Due to being seeded 4th we could get an absolute menace of a group: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan and US is a possibility. Realistically we need to avoid a few 2nd and 3rd seeded teams in our groups to be able to give it a good shot at progressing. If we get a bad group then I could accept 3rd, 4th would be tough. I want at least 1 home win and I'd be surprised if we didn't get that. If we get to the knock-outs (and pre-draw that's a big IF) then I'd be more confident, not because I think we'll do well but because we've got nothing to lose and we are capable of putting a few past anyone at home if we play well. My expectation is 3rd in our group and Europey QF/SF though.
Yeah it's pretty rare nowadays, you had a false 9 (Jota I think) last weekend and it's becoming more accepted. I've seen you guys play with none at times last season. Well Darwin Nunez but effectively none.
There seems to be a feeling in our fan base of wanting the big teams and giving them a good game, like some throw-back to Barcelona in '98. Thing is, we didn't progress through the groups on that ocassion. We progressed when we had a group with Feyenoord and Dinamo Kiev and I'd very much prefer to get a lucky draw avoiding the big names and get through in even the ugliest way. Feel like most of our fan-base would accept finishing 4th in the group so long as we beat Real Madrid or something - I don't like the acceptance of glorified failure. Offer me drawing all 6 games and finishing 2nd by fluke and I'll snatch your arm off. ps. There's no chance at all of us winning it, not even 1%. I say that in the knowledge that even Tottenham made the final one year.
This kind of attitude doesnt win big ears mate. You need to get deluded for about 10 years 1st then cry about having no money then have roy Hodgson for a few years then and only then can you win it.
If part of the plan is to have Roy Hodgson as a manager in 10 years time then we're likely to have a big issue.
