spireblue

in the wrong place? its a post about the champions league draw,very much of interest to rangers,and are we not THE CHAMPIONS! good luck to the glens in israel by the way.

here we go ,the 1st and 2nd round champ.lge qualifiers have just been drawn in nyon switzerland this lunch time. hglentoran are away to maccabi haifa of israel in 1st leg 2nd leg at home. full draw on www.uefa.com.kinda gets you in the mood already. spireblue hunts out his cd of zadok the priest with a smug look on his boatrace....... we are the champions,the champions.......

has the portsmouth friendly been arranged as a sweetener to pompey to get a few shekels in to their coffers as we would sign him on a freebie just a wee thought.

fleck was on tour with first team squad last season in germany,scored against sportfreunde lotte,so dont think he will be demoted this year to go with second string to norn iron,and i would hazard a guess that andrew little will be with top squad also.prob find that a very young squad will travel to play ports,and that most of walters promising youngsters with first team potential will be travelling to germany and the emirates.

I WOULD DITCH THE FIVE STARS NOW AND HAVE THE RFC CREST WITH THE ONE WORD 'READY' UNDERNEATH

we can in theory move up to pot 2 (hence avoiding real madrid) but it means that three teams in pots one and two have to get knocked out in qualifying rounds teams at risk are arsenal sporting lisbon and a couple of others,but this could happen as qualifying rounds this year are an open draw and these teams could knock each other out before taking their alloted places in champ league pots. a full guide to the seeds,pots,draw schedule etc is on www.bertkassies.com , a comprehensive site by a uefa statistician.

Debt problems result in Valencia recalling Rangers loan star Aaron Niguez Jun 7 2009 Scott Mcdermott RANGERS loan star Aaron Niguez will return to Valencia this summer after the Spaniards cut short his Ibrox stint. The winger - who made just one start and three sub appearances for Walter Smith's men last season - was due to spend another year in Glasgow but has been ordered back to Spain. Valencia boss Unai Emery has opted to recall Niguez and include him in his squad for their next La Liga campaign. MailSport understands the 20-year-old will officially end his time with Rangers on June 30 after a decision was made by Emery and Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomez. Money problems are rife at the Mestalla and president Vicente Soriano resigned last week after failing to secure a financial injection for the club. That will almost certainly mean the sale of star men David Villa, David Silva and Raul Albiol, giving homegrown kids like Niguez a chance to shine. Valencia have been pleased with Aaron's development at Murray Park and received glowing progress reports. But Gomez is keen to welcome the Spanish Under-21 star back and Rangers have been made aware of the decision. Gomez said: "We would have liked Niguez to play more matches in Scotland but overall we are pleased with his progression. "It's been a beneficial experience for him playing in the Scottish Premier League. However, it's now time for him to come back." Niguez has played just once for Valencia's first team - in a Champions League clash against Roma when he was 17. He'll now be hoping to help the club return to that level when he returns to the Mestalla next month. Aaron said: "It was funny to watch the Champions League Final recently because it brought back memories of playing in that stadium. "My only appearance was against Roma and the Stadio Olimpico was an amazing arena. "I got injured in training two days before the match but kept quiet about it because it was going to be my first start for Valencia. "It has been a difficult season for me at Rangers because you always want to play more games but it was my first year in Scotland and I understand that. "Winning the SPL at Tannadice was a fantastic experience, it felt amazing because it was the first title I'd won in my career.

SIGNED #103

Seeding in the Champions League 2009/2010 UEFA European Cup Football by Bert Kassies Last update: Sun, 31 May 2009 09:05:27 CET This page shows the preliminary seeding lists in the Champions League 2009/10. Data on this page are subject to changes because final decisions on UEFA licenses will not be known before the end of May. If you have any information about data at this page being incorrect, incomplete, or out-of-date, please send a message to This page shows the list of seeded and unseeded teams for draws in the qualifying rounds and the group stage of the Champions League 2009/2010. The UEFA Team Ranking of 2009 determines the seeding of the teams in the tables below. See Qualification 2009/2010 for a list of qualified teams, and Access List 2009/2010 for an overview of berths per country. See also wikipedia. The clubs defeated in the 1st and 2nd qualifying rounds are eliminated from the competition. The 15 clubs defeated in the 3rd qualifying round are entitled to play in the 4th qualifying round of the Europa League, and the 10 clubs defeated in the 4th qualifying round are entitled to play in the group stage of the Europa League. The 3rd and 4th qualifying rounds are split into two sections: one for champions and one for non-champions. The Champions League cup-holder spot will not be used because Manchester United and Barcelona already qualified for the group stage of the Champions League. This implies that the champion of the 13th country on the ranking list (Standard Liège, Belgium) has direct access to the group stage, the champion of the 16th country on the ranking list (FC Zürich, Switzerland) has direct access to the 3rd qualifying round, and the champions of the 48th and 49th countries on the ranking list (EB Streymur, Faroe Islands and F91 Dudelange, Luxembourg) have direct access to the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League. 1st Qualifying Round (4 teams) Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Mogren Budva Mon 0.200 Hibernians FC Mlt 0.099 Sant Julià And 0.100 Tre Fiori Sma 0.050 Unseeded teams in the 1st qualifying round that qualify for the next round take effectively the coefficient of their opponent in the next round. The reason for this is that the draw for the 2nd qualifying round is made before the results of the 1st qualifying round are known. Below it is assumed that seeded teams of the 1st qualifying round qualify for the 2nd qualifying round. 2nd Qualifying Round (34 teams) Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- FC København Den 26.890 Bohemians Dublin Irl 1.899 Partizan Belgrade Srb 23.050 Zrinjski Mostar Bos 1.732 Maccabi Haifa Isr 17.050 DVSC Debrecen h** 1.633 Dinamo Zagreb Cro 16.466 Georgia Tbilisi Geo 1.332 CL Bul 14.250 - 24.250 Sheriff Tiraspol Mol 1.332 Wisla Kraków Pol 9.583 Makedonija Skopje Mac 1.032 BATE Borisov Bls 7.733 FK Baku Azb 0.899 FC Salzburg Aut 6.565 Levadia Tallinn Est 0.866 Kalmar FF Swe 4.938 SK Tirana Alb 0.799 APOEL Nicosia Cyp 4.016 FK Aktobe Kaz 0.649 Stabæk IF Nor 3.760 Pyunik Yerevan Arm 0.599 Slovan Bratislava Svk 2.932 Rhyl FC Wal 0.465 FK Ventspils Lat 2.832 Glentoran Nir 0.432 NK Maribor Slo 2.816 EB Streymur Far 0.432 FH Hafnarfjardar Isl 2.332 F91 Dudelange Lux 0.266 Inter Turku Fin 1.957 Mogren Budva * Mon 0.200 Ekranas Panevezys Lit 1.933 Sant Julià * And 0.100 Unseeded teams in the 2nd qualifying round that qualify for the next round take effectively the coefficient of their opponent in the next round. The reason for this is that the draw for the 3rd qualifying round is made before the results of the 2nd qualifying round are known. Below it is assumed that seeded teams of the 2nd qualifying round qualify for the 3rd qualifying round. 3rd Qualifying Round for Champions (20 teams) Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Olympiakos Piraeus Gre 52.632 FC Salzburg ** Aut 6.565 FC København ** Den 26.890 Kalmar FF ** Swe 4.938 Slavia Praha Cze 25.150 APOEL Nicosia ** Cyp 4.016 Partizan Belgrade ** Srb 23.050 Stabæk IF ** Nor 3.760 Maccabi Haifa ** Isr 17.050 Slovan Bratislava ** Svk 2.932 Dinamo Zagreb ** Cro 16.466 FK Ventspils ** Lat 2.832 CL ** Bul 14.250 - 24.250 NK Maribor ** Slo 2.816 FC Zürich Sui 14.050 FH Hafnarfjardar * Isl 2.332 Wisla Kraków ** Pol 9.583 Inter Turku ** Fin 1.957 BATE Borisov ** Bls 7.733 Ekranas Panevezys ** Lit 1.933 3rd Qualifying Round for Non-Champions (10 teams) Unknown coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- Sparta Praha Cze 26.150 CL2 Gre 25.632 - 56.632 Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Shakhtar Donetsk Ukr 74.370 . Sporting CP Lisbon Por 68.292 CL2 Rom 7.781 - 25.781 Celtic Sco 40.575 FC Twente Enschede Ned 17.825 Anderlecht Bel 32.065 Dinamo Moscow Rus 9.525 . Sivasspor Tur 6.445 Below it is assumed that the seeded teams of the 3rd qualifying round qualify for the 4th qualifying round. If unseeded teams qualify other teams may optionally take a seeded spot. 4th Qualifying Round for Champions (10 teams) (unseeded < 16.466, seeded > 17.050) Unknown coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- Maccabi Haifa ** Isr 17.050 CL ** Bul 14.250 - 24.250 Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Olympiakos Piraeus *3 Gre 52.632 . FC København ** Den 26.890 Dinamo Zagreb ** Cro 16.466 Slavia Praha *3 Cze 25.150 FC Zürich *3 Sui 14.050 Partizan Belgrade ** Srb 23.050 Wisla Kraków ** Pol 9.583 . BATE Borisov ** Bls 7.733 4th Qualifying Round for Non-Champions (10 teams) (unseeded < 45.339, seeded > 56.632) Unknown coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- VfB Stuttgart Ger 45.339 CL4 Ita 42.581 -110.581 CL-NCQ3 *3 26.150 - 56.632 Seeded teams coef. Unseeded teams coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Arsenal Eng 106.899 . Olympique Lyon Fra 91.033 . Shakhtar Donetsk *3 Ukr 74.370 Atlético Madrid Esp 41.853 Sporting CP Lisbon *3 Por 68.292 Celtic *3 Sco 40.575 . Anderlecht *3 Bel 32.065 Once the 4th qualifying round (or play-off round) has been completed, the 32 remaining clubs are drawn into eight groups of four. Clubs from the same association will not be drawn into the same group. A computer draw determines the final position of the teams within their group. These positions determine the order of the home and away matches. The following match sequence applies: 1st match day: 2 v 3 4th match day: 1 v 3 4 v 1 4 v 2 2nd match day: 1 v 2 5th match day: 3 v 2 3 v 4 1 v 4 3rd match day: 3 v 1 6th match day: 2 v 1 2 v 4 4 v 3 See 2006 draw procedure announced and 2008 group-stage draw for more details of the group stage draw. Below it is assumed that the seeded teams of the 4th qualifying round qualify for the group stage. If unseeded teams qualify other teams may shift to a higher pot. Group Stage (32 teams) Pot 1 coef. Pot 2 coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- FC Barcelona Esp 121.853 Olympique Lyon *4 Fra 91.033 Liverpool Eng 118.899 Internazionale Ita 87.581 Chelsea Eng 118.899 Real Madrid Esp 78.853 Manchester United Eng 111.899 Shakhtar Donetsk *3 Ukr 74.370 AC Milan (*4) Ita 110.581 CSKA Moscow Rus 71.525 Arsenal *4 Eng 106.899 FC Porto Por 68.292 Sevilla Esp 100.853 Sporting CP Lisbon *3 Por 68.292 Bayern München Ger 98.339 AZ Alkmaar Ned 64.825 Pot 3 coef. Pot 4 coef. ------------------------ --- ---------------- ------------------------ --- ---------------- Juventus Ita 63.581 Slavia Praha *3 Cze 25.150 Glasgow Rangers Sco 56.575 Partizan Belgrade ** Srb 23.050 Olympiakos Piraeus *3 Gre 52.632 VfL Wolfsburg Ger 21.339 Olympique Marseille Fra 48.033 Standard Liège Bel 21.065 Dinamo Kiev Ukr 46.370 Rubin Kazan Rus 9.525 Girondins Bordeaux Fra 40.033 CL1 Rom 7.781 - 25.781 Besiktas Tur 32.445 FC København ** Den 26.890 CL-NCQ4 *3/*4 45.339 - 56.632 CL-CHQ4 ** 17.050 - 24.250 The eight group-winners and eight runners-up of the group stage qualify for the second round. The clubs that finish this stage in third position in their group move into the third round of the current Europa League. The clubs that finish this stage in fourth position in their group are eliminated. The draw for the 2nd round takes the following rules into account: a) Clubs from the same association must not be drawn against each other, b) The winners and runners-up of the same group must not be drawn against each other, c) The group winners must not be drawn against each other, d) The runners up must not be drawn against each other, e) The runners up must play the first leg at home. The group winners are seeded above the runners-up. See 2008 CL 2nd round draw procedure for more details. Round 2 (16 teams) 1st in CL group 2nd in CL group ------------------------ --- ------------------------ --- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For the draw of the quarter-finals and semi-finals no clubs will be seeded. KEY: * = team started in 1st qualifying round ** = team started in 2nd qualifying round *3 = team started in 3rd qualifying round *4 = team started in 4th qualifying round The Rangers are currently second seed in pot 3 just behind juventus,but will move up to pot two if two or more of seeded teams in qualifying round dont actually progress to group stages.the teams at risk in pots one and two have a * next to them.where pot positions are still blank that is because that position is reserved for teams who's league season is not over yet. for example a space in pot 4 is reserved for the champions of romania,current leaders are steau bucharest. all this makes interesting reading as regards as to who we will or wont be drawn against in group stages,so to sum up we will defo get one of eight from pot 1, BARCA,LIVERPOOL,MAN.U,CHELSEA,ARSENAL,AC MILAN,BAYERN MUNICH,OR SEVILLE. remember we can only get one of this lot,my preference would be bayern munich,as i have not been to the allianz arena,and because we have a tremendous,and growing number of german supporters clubs. regards to you all big jim ,chesterfield.a.k.a. spireblue.