I too see Juventus 3rd. We Grygera and Molinaro and Chiellini out for the first 2 games, with no creative midfielder, I am sure we wil not qualify.
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[EU] Champions League 2008/2009 (49 Viewers)
- Thread starter Azzurri7
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I think he talks about Zenit's schedule in the last year or so. I believe their players had almost no rest in the last year.
Spring 2007 - Russian league starts
September 2007 - the end of Russian league
September 2007- UEFA Cup matches for Zenit (qualifications and groups)
Mid December 2007- UEFA Cup last group matches
February 2008 - UEFA Cup knock out matches continue
March 2008 - Russian league starts
June 2008 - EURO, Zenit's best player are taking part
July 2008- Russian league continues
September 2008 - CL starts
November 2008 - Russian league ends
December 2008- CL Group stage ends.
From March 2007 till December 2008 ( total of 21 months) they'll have less than 2 months rest and they took part in strong competitions against very strong teams. Almost all this time they're playing in two strong competitions at the same time.
And another thing, they are playing non-stop since February. (UEFA Cup knock-outs, Russian league, EURO 2008)
As Elvin said, you can see that there are problems because in their league they aren't a force anymore and they are 6th placed after more than a half of the season.
Spring 2007 - Russian league starts
September 2007 - the end of Russian league
September 2007- UEFA Cup matches for Zenit (qualifications and groups)
Mid December 2007- UEFA Cup last group matches
February 2008 - UEFA Cup knock out matches continue
March 2008 - Russian league starts
June 2008 - EURO, Zenit's best player are taking part
July 2008- Russian league continues
September 2008 - CL starts
November 2008 - Russian league ends
December 2008- CL Group stage ends.
From March 2007 till December 2008 ( total of 21 months) they'll have less than 2 months rest and they took part in strong competitions against very strong teams. Almost all this time they're playing in two strong competitions at the same time.
And another thing, they are playing non-stop since February. (UEFA Cup knock-outs, Russian league, EURO 2008)
As Elvin said, you can see that there are problems because in their league they aren't a force anymore and they are 6th placed after more than a half of the season.
I dont think the pitch was that bad against levski and as for structure.. well there really is none, from what I saw there only seems to be two stands and both are quite far from the pitch as well as at most 8 rows in height. Anyway I get what you mean there could be other additional factors affecting why uefa would analyse it carefully. Either way I think Bate will want to play at dinamo themselfs seeming as though they can get whatever crowd they can get in and plus its very much a local stadium.
Its a tough group, there is just no question about that.
Real is a great draw really, if we had to get a big side, let it be the biggest. We have a good record against them. On paper though, they are immeasureably more capable within the squad. They have us beat on paper, especially with guys like Vdv and Robben against molinaro and grygera. Nevertheless, I cant help but feel like thats how it was always going to be last season in serie a, this season in serie a and now the UCL. We should be and are the underdogs, but just like in serie a, we have shown we can overachieve. So we just gotta let Juve be Juve here.
Zenit are tough, tough oppostion. Nobody wanted them. Although there was worse, this is not comfortable. We can only hope one of Arshavin/Pavlyuchenko leaves, depleting them. But they are tough, well organised, and have shown by beating top sides what they can do. It's true, we will know if we will qualify in the first game, we have to take 3 points from them at the Olimpico. November will be a torrid time to go to Russia to look for points.
Bate are an unknown commodity but they are fit and have gelled for half a season now, a position even the most jaded Juve fan can see we are not yet. Hopefully, our sheer talent over theirs can grant us 6 much needed points. Yes, Artmedia was probably great practice for this one.
All in all, if we are to qualify, bar a miracle, we would HAVE to win our first two games. I also think that, looking at our schedule, we will have to choose to concentrate on serie a or the champs league at one point this season. I can see us dropping points in europe or serie a if we don't. My heart says europe but my head says serie a.
Real is a great draw really, if we had to get a big side, let it be the biggest. We have a good record against them. On paper though, they are immeasureably more capable within the squad. They have us beat on paper, especially with guys like Vdv and Robben against molinaro and grygera. Nevertheless, I cant help but feel like thats how it was always going to be last season in serie a, this season in serie a and now the UCL. We should be and are the underdogs, but just like in serie a, we have shown we can overachieve. So we just gotta let Juve be Juve here.
Zenit are tough, tough oppostion. Nobody wanted them. Although there was worse, this is not comfortable. We can only hope one of Arshavin/Pavlyuchenko leaves, depleting them. But they are tough, well organised, and have shown by beating top sides what they can do. It's true, we will know if we will qualify in the first game, we have to take 3 points from them at the Olimpico. November will be a torrid time to go to Russia to look for points.
Bate are an unknown commodity but they are fit and have gelled for half a season now, a position even the most jaded Juve fan can see we are not yet. Hopefully, our sheer talent over theirs can grant us 6 much needed points. Yes, Artmedia was probably great practice for this one.
All in all, if we are to qualify, bar a miracle, we would HAVE to win our first two games. I also think that, looking at our schedule, we will have to choose to concentrate on serie a or the champs league at one point this season. I can see us dropping points in europe or serie a if we don't. My heart says europe but my head says serie a.
Its interesting to see zenit having spent a huge 30 mil euros on danny alves. I must admit I dont know much about him, but for that type of money you can only assume with the likes of arshavin and Pogrebnyak staying.. then the team only got stronger. However I agree with the earliar views that fatigue just might get to them.. although we all know zenit did manage to dig out something special against big teams. I think the match tomorrow will give us more indication on this.
Btw, these are the Zenit players that played for Russia on the EURO. I'm sure you'll find most of these names familiar
Anyukov - the right back. Very good player. Regular for the Russian NT
Zyryanov - Central midfielder. I'm not sure but i think he was Russia's captain
Arshavin - you know him
Malafeev - Goalkeeper. I think he didn't play at the EURO because Akinfeev was the 1st choice keeper.
Shirokov - defender. He was a disaster in the opening EURO match against Spain and he never saw playing time after that.
Pogrebnyak was also called for the EURO but he got an injury and he was replaced with another striker.
Anyukov - the right back. Very good player. Regular for the Russian NT
Zyryanov - Central midfielder. I'm not sure but i think he was Russia's captain
Arshavin - you know him
Malafeev - Goalkeeper. I think he didn't play at the EURO because Akinfeev was the 1st choice keeper.
Shirokov - defender. He was a disaster in the opening EURO match against Spain and he never saw playing time after that.
Pogrebnyak was also called for the EURO but he got an injury and he was replaced with another striker.
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