Europa Cup Final

[Mikey1874]

It was coming

 

Nice finish 

[Mikey1874]

0-0 in the other game 

[iantjambo]

Payet off injured.

 

Big blow for Marseille.

[Mikey1874]

Payet out of game 

 

Subbed 

[iantjambo]

3 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

Payet out of game 

 

Subbed 

 

In tears as he came off.

[Nookie Bear]

Atletico seem to reduce every game to a scrap and they make the pitch look tiny with the way they defend. Just zero space. 

[iantjambo]

Rotherham 1 up in the other final

[Mikey1874]

Oh well 

 

Marseille need something to change this 

[Irufushi]

5 minutes ago, Nookie Bear said:

Atletico seem to reduce every game to a scrap and they make the pitch look tiny with the way they defend. Just zero space. 

 

Know how to kill games and win games . 

[Nookie Bear]

2 minutes ago, Irufushi said:

 

Know how to kill games and win games . 

 

Yep, it’s quite a talent. 

[iantjambo]

2-0 and you have to think that’s game over.

[milky_26]

atletico are cutting them open every time they come forward

[Mikey1874]

Beautiful 

 

Brilliant goal

 

Athletico have come out with real purpose second half 

[The Internet]

Ridiculous finish. 

[Taffin]

I can't see Atletico conceding 2 goals sadly. Probably game over

[Spencer]

2 hours ago, TorinoJambo said:

I think it depends on what you want. I have liked them since we played them. Simeone has a system and they play it well. Their ball retention is great and they are rapier like on the break. Marseille attack and will leave gaps. 2-0 Atletico.

Your prediction is looking good so far

 

They are incredibly effective in how they set up. Players work like dogs. They some serious talent too - AG is the genuine article. Barcelona will be getting a helluva player 

 

Godin is arguably the best stopper central defender in European football 

[Geoff the Mince]

7 minutes ago, Spencer said:

Your prediction is looking good so far

 

They are incredibly effective in how they set up. Players work like dogs. They some serious talent too - AG is the genuine article. Barcelona will be getting a helluva player 

 

Godin is arguably the best stopper central defender in European football 

Godin is a great influence as is Oblak in goals ,

 

With these players you can see why they play the way they do .

[shaun.lawson]

Poor old Marseille. Most passionate fans in France, and some of the most passionate in Europe. Surely one of Europe's 20 biggest clubs too. But:

 

- Just one league title since 1992

 

- No French Big Cup wins since 1988

 

- No Champions League football for what's about to become 5 years in a row, barring a major surprise this weekend

 

- Their greatest moment tainted in the eyes of almost everyone 

 

- Totally screwed by PSG and Monaco's riches

 

- And when they get back to a European final - in their own country, no less - they get their clocks well and truly cleaned in front of the watching world. Just like the previous two occasions. 

 

[Spencer]

10 minutes ago, Geoff the Mince said:

Godin is a great influence as is Oblak in goals ,

 

With these players you can see why they play the way they do .

Oblak is as good as anything in Europe 

 

Gabi is 35 in the summer. Still works harder than anyone 

[Mikey1874]

This is as one sided as last year's final 

 

Men against 'boys' again 

[Spencer]

4 minutes ago, shaun.lawson said:

Poor old Marseille. Most passionate fans in France, and some of the most passionate in Europe. Surely one of Europe's 20 biggest clubs too. But:

 

- Just one league title since 1992

 

- No French Big Cup wins since 1988

 

- No Champions League football for what's about to become 5 years in a row, barring a major surprise this weekend

 

- Their greatest moment tainted in the eyes of almost everyone 

 

- Totally screwed by PSG and Monaco's riches

 

- And when they get back to a European final - in their own country, no less - they get their clocks well and truly cleaned in front of the watching world. Just like the previous two occasions. 

 

Beaten by a better side. We knew that was highly likely before a ball was kicked though 

[iantjambo]

Marseille hit the inside of the post. 

 

[shaun.lawson]

4 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

This is as one sided as last year's final 

 

Men against 'boys' again 

 

Exactly right. Not ideal for an already devalued tournament. 

[Mikey1874]

3 minutes ago, iantjambo said:

Marseille hit the inside of the post. 

 

 

A goal would make for an interesting finish 

[iantjambo]

What the hell was that from N’Jie?

Edited May 16, 2018 by iantjambo

[Mikey1874]

1 minute ago, iantjambo said:

What the hell was that from Nije?

 

"Great skill" 

[iantjambo]

And that’s that.

[Mikey1874]

Great goal 

[Spencer]

Atletico minus 1 at 3/1 was free money tonight 

[Mikey1874]

Torres on (for 2 minutes)

Edited May 16, 2018 by Mikey1874

[Irufushi]

Proper professional performance from atleti, love the way they go about it. 

[Bindy Badgy]

Shame Atletico weren't in the later stages of the big cup.

 

Would love to see them take it down one day.

[Morgan]

No car horns tooting tonight here

[Debut 4]

It's almost disrespectful to say it because they have great talent on the ball too, but Atleti's ability to shut down is like something we've never seen before and it's their biggest asset.

 

Every player in that team has the ability to get close and make tackles or harass with effect.  The defence love to defend. A proper defence in which not one player thinks they are better than they are and try to be clever.(unlike some of the defences at other big clubs).

 

Theres no football snobbery with them. Not out to impress anyone. They do what they do best to a man.

 

 

 

 

[Bazzas right boot]

11 minutes ago, Debut 4 said:

It's almost disrespectful to say it because they have great talent on the ball too, but Atleti's ability to shut down is like something we've never seen before and it's their biggest asset.

 

Every player in that team has the ability to get close and make tackles or harass with effect.  The defence love to defend. A proper defence in which not one player thinks they are better than they are and try to be clever.(unlike some of the defences at other big clubs).

 

Theres no football snobbery with them. Not out to impress anyone. They do what they do best to a man.

 

 

 

 

 

A proper team. 

[rudi must stay]

4 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

I do - I think his career path is Atletico ----> Inter -----> Argentina -----> Argentinian club. But he won't necessarily head to Inter this summer.

 

 

The curse only applies in the European Cup (1974, last minute equaliser; 2014, last minute equaliser; 2016, missed pen and lost on pens). Not in this tournament, which they won twice earlier in the decade. And besides: however cursed they are, it's nothing like as much as Europe's truly cursed club, Benfica.

 

I give Marseille a chance purely because the final's being played in France. But all things being equal, Atleti should win. 

 

Benfica are just rubbish is Europe. Nothing to do with a curse

[shaun.lawson]

18 minutes ago, rudi must stay said:

 

Benfica are just rubbish is Europe. Nothing to do with a curse

 

 

 

So Atleti - who won a third European trophy in a decade tonight, and an extraordinary Spanish title in 2014 - are cursed, but Benfica aren't? Rightio. 

 

Benfica, of course, won two European Cups early in the tournament's existence. Then they refused to give their legendary manager, Bela Guttmann (who bears many similarities with Mourinho) a pay rise. He was furious, left, and is reported to have said:

 

"Not for 100 years will Benfica be European Champions".

 

Since then, Benfica have lost eight European finals out of eight. Including the 1988 European Cup Final, lost on penalties; the 2014 Europa League Final, lost on penalties; the 2013 Europa League Final, lost in the last minute having dominated throughout; the 1968 European Cup Final, when Eusebio missed a one-on-one to win it at the end of normal time; and four other finals, all lost by one-goal margins.

 

The ultimate nightmare was 2012/13. Benfica went unbeaten for the first 28 out of 30 league games - but in game 28, could only draw at home to little Estoril. That gave Porto an opening. They met in Porto in game 29, and the hosts scored the winner in the 93rd minute. League gone, via their only defeat of the entire season.

 

Then they met Chelsea in the Europa League Final - and Chelsea scored the winner in the 90th minute. European trophy gone.

 

And then, finally, came the Portuguese Cup Final, in which they took the lead against Guimares, then conceded two goals in 2 minutes and lost. Cup gone. 

 

So having been chasing the treble until the penultimate league game of the season, they ended up... with nothing.

 

Benfica fans believe they're cursed. Lisbon believes the club is cursed. Players who come to the club end up believing it too: it very clearly affects them at critical moments. Their sporting curse is by far the biggest and most powerful in world football. 

Edited May 16, 2018 by shaun.lawson

[rudi must stay]

2 minutes ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

 

 

So Atleti - who won a third European trophy in a decade tonight, and an extraordinary Spanish title in 2014 - are cursed, but Benfica aren't? Rightio. 

 

Benfica, of course, won two European Cups early in the tournament's existence. Then they refused to give their legendary manager, Bela Guttmann (who bears many similarities with Mourinho) a pay rise. He was furious, left, and is reported to have said:

 

"Not for 100 years will Benfica be European Champions".

 

Since then, Benfica have lost eight European finals out of eight. Including the 1988 European Cup Final, lost on penalties; the 2014 Europa League Final, lost on penalties; the 2013 Europa League Final, lost in the last minute having dominated throughout; the 1968 European Cup Final, when Eusebio missed a one-on-one to win it at the end of normal time; and four other finals, all lost by one-goal margins.

 

The ultimate nightmare was 2012/13. Benfica went unbeaten for the first 28 out of 30 league games - but in game 28, could only draw at home to little Estoril. That gave Porto an opening. They met in Porto in game 29, and Porto scored the winner in the 93rd minute. League gone, via their only defeat of the entire season.

 

Then they met Chelsea in the Europa League Final - and Chelsea scored the winner in the 90th minute. European trophy gone.

 

And then, finally, came the Portuguese Cup Final, in which they took the lead against Guimares, then conceded two goals in 2 minutes and lost. Cup gone. 

 

So having been chasing the treble until the penultimate league game of the season, they ended up... with nothing.

 

Benfica fans believe they're cursed. Lisbon believes the club is cursed. Players who come to the club end up believing it too: it very clearly affects them at critical moments. Their sporting curse is by far the biggest and most powerful in world football. 

 

Both are cursed and doomed. Glad I don't support either

[shaun.lawson]

1 minute ago, rudi must stay said:

 

Both are cursed and doomed. Glad I don't support either

 

But on the contrary. It's more fun to support clubs like that - because if/when they finally end the wait, it must feel so, so much more worthwhile than when the usual suspects win yet again. 

 

Many Hearts fans talk about 1986-98 as though all the pain we went through made that ultimate success all the sweeter. It might not have felt like it at the time; but I think that's right. 

[The Treasurer]

11 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

Payet out of game 

 

Subbed 

Great player, but after the disgraceful way he threw his toys out the pram at West Ham I couldn't help but smile when I saw him limping off in tears.

[iantjambo]

9 hours ago, Debut 4 said:

It's almost disrespectful to say it because they have great talent on the ball too, but Atleti's ability to shut down is like something we've never seen before and it's their biggest asset.

 

Every player in that team has the ability to get close and make tackles or harass with effect.  The defence love to defend. A proper defence in which not one player thinks they are better than they are and try to be clever.(unlike some of the defences at other big clubs).

 

Theres no football snobbery with them. Not out to impress anyone. They do what they do best to a man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

excellent post.

[The Old Tolbooth]

13 hours ago, Marvin said:

 

Was that their European venture back in 93 bt sport commentry mentioned earlier.q

Yeah that's the one, it was 2 groups of 4 teams and the winners of each group got to the final, however Rangers fans remember it as getting to the semi final the thick tossers. It later emerged that Marseille had paid the referee, not that they needed to because they absolutely played them off the park that night and beat them without breaking sweat. 

[Nookie Bear]

10 hours ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

 

 

So Atleti - who won a third European trophy in a decade tonight, and an extraordinary Spanish title in 2014 - are cursed, but Benfica aren't? Rightio. 

 

Benfica, of course, won two European Cups early in the tournament's existence. Then they refused to give their legendary manager, Bela Guttmann (who bears many similarities with Mourinho) a pay rise. He was furious, left, and is reported to have said:

 

"Not for 100 years will Benfica be European Champions".

 

Since then, Benfica have lost eight European finals out of eight. Including the 1988 European Cup Final, lost on penalties; the 2014 Europa League Final, lost on penalties; the 2013 Europa League Final, lost in the last minute having dominated throughout; the 1968 European Cup Final, when Eusebio missed a one-on-one to win it at the end of normal time; and four other finals, all lost by one-goal margins.

 

The ultimate nightmare was 2012/13. Benfica went unbeaten for the first 28 out of 30 league games - but in game 28, could only draw at home to little Estoril. That gave Porto an opening. They met in Porto in game 29, and the hosts scored the winner in the 93rd minute. League gone, via their only defeat of the entire season.

 

Then they met Chelsea in the Europa League Final - and Chelsea scored the winner in the 90th minute. European trophy gone.

 

And then, finally, came the Portuguese Cup Final, in which they took the lead against Guimares, then conceded two goals in 2 minutes and lost. Cup gone. 

 

So having been chasing the treble until the penultimate league game of the season, they ended up... with nothing.

 

Benfica fans believe they're cursed. Lisbon believes the club is cursed. Players who come to the club end up believing it too: it very clearly affects them at critical moments. Their sporting curse is by far the biggest and most powerful in world football. 

 

I think you are trying to be a journalist and searching for an angle into a story that is simply about a club that has bottled it on one or two occasions and not been good enough the rest of the time. 

[Nookie Bear]

11 hours ago, Debut 4 said:

It's almost disrespectful to say it because they have great talent on the ball too, but Atleti's ability to shut down is like something we've never seen before and it's their biggest asset.

 

Every player in that team has the ability to get close and make tackles or harass with effect.  The defence love to defend. A proper defence in which not one player thinks they are better than they are and try to be clever.(unlike some of the defences at other big clubs).

 

Theres no football snobbery with them. Not out to impress anyone. They do what they do best to a man.

 

 

 

 

 

Great post. 

 

They win win the battle first and then start playing. And keep battling. 

[Mac80]

11 hours ago, Debut 4 said:

It's almost disrespectful to say it because they have great talent on the ball too, but Atleti's ability to shut down is like something we've never seen before and it's their biggest asset.

 

Every player in that team has the ability to get close and make tackles or harass with effect.  The defence love to defend. A proper defence in which not one player thinks they are better than they are and try to be clever.(unlike some of the defences at other big clubs).

 

Theres no football snobbery with them. Not out to impress anyone. They do what they do best to a man.

 

 

 

 

 

Great post,

 

they are built on the foundations of passion and working hard. from the head coach to the fans the passion runs deep from that club, as you say they don't care how they win, as long as they do.

 

Personally, i love them. 

[Geoff the Mince]

I agree with the previous few posts; thier work ethic has  to be admired.

[Mikey1874]

3 hours ago, johnmitchell said:

Yeah that's the one, it was 2 groups of 4 teams and the winners of each group got to the final, however Rangers fans remember it as getting to the semi final the thick tossers. It later emerged that Marseille had paid the referee, not that they needed to because they absolutely played them off the park that night and beat them without breaking sweat. 

 

Same as Poland see 1974 World Cup as 'semi-final' defeat to West Germany 

[Morgan]

Marseille fans disgracing themselves and their club both in Lyon and outside the Velodrome in Marseille.

[benny]

40 minutes ago, Morgan said:

Marseille fans disgracing themselves and their club both in Lyon and outside the Velodrome in Marseille.

Nothing new then.

[Morgan]

5 minutes ago, benny said:

Nothing new then.

Aye, same old same old.