2016/17 Europa League

[lxmmy]

They deserved it because of their stupid kits despite playing at home. Inter players probably blinded.

It's actually a decent looking kit but a very good explanation to why they lost.

Not really.... But just business as usual under De Boer of lacking creativity and not matching to the tempo of Hapoel. Constantly losing possession and making sloppy passes but De Boer had left out Icardi, Candreva and Banega from the starting XI in that match for today's test against Juventus.

 

[Brend]

The only competition that someone loses to Celtic and can be a dark horse is probably the SPL.

There are so many teams that disprove your argument it's hilarious. Braga to name one. Easy enough to come out with these claims when you're so dismissive of other leagues and their teams. They lost 5-2 probably in first leg as a combination of us playing at our peak and probably getting stumped in the atmosphere. They destroyed us in the second leg and we done well to hold on.

FWIW, Inter have beat Celtic this year too, so it has literally no bearing on other results.

They also put Olympicos out of the CL too. Still though, feel free to be disrespectful. 👍

 

[lxmmy]

It's actually a decent looking kit but a very good explanation to why they lost.

Not really.... But just business as usual under De Boer of lacking creativity and not matching to the tempo of Hapoel. Constantly losing possession and making sloppy passes but De Boer had left out Icardi, Candreva and Banega from the starting XI in that match for today's test against Juventus.

Icardi, Candreva and Banega gets into the starting XI today....


They won 2-1 against Juventus.

 

[mustafur]

Inter getting beat off Beer Sheva isn't a shock if you know how much they've spent and how good a team they actually are. I fully expect them to be a dark horse this competition.

Come on, an Israeli team is going to spend 10% of a team like Inter on a good year.

 

[Brend]

Come on, an Israeli team is going to spend 10% of a team like Inter on a good year.

So high spend = success? Only at a certain level (if that), they've bolstered their squad in numerous areas since rising up in the Israeli league. Plenty of teams have put together good sides without spending a ridiculous amount of cash.

It's one thing to make expensive signings - another to make worthwhile signings. Beer Sheva have hit the necessary sweet spot by having a good coach and making some improvements on the weaknesses they've exhibited. Fixture list will hurt them, as squad depth isn't the best. That being said, I'm thinking they'll manage to get a second-place finish if they play to their potential.

 

[mustafur]

So high spend = success? Only at a certain level (if that), they've bolstered their squad in numerous areas since rising up in the Israeli league. Plenty of teams have put together good sides without spending a ridiculous amount of cash.

It's one thing to make expensive signings - another to make worthwhile signings. Beer Sheva have hit the necessary sweet spot by having a good coach and making some improvements on the weaknesses they've exhibited. Fixture list will hurt them, as squad depth isn't the best. That being said, I'm thinking they'll manage to get a second-place finish if they play to their potential.

High spend = Success 90% of the time.

Sure you get the odd surprises like Leicester winning the EPL or Porto winning the CL back in 2004 but this is not the norm.

 

[Brend]

High spend = Success 90% of the time.

Sure you get the odd surprises like Leicester winning the EPL or Porto winning the CL back in 2004 but this is not the norm.

That 10% is what makes football so worthwhile. If everything was constant it wouldn't be very fun at all, would it?

Football matches are won on the pitch, not on paper. Hence why the prospect of a dark horse is exciting. There's no reason (based on what I've seen so far) Sheva can't have a whack at it. You need to be in the tournament to win it. Let's not forget Dinipro, Braga and Fulham have all made the Europa League final before.

 

[mustafur]

That 10% is what makes football so worthwhile. If everything was constant it wouldn't be very fun at all, would it?

Football matches are won on the pitch, not on paper. Hence why the prospect of a dark horse is exciting. There's no reason (based on what I've seen so far) Sheva can't have a whack at it. You need to be in the tournament to win it. Let's not forget Dinipro, Braga and Fulham have all made the Europa League final before.

Europa league is a different one, because the payments are lower alot of the big league teams don't even try so they focus on getting into CL for next year or survival in their own league as it pays more, so you get half assed squads in big teams getting beaten by nobodys.

It's a shame because people actually go to other countries to watch their team play a game their team don't really care if they lose.

 

[Brend]

Europa league is a different one, because the payments are lower alot of the big league teams don't even try so they focus on getting into CL for next year or survival in their own league as it pays more, so you get half assed squads in big teams getting beaten by nobodys.

It's a shame because people actually go to other countries to watch their team play a game their team don't really care if they lose.

I do agree with you there, some teams' attitudes to the tournament are ridiculous. Although UEFA don't help matters as they constantly focus efforts on 'improving' (I use that term incredibly lightly) the Champions League whereas the Europa is stagnant.

 

[mustafur]

Tbh if they didn't have to play soo many games in the season it wouldn't be soo bad, but when You have like 40 games of the League season, 2 domestic Cups and a European cup it makes sense why they would focus on the things that keep them afloat as there is just too many games a team will play if they do it all and it risks your best players.

 

[jake2013guy]

HT Scores

Not the greatest game for Southampton so far. Hesketh for Tadic was a good decision.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Not really fussed about the United-Zorya game tonight to be frank, we have had so many of our game televised in the last few weeks, will probably give it a miss and play FH3 instead, but will keep twitter open on my PC so i can get updates, and will watch the Stoke game on BT on Sunday.

 

[Liquid]

Hon, Dundalk!

 

[mustafur]

Dundalk might have more story to add to this record breaking Europe run.

Also the First Irish team to win a game in the group stage of any European competion.

 

[Akmuq]

Probably the first Irish team to make more than John Delaney in a year as well.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Man United 4-1 Fenerbahce, very good win and performance, two from Pogba one from Martial and from Lingard with RVP getting late consolation on his return, great to see him score though and got a great reception from home support, much better tonight after an average start to the campaign and attendance was just over 71000 making the highest in a Europa group game.

Southampton were a bit unlucky in a 1-0 loss away to Inter and Dundalk did go 1-0 up v Zenit but unfortunately lost 1-2

 

[Brend]

United getting thumped in Turkey. Fenerbache have dominated so far!

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Not even disappointed anymore, this has become normal now, nice of United to turn up in the 89 minute...

 

[Liquid]

Inter Milan...

 

[mustafur]

If Dundalk can win the game against AZ at home then Tel Aviv has to beat them by 4 Goals to stop them getting into the Round of 32.

Edit: well 1-0 Down already.

 

[Dennisch]

Inter Milan are out. Ha.

 

[lxmmy]

I can hear @88GTA's laughter from here.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Good win against Feyenoord 👍

 

[mustafur]

I knew inter would lose, I bet on Hopoel because no betting agency was factoring in that Inter Milan are a terrible side right now.

 

[Liquid]

Dundalk can still qualify if they beat Tel-Aviv and Zenit beat Alkmaar.

It's not impossible.

 

[mustafur]

Dundalk can still qualify if they beat Tel-Aviv and Zenit beat Alkmaar.

It's not impossible.

Tbh they have a big chance of getting in from a tie as well, since Zenit has basically made this group it's slave, and since Dundalk have the best goal difference of the rest as they haven't lost a game by more then 1 point they are in a decent position still.

There is also talk that if they do the miracle and make it to the round of 32 they will play their home game at Aviva Stadium(like they did in the Champions league playoff with Legia Warsaw).

 

[Brend]

Inter getting beat off Beer Sheva isn't a shock if you know how much they've spent and how good a team they actually are. I fully expect them to be a dark horse this competition.

x2 then. It's a shame Inter are in such a slump.


I'm hoping they can get that final qualifying spot and get a draw or victory in Southampton.

 

[mustafur]

x2 then. It's a shame Inter are in such a slump.

I'm hoping they can get that final qualifying spot and get a draw or victory in Southampton.

The problem with Europa is teams you expect to do well just randomly play poorly because they can't be bothered being in a Tournament that doesn't pay as well as CL(Cough Man Utd Cough)

I'll be very Surprised if Southampton don't beat Inter They have been easily the best side of the group when at home, just useless away from it.

 

[Brend]

The problem with Europa is teams you expect to do well just randomly play poorly because they can't be bothered being in a Tournament that doesn't pay as well as CL(Cough Man Utd Cough)

I'll be very Surprised if Southampton don't beat Inter They have been easily the best side of the group when at home, just useless away from it.

If Southampton play to their ability definitely but like you said, a Thursday game can just get in the way of league affairs at the weekend. It's unfortunate it has to be played on that day but there's really no wiggle room with the CL on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Man United are away in Ukraine to Zorya tomorrow in sub zero temperatures, the pitch is terrible, hard and icy but game goes ahead for now.