UEFA Cup: Aston Villa get Hamburg, Ajax, Slavia Prague and MSK Zilina
Tuesday, 07 October 08, 11:29 AM · Comments (41)
Right, the draw has just finsihed and we've ended up with Hamburg, Ajax, Slavia Prague and MSK Zilina. I quite fancy we'll get through that group.
Just in case you didn't know and I'll be honest I had to look up the actual loaction of MSK Zilina, here is a little information on our competion in this group.
Hamburg, as you probably all know are from Germany. They finished 4th in the league lasst season and have played top flight football in Germany since the end of the first World War.
Ajax are from Amsterdam and we all know about them. They have won it all and have one of the best youth development systems in the world. Amsterdam is also a beautiful city and while we don't know if we'll be playing in Amsterdam, I'd love it if we were.
Slavia Prague won the league last season and are a team I'd rather play at Villa Park.
Lastly, MSK Zilina are from Slovakia and I had to look that up. They have a Wikipedia page here and instead of my copying, go visit it.
Basically there are eight groups. The top three teams in each group go through, when they are met by the eight teams from the Champions League. I fancy we can finish third in this group.
I'm looking forward ot this tournament and as soon as we know when and where we're playing I'll let you know, but I'm hoping for a trip to Amsterdam.
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41 Comments · Add yours
Even 3rd will do, right?
3rd will qualify but draw team coming from Champs League.
Hamburg will be tough, but Ajax are not the force they were and Slavia and Zilina easily beatable. I'm quite confident.
I'm sure we will find out soon enough but how do they decide who plays home and away? I would fancy a trip to amsterdam
I fancy us to get through, it will be a tough group but you have to be confident, obviously Ajax and Hamburg will the tougher games but we can't underestimate the others! Heard of Slavia before but not Zilina...
Ahh, Villa back in europe, its great isn't it...
If we can't finish at least 3rd from that group then we'd be better off out. Pretty easy enogh group considering what we could have got.
I would love a trip to Amsterdam and Prague, both are quality places! Already checking out flights and dates to go....however do we know when we are home and away and who we will be playing away? I'm sure there is some complicated formula Uefa use to decided! Up the Villa!!
Dream draw that. Ajax, Hamburg and Prague for the beer. choices, choices, choices. We should have enough about us to finish above Slavia and Zillnia and get through.
apparently we play Hamburg Away. Ajax at Home, Prague Awaay and Zilina At Home
just not sure what order it will be in !!!!!
Love It!
Its not the hardest group... I was just looking at some possibilities and i'd have hated AC Milan, Vfb Stuttgart, Galatasary, Villa and Standard Liege!!!
That would be some group of death, thankfully it didn't happen...
Oh Yeah!! Amsterdam here we come!!!!!
UTV!!!
i am glad we got a big side either ac or ajax.
if we beat them the players will get enough confidence to fear no one either in the league or in europe and we could go onto win.
i would hate to go out to icelandic minows!
brown cafes here we come!!!!!!!!roll on the good times
when will it be announced when and where we are playing
Hmmmm, I think that's a pretty tough draw! I'd rather be in Spurs', City's or Pompey's group.
Hamburg are on fire at the moment and Ajax are, without fail, always a decent side even if underachieving. The other 2 are definitely winnable though, we just can't afford to slip up and drop any points.
I think we'll be able to judge our chances a bit better when the home/away fixtures are announced.
But I'm just excited to be in the group stages!!!!!
I would not be so sure about this group. 3rd seems almost 100% doable, but I thought that is not preferrable for you. I think Hamburg have to be favourites in the group. On the other hand - Villa can very well win all games here (just that it is not an auto win group).
Im loving that we drew Ajax. Cant wait til we play them.
On a side note Reo Coker has come out saying he is happy at villa after the bullsh*t stoy by the mirror. Good man! Shame our old captain couldnt of done the same.
Nice draw and one we should come out of. Ajax away wud be brill but wud prefer slavia at home, just for the sake of deffo making it outta this group.
Delighted Sums it up for me i cannot wait!!!!!!! I Think i may have to do Prague or Amsterdam as a definite Lads weekend Beer Football & Foreign Ladies Whoo!!!!!!
Villa have a good chance of qualifying but they would have had a good chance out of any group. This however is a very tricky draw. Ajax and Hamburg would be strong favuorites for top 2 and as for the other two - any team who gets this far has to be half decent, bar spuds of course.
Great to be in europe though - anthing past the group is a bonus as far as I am concerned.
Lads, what about the away stand at villa park? what is the capacity and how is the view? when there is a high demand for tickets, is there a possiblity for an extra for away fans?
sorry for my english
A.F.C.A. Boys On Tour C.B.S
I think we could win the group, ajax arent what they used to be and if we got hamburg at villa park we could win!!Up the villa
Ajax at home first on 23rd october slavia away nov 6th zilinia at home and hamburg away in that order
I know we was bit deflated after the Chelsea game, but they was prepared for us this time, and they are a quality team.
I really think we can put a run together, come on Villa do us proud
Anyone questioning our ability to finish top of this group are suffering from an inferiority complex. This is 2008, not 1998, and the English league is the strongest in Europe. We have not unreasonable hopes of finishing in the top 4. Germany's 4th best team, and the 2nd best team in Holland (if that), are not to be feared. I'd be disappointed with anything other than a group win - although I'd also be satisfied finishing third, as getting to the knockout round is all that needs to be achieved. Pull yourselves together people! We may not be a brilliant side, but we're better than anyone in this group, and at least 90% of the teams in the UEFA cup.
Im confident.....im looking forward to watchin the boys take on Ajax at villa park...LETS MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!
buzzing we are back in europe! this will not be an easy group with hamburg doing very well at the minute and ajax and slavia prague both with recent champions league experience also. however we're playing great football at the minute so shouldnt fear anyone! Already cant wait til the ajax game! UTV!!!!
the first match ajax at home will be mega!
if we can win that imagine what it will do for our confidence in europe and in the league.
win that and clubs will fear us.
ASTON VILLA UEFA CUP FIXTURES
23 Oct: Villa v Ajax
6 Nov: Slavia Prague v Villa
4 Dec: Villa v Zilina
17 Dec: Hamburg v Villa
tough group but we can get a top finish
i think its a great group and we can hope for more than third spot, but we cant under estimate any of the teams.
even though i hope its champions league next year the format for the new uefa cup looks good, at this stage next year there will be 48 teams left in 12 groups of 4 playing home and away
I agree Damian, Amsterdam is a wonderful place.
well hipeee
hamburg shall be hard
so will ajax
and doesent reely matter wat teems wer
lyk ajx wernt the team they wer
but ther still very strong
1st in group
UTV
How many away fans will go in Villa Park?
tuogh very tough group
ajax will thrash aston villa
Ok Ajax havent sold all their allocation villa are allowing payment on the door (unheard of for us in the uk). already reported trouble in town today between Ajax and Villa. i think tonight will be 2-1 villa going 1-0 down but the points should be on the board. What we forget somtimes that Ajax have been jumping around the champions league for ages now and experience plays a big part in this comp. I feel that Ajax think they are the favourites for this game and the group. all i say is that villa like being underdogs, remember Inter at home, and man u in the league cup final. Personally i like being an underdog as they frequently suprise. Villa Victory. 2-1, Gabby & Young.
C'MON THE VILLA!!!! 2-1 Victory last night!!! We will definitely top this group now!!!
you will crash and burn in our hell at eden!!
first place after 12 matches 9-2-1
home: 6 matches = 6 wins score 18:1...
no way you can get some point out of prague!