Some Pride to Retain .......
By akuler
@akuler (3531)
Malaysia
April 8, 2010 7:44pm CST
After saw the last two remaining teams fallout from the Champion League, English club fans switch their attention to the European second tier compotetion, Europa League. Even though it is nothing to be proud from this competition compare to its sister, English club fans need something to lighten their life. Its been cloudy day for the last two day and hope there would be a sun on the late evening.
Liverpool and Fulham were the last English hope to restore some pride for English clubs and football. Liverpool waiting Benfica at Anfield while Fulham travel to the Volkswagen Arena to face Wolfsburg. Liverpool was beaten 1-2 in their first leg while Fulham has a goal advantage with the same score.
Liverpool start the game strongly and finally got their goal from Dirt Kuyt on 27 minutes to make the aggregate 2-2. Lucas Leive make it two nil on the night and three two on aggregate when he score seven minutes later. Fernando Torres the make it three nil on the night from a counter attack on 59 minutes. It is good night for Liverpool so far. But when Oscar Cordozo score from a deflected free kick, the alarm was on again. The nerves was on Liverpool fans. Another goal from Benfica would sent Liverpool out from the competition. Did not want to repeat the same mistake by Manchester United a night before, Liverpool keep the pressure and finally they got their forth goals when Fernando Torres lift the ball past the Benfica goalkeeper on the 82 minutes. Liverpool won the matches 5-3 on aggregate and has their date with Atlantico Madrid at the semi final.
Fulham also started their game with an astonishing fashion when they score from their first attack. Bobby Zamora was on the score sheet just after 20 second when he finish the pass from Zoltan Gera. And that goal remain the only goal of the night. Fulham won 3-1 on aggregate. Fulham would face another Germany side, Humburg, at the semi final.
What do you think about Europa League? Can it be an all English at the final?
3 people like this
3 responses
@sutent (1060)
• China
9 Apr 10
Hi buddy,
I did not watch the game against with Benfica, but reviewed the new that Terres kicked two ball again and Liverpool broke through. Glad to hear that, as that would be the last chmapion hope for liverpool. If Liverpool lose the hope again and can not get the fourth in Primier League, Liverpool would face a lot problem next season, such as keeping the key players Terres, Gerrand and even the coach Benitez, transfering in the good players with less transfer funs and reputation.
But Terres made it and kept the hope. Although i am not a fan of LIverpool, i like Terres and attractive by his skill, and of course hope Liverpool can catch the last cup.
2 people like this
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
9 Apr 10
Hi buddy,
Yeah .... this is the last competition that Liverpool can hope for something. The were out from Carling cup, FA cup, Champion League and totally out of competition in the quest for the English Premier League title. Winning Europa league could at least make this season not as bad as what it seems to be.
Liverpool were back to their former self at this game. Their performance is much batter then a few games before. They control the game well and make it harder for Benfica to try to score goal. And Fernando Torres is just a phenomenon just like what he did best before. Even though he seemed to pull up an injury at the earlier period, it could not stop him from scoring a brace for Liverpool.
It was wonderful night particularly for Liverpool and Fulham fans and English fans in general because at least it is curing some pains by their Champion League contender failure a night or two before.
2 people like this
@sutent (1060)
• China
10 Apr 10
Hi buddy,
As a soccer fans, i can feel your happy caming from the victory of Liverpool. Additionally, what i like more is watch the live of the match. Feel nervous when it is very intense and feel happy when the players you like kick a ball, and excit when one player kick a ball in the last several minutes and his club win the game.
Share you with my feeling on soccer.
2 people like this
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
10 Apr 10
Hi mate,
I also prefer to watch live telecast then knew the result from the newspapers or online news. The excitement, the happiness, the pain and the anger was all in when we watch the live telecast. Sometimes we were mad whenever the players from the team that we support do something silly or can not score from the open chances. We think we could do better then them? Do we really can do that
?
Unfortunately, sometimes I can not watch all the matches that I want to watch. First of all, European league always play at midnight here. Only English Premier League matches or other matches from England were played earlier sometimes.
Secondly, since I did not have a cable tv, I rely much on streaming tv to watch all the match. But sometimes I can not watch it because of my low internet capability. Even if I can watch it, it is not smooth. There would be a some beefing and sometimes I lose some good moment there
.
?
Unfortunately, sometimes I can not watch all the matches that I want to watch. First of all, European league always play at midnight here. Only English Premier League matches or other matches from England were played earlier sometimes.
Secondly, since I did not have a cable tv, I rely much on streaming tv to watch all the match. But sometimes I can not watch it because of my low internet capability. Even if I can watch it, it is not smooth. There would be a some beefing and sometimes I lose some good moment there.1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
10 Apr 10
I expected Liverpool to win against Benfica. If they hadn't then Rafa would have been in for a real pasting especially after pulling Torres out early in the match against Birmingham to preserve him. But Torres was magnificent and ensured that the Rafa's men went through without any issues.
But, what do you say about Fulham!! No one expected them to get past Juventus. They not only beat them comfortably, now they have gone ahead and beaten Wolfsburg. What's more they looked so much in control of the game, I am surprised they did not convert at least one of the other three gilt edged chances they had.
I think now Fulham is going to give their maximum effort to the UEFA cup as their mid table position in the league is more or less confirmed. If they make the final then it would be truly great achievement for Roy Hodgson.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
11 Apr 10
Yes, there are two things which are impressive about Roy Hodgson and Fulham's performance this season. When Roy took over, they were fighting relegation and actually speaking have not spent huge amounts of money in the transfer market to resurrect the team. The second thing is that he instead resurrected the careers of players thought to be not good enough any more. Duff, Zamora, Davies all these players had been passed over by bigger clubs as not good enough at this level and what does Roy do, he just proves them all wrong.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
12 Apr 10
There is no doubt about Roy Hodgson ability as a coach/manager. He has proved it before. He is a much travel coach and has been coached a club and/or countries from different continent and different style of play. He has been at England (Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers), Sweden (Halmstad, Orebro, Malmo), Switzerland (Neuchatel Xamax, Grasshopper), Italy (Inter Milan, Udinese), Denmark (Chompenhagen) and Norway (Viking). He also has train a few national teams like Switzerland, United Arab Emirate and Finland.
With a restricted money to spend, Roy Hudgson use his available players to their maximum and has got a few good result from it. He manage to put this team safely at the middle of the table and qualify for Europa League semi-final (as now).
1 person likes this
@jimitoosweet (9)
•
10 Apr 10
I see no reason why the 2 English clubs cannot make it to the final. Liverpool are experts at reaching big finals there history is there for all to see.
It will be fascinating and exciting for Torres playing against his old club Athletico Madrid in the semi's.
I don't underestimate Hamburg, I rate there Manager Jol very highly. He did a great job for my team Spurs finishing 5th in the prem in successive seasons. The final is in Hamburg so Fulham will have to be alert to there hunger and danger in wanting to reach the Europa league final.
You have to congratulate Fulham FC for reaching the semi's. You have to applaud there manager,s man management skills. Roy Hodgson has managed to get the best out of Bobby Zamora, something Spurs failed to do when he was at my club!! and rest of Fulham's fading stars.
Liverpool and Fulham are playing on Sunday in what could be a dress rehearsal for the dream final in Hamburg next month. This will be a tuff game for Fulham who play at Anfield. Fulham's away record is poor this season and the way liverpool played at home against Benfica, I see Liverpool winning this game.
Liverpool need to win to push on for that 4th place which I don't think they will get this season. Fulham will be happy with draw. Fulham have not won at Liverpool in the last 28 attempts
@akuler (3531)
• Malaysia
10 Apr 10
Hi jimitoosweet,
The Games against Atlantico Madrid would be an emotional game for Fernando Torres especially when its played at Vicente Calderón Stadium. He was a hero there before he leaves for Liverpool and this would his first appearance as away player. Even though Liverpool had meet with Atlantico Madrid last season in the Champion League group stage, Fernando Torres was not played because of injury.
I think martin Jol was no longer coach Humburg. He is now a coach for Ajax in Netherlands. Hamburg coach now is Bruno Labbadia, a Germany. But it does not mean Hamburg was not a strong team. They were currently 6th at the Bundesliga and has a few good players like Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ze Roberto. They would get extra motivation because the final would be held in their own stadium.
But Fulham is very motivated now. I think this is their first European semi final and they would not want to waste the chance to make history of their own. There is no doubt about Roy Hodgson aboility. He has a lot of experiences because he had coach team like Blackburn Rovers, Inter Milan, Switzerland, United Arab Emirate and Finland before went to Fulham.
This coming Sunday match between Liverpool and Fulham would be a good indicator if Liverpool and Fulham manage to pass their semi final test.
1 person likes this
@jimitoosweet (9)
•
10 Apr 10
Hi Akuler
Yes Jol has moved on my mistake. It could be difficult for Fulham with Van the man and as Ze Roberto playing 2 very experienced players.
This is a completely a new level for Fulham who I hope wont freeze on the night and as you say try and make history which we would be good for the club and there fans.
Good post
1 person likes this
