbahce to beat Chelsea; Barcelona to beat Schalke; Roma to beat Man United.

Arsenal to beat Fenerbahce; Roma to beat Barcelona.

Roma to beat Arsenal.


I'd be reasonably pleased with that too, as my expectations of our match aren't very high. Seeing Chelsea and United go out in the first round also, as well as heartbreak for Arsenal in the final, would sooth the fact that we'd of gone out.

Putrum or Marios: Would you please start the Barcelona - Schalke thread?
I am afraid if I start it, I would jinx us. Very superstitious sometimes, sorry.

Pfffff