Europa League - Semi Finals

Liverpool wrote:Guerrero starts against Fulham. Very very interesting!

And Trochowski, finally

(Petric injured but could make a Rooney in the 2nd half some papers speculated)

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Hey COTR

I know this isn't really the thread to ask, but do you think Rafa is leaving at the end of this season? There are strong rumours in the Italian papers that he is close to agreeing a deal with Juve, and atm Juve are trying to hire the backroom staff that he's requested.

No unfortunately

Van Hooijdonk says he thinks Fulham will win, because of the pressure on HSV & Fulham being an Ok team. He also says Zamora should start for England.

Since no-one has done so yet

Hamburg: Rost, Demel, Boateng, Mathijsen, Aogo, Pitroipa, Jarolim, Ze Roberto, Trochowski, Guerrero, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Hesl, Rozehnal, Petric, Tesche, Berg, Rincon, Torun.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Zamora, Gera.
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Nevland, Dempsey, Smalling, Greening, Dikgacoi.

Dreadful goal to concede for Liverpool. Forlan just about scuffed it in.

Oops

Dear god

Keep shouting at other people there Jamie

First of all you got skinned and then you are too much of a donkey to actually kick the ball clear

Rafa's ultra defensive bullshit backfiring already

Come on Atletico SMASH these c**ts tonight while you can. No trophy for Pool should Atletico win by 3 goals tonight which they evidently will.

Fucking hell

Perfectly legal goal ruled out for offside

He wasn't even close to being offside

L r dd wrote:Come on Atletico SMASH these c**ts tonight while you can. No trophy for Pool should Atletico win by 3 goals tonight which they evidently will.

Don't count on it. Atleti are perfectly capable of f****g it up royally.

What are Atleti doing ?

Don't they realise this is their best chance of going through in this tie ? All they have to do is up the pressure and we'll crumble as we always do.

First half finishes 1-1. Pity the scoreline says otherwise.

One-way football in Hamburg. Looks like an ice-hockey power play except Hamburg can't get any shots off. Rather boring to watch. Trochowski looks like he has never played football before.

I'm watching Hamburg-Fulham, and it's not too entertaining. Fulham are defending well (esp. in how they give Van Nistelrooy little space to work with) and Hamburg lack the creativity to break them down. On the other hand, Fulham's counter attacks are very quickly stopped, mostly by a hard working Hamburg midfield. So home team dominating, but don't really look like scoring. Hopefully the 2nd half is better.

? wrote:

In regards to tonight, I expect something similar to the Benfica match. Struggle vs Madrid and hope to be still in the tie come the final whistle. With the 2nd leg hopefully beating them .

Missed the first 45 minutes.

Should I assume that we are struggling so far?

Seems like a typical away performance from us. Operation 0-0 as it is called. We're not good on the counter-attack so why the quick pass forward. Really need to hold the ball more. Hamburg haven't really tested us. Pitroipa's pace apart I can't see them scoring. We tend to score more goals in the second half so I am still hopeful of an away goal.

COTR #6 wrote:What are Atleti doing ?

Don't they realise this is their best chance of going through in this tie ? All they have to do is up the pressure and we'll crumble as we always do.

First half finishes 1-1. Pity the scoreline says otherwise.

International refs



Hamburg dreadful, Labbadia is finished after this season. Again.

? wrote:

? wrote:

In regards to tonight, I expect something similar to the Benfica match. Struggle vs Madrid and hope to be still in the tie come the final whistle. With the 2nd leg hopefully beating them .

Missed the first 45 minutes.

Should I assume that we are struggling so far?

We are playing the same as usual. Very poorly but thankfully Atletico are also very poor. Apart from their weird goal they haven't done a thing.

We can't play any football with this lineup obviously but we also fluked a goal which another incompetent linesman decided he didn't want to allow.

Just saw Forlan's goal

Oh and now the Yossi offside call

Yet another EPL team in Fulham playing pussy football in Europe FFS!

Dutch tv opted for the wrong match. HSV are very poor & Fulham do not want to attack.

De Guzman wrote:Dutch tv opted for the wrong match. HSV are very poor & Fulham do not want to attack.

the belgians are smarter... they show the other game

HSV is bore as hell..

I dont think the other match is any better tbf

De Guzman wrote:Dutch tv opted for the wrong match. HSV are very poor & Fulham do not want to attack.

I'm watching Hamburg's match. It looks like watching Barcelona vs Chelsea, Mancs, Arsenal, Liverpool...minus Barcelona quality of course.

Dank je, switched.

wanted to see Horseface & Mathijssen. But this is painful HSV are out of shape & under pressure. Nothing works for them. Fulham should go for a win.

Fuck sake Zamora. Duff was free.

Antarion wrote:I dont think the other match is any better tbf

Liverppol are always a joy to watch...

What the fuck was that Forlan?!

Strange game so far, the quality is poor, and some of the decision making has been a bit odd. The pitch looks quite slow as well. There have been a few occasions where players have left the ball behind when running with it.

Sheffield gunner wrote:What the fuck was that Forlan?!

Strange game so far, the quality is poor, and some of the decision making has been a bit odd. The pitch looks quite slow as well. There have been a few occasions where players have left the ball behind when running with it.

Two incredibly mediocre teams

So much for the Europa being better than the CL

The ref is excellent though. Pity about his linesman.

Fantastic save from Reina. That could be a key moment in the tie.

I agree, the referee has been very good. He's ignored the theatrics and dives throughout the game. It would have been even worse with a whistle-happy referee stopping the game every five seconds.

did anyone else notice the referee kissing his linesman before kickoff in the Atletico/Liverpool game?