Mens CL 2007/08

[meteo]

Austrian Team Bregenz has on their website the actual ranking of the Mens CL for 2007/08

Teams 1-24 are already qualified for the group phase while the teams from 25-32 will be drawn against a team from 33-40.

[Pilmans]

Seems like HC Vardar Pro are serious this time, the sponsor will invest more money and better players will arrive and many old onece who are not good enough will have to leave..

Naum Mojsovski hade good offers from abroad but decided to stay two more years, the Serb Ivan Lapcevic (who have playd for several europ gaints, latest Hungaryan Fotex Vezprem ) and the Romanian Roman Zurka from RK Zagreb are bothe close to sign, a part from these two HC Vardar will look for 3 up to 5 more quality players and one of them will be goolkeeper.

Veselin Vujovic are the HC Vardar coach, so he have dubbel job in Macedonia.

[Picek]

and the Romanian Roman Zurka from RK Zagreb are bothe close to sign, .

as far as I know he signed a contract with a slovenian club but I can't remember which one..

[mikh]

It's actually Rares Jurca.

But the media here said 2 months ago he signed with Kadetten Schaffhausen. It's awckward that you know something else. Please keep us informed.

[Pilmans]

It's actually Rares Jurca.

But the media here said 2 months ago he signed with Kadetten Schaffhausen. It's awckward that you know something else. Please keep us informed.

Sorry for mixing up the names, would you like to tell me more about Jurca ?

Here is the story about the Romanian, Macedonian newspaper dnevnik
http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/?itemID=56F53 ... FE3F&arc=1

Ivan Lapcevic story, Macedonian paper Vecer.
http://www.vecer.com.mk/?ItemID=01984A4 ... C80C15ADF1

[mikh]

He's a very talented player. His father, Liviu Jurca is a pretty decent handball coach and was in charge of the women club U Jolidon Cluj till last year.

Rares Jurca left Romania while he was still a youngster and a hot prospect in European handball. He played 2 seasons (I think) for Magdeburg Gladiators, but he couldn't be a constant appearance.

He came back and played for Dinamo between 2004 and 2006, being a main team player in the Cup Winners Cup and then the Champions League.
He is a very talented left-handed RB with a powerful shot (placement could improve though), good off-the-ball moves, good on break-through's, developing good relationships with the pivot (at least this was the case at the NT).

He was instantly spotted by Lino Cervar, and brought to Zagreb, where I don't have much infos about the way he was playing (maybe Picek can help us here).

After Lazarov was transfered to RK Zagreb, he had a discussion with Cervar and the board, when he was explained that Kiril is the main option for RB and he wouldn't play more than half the time next season. He chosed to leave, because he wants to play as much as he can, and his good friend from the NT, Florin Nicolae (LB) suggested him Kadetten Schaffhausen, on of the top Swiss teams, a place where some good players are playing lately.

About Vardar, this is the first time I hear about this transfer option, because the Romanian media (but they can't be trusted all the time) gave his transfer at Kadetten as sure 2 months ago.

We will certainly see Jurca in the games against Sweden (where you deffinitely have the first chance) and maybe we'll find out more certain things about his future afterwards.

P.S. No problem about the name... it can happen

[meteo]

There are rumours in Spain that Barcelona can compete in the Champions League, because another european club doesn't participate. Granollers announced already it's participation in the EHF-Cup

[Magnus Andersson]

There are rumours in Spain that Barcelona can compete in the Champions League, because another european club doesn't participate. Granollers announced already it's participation in the EHF-Cup

It's almost confirmated. So Valladolid will play the CWC and Granollers the EHF.

[meteo]

viborg will play CL as well

[Boysen]

viborg will play CL as well

is that for sure?
viborg says that they nothing has heart!

[Bo$ko]

Barcelona and Viborg will play in CL 2007/08 instead of teams Panellinios Athens (Greece) and Handball Esch (Luxembourg)...

[mikh]

Does this mean they will enter the Preliminary Round, as second seeds?

If so, Brest Meshkovo will advance in the seeded category.

[meteo]

the ranking system was adopted. Barcelona is seeded on position 25 and viborg at 26.

teams from 25-28 will be drawn against teams from 37 to 40 and teams from 29-32 will be drawn against teams from 33-36. Winner in overall comparison of home and return match will compete in the group stage as teams from drawing pot 4. They will join a group with one team ranked from 1-8, one ranked from 9-16 and one ranked from 17-24.

For example: Celje, Montpellier, Gummersbach, Barcelona is possible

So here is the seeding for the qualification round

25 ESP FC Barcelona
26 DEN Viborg HK
27 ROU HCM Constanta
28 MKD Vardar Skopje
----------------------------------------------------------
29 ISL Valur Reykjavik
30 ITA Italgest Casarano
31 NOR Drammen HK
32 SRB Roter Stern Belgrad
----------------------------------------------------------
33 LTU Viking Malt Panevezyz
34 BLR Brest Meshkovo
35 AUT A1 Bregenz
36 CYP SPE Strovolos
----------------------------------------------------------
37 TUR Besiktas Istanbul
38 BEL KV Sasja
39 POR ABC Braga
40 EST Pölva Serviti

[Magnus Andersson]

Bad luck for the team who have to play with Barcelona in this preview... the second leg will be the same weekend that the Supercup of Spain, so Barcelona want win by a lot of goals in the first match and play the second leg with the team "B".

[mikh]

@meteo: thank you for the full infos.

[Boysen]

Viborg is ready to give fck the champions league, because fck won the danish groundgame, and in denmark you'll usealy get a cl place if you win the groundgame.
FCK is very angry on EHF.

[Magnus Andersson]

Preview:

Viborg (DAN) - Besiktas Estambul (TUR)
Constanta (ROM) - Sasja (BEL)
ABC Braga (POR) - FC Barcelona (SPA)
HC Vardar Skopje (MAC) - Polva Serviti (EST)
Panevezio "Viking Malt" (LTU) - Valur Reikiavik (ISL)
Italgest Casarano (ITA) - A1 Bregenz (AUT)
Crvena Zvezda Belgrado (SRB) - Meshkov Brest (BLR)
Strovolos (CYP) - Drammen (NOR)

[Bo$ko]

Men's Champions League 2007/08 DRAW

Group A:

US Ivry Handball (FRA)
Lukoil-Dinamo Astrachan (RUS)
HC Banik Karvina (CZE)
Winner Braga (POR) - Barcelona (ESP)

Group B:

THW Kiel (GER)
Montpellier HB (FRA)
Hammarby IF (SWE)
Winner Constanta (ROM) - Sasja (BEL)

Group C:

HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Ademar Leon (ESP)
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Winner Vardar (MKD) - Serviti (EST)

Group D:

GOG Gudme Svendborg TGI (DEN)
Portland San Antonio (ESP)
Tatran Presov (SVK)
Winner Casarano (ITA) - Bregenz (AUT)

Group E:

Chehovski Medvedi Moscow (RUS)
HSV Hamburg (GER)
ZTR Zaporozhye (UKR)
Winner Viborg (DEN) - Istanbul (TUR)

Group F:

RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)
MKB Veszprem KC (HUN)
VfL Gummersbach (GER)
Winner Panevezio (LTU) - Reykjavik (ISL)

Group G:

Ciudad Real (ESP)
Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
MKS Zaglebie Lubin (POL)
Winner Strovolos (CYP) - Drammen (NOR)

Group H:

Pick Szeged (HUN)
Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
RK Bosna Sarajevo (BIH)
Winner Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB) - Brest (BLR)


Very interesting draw and lil bit unfair, because group A is and 1 from elite clubs won't pass to main round Good draw for THW Kiel defending champion and for Portland S.A.

I am happy with H group, and hope that Crvena Zvezda can finally do something in CL...

[Horia]

How can HCM be this lucky, 2 year in a row beaten heavy by Kiel

[zero]

I am happy with H group, and hope that Crvena Dzvezda can finally do something in CL...

why DZvezda?

[zero]

He's a very talented player. His father, Liviu Jurca is a pretty decent handball coach and was in charge of the women club U Jolidon Cluj till last year.

Rares Jurca left Romania while he was still a youngster and a hot prospect in European handball. He played 2 seasons (I think) for Magdeburg Gladiators, but he couldn't be a constant appearance.

He came back and played for Dinamo between 2004 and 2006, being a main team player in the Cup Winners Cup and then the Champions League.
He is a very talented left-handed RB with a powerful shot (placement could improve though), good off-the-ball moves, good on break-through's, developing good relationships with the pivot (at least this was the case at the NT).

He was instantly spotted by Lino Cervar, and brought to Zagreb, where I don't have much infos about the way he was playing (maybe Picek can help us here).

After Lazarov was transfered to RK Zagreb, he had a discussion with Cervar and the board, when he was explained that Kiril is the main option for RB and he wouldn't play more than half the time next season. He chosed to leave, because he wants to play as much as he can, and his good friend from the NT, Florin Nicolae (LB) suggested him Kadetten Schaffhausen, on of the top Swiss teams, a place where some good players are playing lately.

About Vardar, this is the first time I hear about this transfer option, because the Romanian media (but they can't be trusted all the time) gave his transfer at Kadetten as sure 2 months ago.

We will certainly see Jurca in the games against Sweden (where you deffinitely have the first chance) and maybe we'll find out more certain things about his future afterwards.

P.S. No problem about the name... it can happen

Yes, he is very good player, and I am very happy becouse I can watching his games this season. He leaves Zagreb only becouse Lazarov is here now. And he is compensation for goalkeeper Dragan Jerkovic who comes from Kadetten Sch.
And his full name is Rares Lucian Jurca.

[Picek]

Very interesting draw and lil bit unfair, because group A is

what elite clubs from group A?
only Barca can be called elite club..
I would say groups E and F are the hardest ones..
Zagreb got a good group..

[famous]

what elite clubs from group A?

Maybe Bosko thought that Dinamo Astrachan is elite club, or maybe Karvina

[Bo$ko]

Very interesting draw and lil bit unfair, because group A is

what elite clubs from group A?
only Barca can be called elite club..

I didn't write 'from group F' ... big thing

But here you are my dear friend to attack if someone make mistake

[Picek]

But here you are my dear friend to attack if someone make mistake

do you have somekind of problem?
except of Barca none of the clubs from the group A can be called so called big club..
this is a first champions league season for Dinamo and Ivry and Karvina is always there just to fill the number of the clubs..
and you are offended now 'cause I'm shocked by your statement?