Europa League Thread

[JBlues08]

So, City are out as well. That's good in some ways, but bad in others - I would've preferred them to stay in it a while longer, so it distracts them from the league - and then see them get taken apart by Bilbao, who I can't look beyond as the winners. They're sheer class - I had no idea!

Go watch La Liga mate!

Also, kudos to Fergie for being very gracious after the defeat to Bilbao. Praised them a lot(deservedly) and think he also said that statistically, they covered more ground at Old Trafford than any other visiting teams in the last 10 years.

 

[P Squared]

Anyone else feel that Giggs shouldn't be playing centre-mid against teams that don't give away possession all that often? He just looses the ball way too much.

 

[BKB1991]

Plus he doesnt have the legs anymore to keep up with such teams like those

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Basically, Giggs is a shambolic central midfielder. His positioning is pathetic. Way too much impetus on Carrick to mop up everything behind him, but when Utd play fast paced teams like Bilbao they're going to get ripped apart.

 

[m_vaughan]

Three La Liga sides in the last four of the Europa League. Excellent stuff from a league that I believe is the best in the world with a lot of quality even outside the top two.

Hoping for a Valencia-Athletic Bilbao final with the Basque side to win it.

 

[Haarithan]

An Iberian semifinal lineup again:

2010-11: 3 Portuguese sides (Porto, Braga & Benfica) and 1 Spanish side (Villarreal)
2011-12: 3 Spanish sides (Athletic, Atletico & Valencia) and 1 Portuguese side (Sporting Lisbon)

The last time Spain had 3 representatives in the semis of the Europa League was back in 2006-07 (Sevilla, Espanyol & Osasuna)

---

Similar records in the Champions League from what I can recall:

2002-03: 3 Italian sides (AC Milan, Juventus & Inter)
2006-07: 3 EPL sides (Liverpool, Chelsea & Man Utd)
2007-08: 3 EPL sides (Man Utd, Chelsea & Liverpool)
2008-09: 3 EPL sides (Man Utd, Chelsea & Arsenal)

 

[El Loco]

Hmmmm...Sporting turning the tables on Bilbao. Interesting...

 

[Haarithan]

Athletic still have the upper hand though. Nevertheless, 2 cracking goals from Insua and Capel in their comeback win. Insua seems to have improved miles to what he was at Liverpool.

Liverpool sold Insua for ?500k, re-signed Aurelio for 2 years & bought Konchesky for ?4.5m plus two make weights. Top business.

Those two make weights were a couple of promising young talents in Kacaknilis and Dalla Valle. Roy Hodgson ftw!

 

[shravi]

Anyone watch Liverpool tonight? Wisdom looks like a player. Strong, fast, and has a presence in the box as well. Suso was great I thought. Great passer, composed, really caresses the ball, and oozes class. Like Rodgers said, when he adds goals to his game he will be some player. And of course Shelvey. Fantastic sub appearance. Really gave Liverpool that little bit extra in the opponent's half. Borini was impressive with his movement as well. Assaidi had a good first game as well. Very pacy, and looks to be really confident in the 1v1 situations.

Enrique had another shocker. I don't know what to make of him anymore. Had a great first few months at Liverpool but has been mediocre since. The defense as a whole was pretty poor tonight but on the bright side only 1 of those 4 defenders (Enrique) has a chance of playing on Sunday.

 

[War]

Yea i watched it. Been impressed with Shelvey all season so far, should be in England's next squad.

Also yea Wisdon looked good. English players shining.

 

[Haarithan]

My unsung hero yesterday would be Jordan Henderson. Yes, Shelvey was our super-sub yesterday, but Hendo was so calm and composed throughout, not to mention his two assists as well. Suso looks mightily impressive as well, as does Wisdom.

Downing was kerplucking dreadful, AGAIN. Pacheco barely looks a talent. Assaidi has pace, but otherwise looked average imo. Carragher meanwhile needs to call it a day...

And I remember calling for Liverpool to sign a proper backup LB during May. Then we sold Fabio Aurelio and employed Glen Johnson as a makeshift backup LB to Enrique, who imo really has a hit a new low now at the club along with his Spanish counterpart in Pepe Reina.

Also feel Sahin is best suited to playing in Joe Allen's deep lying role. Was pretty good yesterday.

 

[shravi]

My unsung hero yesterday would be Jordan Henderson. Yes, Shelvey was our super-sub yesterday, but Hendo was so calm and composed throughout, not to mention his two assists as well. Suso looks mightily impressive as well, as does Wisdom.

Downing was kerplucking dreadful, AGAIN. Pacheco barely looks a talent. Assaidi has pace, but otherwise looked average imo. Carragher meanwhile needs to call it a day...

And I remember calling for Liverpool to sign a proper backup LB during May. Then we sold Fabio Aurelio and employed Glen Johnson as a makeshift backup LB to Enrique, who imo really has a hit a new low now at the club along with his Spanish counterpart in Pepe Reina.

Also feel Sahin is best suited to playing in Joe Allen's deep lying role. Was pretty good yesterday.

Carragher is only ever going to play in the Europa League and Carling Cup so it's not a problem for me. Sometimes an old face amongst all the young players helps.

BR has said he wants Lucas to play in that position once he comes back. I thought Sahin was a little circumspect defensively. Can't count the number of times YB players just glided past him.

 

[Haarithan]

Can't count the number of times YB players just glided past him.

Hmm yeah, did get dribbled past twice by the opposition players, but his long balls from out deep were just terrific and accurate. His passing was pretty good too.

Meanwhile...

Jordan Henderson:

Tackles - 7 (more than any other player)
Interceptions - 5 (more than any other player)
Assists - 2 (more than any other player)
Key passes - 3 (more than any other player)

Passing Accuracy rate - 86.7% (ought to improve slightly)

Pretty much why I had him locked down as my man of the match. So happy for him.

Honorable mention to Borini too (whom I'd overlooked in my previous post), made a massive impact too.

 

[shravi]

HAHA Agger! Brilliant!

 

[Haarithan]

Yeah definitely was the standout moment of the game haha. Assaidi was beyond exceptional yesterday, and Downing's excellent run of form in the Europa League continued as well - an absolute scorcher of a goal with his wrong foot, after having been employed at LB! Suarez endured his worst 90 minutes on the pitch wearing a Liverpool jersey - was ridiculously bad. Disappointed Henderson didn't start yesterday, who'd looked pretty good in every game he'd started so far this season in all competitions. Gerrard was pretty average too.