The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[Laylabelle 9,395]

9 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Couldn't have hand picked a better route to the final. If we play with the same swagger and focus as we did against Kiev we should be comfortably be better than our opponents in the next two rounds.

Hopefully Napoli and Arse take a lot out of each other and hopefully Napoli advances. I really don't want to face Arse in the final and potentially lose to them. 

Nah sod that shit! 

[Unionjack 7,531]

But what do Chelsea need to know about Slavia Prague?

Key player

Miroslav Stoch: Slavia Prague’s top-scorer this season with 13 goals, Stoch used to play for Chelsea from 2006 to 2010. He only made four appearances before joining Fenerbache, where he was until 2017. The Slovakian international, who has played 57 times for his country, won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2012 for best goal and will be a threat up front alongside Milan Skoda for the Czech side.

 

Europa League record 

Slavia Prague last reached this stage of the competition in 2000, where they lost to fellow quarter-finalists Villarreal. The club’s best European performance was reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1996, where they lost to Bordeaux, and last season they were knocked out of the Europa League in the group stages. They stunned Sevilla in the last-16, winning 6-5 on aggregate, after drama in extra-time.

Domestic form

Slavia Prague are top of the Czech First Division, and are six points clear of second placed Viktoria Plzen, having won all but four of their 24 games. They’re also in the quarter-finals of the Czech Cup, playing MFK Karvina on April 2.

 

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

If Bayern and Dortmund, the best two teams in the Bundesliga got smashed in the CL by EPL teams I don’t see why we would have any trouble.

You're comparing us to Spurs AND Liverpool?

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Mana said:

Point is that the quality of the Bundesliga isn’t all that great. The fact that I’m worried more about Benfica speaks volumes.

We probably won’t smash Frankfurt but we should beat them comfortably if we ever meet.

Well, it's not a fact. It's just you.

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Mana said:

Lol, are we that awful that we can’t beat a German side now?

I expect Chelsea to beat them. If not, Sarri has to go.

I'm surprised you're feeling all confident considering we've struggled way more often than not whenever we come up against half decent sides this season.

[Vesper 29,074]

2 minutes ago, Mana said:

Frankfurt are not a decent side though. They are not a side we should be quavering our boots. I didn't even know this club existed until today.

 

ermm, Jovic and Haller

2 of the most talked about striker targets for us

Ante Rebic, a great combo winger/AMF/2nd striker who was a star for Croatia in the world Cup (ask Caballero)

Evan N'Dicka, a superb young 19yo CB who has exploded onto the scene (would LOVE to grab him whilst still somewhat affordable)

etc etc

to call them a not decent side is way overstating things

any of the teams left, save Slavia, is more than capable of smashing us on a bad night

or have you forgotten Bournemouth so soon?

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Mana said:

Frankfurt are not a decent side though. They are not a side we should be quavering our boots. I didn't even know this club existed until today.

How can you say they're not a decent side if you didn't know they existed before today? 

They are 5th in the Bundesliga (we're 6th in ours!), have prolific forwards (1 of whom we've been linked with) and have lost just 3 of their last 29 matches in all competitions! 

Not saying they're unbeatable but they are a lot better than you think. 

[Vesper 29,074]

Fucking sucks that Victimpool drew Porto, grrrrr

[Special Juan 27,449]

Sevilla have sacked Pablo Machin

[Johnnyeye 7,451]

6 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Fucking sucks that Victimpool drew Porto, grrrrr

Porto will beat them

[Johnnyeye 7,451]

Just now, Special Juan said:

Sevilla have sacked Pablo Machin

too little too late, this means no european fairytale for them as a response

[Vesper 29,074]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

...what? This doesn't make sense.

Again you are attempting to mirror the quality of the PL to the terrible Bundesliga. It's like comparing PL to Czech First League and saying they are the same.

"Exploded onto the scene" is also overstating things. Jovic I've heard of but only because of our "link", but do I rate him? Not yet. What has he done that you think he's going to make it in the PL?

Slavia can beat us on a bad night too if you put it that way.

Bournemouth can narrowly beat Frankfurt. They are a mid-table PL team that can play great football. I even put my money on Wolves. Bundesliga is NOT as good as the PL.

full of non sequiturs and other logical fallacies

1. I (and no one else for that matter) said the Bundesliga was at the same level as the EPL

2. It is ludicrous to infer that the Bundesliga is at the same level as the Cech League (you did do that, just now)

Quote

It's like comparing PL to Czech First League and saying they are the same.

3. I will take Frankfurt all day, all night over Bournemouth in a cup tie or any extended series of games

they are a vastly superior team

[Johnnyeye 7,451]

very juicy draws indeed 

[Vesper 29,074]

5 minutes ago, Mana said:

Incorrect.

Yes, Jason implied it by saying they are 5th in the Bundesliga while WE are 6th in the PL. So that is comparing. Otherwise why bring that up? Why does this matter?

No...I did not say that. The point I was saying is that it's silly to compare the PL to the German League. It's nowhere near the same level as the PL, and it's like comparing (yes!) the PL to the Czech League.

Yes, I'll take Frankfurt over Bournemouth too in a cup game. They are easier to beat. Don't understand why you said this though.

Who? Bournemouth? I wouldn't say vastly...

Disagree on everything. I have put up valid enough objections and you saying they don't exist or trying to twist out speaks for itself.

[Vesper 29,074]

Just now, Mana said:

 

I didn't say they don't exist. Of course they bloody exist. I just didn't know they existed until today. What, am I suppose to know every single football club off by heart?

I wasnt talking about Frankfurt. I was talking out my positings in reply to your responses. 

Also, if you are unfamiliar with major teams in other leagues that in and of itself underpins a lack of validity in regards to making qualitative value judgements.

[Vesper 29,074]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

If you weren't talking about Frankfurt, who was the "they" then? If you are talking about me ignoring your posts like they don't exist (which is not true), tell me how am I.

Frankfurt is a "major team?" I strongly disagree. This "major team" has yet to make an appearance in the CL since the 60's! One trophy in 30+ years!

diagram the sentence using basic English syntactical grammar

Quote

I have put up valid enough objections and you saying they don't exist or trying to twist out speaks for itself.

my objections is what 'they' refers to

and

I said a major team in their league (certainly atm they qualify as such)

Quote

major teams in other leagues 

 

[LAM09 6,807]

Got the best draw possible. Should Benfica manage to surprisingly progress, it would be the icing on the cake.

 

Frankfurt are not a decent side though. They are not a side we should be quavering our boots. I didn't even know this club existed until today.

Again I am not saying we are going to trash this lot, but I expect Chelsea to get through both legs comfortably. If not, then it's another embarrassing moment for the club this season and Sarri has to leave.

 

They just beat a CL side quite comfortably (putting the actual score to one side), so you need reassess that statement.

 

However, Chelsea are favourites for a reason.

 

[Vesper 29,074]

Just now, Mana said:

I don't know what you're talking about...but I'll take that English is your 2nd language which lead to confusion.

LOLOLOL

I think YOU might be the guilty party in regards to that particular postulation.

I am London born and raised, UK and European university educated with multiple degrees. I can assure you that I have a comprehensive command of the English language, a command that extends to a multiplicity of its idioms and vernaculars due to the multicultural nature of my background, and my varied places of domicile over the years. Your argumentum ad hominem (itself a logical fallacy of the very sort and type that I referenced above in a previous part of this tiresome colloquy) is nothing more than an attempt at deflection and obfuscation, and does not serve you well at all.