2016/17 Europa League

Sassuolo makes it to a European competition for the first time in their history. 4-1 agg vs Red Star.

RealGunner wrote:Pure embarrassment

Yeah. It is a shame that people only see how funny it is that West Ham didn't qualify, but nobody looks at the dedication of Astra's players and their solid performance considering the obvious difference of quality in terms of football.

I think GL is in its prime right now.

Ad Astra!

Don't take it the wrong way. It's a great accomplishment for Astra who deserved to go through.

But it's funny from an English perspective because the sense of entitlement at West Ham has shot up considerably since the stadium move. European football was expected. Astra was seen as a walkover. The fact they were full strength sans Payet makes it much worse than last year when they just basically gave up without trying.

And you've got all the people hyping West Ham as regular European contenders and they can't even qualify.

Jay29 wrote:Don't take it the wrong way. It's a great accomplishment for Astra who deserved to go through.

But it's funny from an English perspective because the sense of entitlement at West Ham has shot up considerably since the stadium move. European football was expected. Astra was seen as a walkover. The fact they were full strength sans Payet makes it much worse than last year when they just basically gave up without trying.

And you've got all the people hyping West Ham as regular European contenders and they can't even qualify.

I know this and I perfectly understand your point, but people are forgetting that two teams were involved in this tie. Astra deserves at least a mention.

came out of retirement for this special occasion.
Astra
Since no one really cares about Astra players here, i'm not gonna insist on them, still Teixeira is such an amazing player, and always was in Liga 1.

The age is so overrated in football, i think mostly because football PC games. Look at the age of Astra players:

Niculae 33, Seto 30, Geraldo 35, Lovin 34, Teixeira 35, Morais 30, Sapunaru 32

Now, let's take a look at West Ham:
Byram 22, Calleri 22, Töre 24, Valencia 26, Obiang 25, Kouyate 26, Antonio 26 ...

And the funny thing is, at Astra's beautiful goal the people who were involved were 32,33 and 35.
And amazingly, Alibec who is much younger is in the worst physical shape. This proves again that the preparation is much more important than the actual age.

Finally the greatest European cup is back.


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Might as well make this the EL thread for the year.

Man United drawn with Fenerbahce so far.

Got the Spartak Praha.
Fantastic place for an away match , so I like it tbh

Southampton

Feyenoord in with United.

Inter-Southampton looks a very interesting match up.

How is Southampton this

Jay29 wrote:Feyenoord in with United.

Inter-Southampton looks a very interesting match up.

Your opinion about the Southampton of this year ?
Not followed well EPL in last period

Southampton are managed by Claude Puel now. They're tyring to play a diamond but are struggling to replace Mane and Pelle. Their midfield looks pretty tidy though with Romeu, Clasie, Hojbjerb and Tadic. Also Fonte-van Dijk is a solid CB partnership.

They lack European experience, though. They were knocked out in the play-offs last year.

Looking forward to the glamour tie between Man United and FC Zorya Luhansk

2016/17 Europa League Group Stage


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I might go see Genk Sassuolo if tickets are cheap enough!

Sassuolo to the final and will lose to a Spanish team that comes down from the CL.

You are allowed to say the name you know..... Congratz to Sevilla for winning the EL for the 4th time in a row

Man U got this if Mourinho plays his proper lineup... which he probably won't.  He doesn't care about Europa.

Under the premise that Mourinho will tank the Europa, Lyon or Sevilla for me.

They have enough depth to win it.

Schalke for EL winners!

halamadrid2 wrote:You are allowed to say the name you know..... Congratz to Sevilla for winning the EL for the 4th time in a row

I didn't want to be too obvious.

Watch us cack up that group we're in

sportsczy wrote:Man U got this if Mourinho plays his proper lineup... which he probably won't.  He doesn't care about Europa.

Under the premise that Mourinho will tank the Europa, Lyon or Sevilla for me.

Will this lineup be enough to go the distance ?



This could very well be our lineup provided Fellaini and Valencia manage to continue their first team honeymoons.

rwo power wrote:Schalke for EL winners!

'96-'97 deja-vu (:

No it wouldn't work Glory.  That team gets knocked out in the QF stage of Europa imo.  Talent is decent... but they will lack form because they rarely play, let alone together.  The other good sides will have built synergy and play regularly in their leagues.

But if Man U makes the semis and assuming the schedule isn't going to crap on their EPL games... Mourinho puts in his top lineup then imo. It will depend on how the EPL is going though.