Europa League 11/12

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bloody hell Falcao. :blink:

[Cripps_orig]

Atl Madrid v Valencia Thu 19 Apr 20:05
Sporting v Athletic Bilbao Thu 19 Apr 20:05

Atletico Madrid v Valencia on ESPN

Sporting Lisbon v Athletic Bilbao on 5

[Cripps_orig]

Valencia - third in La Liga, 33 points behind Real - have knocked out Stoke and PSV on their way to the last four, while eighth-placed Atletico Madrid have seen off Lazio, Besiktas and Hannover.

Athletic Bilbao, a frightening 40 points shy of Jose Mourinho's league leaders, played Manchester United off the park in both legs of their round.

Let's be honest - they're not quite Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, are they?

SPL 2? Really?

[Marc Overmars]

Any chance Atletico can win 2-1 tonight with Falcao scoring first?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Anderson Polga, Xandao, Insua, Andre Martins, Daniel Carrico, Schaars, Izmailov, van Wolfswinkel, Diego Capel.
Subs: Marcelo, Onyewu, Evaldo, Carrillo, Bruno Pereirinha, Neto, Rubio.

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Ekiza, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Susaeta, Ander Herrera, Muniain, Llorente.
Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, Gabilondo, Koikili, Ibai, Ramalho.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Any chance Atletico can win 2-1 tonight with Falcao scoring first?

Yeah. Predicting Valencia at the moment is a fruitless task though.

[Cripps_orig]

Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe Luis, Mario Suarez, Gabi, Turan, Diego, Adrian, Falcao. Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Tiago, Salvio, Paulo Assuncao, Koke, Perea, Martin.

Valencia: Diego Alves, Ricardo Costa, Rami, Victor Ruiz, Mathieu, Feghouli, Topal, Tino Costa, Jordi Alba, Soldado, Jonas. Subs: Guaita, Bruno, Maduro, Aduriz, Piatti, Canales, Parejo.

Referee: Craig Thomson (Scotland)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The amount of good goalkeepers Spain have is insane.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Was he giving that little girl a shoulder massage? :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:lol:

Missed it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save by Iraizoz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just wide from Van Wolfswinkel.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Marcos booked, he'll miss the second leg. Stupid challenge.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 1-0 Valencia, Falcao!

[Cripps_orig]

Any chance Atletico can win 2-1 tonight with Falcao scoring first?50/50 id say

[Marc Overmars]

:popcorn:

Only stuck £2 on it mind, still, £42 is always welcome.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Van Wolfswinkel hammers one wide this time. Not been a huge amount happening in this game.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Insua. :haha:

Great chance and he scuffs it in the pelanty area.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting 0-0 Athletic Bilbao, HT.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 1-1 Valencia, Jonas. :popcorn:

[Marc Overmars]

Come on Atleti!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 2-1 Valencia, Miranda!

[Marc Overmars]

:popcorn:

No more goals pls.

I will now dread any new posts on this thread.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

1 -0 Bilbao!

Name-I-can't-spell

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting 0-1 Athletic Bilbao, Aurtenetxe!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Insua. :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Aurtenetxe!
And can't spell for good reason :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 3-1 Valencia, Adrian Lopez.

:rose:

[Cripps_orig]

MO :rose:

[Marc Overmars]

There goes my drinking money. :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Amorebieta hits the post! How the hell?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Athletic Madrid. :haha:

Pat Nevin you tit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muniain. :lol:

Great strike.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Susaeta :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Van Wolfswinkel just heads wide, should be 1-1. Poor miss.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting 1-1 Athletic Bilbao, Insua!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Insua :bow:

Always been a fan....

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Had a good game, Capel.

2-1 Sporting.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting 2-1 Athletic Bilbao, Capel!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 4-1 Valencia, Falcao again. :wacko:

Unai Emery. :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Atl Madrid 4-1 Valencia

Falcao

[Maestro]

Falcao ...just fuck off

the real deal, what a goal

[Marc Overmars]

Should have signed him last summer.

But we got Park...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Carillo should've made it 3-1.

[Maestro]

Should have signed him last summer.

But we got Park...


pay 2p you get Park

pay 40 million you get Falcao


Now MO, you know that's no contest right ...it's Park everytime. No brainer tbf

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Colombia isn't as lucrative a market as the Far East tbf. Well, not for shirt sales.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toquero on. :lol:

He's a cult hero. In that he's shit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sporting 2-1 Athletic Bilbao, FT.

Athletic will be happy to get Javi Martinez back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 4-2 Valencia, Ricardo Costa. :popcorn:

FT now.

[Cripps_orig]

9 goals in 2 games

Europa League :bow:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Colombia isn't as lucrative a market as the Far East tbf. Well, not for shirt sales.

Pretty much.

[Cripps_orig]

Athletic Bilbao v Sporting (agg 1 - 2) Thu 26 Apr 20:05

Valencia v Atl Madrid (agg 2 - 4) Thu 26 Apr 20:05

Bilbao on 5

Valencia on ITV4

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Hmmm not sure what to watch.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

ITV4's programme starts at 7:30 pm.

Falcao and Soldado. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Strachan and Coleman are in the studio.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Ander Herrera, Iturraspe, Muniain, Susaeta, Llorente, Ibai.
Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, David Lopez, Gabilondo, Inigo Perez, Ekiza.

Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Anderson Polga, Xandao, Insua, Andre Martins, Schaars, Fernandez, Bruno Pereirinha, van Wolfswinkel, Diego Capel.
Subs: Tiago, Daniel Carrico, Onyewu, Evaldo, Jeffren, Carrillo, Rubio.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (England) :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Valencia: Diego Alves, Barragan, Rami, Ricardo Costa, Jordi Alba, Albelda, Parejo, Feghouli, Jonas, Canales, Soldado.
Subs: Guaita, Maduro, Aduriz, Piatti, Victor Ruiz, Mathieu, Tino Costa.

Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Mario Suarez, Tiago, Turan, Adrian, Diego, Falcao.
Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Salvio, Gabi, Dominguez, Koke, Perea, Martin.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

[Cripps_orig]

Whats everyone and by everyone i mean Maccy cos i doubt anyone else is watching this, watching?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'll start with the Valencia game until it becomes obvious they won't get back in to it.

[Cripps_orig]

Thats good cos im watching Bilbao

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego. :lol: Terrible effort.

He's on a free this summer I think. Could CK's dream of him playing for Arsenal come true? :popcorn:

[Cripps_orig]

Wolfswinkel booked and out of the final

[Cripps_orig]

Bilbao look like the Bilbao of old

Well the one v Mancs and Schalke

[Cripps_orig]

1-0 Bilbao!!!!!!!!!!

Susaeta

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bilbao are awesome. A bit of GHELing in the build-up from what I saw on the replay, too. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Sporting not happy with Atkinson for not giving a foul in the build up and it did look a foul

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Feghouli shoots on the volley, Courtois saves well and then again from Jonas. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Should be 1-1

Great cross from someone and someone heads it over despite being free

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Soldado goes for glory. Valencia are dominating currently, though they need to I suppose.

[Cripps_orig]

Pat Nevin - A very english style refereeing from the referee today

Other dude - Well he is English....

[Cripps_orig]

Bilbao goal ruled out for offside

Correct decision

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Soldado clips a header just wide. A Valencia goal is surely on its way.

Canales has been excellent. Real Madid Old Boys. :bow: Well, on loan Boy in Canales' case.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti are getting a pummeling.

[Cripps_orig]

Sporting players heads straight at the keeper from a corner

Good save

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Courtois booked for timewasting.

[Cripps_orig]

Should be 2

Great move

Ibai just needed a touch

Completely missed it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great keeping from Diego Alves to keep Falcao from having a chance to score.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This time Diego Alves comes storming out and completely misses the ball. Adrian couldn't do anything with it though.

[Cripps_orig]

Another great chance

Llorente doesnt connect properly but still produces the keeper to make a fingertip save

[Cripps_orig]

1-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wolfswinkel scores

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Ibai! That was brilliant build-up play.

0-0 HT in the Mestalla.

[Cripps_orig]

2-1 :lol:

Ibai

Llorente is brilliant. We have to get him

[Cripps_orig]

2-1 HT

3-3 on agg

Great game

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Llorente is a Premier League and La Liga lovechild.

[Cripps_orig]

I knew of Bilbaos big 3, Martinez, Munian and Llorente before but had never heard of Susueta before this EL run. Hes impressive

Need to get all 4.

Possibly Toquero as well

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toquero. :lol:

He'd inspire a new generation of GW namechanges.

[Cripps_orig]

Susueta with a great shot

Great save from the keeper

Following corner, Llorente heads on to the post

Was Martinez actually. Didnt even see him in front of Llorente. Llorentes too big

[Cripps_orig]

Sporting btw made a defensive sub at half time

Hope they lose now for this despicable act

Amorebieta booked

[Cripps_orig]

And now Sporting ht the psot from a deflected free kick

EL :bow:

Has put me back in love with the game

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jonas off, Aduriz on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Canales off injured, Mathieu on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Valencia 0-1 Atletico Madrid, Adrian. What a goal! Caught brilliantly on the volley.

[Cripps_orig]

Carricco booked

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good save by Diego Alves to deny Adrian.

Valencia look a bit soul-destroyed now really.

[Cripps_orig]

Pereirinha off

Jeffren on

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falcao had a good chance to put it to bed for sure, tame shot really.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Parejo off, Tino Costa on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Switched over to Channel5 now, Valencia don't have much hope of scoring three goals.

[Cripps_orig]

Ibai booked for a ridiculous dive

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty to Valencia. :lol: It hit Tino Costa's hand, not Tiago's.

Fight Fight Fight!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Handbags galore out there! Tiago sent off. :haha: Another captain doing something stupid - he gave Soldado a slap.

Soldado was booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Oh the pelanty hasn't been given in the end. :haha:

I'll switch back to Channel 5 now. :ninja:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

:haha:

Why do they always slap?

If you're going to get yourself sent off in a semi final, give them a knee in the back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Big Man was just letting Sanchez know he was there. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 LLORENTE!!!!

[Cripps_orig]

3-1

Llorente

Great goal

Sporting only need one though so not yet over

2 mins plus injury time to go

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Jeffren goes for glory, Iraizoz well to it.

[Cripps_orig]

Pat Nevin is awful

Says a challenge on a Bilbao player is not a penalty but a foul at the most

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Valencia 0-1 Atleti, FT.

Emery. :rose:

Toquero coming on. :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Toquero on :dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Athletic Bilbao are through! :bow:

La Liga. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Llorente was in tears by the final whistle.

[Cripps_orig]

Think Newcastle might take this seriously next season

Doubt we will

[Xhaka Can’t]

We'll take it as seriously as we did this year. :good:

[Cripps_orig]

If we are in it, we should try and win it

[Olivier's xmas twist]

We'll take it as seriously as we did this year. :good:

Wums got to wum right?

[Master Splinter]

Channel 5 Thursday nights :scarf:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

If we qualify.

:rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Europa League Final.


Wednesday, 9th May 2012
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao, 19:45.

Programme starts at 19:00 on Channel 5.

Come on Athletic Club. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Come on the Cup Double :bow:.

Although you can see Falcao scoring a few as well.

3-2 Athletic Club is my prediction.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Can't wait for this. :dance:

Hopefully Simeone doesn't send his side out to scrote it up.

4-2 to Athletic Club. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

So don't want to be in the Austin Allegro cup next year.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah, so anyway Channel 5's programme starts in a minute.

[GP]

Come on Bil:bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nevin and Collymore are in the studio.

[Özim]

Don't often agree with Dollymore but he's right about one thing, this competition should be treated with respect.....winning this would be great for any club, it's not the CL but it's a European trophy, I'd rather win this than qualify for the CL in 4th place personally.

Loved it when we won the CWC many years ago, that was so special.

[Özim]

Gheorghe Hagi, what a player he was :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Mario Suarez, Gabi, Diego, Adrian, Turan, Falcao.
Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Antonio Lopez, Salvio, Paulo Assuncao, Koke, Dominguez, Martin.

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Ander Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos, Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain.
Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, Gabilondo, Inigo Perez, Ekiza, Ibai.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Don't often agree with Dollymore but he's right about one thing, this competition should be treated with respect.....winning this would be great for any club, it's not the CL but it's a European trophy, I'd rather win this than qualify for the CL in 4th place personally.

Loved it when we won the CWC many years ago, that was so special.

I wouldn't go so far as rather being in it but certainly if we are in it, I'd be very annoyed if we tamely went out. It wouldn't make much sense for us to say 'ah but you don't get much money for it' which I suppose is true in isolation but surely you get more for being in it than exiting early.

I can't remember us thinking, in 2000, ah what a pile of shit that tournament was. And that after we had competed in the Champions League.

[Özim]

I wouldn't go so far as rather being in it but certainly if we are in it, I'd be very annoyed if we tamely went out. It wouldn't make much sense for us to say 'ah but you don't get much money for it' which is true but surely you get more for being in it than exiting early.
I think it's a great competititon, I imagine getting to a final would be very special and exciting. This competition gets a hard time but I think it's pretty good in the latter stages, players from other countries are really up for this and desperately want to win it.

CL is getting very stale for me, I think I'd rather be in this with the belief we could go far than in that with no belief we can do anything tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The one problem I have with the competition is that there are too many teams involved in it, I think over the course of the qualifiers and CL dropouts it totals over 100 teams. :lol:

I'd like to believe we'd go in with no intention of 'resting one or two' but the reality is, that won't happen. It's a shame really because it's not a competition filled with pub teamers like some seem to think, as you allude to.

[Master Splinter]

Toquero to score the overhead lobbed winner from 52 yards.

Toquero :bow:.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

It's a good competition, once you get past the early stages where they really can be horrific games (Utrecht :ilt:).

It's nothing to be sneered at, but no substitute for the CL. :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Champions League music. :bow:

Europa League music. :lol: Although it has grown on me.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The National Arena looks pretty awesome tbf.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I hope FSG are taking note, and won't just settle for the Parry Bowl, which seems the most likely option.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Adrian heads wide, way wide in fact. Athletic Club haven't really passed it too well in the opening minutes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muniain lets his man know he is there. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti 1-0 Bilbao, Falcao! What a player.

[Master Splinter]

Falcao!!!!

He is seriously awesome.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

He's quite good.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

34th of the season I think. :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Llorente heads one, er not his best. Appealing for a pelanty, his neck was pulled, there were two fouls in that pelanty area really. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poor crossfield ball by Amorebieta.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's really odd seeing the whole (non-corporate) crowd in a final wearing the same kind of shirt. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Great football.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brilliant tekkers from Suarez.

[Master Splinter]

The picture on the Channel 5 website is worse than a shit stream.

What a pub-team operation. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego. :haha:

[Master Splinter]

Diego :lol:.

[Master Splinter]

Should have been 1-1.

Dennis Bendtner technique from Llorente.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Llorente just prods wide. Unbelievably quick play, the cameraman couldn't keep up with it. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:haha:

Some berks being chased by the stewards.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Falcao :lol:

He's a machine.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Freekick to Atleti, dangerous area.

Falcao is a beast.

Herrera booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Good strike from Muniain.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good effort by Muniain, Courtois well to it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Atleti scroting it up.

Falcao booked.

[Master Splinter]

Falcao the GHEL :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's clearly a corner. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Llorente lacking little bit sharpness so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

De Marcos. :lol:

Nice try.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 Falcao. He is just brilliant.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

:bow:

Carroll-esque.

[Master Splinter]

Falcao!!!!

Poor defending though.

[Master Splinter]

This should get mental now.

La Liga :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muniain. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falcao gives Iraizoz a good kicking.

[Master Splinter]

Athletic Bilbao need to avoid getting destroyed at the moment.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falcao shoots, way wide. Good run though.

[Master Splinter]

Falcao :bow: :bow:.

[Master Splinter]

Courtois is much better than Cech.

[GP]

Can we buy Falcao plz?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-0 HT.

Bilbao just haven't got going.

[Master Splinter]

Athletic Bilbao are playing with several hand-brakes on. Their passing is far too slow.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Can we buy Falcao plz?

Swap deal with Chakma. :bow:

Also, RVP missed the pelanty again. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Iturrsepe off, Perez on.

Aurtenetxe off, Ibai on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Nearly 2-1 immediately. :lol: Muniain. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego just about snuffed out, took the ball down brilliantly though.

[Master Splinter]

Time for Toquero tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Turan got annihilated by Ibai's corner. :lol:

[Master Splinter]

Herrera :haha:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Herrera sends one out the stadium, will probably drop down during the CL final.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Was that an intended strike on goal from Perez? Courtois was backpedalling anyway.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Toquero is coming on. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

In the battle of The Must Gets, Llorente is definitely losing so far.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Herrera off for Toquero.

[Master Splinter]

Toquero :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Adrian turns inside, strikes wide though.

Amorebieta booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego. :haha:

What was that?

[Master Splinter]

Diego :haha:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Diego. :wacko:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Llorente just couldn't get his head on to it.

Ibai volleys over just afterwards.

[Master Splinter]

Good effort on the volley from Ibai.

[Master Splinter]

Athletic Bilbao going long.

England :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brilliant from Ibai. What a chance for De Marcos.

[Master Splinter]

Ibai should have cut it back.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Freekick to Aleti, dangerous area.

Perez booked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gabi hits it straight in to the wall.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Susaeta shot, deflects just wide.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Turan goes for the Vela, Iraizoz saves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How the hell hasn't it gone in?!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falcao shot, deflects on to the post! What a beast.

[Master Splinter]

Falcao :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Turan has been opened up. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ibai airshot!

[Master Splinter]

Ibai air-shot. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0 Diego. Brilliant.

[Master Splinter]

Diegoooooooooooooooo!!

That was a brilliant finish.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Muniain seems a bit devastated.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Harsh on Bilbao really that their team will likely be cherry picked before it ever really got going.

I'll get over though if we are (unlikely I know) part of those cherry pickers.

[Master Splinter]

Atletico have played this perfectly.

Simeone :bow:.

[Master Splinter]

I'll get over though if we are (unlikely I know) part of those cherry pickers.

Kenny is a big Toquero fan.

£30m?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ibai smashes the bar!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0 FT. Bilbao. :(

Still, always the Copa Del Rey for them, maybe.

Falcao. :bow:

[Master Splinter]

Atletico :bow:.

Simeone :bow:.

Falcao :bow: :bow:.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Someone give Muniain a hug.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

They took the "Thursday night, Channel 5" chant as a compliment? :haha:

And they've lost the rights as well. :woohoo:

[Marc Overmars]

Falcao. :bow:

What a beast.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Good final, well in the second half at least. Madrid deserved to win, Bilbao were shocking.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

The one problem I have with the competition is that there are too many teams involved in it, I think over the course of the qualifiers and CL dropouts it totals over 100 teams. :lol:

I'd like to believe we'd go in with no intention of 'resting one or two' but the reality is, that won't happen. It's a shame really because it's not a competition filled with pub teamers like some seem to think, as you allude to.

Talks sport talking about why English clubs seem to mugg it off even teams like Stoke. Good debate tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah glad it has been mentioned, I really don't get it. Especially for those managers that supposedly care about the national team. I mean, Spain have to be doing something more than just having extremely talented players to have won so many trophies at all levels, really ever since Barcelona and Sevilla won both the respective competitions.

It goes hand-in-hand with this flawed idea of 'resting' players too.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Yeah glad it has been mentioned, I really don't get it. Especially for those managers that supposedly care about the national team. I mean, Spain have to be doing something more than just having extremely talented players to have won so many trophies at all levels, really ever since Barcelona and Sevilla won both the respective competitions.

It goes hand-in-hand with this flawed idea of 'resting' players too.

This is why i don't get why spurs and arry thought they were too good for it, they could have won it tbh but i guess the lure of the CL was too much.

Only way teams will take is more searious is if the winner gets in the CL etc. Because the top 4 won't take it serious and put a top 4 finish before it or a league title fight.

Clubs like stoke, brum etc. will make sure their survial im the prem is their priorty. I suppose the Foreign clubs just enjoy it i guess and see where it brings them.

English based teams/players just are not motivated for imo. except if they are in a Fulham type sitiuation, where you more or less have nout to play for so they went for it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'm not sure the winner should go to the Champions League as I do think a team should have the chance to defend their trophy (Atleti could still finish fourth but in all likelihood they won't). I suppose the only other way the profile would be raised in this country would be for the prize fund to be raised considerably.

If that was the case and then teams start to treat it with more respect, as a by-product of that tv companies would be more interested in screening it. Sticking all of the games on a Thursday night (for most weeks) probably isn't the greatest idea either. However UEFA don't strike me as a risk-first organisation.

The fact you'll get at least £20 million for finishing rock bottom in the Premier League probably does impact on it (and the FA Cup).

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'm not sure the winner should go to the Champions League as I do think a team should have the chance to defend their trophy (Atleti could still finish fourth but in all likelihood they won't). I suppose the only other way the profile would be raised in this country would be for the prize fund to be raised considerably.

If that was the case and then teams start to treat it with more respect, as a by-product of that tv companies would be more interested in screening it. Sticking all of the games on a Thursday night (for most weeks) probably isn't the greatest idea either. However UEFA don't strike me as a risk-first organisation.

The fact you'll get at least £20 million for finishing rock bottom in the Premier League probably does impact on it (and the FA Cup).

True but its more likely the team thats wins it would be in the CL the next year tbh. This is why i think its already devalued as a competition because the cup more or less won't be defending by the winner.

I do agree though that the demads of epl is hindering the cup comps. But i do think its easier for the Foreign team who have 1 domestic cup where as we have 2 in this country to go for plus the league too.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I still think teams should have the chance to defend it, that's not to neccesarily say they will but for it to never happen is something different. And you can flip that point of around anyway - if teams are good enough to probably qualify for the Champions League the season after winning the competition, then is the carrot of qualifying for the Champions League really needed? It surely proves you can compete in your domestic league and win the tournament.

I didn't say the demands of the Premier League, it's too much of a cop out anyway. I said that the fact you get a greater sum of money for being the 20th team in the league is more financially beneficial (in terms of pure money coming in) than winning a tournament.

Teams over here don't have the Europa League to contend with later on in the season because they don't advance in it! It's not like they have any more competitions to cope with than other teams in Europe when you think about it. And it's hardly like the FA Cup and Carling Cup have strong sides fielded in it every round.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I still think teams should have the chance to defend it, that's not to neccesarily say they will but for it to never happen is something different. And you can flip that point of around anyway - if teams are good enough to probably qualify for the Champions League the season after winning the competition, then is the carrot of qualifying for the Champions League really needed? It surely proves you can compete in your domestic league and win the tournament.I didn't say the demands of the Premier League, it's too much of a cop out anyway. I said that the fact you get a greater sum of money for being the 20th team in the league is more financially beneficial (in terms of pure money coming in) than winning a tournament.

Teams over here don't have the Europa League to contend with later on in the season because they don't advance in it! It's not like they have any more competitions to cope with than other teams in Europe when you think about it. And it's hardly like the FA Cup and Carling Cup have strong sides fielded in it every round.

So your saying the team who wins it should not need to qualify for the CL?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No I am saying the team that wins it should at least be afforded the opportunity to compete in the competition next year, even if it is eventually the case they go on to supercede that right by qualifing for the Champions League through their domestic league.

[Cripps_orig]

Forgot about this

Man Utd :haha:

Getting destroyed by a shite ass Bilbao team that got humlilated in the final

[Niall_Quinn]

No I am saying the team that wins it should at least be afforded the opportunity to compete in the competition next year, even if it is eventually the case they go on to supercede that right by qualifing for the Champions League through their domestic league.

Why don't they just roll the two cups into one and have a Euro-league? Bet nobody has thought of that.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Forgot about this

Man Utd :haha:

Getting destroyed by a shite ass Bilbao team that got humlilated in the final

Pretty much