Midweek Football (12,13,14th April)

[Magic]

Sakho. :D

"Liverpool country'

[Giggles]

Liverpool on course to win the greatest competition of all time ever.

Bigger than the prem now obvs mate.

[niko_cee]

All the best games.

[Boydy]

I don't know how much of that can be attributed to Klopp but surely it's got to be a lot. Under Rodgers the game would have been over after the first half. He's changed the mentality of the team completely.

What a turnaround for Lovren after missing the decisive penalty against the Turks last year.

I was thinking that. They'd have given up after the second Dortmund goal if Rodgers was still in charge.

[Reg]

Fantastic.

It'd be nice if Sakho could enjoy it a bit more though.

[Magic]

Germans looking shell shocked.

:eyemouth:

[Spoonsky]

I do love the desperate scramble to downplay it every time Liverpool wins like this (which admittedly isn't very often). It's not about the competition, it's about the game they've just played and the manner in which they've won. I'd rather win the Europe League like that than win the league in an utterly boring fashion (unless you're Leicester).

[Vim]

Oh come on, a 38-match season is always going to feel more "boring" than a knockout competition. The Premier League is more important than the Europa League.

[Boydy]

Europa League > 4th place trophy

[Magic]

I do love the desperate scramble to downplay it every time Liverpool wins like this (which admittedly isn't very often). It's not about the competition, it's about the game they've just played and the manner in which they've won. I'd rather win the Europe League like that than win the league in an utterly boring fashion (unless you're Leicester).

You're not a real Cess fan. The exact opposite is true of their victim mentality.

[John Arne]

Bigger than the prem now obvs mate.

You're obsessed.

[Max Power]

Didn't see that coming at any point other than when Lovren was winding up that header. Great game.

Liverpool are gonna win the league next season. Or at least threaten to for a bit.

[Sam]

The look on the Dortmund players faces was priceless, utter shellshock, Reus's was an absolute gem.

[Giggles]

Europa League > 4th place trophy


It is now of course in crackpot land. Well, until they lose to a far inferior team to Dortmund next time out because they don't know how to raise their game.

But for now, MOST IMPORTANT COMPETITION IN THE WORLD.

[Giggles]

Didn't see that coming at any point other than when Lovren was winding up that header. Great game.

Liverpool are gonna win the league next season. Or at least threaten to for a bit.

They won't win it for a decade, even two.

[John Arne]

Jesus Giggles let us enjoy the moment.

[Giggles]

Jesus Giggles let us enjoy the moment.

I'm sure nothing I can say can thwart the enjoyment. If it is, just tighten the blinkers.

[Luke Emia]

It is now of course in crackpot land. Well, until they lose to a far inferior team to Dortmund next time out because they don't know how to raise their game.

But for now, MOST IMPORTANT COMPETITION IN THE WORLD.

Surely winning an actual trophy and qualifying for the Champions League is better than finishing fourth? I'm not even saying Liverpool will win it but any sane fan wants their team to win a trophy?

[Spoonsky]

Oh come on, a 38-match season is always going to feel more "boring" than a knockout competition. The Premier League is more important than the Europa League.

Sure, I'd love Liverpool to win the Premier League (and we will under Klopp), but when I'm an old man it'll be moments like going mental by myself in the living room half an hour ago that I remember more than all the clinical 2-0 home wins against Watford.

The ultimate is Aguero's goal against QPR though. Nothing would come close to that.

[Waffdon]

The Liverpool fans jumping out their wheelchairs for the winner. :D

[Giggles]

Surely winning an actual trophy and qualifying for the Champions League is better than finishing fourth? I'm not even saying Liverpool will win it but any sane fan wants their team to win a trophy?

I'm sure it is now after tonight, that its huge, etc etc.

If you've been here at all you'd know I've never been an advocate for the competition. Even back in the day when I gave a shit about Spurs I would have hated them wasting energy on it.

[Sam]

Surely winning an actual trophy and qualifying for the Champions League is better than finishing fourth? I'm not even saying Liverpool will win it but any sane fan wants their team to win a trophy?

I'll remind you this is Giggles your talking to.

[Giggles]

I'll remind you this is Giggles your talking to.

I've just reminded him.

[niko_cee]

Surely winning an actual trophy and qualifying for the Champions League is better than finishing fourth? I'm not even saying Liverpool will win it but any sane fan wants their team to win a trophy?

You're on to something here.

[Giggles]

You're on to something here.

:D Funny how it's more important now.

You all could at least try be more consistent than your tribe.

[niko_cee]

Not quite what I meant, but seeing as every other poster on the board beat me to it best to let it slide.

[Boydy]

It is now of course in crackpot land. Well, until they lose to a far inferior team to Dortmund next time out because they don't know how to raise their game.

But for now, MOST IMPORTANT COMPETITION IN THE WORLD.

I meant winning the Europa League is better than winning the 'fourth place trophy'. For anyone, not just Liverpool. Not that the competition is more important than the league. They both come with Champions League qualification but the Europa is also silverware in its own right.

[AE]

Proper Ac Milan-esq by Dortmund there, Jesus.

[John Arne]

Competition we are still in becomes more and more important as we progress through the stages SHOCKER.

[John Arne]

:D Funny how it's more important now.

You all could at least try be more consistent than your tribe.

How should we have acted before the game to properly express how important we felt that the game was?

[Luke Emia]

:D Funny how it's more important now.

You all could at least try be more consistent than your tribe.

Start of the season is it that important no it probably isn't. I'd rather win the league(Or at least not be twenty points off the pace)because I'm not a massive spastic. But, considering if we weren't still in it our season would have been finished in February and it is a route back into the Champions League IF we did win it I'd probably say it's more important than trying to finish 6th in the league.

Yes it's not the best competition in the world but choice of winning it or even having a decent run in it or nothing I know which one I would take.

[Giggles]

Apologies all. It's massive.

(For another while at least).

[Reg]

What's wrong with enjoying a win? What's the point of football if you can't enjoy winning 4-3 and getting to a semi final?

[GS]

I thought that was fucking splendid. :drool:

[Waffdon]

Sevilla are a joke. They're going to win it again.

[Davgooner]

Fuck me I've missed some football this week. :moop:

[Pepe]

Giggles. :drool:

[Boydy]

What's wrong with enjoying a win? What's the point of football if you can't enjoy winning 4-3 and getting to a semi final?

Because we should all be miserable and hate everything and fucking hipsters.

Classic Giggles.

[Magic]

Because we should all be miserable and hate everything and fucking hipsters.

Classic Giggles.

Sounds like classic Boyd to me.

[Samadini]

Can confirm, winning trophies/picture frames is glorious no matter what.

http://i.imgur.com/cUZkW.jpg

:drool:

[SvN]

This was always my favourite crap trophy photo

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01236/andy-murray-qatar-_1236463c.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is amazing :D

I think Google image reverse suggesting that it is Andy Roddick makes it slightly better.

[Smiffy]

.....

[CJay]

What a match, pity I was unable to watch it. Couldn't believe it following the game on livescore. Never saw us coming back after that Reus goal. Caught the highlights tonight - Sakho's celebration. :drool: Not sure who I want in the semi - are Shakhtar actually any good?

[Baz]

What a comeback. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

We had all the Liverpool fans at work crowded around the guy with the smart watch, waiting on updates. Went a little mad when the 4-3 update came through. You could also hear the "oh for fucks sake" coming from the guys who were sticking the boot in at 0-2 down.

Got home and watched the highlights. Glorious.

[Baz]

Imagine the odds of Leicester winning the league, City winning the CL, and Liverpool winning the Europa League, at the start of the season.

[niko_cee]

Those weird celebrations where everyone holds hands and lift their arms Klopp has implemented look very reminiscent of the stuff your players would get up to in ISS/Pro Evo of old when you won something. Looked shit and unrealistic then . . .

[Davgooner]

Liverpool destroying the 4th Place Trophy. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

4th place lives... unless City win the CL from 5th or 6th as well.

[Giggles]

In fairness it would be massively lol if they did and Spurs finished 4th :D

[Disco]

It was an exciting game and a great comeback but I'd have been more impressed had Liverpool not conceded three goals at home.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They won't win it anyway. Sevilla are invincible.

[Mazuuurk]

Yes exactly. I would have also been more impressed if they scored an additional 3 goals at home, as well as not conceding anything. If they would have also kept 95% possession, that would have impressed me even more.

[niko_cee]

The UEFA Cup doesn't have any bearing on the 4th place trophy does it? Only City, in Jimmy's described circumstances, could take that 4th place spot away, couldn't they? Would be quite funny if the did it to United, or to Spurs (again).

[Davgooner]

Well bollocks then. Bring on Olympiakos.

[Smiffy]

.....

[John Arne]

$20 that it's City-Bayern and Atletico-Real.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We can have five teams in, so 4th only perishes if we win both European trophies from outside the top four, which remarkably is still possible.

Europa League winners however go straight into the group stage... unless the Champions League winner has not qualified any other way.

[Smiffy]

.....

[John Arne]

Man City - Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid - Bayern Munich

[John Arne]

Go on then. ;)

UEFA bottled it :D

[Davgooner]

City could do that.

Fucking hell.

[Lee]

Wanted an all Spanish semi to avoid an all Spanish final really. One of Man City or Atletico for the whole thing would please me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We had a Madrid final a couple of years ago didn't we? Suspect we'll have one again.

La Liga now exerting total dominance over European football. Far stronger than all other leagues combined.

[SvN]

How do you even measure strength per league to make a claim like that? Is it in Newtons?

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[John Arne]

Shakhtar Donetsk - FC Sevilla
Villarreal - Liverpool

Away second is good.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Jimmy Floyd]

How do you even measure strength per league to make a claim like that? Is it in Newtons?

They're barely losing to anyone except each other.

In fact, in this year's knockouts, they have only lost to each other. The only blemish on their European record this season was Valencia going out of their CL group in 3rd.

[Lee]

Floyd and Smiffy are both right. The Spaniards are by far the best in Europe, but this stuff is cyclical. It will move on soon enough.

[Smiffy]

.....

[SvN]

I agree that they're the strongest league, I just find the "than all leagues combined" a bit of an odd declaration.

[phonics]

Not like Jimmy to make an exaggerated sweeping statement that doesn't really hold up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Their teams have more chance of winning the trophies (as far as I can see) than do the teams of all other leagues combined.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Jimmy Floyd]

The very real possibility if they lose four ties out of four, of which they are favourites in at least three.

I just think the top 8 or so in Spain have left everyone behind recently with their ability to play technical football at pace. Everywhere else it's one or the other, or, in France, neither.

They're probably all on drugs, but never mind.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Gray Fox]

So we could in theory have all Spanish, European finals.

City v Bayern would be interesting should that happen, although I think Atletico will win the thing. I also fancy the Ukranians to sneak the Europa League.

[Mazuuurk]

The top teams in Spain are stronger right now.
But, I'd definitely say Crystal Palace or Stoke are better sides than Eibar or Betis.


I also think this may be a large factor in why the Spanish teams are doing so well - they only really seem to have 6 important league games per season, the rest of them is just about how many goals Ronaldo and Messi can score in that game. Now in the PL, basically every league game these days seem to be a bit of a death battle.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Disco]

And when you get tired they give you someone elses blood to perk you up.

[Lewis]

This is alright from the 'anyone but City' perspective. Bayern could collapse, and 'Atleti' could find their gypoball ineffective; but Ronaldo really ought to be scoring five across the two legs (I suppose the idiots at the other end of the pitch might wreck it).