The draws for the Champions League and UEFA Cup qualifiers were announced today. Arsenal was handed an interesting draws in the Champs and will play the Dutch club FC Twente, who are now managed by Steve McClaren(yes that Steve McClaren). He has some great luck. He has done well in Europe, at least at the club level, but in a battle of wits against Arsene Wenger he is unarmed. Liverpool drew Standard Liege of Belgium. Seeing as this is in Europe, Rafa shouldn't have any problems. Rangers will have an easy game, but they are currently 0-0 against FBK Kaunas, and the second leg is away for them. Barcelona and Juventus both have rather easy draws, but the big match is Schalke 04 vs. Atletico Madrid. Both challenge in their respective leagues, and will need the money that comes from Europe to improve their squads. In the UEFA Cup Manchester City and Aston Villa have an easy road to the group stages. Man City will be playing Danish side FC Midtjylland and Villa will be playing the Icelandic side FH Hafnarfjordur(try to say that three times fast). The only issue will be the first leg occuring on August 14th, just two days before the open of the Premiership season.Good news for Aston Villa is that they finally obtained a work permit for Brad Guzan. Clubs have been lining up to sign Guzan for a couple of years, but with the depth at keeper for the US squad he hadn't been able to make the number of appearances necessary to qualify for an EU work permit. Now Villa will have two American stoppers. At this pace Fulham should start worrying about their "Team America" nickname.
One Liners
- Bentley and Bent score in Tottenham win, the 'bent' boys should go over well in North London
- Adebayor says he will stay at Arsenal, Wenger plans one more 'veteran' signing and has been spotted at kindergarten games
- Zenit stalling on Arshavin move, Tottenham getting antsy
- Chelsea lose in Moscow on penalty kicks, it's deja vu all over again for Shevchenko
- Clubs lining up to sign Eto'o says Begiristain, sounds like a case of 'being more attractive when you have a gf' to me
