Europa League Thread

[StinkyBoHoon]

the more I see of swansea the more I'm inclined to credit an incredibly well run club with a clear vision of how to play football than rodgers himself. Martinez left there under great hype as well and hasn't exactly taken wigan forward, his PL record is 16th, 16th and 15th. swansea don't exactly look lost with rodgers this year either, they've continually gone forward over the last few years, seems the common factor is the board not the managers.

 

[ste_mc_efc]

considering how wigan fail to keep any of their half decent players for longer than 18 months i'd say keeping them at that level is a good achievement. Progressing nigh on impossible

 

[puddleduck]

They've taken the Barca approach in more than just trying to play good football. They are all about stability and a clear plan, the coaches that then come in can be replaced without the club going tits up.

 

[shravi]

Haarithan, just wait. It has to get worse in some aspects before it gets better. Puddleduck has already said everything I wanted to say. He has maximized the potential of a squad with very limited ability (there's only so much you can get out of Downing, he is an honest player, nothing more), and has had the courage to bring in young players. Judge him after 2-3 seasons, not before his first is even over. He has shown a willingness to adapt. For example, he initially seemed adamant on using a 4-3-3 which left us far too open at the back. While we have leaked goals even under the slightly modified 4-2-3-1 system, that is more down to the quality of the players. Also, he is no longer simply relying on players he managed earlier. At the beginning of the season, Allen was a sure starter irrespective of his performances, but now his position is in question, and is merit-based.

 

[Haarithan]

Puddleduck has already said everything I wanted to say.

PD also said it'll take atleast a decade for us to get back into the top four/five.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

What a game this is! Come on Liverpool, you can do this.

(Yep, you heard right).

Uh-oh: looks like that away goal is going to bite Liverpool when the night is done. And so it proved - another English club bites the dust.

 

[shravi]

Disappointed to go out, but I can't fault the players. They gave it absolutely everything and 4-1 was always going to be a very uphill task. Once it was 3-3, Zenit pressed much higher up the pitch and really stifled Liverpool and forced them into either passing it among the back four or hoofing it forward. Personally, I would not have taken off Henderson and Allen as they were both having very good games.

I feel sorry for Suarez. He deserved better.

 

[puddleduck]

As Jamie Carragher demonstrates why he is retiring at the end of the year

 

[Haarithan]

Mentality of this side still a massive worry. Yet to score an equaliser or a winner in the last ten minutes of the league/Europa League this season. Want to cry for Su?rez though, such a special footballer that he deserves better.

 

[War]

If Sturridge wasn't cup tied, Liverpool probably would have won.

 

[Highlander999]

Really proud of our performance tonight. A lot of good players missing in Cisse, Krul, Collo, Guiterrez, Debuchy, Gouffran and with Taylor, Tiote and Santon being rested on the bench, to go to Moscow and put up such a solid defensively play and nearly nick an away goal was a cracking effort. One of the best performances of the season!

 

[shravi]

Must feel good to be a Spurs fan this season.

 

[puddleduck]

Felt good to be a Spurs fan for the last 6 years or so to be fair. Good football and challenging on most fronts. Unlike some of the clubs in the country most of us don't presume football ends after the top 2

 

[Haarithan]

AVB is looking more and more the real deal.

 

[Epic]

Ofc, he's no doubt the best of the young managers today, happy to see him doing well.