Europa League Semi Finals Thread

FC Basel vs. Chelsea FC

SL Benfica vs. Fenerbahçe SK

This is a tough chioce for our manager. An european semi-final, but on our return, almost no rest before a flight to Madeira for an awkward game against Marítimo. This after a tough game against Sporting yesterday. So far this season, in this competition, until the away game against Newcastle, he has selected 5/6 lesser used players, giving a rest to some important players. At this stage we can't afford to do that, or we could loose the first leg so bad that we are out of the competition. But, with only 4 points avantage over Porto, plus we have to play them away, I'm buggered if I can guess what he´ll do. Although we do have already two players suspended.

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE

WE KNOW WHAT WE AR-ARE

EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI FINALISTS

WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE

GOAL

Benfica and Fenerbache have both been cancelling each other out. Fenerbache missed a penalty in the last second of the half. Whenever I have watched Benfica they have looked suspect defensively..... their back line lacks pace too.

This is really bad...both matches actually.

Benfica hanging on by the skin of their balls.

this competition has really suffered since the Germans sold out

100% not a penalty that.

Cech has tried to make the game interesting by playing some sort of weird bleep test game of his own while the ball is in the area.

Referee puts a stop to his silliness by awarding Basel a penalty for something

Chelsea win it with the last kick of the game!

RAFA IN

Horrible c**ts score in the last minute.

"For me Clive...."

The corner that led to Fenerbache's goal should have been a Goal Kick. Weren't even close.

Hate this dirty bastard, only a matter of time before he ends somebodies career.

Anyone going to the Bridge tomorrow night? I am.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2314918/Tottenham-send-scout-watch-Mohamed-Salah-play-Basle-Chelsea.html


Typically late Spurs scouting. He was one of the best players at the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011. And the political situation in Egypt affecting Egyptian football meant that some players were always going to be available at bargain prices.

Egyptian players suck.

EMP wrote:Anyone going to the Bridge tomorrow night? I am.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2314918/Tottenham-send-scout-watch-Mohamed-Salah-play-Basle-Chelsea.html


Typically late Spurs scouting. He was one of the best players at the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011. And the political situation in Egypt affecting Egyptian football meant that some players were always going to be available at bargain prices.

Yeah, Spurs scouts waz well late when they picked up Garth Bale from Southampton for 5million innit!

Or Andy Lemons from Leeds for 1million.

We also wuz well late getting Louise Holtby, the German Jordan Henderson, for a mere 1.5million.

Terrible scouting says I!!!

Disco Benny wrote:

EMP wrote:Anyone going to the Bridge tomorrow night? I am.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2314918/Tottenham-send-scout-watch-Mohamed-Salah-play-Basle-Chelsea.html


Typically late Spurs scouting. He was one of the best players at the Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011. And the political situation in Egypt affecting Egyptian football meant that some players were always going to be available at bargain prices.

Yeah, Spurs scouts waz well late when they picked up Garth Bale from Southampton for 5million innit!

Or Andy Lemons from Leeds for 1million.

We also wuz well late getting Louise Holtby, the German Jordan Henderson, for a mere 1.5million.

Terrible scouting says I!!!

Glad you admit it!

How dare Spurs not to buy an Egyptian after the hit that was Hossam Ghaly and Mido

Fey wrote:How dare Spurs not to buy an Egyptian after the hit that was Hossam Ghaly and Mido

I quite agree Fey, it's outrageous, but the point wasn't that they should have bought him; it was that they had scouts in Colombia for that tournament in 2011 and missed him when he was in the Team of the Tournament despite Egypt's elimination by Argentina in the early knock-out phase of the competition. That team held eventual champions Brasil. He would have been a far cheaper option and it was not difficult to spot his potential. Others that were obvious talents at that competition were Oscar, Jorge Enrique, James Rodriguez, Nelson Oliveira, Ahmed Musa and that's without even mentioning the Brasilians! Jack Butland also shone there in a really average England team.

Will be watching Benfica tonight, hope they win as they stand a better chance of beating Chelski. Revenge for last year.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


GAITAN!!

Kuyt motm so far....

Kuyt scores a penalty. For me that is a very harsh penalty decision. Not only could Garay not get his hand out the way of that, but on the lead up to it a Fenerbache player was offside and he clearly effected the play even though he didn't touch it. Very harsh.

Shows you that the penalty rule has to be adjusted when teams get an almost certain goal out of nothing like that. I'm not a fan of teams getting a penalty just because there was a foul or handball just inside the box, even though there was no chance of scoring for the attacking team. A more fair rule would be if the foul/ handball denies a goal scoring chance it is a penalty, if not then an indirect free kick inside the box.

Game on.

Kuuuuuyyyyytttt 1-1!!!!

Big.Game.Player

Benfica just had a stronger penalty claim than Fenerbache yet it weren't given. A more obvious handball.

Money well spent by Abramovic.

CARDOZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great game, people watching that disgusting scum are missing out.

Basel equalise on aggregate in the 45th minute, not even time for kickoff or replays. 2-2, Chelsea lead on away goals. Rafa is that a live frog in your trousers?