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Post by Pricey on Dec 8, 2011 1:34:35 GMT
...that the Europa League will become a pretty big competition once we get to knock-out rounds?
I know it's artificially "improved" by the Champions league drop-outs and there'll be quite a bit of chaff in the last 32 (possibly including us ;D) but it's feasible that the last 16 could contain the following teams:
Manchester United
Manchester City
Tottenham
Valencia
Porto
Ajax
PSV
PSG
Sporting Lisbon
Lazio
Athletico Madrid
Schalke
Dinamo Kiev/Besiktas
Some of the above could be classed as fallen giants I suppose but most of them have recent-ish late round Champions League pedigree and all have big, mostly top-quality stadiums.
It's a far cry from FC Thun, that's for sure.
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Post by Paul Spencer on Dec 8, 2011 2:40:23 GMT
...that the Europa League will become a pretty big competition once we get to knock-out rounds? I know it's artificially "improved" by the Champions league drop-outs and there'll be quite a bit of chaff in the last 32 (possibly including us ;D) but it's feasible that the last 16 could contain the following teams: Manchester United Manchester City Tottenham Valencia Porto Ajax PSV PSG Sporting Lisbon Lazio Athletico Madrid Schalke Dinamo Kiev/Besiktas Some of the above could be classed as fallen giants I suppose but most of them have recent-ish late round Champions League pedigree and all have big, mostly top-quality stadiums. It's a far cry from FC Thun, that's for sure. I've alluded to it elsewhere on the board tonight Pricey ... playing ManU in a European competition at the Brit would be one of the biggest nights in our history. |
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Post by JoeinOz on Dec 8, 2011 4:59:52 GMT
It would be ace to win the grouip just to increase the chance of getting one step further.
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Post by darksideofthemoon on Dec 8, 2011 5:28:48 GMT
For me, it's imperative that we get a point and top the Group....I hope we go to Besiktas with the right attitude.  I'm sure the team would like to go through the Group stage unbeaten, wouldn't they?  |
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Post by justinp on Dec 8, 2011 5:43:45 GMT
Just notice how ITV will now be creaming at having the two dirty Manc teams to show, and on top of that I have to go to Manchester every Thursday, gonna be shit when Man U are at home, the train back to Stoke is the train to Euston.
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Post by Gods on Dec 8, 2011 6:06:42 GMT
I know no one likes a clever dick but it hit me before it happened when I could see it was coming - per my "Are Man City Europa League favourites in waiting" thread of a couple of weeks ago |
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Post by Pricey on Dec 8, 2011 6:16:54 GMT
You mean "Are Man City Europa League favourites in waiting?"
Yes....I saw it. They're about 5/1 on average, United 7/1, Ath. Madrid and Valencia 12/1.
We're about a 22/1 shot. Love that if you said to someone 6 years ago that Stoke would be a bigger favourite to win a European competition than Lazio and Ajax in 2011/2012 they probably would have called in the padded van.
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Post by Gods on Dec 8, 2011 6:29:43 GMT
You mean "Are Man City Europa League favourites in waiting?" Yes....I saw it. They're about 5/1 on average, United 7/1, Ath. Madrid and Valencia 12/1. We're about a 22/1 shot. Love that if you said to someone 6 years ago that Stoke would be a bigger favourite to win a European competition than Lazio and Ajax in 2011/2012 they probably would have called in the padded van. Yeah, that one!! This comp is now a mouth watering prospect which sends a chill down my spine. If you can't get excited about this you either don't love this football club or have no discernible pulse  |
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Post by staffordstokie999 on Dec 8, 2011 7:03:22 GMT
Theres no chance either of the Manchester clubs will take it seriously, i can see them both getting knocked out before the semi finals
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Dec 8, 2011 8:14:51 GMT
Even though it raises the profile of the Europa League, having the "relegated" CL clubs join at this stage stinks. Its as if a club battles its way to the later stages of the Carling Cup only to find that some teams knocked out of the FA Cup have been added to the pool. UEFA at its most stupid!  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2011 8:16:53 GMT
If we don't set our stall out to get a result at besiktas then we can trim our opponents in the next round down to just a third or so. Top 4 best finishing champions league teams will be seeded and we can't play 2 of them. Add the remaining two to the top 10 and hopefully we won't be in outer Mongolia come February  |
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Post by nicholasjalcock on Dec 8, 2011 8:20:55 GMT
Even though it raises the profile of the Europa League, having the "relegated" CL clubs join at this stage stinks. Its as if a club battles its way to the later stages of the Carling Cup only to find that some teams knocked out of the FA Cup have been added to the pool. UEFA at its most stupid! I agree, LP. It stinks of helping to keep the rich clubs rich. Well, TP said he wanted a Western Europe fixture i.e. closer to Stoke. You can't get much closer than Manchester |
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Post by foster on Dec 8, 2011 8:25:03 GMT
Even though it raises the profile of the Europa League, having the "relegated" CL clubs join at this stage stinks. Its as if a club battles its way to the later stages of the Carling Cup only to find that some teams knocked out of the FA Cup have been added to the pool. UEFA at its most stupid! I agree, LP. It stinks of helping to keep the rich clubs rich. Well, TP said he wanted a Western Europe fixture i.e. closer to Stoke. You can't get much closer than Manchester I don't mind the 3rd place teams joining tbh. In comparative terms the rich clubs will have no interest in terms of finances. The money they make won't even cover a top players wages. You only need to see how much effort Spurs have put into the competition and how much Man United will. Adding these teams really improves the profile of the competition. It's just unlucky for us (and the other teams) that some of the biggest champions league teams have fared so badly this season. |
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Post by swampmongrel on Dec 8, 2011 8:57:19 GMT
The Europa league could well be Man Yoos best shot at a trophy this season by the time the next round comes up.
Could be interesting: Stoke vs Man yoo in Bucharest on the 9th May, Fergusons last game in charge, Wilko 40 yard screamer in the 93rd minute, 1-0 ;D
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Post by davejohnno1 on Dec 8, 2011 9:06:15 GMT
What is this myth about Spurs not taking it seriously. It is a get out clause for them.
They have fielded weakened teams against weaker sides but teams that they would expect to win. When tasked with needing to get a result, out came the big guns but they still lost to both Rubin Kazan and the Greek/Cypriot team that they played last time out.
Anyone who watched that last game, where Spurs threw everything at their visitors, would see that they were taking it seriously.
If anything, saying otherwise is just a cop out and an excuse for failing to qualify from their group.
FC Thun drew 0-0 with Basel yet we spanked them 5-1 on aggregate. Manure lost to Basel over 2 games yet somehow we seem keen to mock our own achievements.
We really are typical Stokies. Never happy unless we are moaning about something. We moan when things go badly and when they go well, we do our damndest to pour scorn on the positivity.
I really wouldn't fancy playing Man City in the Europa League but playing Manure over two legs would not be the foregone conclusion that many seem to be suggesting!
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Post by jarvinski on Dec 8, 2011 9:34:13 GMT
We are 33/1 to win it according to ssn
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Post by Stokiedokie on Dec 8, 2011 9:36:12 GMT
What is this myth about Spurs not taking it seriously. It is a get out clause for them. They have fielded weakened teams against weaker sides but teams that they would expect to win. When tasked with needing to get a result, out came the big guns but they still lost to both Rubin Kazan and the Greek/Cypriot team that they played last time out. Anyone who watched that last game, where Spurs threw everything at their visitors, would see that they were taking it seriously. If anything, saying otherwise is just a cop out and an excuse for failing to qualify from their group. FC Thun drew 0-0 with Basel yet we spanked them 5-1 on aggregate. Manure lost to Basel over 2 games yet somehow we seem keen to mock our own achievements. We really are typical Stokies. Never happy unless we are moaning about something. We moan when things go badly and when they go well, we do our damndest to pour scorn on the positivity. I really wouldn't fancy playing Man City in the Europa League but playing Manure over two legs would not be the foregone conclusion that many seem to be suggesting! +1 |
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Post by buiskatthebrit on Dec 8, 2011 9:58:06 GMT
The Europa league could well be Man Yoos best shot at a trophy this season by the time the next round comes up. Could be interesting: Stoke vs Man yoo in Bucharest on the 9th May, Fergusons last game in charge, Wilko 40 yard screamer in the 93rd minute, 1-0 ;D O God. Yes. |
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Post by foster on Dec 8, 2011 10:05:59 GMT
We are 33/1 to win it according to ssn ....and on bet365 - Joint 12th favourites to win, along with Rubin, Ajax, Lazio and Twente. |
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Post by oggyoggy on Dec 8, 2011 10:16:11 GMT
i always thought it was a big competition. especially for a side like us. but no doubt it just got bigger. i am so excited about us being in it and i pray we dont face an english club at any point as i think we will then progress further.
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Post by unknown182 on Dec 8, 2011 11:05:12 GMT
im always confident against foreign opposition because they cant usually handle our set pieces etc etc.
i just hope man city draw against manu at some point so its one less english team for us to worry about
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Post by lancer on Dec 8, 2011 11:50:15 GMT
...that the Europa League will become a pretty big competition once we get to knock-out rounds? I know it's artificially "improved" by the Champions league drop-outs and there'll be quite a bit of chaff in the last 32 (possibly including us ;D) but it's feasible that the last 16 could contain the following teams: Manchester United Manchester City Tottenham Valencia Porto Ajax PSV PSG Sporting Lisbon Lazio Athletico Madrid Schalke Dinamo Kiev/Besiktas Some of the above could be classed as fallen giants I suppose but most of them have recent-ish late round Champions League pedigree and all have big, mostly top-quality stadiums. It's a far cry from FC Thun, that's for sure. It will now, magically, after the inclusion of Manure, become the most glamorous competition if football. Our media will switch to overdrive to tell everyone just how wonderful is is, and we'll have bells and whistles sounded like never before. |
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Post by Gods on Dec 8, 2011 12:09:57 GMT
What is this myth about Spurs not taking it seriously. It is a get out clause for them. They have fielded weakened teams against weaker sides but teams that they would expect to win. When tasked with needing to get a result, out came the big guns but they still lost to both Rubin Kazan and the Greek/Cypriot team that they played last time out. Anyone who watched that last game, where Spurs threw everything at their visitors, would see that they were taking it seriously. If anything, saying otherwise is just a cop out and an excuse for failing to qualify from their group. FC Thun drew 0-0 with Basel yet we spanked them 5-1 on aggregate. Manure lost to Basel over 2 games yet somehow we seem keen to mock our own achievements. We really are typical Stokies. Never happy unless we are moaning about something. We moan when things go badly and when they go well, we do our damndest to pour scorn on the positivity. I really wouldn't fancy playing Man City in the Europa League but playing Manure over two legs would not be the foregone conclusion that many seem to be suggesting! Yes to all of that !! |
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Post by stokelad84 on Dec 8, 2011 12:15:35 GMT
It depends on how the Manchester clubs embrace the competition. If they go all out to win the trophy then I would want to avoid them like the plague!!
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Post by padders01 on Dec 8, 2011 18:29:52 GMT
What is this myth about Spurs not taking it seriously. It is a get out clause for them. They have fielded weakened teams against weaker sides but teams that they would expect to win. When tasked with needing to get a result, out came the big guns but they still lost to both Rubin Kazan and the Greek/Cypriot team that they played last time out. Anyone who watched that last game, where Spurs threw everything at their visitors, would see that they were taking it seriously. If anything, saying otherwise is just a cop out and an excuse for failing to qualify from their group. FC Thun drew 0-0 with Basel yet we spanked them 5-1 on aggregate. Manure lost to Basel over 2 games yet somehow we seem keen to mock our own achievements. We really are typical Stokies. Never happy unless we are moaning about something. We moan when things go badly and when they go well, we do our damndest to pour scorn on the positivity. I really wouldn't fancy playing Man City in the Europa League but playing Manure over two legs would not be the foregone conclusion that many seem to be suggesting! This should be in the next edition of The Oatcake. One of the best posts of the year |
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Post by Pricey on Dec 8, 2011 19:02:55 GMT
Thun were fucking shit. As were Maccabi Tel Aviv. And Hajduk. Championship standard.
I'm not pouring scorn on positivity at all though. We've done very well.
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