Topic: Europa League 2012/13 Knock Out Stages

[gnaume]

Here we go, then. Draw's taking place on December 20th (3pm). As group winners, we're seeded and will play the first leg away from home on February 14th. If I'm not mistaken, these are the teams we could be drawn against:

- Atlético
- Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Stuttgart
- Napoli
- Basel
- Inter
- Sparta Prague
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Levante
- Zenit
- BATE
- Dynamo Kiev
- Ajax

Won't be able to go, myself as I'm starting a mandatory internship this very week. Gutted!

Who do you fancy team-wise? Which places would you like to visit? Personally, I'd love to go to Monchengladbach so here's hoping that we draw them in a later stage. Ajax would be a laugh and BATE fun to organise, I reckon.

I really hope we avoid Atlético, taking into account that they've been playing some oustanding football this season and that It'd be our fourth visit to the city in 3 (I think it was?) years.

What are your thoughts?

[GeeFJay]

i'd be happy with any one of them but have to exclude Zenit and BATE, don't fancy another trip to russia and from what i was told by the ones that went to gomel the visa was a pain in the arse to sort out.

will probably be out on the day of the game and back as soon as on the friday so something easy to get to and i'll be happy

[RedRedTom]

would like Leverkusen.

[rhylred]

Anybody in the next round,hopefully looking good that i'll be fit to go by then,zimmer gone, on crutches now& doing the stairs,thanks everybody for all the good wishes,Christ you'll never know how much they cheered me up,see you all in feb(fingers crossed)YNWA Phil

[annasfield]

Anyone who thinks Belarus will be fun to organise needs their head read.

[Kop202]

Some really good teams left in the competition. I am not too keen going back to Napoli again or sorting out another visa. So a team from Spain or Germany would be my preferred option. Or a trip to Milan or Amsterdam.

[Always_A_Red]

Some really good teams left in the competition. I am not too keen going back to Napoli again or sorting out another visa. So a team from Spain or Germany would be my preferred option. Or a trip to Milan or Amsterdam.

Would absolutely love either of those two....

[rafasinistanbul05]

Would absolutely love either of those two....

Agreed

[Trev20]

Some really good teams left in the competition. I am not too keen going back to Napoli again or sorting out another visa. So a team from Spain or Germany would be my preferred option. Or a trip to Milan or Amsterdam.

Would be boss that!

[aedge659]

Spain or Germany please and i'm staying as far away from Napoli as possible!

[apassant77]

 Spain again?  Is that so you can stay in the Praga and drink till the early hours with Salvatore the worlds best ballroom dancer?

[DAVID IN DUBAI]

Bate, Kiev, Zenith in Feb varies between -3 and -10 bit cold that but probably not as baltic as Udin was .  Germany looks to be the best choice, Naples would be a military maneuver to get in and out of the ground, that is if LFC take an allocation of tickets there must be a chance they would refuse tickets after the last visit. The next round is also drawn so we will have the usual permutations to work out just in case we get through. Anyway something to look forward this week, then the fun to sort out the travel plans. 

[DAVID IN DUBAI]

Anyone who thinks Belarus will be fun to organise needs their head read.
Yes you need a visa and a hotel lift pass

[rhylred]

Bate, Kiev, Zenith in Feb varies between -3 and -10 bit cold that but probably not as baltic as Udin was .  Germany looks to be the best choice, Naples would be a military maneuver to get in and out of the ground, that is if LFC take an allocation of tickets there must be a chance they would refuse tickets after the last visit. The next round is also drawn so we will have the usual permutations to work out just in case we get through. Anyway something to look forward this week, then the fun to sort out the travel plans. 

Think it would take a military manouver to get out of the hotel Dave,in case we bump into the Napoli Mastiffs again!!

[DAVID IN DUBAI]

Think it would take a military manouver to get out of the hotel Dave,in case we bump into the Napoli Mastiffs again!!
Yes Phil would best not stay around that area again but the hotel was ok.

[annasfield]

Yes you need a visa and a hotel lift pass

Haha, yes. Or just stop drinking with shady fellas

[DAVID IN DUBAI]

Haha, yes. Or just stop drining with shady fellas
 

[matchball]

Preference in order;

1.- Bayer Leverkusen    Any of the German sides at number 1 for good beer, good food and a good crack
1.- Borussia Mönchengladbach 
1.- Stuttgart
4. - Levante Always good times in Espagne
5. - Dynamo Kiev  Somewhere different
6. - Zenit Somewhere even more different
7. - Inter   Went there a few years ago but a quality trip
8. - Sparta Prague   Also Went there a few years ago but a also a quality trip
9. - Atlético  Had three trips there a few years ago but some quality people there and good times
10. - Ajax  Leave it for the Final
11.- Basel Been to Switzerland already this Season
12.- BATE  pain in the arse to get to
13.- Napoli Scum of the earth

[Pata]

Former Soviet Union would be sh*te - just unpleasant to visit in February weather-wise.

None of the rest really capture the imagination for me either to be honest, apart from 'Gladbach.

[RedRedTom]

Leverkusen with Sami as manager?

[matchball]

Leverkusen with Sami as manager?

Good call. The man's an Anfield legend.

[Trev20]

Leverkusen with Sami as manager?

Would be class...wouldn't mind a trip to milan myself.

[Alf Garnett]

If we are drawn against Madrid I take it we will be at home first as Real play MU on the 13th Feb.

Valencia are also at home on the 12th so that could result in a switch if we get Levante.

[joel]

1 or 1.30 draw?

[Luke 17]

1 or 1.30 draw?

1.15

[Always_A_Red]

If we are drawn against Madrid I take it we will be at home first as Real play MU on the 13th Feb.

Valencia are also at home on the 12th so that could result in a switch if we get Levante.

If this happens, surely they cant take the advantage away from us just because another game in another area of madrid in a different competition is on the day before??

[Alf Garnett]

If this happens, surely they cant take the advantage away from us just because another game in another area of madrid in a different competition is on the day before??

Only other way would be to play in Madrid on the 21st then the home game on the 28th.

[joel]

Come on Milan/Leverkusen

[Pata]

FVCK!!! Seriously b*llocks to playing Zenit.

[joel]

Fucking Russia again. Shite

[richard_lfc]

FVCK!!!

THIS!

[Pata]

Not going to St.Petersburg in February. It's gonna be freezing & rank.

[matchball]

What a shite draw, mega bucks, freezing cold, long distance etc etc etc....

[RUFUS0107]

Not another bloody visa and more thermals!

[apassant77]

Think getting back to Euro aways early next year has just gone out the window..

[Pata]

What a shite draw, mega bucks, freezing cold, long distance etc etc etc....

It's more expensive to go direct to St.Petersburg, rather than Moscow, although what many do is go via the budget airports in Finland.

[Pata]

& then Basel or Dnipro. Is this some kind of a joke ffs?

[Mad Max]

A shite draw.

[RUFUS0107]

Santa Claus or St Petersburg? 

[kevlumley]

I bet people wish they'd opted for the multi entry visa now. Lets hope we get past Zenit, then get Basel instead of Dnipro.

I stayed in Basel when we played Young Boys of Bern, flying visit though.