Europa League 2014/15

[Guest Magic]

I've decided to give this its own thread. It may or may not justify itself, time will tell, but there is always a strong British representation in this competition so it might be worth it.

 

Even already in the qualifying rounds we've got Aberdeen, St. Johnston and Motherwell all battling to get through to a further round or two. I know The Fury is particularly excited about the prospect of Aberdeen playing Real Socieded if they can get past Groningen.

 

All three of the Scottish sides drew the first leg of their ties, so hopefully a couple can get through. God, Scotland needs some help with its coefficient.

 

And then there is Spurs, Everton and of course Hull after their good cup run from England. Always good value the Europa League, even if it is just to see some fringe players at the likes of Spurs get a chance to show what they can do. A guy like Andros Townsend put in a lot of good performance in this tournament before getting the chance in the league.

[Guest John Hancock]

I think it's always hard to say too much about the Europa before the Champion's League groups are done, because the discrepancy in quality is normal vast by that stage. Realistically, I'd love to see either Ajax or Marseille get the cup, even though that would involve me also hoping neither of them makes it into the Champion's League knockouts.

[Guest Magic]

I feel the same way about Celtic, but I'd probably prefer a last 16 tie against Real Madrid than a trip to the final of this competition, which is a bit of a shame. It's not really the Europa League's fault, it's just that the Champions League is on a whole other level.

[Guest John Hancock]

Talking of matches you'd like to go to, two seasons ago, I was deprived of an Ajax vs. Chelsea double header in the quarter or semi-finals. It was one match away from happening, and I had plans made to go to both legs as a Chelsea fan in London with my Dad and an Ajax fan in Amsterdam with my Mum's family. I'm still not over it.

[Guest Magic]

That sounds like it would have been awesome. There was the tiniest of possibilities that Celtic and Wigan could have played each other last year had Celtic ended up third in their group and gone into the Europa League, and Wigan gotten out of their group, but it all fell apart when my teams decided they didn't fancy European success last year :lol

 

I would have been at both those legs for sure. Maybe one day, although I might be waiting a while for Wigan to get back to Europe!

[The Fury 65]

A win in 2nd leg means I am 110 percent going to see my teams up at Aberdeen. Really excited about my dons playing my la liga side

[Guest Magic]

Tough ask to go over to Holland and get a result though. Although I don't know much about Groningen, but they've got be at least surely on about par with Aberdeen, you know, at worst. That's not doing Aberdeen a disservice either, it's just that a midtable Dutch side is surely as good or better than the Scottish equivalent. Who was the better team in the first game?

[Guest John Hancock]

If Aberdeen can't beat Groningen, Scottish football is in a bother.

[Guest Magic]

What is the English equivalent of Groningen Hancock?

[Guest John Hancock]

Hmm, maybe a Stoke or a Swansea? Like, they're usually hanging around the mid-table, but it would be more likely that they'd be relegated than it would that they'd win the league. They're a really up and down team, they're as comfortable at the top of the second division as they are poking at the Europa League spots, and they just swing between those two extremes on about a five year cycle.

[The Fury 65]

Apparently we gave them too much respect first leg but was even Stevens. With the strikeforce we have I still think we got what it takes to win

[Guest Steely]

I'm not to sure about the quality of the Dutch league to be fair, outside the bigger teams the quality isn't all that great, big Michael higdon of Motherwell fame scored about 15 in the league over there last season.

 

Even Jan Venegoor of hessilink said that when he signed for Celtic it was a step up in quality in terms of the league

[Guest John Hancock]

Yeah, outside of maybe four teams (Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV and Vitesse), the Eredivisie is a mess, which is why it would be pretty embarrassing for Scotland for their number three team not to beat the Netherland's number seven.

[Guest Magic]

I don't know much about the Dutch league at all, but the standard of Scottish football right now is so, so poor that I would assume that any league in Western Europe is of a higher standard. Even since big Jan's days at Celtic the standard has dropped significantly.

[Guest John Hancock]

I'd say Ajax are a solid Europa League level club. They'd probably make the top six in most European leagues when they're playing well. PSV, Feyenoord and Vitesse, eh, they could make top ten in the Premiership probably. Everyone else in the Eredivisie would have a very, very tough time getting out of the Championship. I don't watch Scottish football really, so however that compares to Scotland is for a Scottish fan to decide.

[Guest Magic]

I don't think any team in Scotland outside of Celtic (And Rangers when they're fixed :lol) would survive relegation from the Championship. I would say only Aberdeen, Dundee United, Motherwell and maybe Hibs and Hearts when they aren't being retarted would make it as an average league 1 side and everyone else would be league 2 and below.

[Guest John Hancock]

By our scale, we've pretty much put Aberdeen and Groningen level, saying they'd both hang out in the Championship.

[Guest Magic]

No I don't think they'd make it as high as that, mid table league 1. I might be doing them a slight disservice because I have suck a low opinion of football up here, but I don't think I'd be too far away. The problem for SPL sides is they completely lack consistency from year to year. They're all so much of a muchness and any of them can beat each other on any given day. So one year a team has a really great season, a bit like Aberdeen last year, and the next year its the opposite even though not that much has changed in terms of their squad. One player coming or going can make a huge difference, like Boyd last year for Kilmarnock. I think they might go down this year such is the effect of losing him. It's a frustrating league to try and predict because outside of the Old Firm, they're all pretty similar.

 

Anyway, based on not only this thread, but a 1 minute google of research, I would expect Groningen to beat Aberdeen, definitely.

[Guest John Hancock]

Oh stupid League 1. I'll never get used to that name change.

[Guest Magic]

Haha, yeah it is stupid and now we've adopted it up here as well. League 2 is now our fourth tier :roll

 

I also hate that its not the Scottish Premiership. I much prefer the term Premier League, I don't know why, but I just cringe when I hear a pundit call it the Premiership.

[GENE 86]

I actually hate Motherwell with a passion, the previous two seasons which they have been in Europe they have lost all six games they have played in and NOT EVEN SCORED A SINGLE GOAL!! Finally this season they manage to score not once but twice, and what do they do? Throw away a two goal lead and draw with some pub team from Iceland. Rant over.

[The Fury 65]

Gotta love a Scottish dominant Europe league thread cheers magic! :p

 

Well are in real danger they will need to score two goals to least avoid getting screwed. Saints as long as they defend have a chance but they have no money to strengthen.

 

I really think we have a chance in Holland and if we do then the hard one begins because if the sociedad side that destroyed Barcelona 3-1 show up we are screwed

[Guest John Hancock]

I think Sociedad have probably got the number of whoever wins.

[Guest Magic]

Yeah I'd have thought so too, barring something mental.

 

As for Motherwell, I still think they'll go through despite the slip up conceding two goals. They might even have a chance at getting through the round after because its Lech Poznan or an Estonian outfit named Nomme Kalju they'll play. Hopefully they do because like I said earlier, Scottish football's coefficient is on the absolute floor and it means Celtic have to start their European campaign in the while everyone has just started their holidays every year which we could do without.

[Guest Inno]

I was going to take the boy to the Motherwell Europa League game, but not at the prices they were charging; it's cheaper for us to go to the Celtic game tonight at Murrayfield!