Lyon Are Still %#$@ed

I knew you wouldn't like this draw. I don't think the problem will be Barcelona. Because let's be real, Rijkaard won't start Thuram and Benzema will destroy their defense when Lilian's not there. I only see them having trouble against Stuttgart.
I really see Lyon dominating Barca at Nou Camp and at Gerland.

I really didn't want Barca to draw you guys, since you were probably the toughest 2nd seed, and look what happened to Real Madrid two years in a row. But barring any surprises, both Barca and Lyon should be able to advance.

Rangers are tricky because I think teams like Barca and to some extent Lyon don't like playing physical teams, and it's never fun to go to Germany and try for a result.

It's good that you're playing us first, by the way, since we're hardly in form right now.

I wouldnt worry about Rangers, thats a guarenteed 3 points at home and you can walk out of Ibrox with a 0-0 draw no problem. Stuttgart can be beaten, there zest and flair of last season has kinda died off, and the lack of experience in this competition means that Barca will beat them, meaning that 2nd place is ours to win. If we take a point of Barcelona and no other team does then were through to the next round.

I agree that the SPL isn't the highest standard but the Gers are a different team this season. We may not have spent much on transfers (about 12m euros) compared to others but Smith has bought quality, not quantity, we're looking solid at the back, we've got a top keeper and the players are playing for the jerseys. 7 Scots in the first team last Saturday and all are lifelong Gers fans themselves. Oh and I'm sure our forwards will cause some problems, you should know Darcheville and Cousin - and we've got Boyd, Novo and a few others that can worry any defence. See you in Glasgow.

Moreover, I m worried by the fact we still haven't got a decent tactic yet. We don't have the forwards to play a 4 3 3(Baros sucks and make me regret Carew(at least he was tall, and useful on center like Grosso s'ones). And with a 4 4 2 we lost the ball control and our defense exploses.

And for all the injuries, i don't know if it was just a biggest charge of work than the other year to pass the famous "february march difficult physical period" or if the last asian tour was finally may be a very bad idea...

Inara,
You need to win all the matches at home (including Barca). And rest Barca will do the job for you guys. They have enuf quality to beat/draw Rangers and Stuttgart away from Nou Camp.

BTW, Barca's home is Nou Camp. :P

Lol I had the intuition that it could be a decisive season for the club 's future. By far the group of the death, when you saw the group H or G... Hum ...To qualify they should be very strong. I hope some miracles happen because now, i don't see them qualified.

Stuttgart are German champs but they dont have Champions League experience like OL has and they have a young team. OL are better than them. Rangers are average at best in the crappy SPL. How much did they spend on transfers this summer ? It wasnt that much. OL dwarfed them. Dont over rate Stuttgart just because they are champs. Their talent on paper cant match OL's.

Oops I forgot that Barcelona is in this group :( .

Inara you worry too much :P . Lyon should advance from this group. Stuttgart may be a problem though.

I LOVE going to Bacelona... It's about 6 hours from Lyon. Be sure I'll do anything to be there !
That's a very difficult group. But Is there really easy groups ? I don't think so. We can be happy we will have oppotunities to see some legendary match !

:)

ALLEZ L'OL !!

I think Vercoutre won't sleep either... He must think about how difficult it will be to face Henry, Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi...

By the way Barcelone beat Internazionale yesterday 5-0.

I hope we will get the 2nd place of the group!

As I posted in other topic - for each separate pot I was hoping Lyon wouldn't be drawn with each of these teams! Will make for a lot of great matches though.