Info Anzhi v Toon

the few texts i got from mag mates last night, weren't brimming with confidence...like i said, fair play for getting through..i was saying to a fellow mackem last night that you lot keep battling until the end and i can't remember the last time we did that - maybe even city, about 14 months ago! haha..

let's see what today's draw brings eh? who ya fancy?

The one good chance they had. You failed to mention the numerous chances we had and just missed (Tiote just over, Marveaux unlucky, Taylor not getting enough on his shot)

you mean by keeping clean sheets and nicking a goal? a solid defence and goalscorers in midfield and attack that keep going for 90 mins? seems decent to me

yet we are into the 1/4 finals, so something is working, it's not all down to luck, as you mackems like to believe
worked for Chelsea in the Champions League last season, they played similar tactics

anyone bar Spurs

Basel, away leg first would be ideal, that or Lazio. We need to avoid Chelsea as much as possible tbh.

good draw for us, means home leg will be before the derby so no travelling, and we get to play at the PROPER Stadium of Light!!!

Chelsea v Rubin Kazan
Tottenham v Basel
Fenerbahce v Lazio
Benfica v Toon

Fcuking hell. One of the LEGENDS of European soccer.

Since i drank the truth syrum I can stop raving over the toon.

What a season, full the EPL

So we'll be playing at the real Stadium Of Light then.

benfica in the draw...how do you lot feel about that?..not up on who plays for them, how they're doing this season..any pointers? thanks.

as for one good shot..the highlights have just been on and they seemed to have a few, in the first half? from the highlights, you lot didn't have one good effort in the first half?

i wouldn't agree with 'solid' defence...a free kick for your lot in the first half went straight across the grass and to one of their forwards, then there was some schoolboy errors stuff just on the highlights, in the second half..

keep on playing like that against some true quality and you'll not get past the next round..

We've played in fits and starts in Europe this year, as we have done domestically aswell. But it's a knockout competition now and it's results that matter not performances. 0-0 in Russia was a cracking result when you look at their record. Boosting the squad has helped massively, although we could have and should have done it last summer. The hand was forced due to where we languished in January. We rode our luck at times on Thursday night but had a few decent chances second half, I think the fitness levels and "never-say-die" attitude at the minute is standing us in good stead for the remainder of the season.

Benfica have a good record this season, although the Portugese league isn't the best. Cardozo can be a dangerous player, Aimar is past his sell by date. They play some good passing football, but they are no more of a threat than what Anzhi were. The away leg atmosphere will be a stark contrast to the last round though, they narf create some noise do the Benfiquistas.

good stuff willa

deffo agree about the fitness levels and 'never say die' attitude...confidence would appear, to be very high..fair play..something that we could really do with, rather than rolling over - as we're doing...

If we keep a clean sheet away v Benfica then apparently we'll have broken a European record for 5 consecutive clean sheets

there aren't 5 clean sheet in newcastle man!!
(that includes mine)