Group stage seeding

We're top of the second pot of seeds.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=1667671.html

Annoyingly, if just one more big side had slipped on the metaphorical banana skin, we'd have been in the top tier. Oh well, if we manage to qualify next season we might move up a pot - next season will be the last one that our run to the final counts in our differential.

What odds on us getting drawn against Athletico Madrid in the groups? There seems a certain inevitability about it, despite the odds being only 10 to 1. I'd quite like to see Shamrock Rovers in our group, as games against them would have a suitably romantic feel (and cut down on travelling time and disruption), and of course it would be good to get a German team in the group, just to keep Dempsey's Revenge happy. Other than that, I'm not sure that any of the teams jump out at me as massively to be avoided or hoped for. We can't be drawn against the Ukranians FC Mentalist, which is a shame - they sound crazy.

 

The list looks full of some great matches and a few dire trip possibilities. Athletico, PSV, PSG etc in the Group 1 all look interesting, and all doable trips - As long as we don't get Dynamo Kyiv. As for the rest, I'd like one of the 3 Austrians, but no further please. And of course Shamrock Rovers would be great!.

It's all speculation of course. Let's see what we get at lunchtime today.

And an anorak comment: I see that Fulham FC are the sole first qualifying round survivors.

 

Would quite fancy getting PSG, I've never been to paris so would be a good excuse to do so. That said they've been spending pretty heavily this summer so would make for strong opponents.

 

Sorry, FC Mentalist are actually FA Metalist, which is far less entertaining. My mistake!

 

Also interesting to read on that link that we are the sole survivors from the 1st qualifying round this year and the only fair play team left as well. So essentially this season we at a disadvantage in terms of fatigue to rest of the europa sides as well as the rest of the premier league.

 

I'm hoping we're in a group with one or more of the folowing: Liege, Schalke, Brussels Hannover or maybe some of the Dutch teams. All those I can get to in 4 hours or less.

We're in with Twente, a Dutch team. I've followed them; they're no pushovers. But I'll should be able to attend that game.

Now I need Hannover or Zurich.

That's funny. I have good friends in both Odense, DK, and in Apeldorn, NL.

Group I is shaping up as the proverbial "group of death". Group G looks like a pillow fight.

 

Good news for DR, it's Twente - third and fourth seeds still to come.

 

So it's FC Twenty (Apeldorn, Holland), OB in Odense, Denmark and Wisla Krakow, Poland.

I would be hesitant to go to Krakow. The football fans/gangs in Poland are quite nasty.

 

Forgot about that - maybe just the trip to holland for us then £49 return flight!

 

Woy, Ryan Air flies from Stansted to Einhoven, NL, and to Dusseldorf, Germany and Frankfurt-Hahn. The town, Enschede (FC Twente), is about an hour from Dusseldorf and Einhoven, but I'll be driving right past Frankfurt-Hahn on my way to the statium, so I might be able to pick up a couple people.

 

Just as well we didn't get PSG - with your name Robes you would have been run out of town.

 

Haha! Today's 'Learned Banterer of the Day' award goes to Fulhaman. Nicely done, sir.

 

I trust you'll be getting the ferry to Holland, Captain?

 

Very good stuff fulhamman, yes indeed I would have had to keep a low profile had we got PSG. Hopefully though given that its no longer the 18th century I might have been able to come back alive!