Starts in a week and a half, so I figured I could open a thread to discuss it (and perhaps some lower level AFC competitions - AFC Cup and President's Cup, but I doubt there is much interest).
The draw has already occurred - 7 teams from lower level Asian leagues will playoff for two spots, while the six eliminated teams drop to the AFC Cup. (It was originally 8 teams, the team from Kuwait failed to meet stadium criteria.) The playoffs are divided into East and West and are single ties, so big advantage to the home teams.
West
Al-Karamah (Syria) - Al-Wahda (UAE)
Churchill Brothers (India) gets a bye to the final, but will have to travel to the winner of the semifinal.
East
Singapore Armed Forces - Sriwijaya (Indonesia)
Da Nang (Vietnam) - Muang Thong United (Thailand)
The semis will be played on January 30 and the finals on February 6. I figure Al-Karamah (ACL runners-up not too long ago) will qualify from the west while the East could be anybody, but I will go ahead and guess SAF.
Also, the group stage:
Group A
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
Al-Jazira (UAE)
Esteghlal (Iran)
Group B
Zob Ahan (Iran)
Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)
Playoff Winner - West
Group C
Al-Ain (UAE)
Sepahan (Iran)
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
Group D
Al-Sadd (Qatar)
Al-Ahli (UAE)
Mes Kerman (Iran)
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Group E
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (S. Korea)
Melbourne Victory (Australia)
Beijing Guoan (China)
Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
Group F
Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (S. Korea)
Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia)
Changchun Yatai (China)
Group G
Henan Construction (China)
Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Suwon Samsung Blue Wings (S. Korea)
Playoff Winner - East
Group H
Adelaide United (Australia)
Shandong Luneng (China)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan)
Pohang Steelers (S. Korea)
Group B looks to be very tough, especially if Al-Karamah qualify, but I think the toughest is probably Group F with champions from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the runners-up from China. Group H could also be very interesting. I figure Pohang will qualify, but it could be a toss-up for that second spot.
Thoughts? Anyone who knows more about the players that can say something about potential stars in this tournament?
The draw has already occurred - 7 teams from lower level Asian leagues will playoff for two spots, while the six eliminated teams drop to the AFC Cup. (It was originally 8 teams, the team from Kuwait failed to meet stadium criteria.) The playoffs are divided into East and West and are single ties, so big advantage to the home teams.
West
Al-Karamah (Syria) - Al-Wahda (UAE)
Churchill Brothers (India) gets a bye to the final, but will have to travel to the winner of the semifinal.
East
Singapore Armed Forces - Sriwijaya (Indonesia)
Da Nang (Vietnam) - Muang Thong United (Thailand)
The semis will be played on January 30 and the finals on February 6. I figure Al-Karamah (ACL runners-up not too long ago) will qualify from the west while the East could be anybody, but I will go ahead and guess SAF.
Also, the group stage:
Group A
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
Al-Jazira (UAE)
Esteghlal (Iran)
Group B
Zob Ahan (Iran)
Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)
Playoff Winner - West
Group C
Al-Ain (UAE)
Sepahan (Iran)
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
Group D
Al-Sadd (Qatar)
Al-Ahli (UAE)
Mes Kerman (Iran)
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Group E
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (S. Korea)
Melbourne Victory (Australia)
Beijing Guoan (China)
Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
Group F
Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (S. Korea)
Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia)
Changchun Yatai (China)
Group G
Henan Construction (China)
Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Suwon Samsung Blue Wings (S. Korea)
Playoff Winner - East
Group H
Adelaide United (Australia)
Shandong Luneng (China)
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan)
Pohang Steelers (S. Korea)
Group B looks to be very tough, especially if Al-Karamah qualify, but I think the toughest is probably Group F with champions from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and the runners-up from China. Group H could also be very interesting. I figure Pohang will qualify, but it could be a toss-up for that second spot.
Thoughts? Anyone who knows more about the players that can say something about potential stars in this tournament?