Whilst we watch the Euros & wish England were there, we have the comfort that as the FA Cup Winners 2008 (I love saying that) we will soon be representing England in the UEFA Cup.
After the initial 1st & 2nd qualifying rounds, which weeds outs all the minnows, they enter the 1st round, where the mighty Portsmouth await. The draw for this is Friday 29th August. The 1st leg is on Thursday 18th September the 2nd leg on Thursday 2nd October. With the Thursday European games means Premier League fixtures will be on Sunday. In the hope we get through, the group stages will start in October & finish in December. A group of 6 with the top 3 going through to the knock out rounds.
Then we have the 4th & 5th rounds, the quarters, the semis & the final on 20th May in Istanbul, Turkey.
Yes, plenty of games & if we do well it may have an impact on our league form. The need a good squad is obvious, some patience, an in date passport & plenty of dosh if you want to see it. A good lawyer could be needed if some of the local police get a bit excited, so take very good care. The English football reputation abroad isn’t good & we could be tarnished by the brush of others.
Those of you with a good knowledge of European club football will be interested in some of the teams we could meet. Man City have to qualify & they should do & we have our fellow English teams Spurs & Everton, who to be fair have been there & done it. From Spain we have Sevilla, double UEFA Cup winners, in recent years & Valencia, who were Champions League finalists a few years back. Italy will provide AC Milan, the San Siro anyone? France have Paris St. German. From Holland Ajax & Feyenoord who need no introduction. Club Brugge from Belgium & Germany offers Dortmund & Hamburg. As well as Motherwell & CSKA Moscow, no we don’t want either of them. Romania, Portugal, Turkey & other eastern European teams. Plenty of food for thought!
You can click on the link for an even more in depth look at what we have in store, for Portsmouth of England, the FA Cup Winners 2008.
Let the journey begin.
Wikipedia UEFA Cup 2008-09.
Written by storagematt.
The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.
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This brings us nicely onto a roundup of a recent poll focusing on what our travelling plans might be for the European nights next season with one or two being tempted by a uefa game…
I’ll maybe do one uefa cup game next season, not my vote, yours – although these findings from pentonpompey’s poll are thoughts that I agree with… in as much as I will do at least one game!
I planned to do both the home and away legs of our first ever uefa cup tie but as it looks like work will not give me the time off I can only make the 2nd leg at this point in time wherever it might be, and whoever it is against.
Work permitting – I work Thursday at this point in time you see – I plan to do more, which hopefully there will be more after the 1st round!
Money is tight, but this is my dream so I aim to live as much as I can – what about you?
What the poll asked – How many of the Vital Pompey members will be travelling in the up and coming UEFA Cup campaign?
How you voted – I’ll maybe do one 42%, I’ll be going on tour for sure 30%, You must be joking! do you think I’m made of money? 12%, I’ll only do the home games 11%, I’ll do the 1st home game and see after that 3%, I’ll save myself for the Final!! 2%
Current Poll – This time next week we will know who we will be playing and when next season – although countless games will change kick off times/dates due to TV and uefa cup football obviously.
I cannot wait until the fixtures are released on Monday, this is a day – fixture release day – I always look forward to, as I am sure everyone else does too, but who would we like to face first up – this is what sneakay wants to know with this – ‘As the fixture list is coming out next Monday who would you want Pompey to play as the first game?’ Let the poll do the talking before we do when it finishes.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
