European Football Thread

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

To be used for discussing European transfers and matches from Anywhere but the PL

La Liga
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Seria A etc

The Bundesliga & Ligue 1 start today with Big Spenders PSG in Action as are German Champions Bayern Munich

[Guest]

Is this not just some kind of PR exercise after it was claimed that Messi had a say in the appointment?

[Crimey]

Apparently Messi would fall out with Guardiola about being rested, he just wants to play constantly, so it seems odd that Martino would even risk annoying him when he won't be totally secure in the job.

Commentators are saying he's either ill or got a knock which would make more sense, but he's so very rarely injured it is a bit weird.

[Fernando]

Maybe he's still annoyed at being out-payed by Neymar.

[The Special Juan]

Something's sticking in my mind about Messi's contract stating he has to be the highest paid player at the club. I'm guessing that's just rubbish then?

[Guest]

Something's sticking in my mind about Messi's contract stating he has to be the highest paid player at the club.  I'm guessing that's just rubbish then?

That's your own works contract Juan!

[NickisBHAFC]

Neymaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr

1-1

Incredibly it was Barca's first shot on target!

[The Special Juan]

Something's sticking in my mind about Messi's contract stating he has to be the highest paid player at the club.  I'm guessing that's just rubbish then?

That's your own works contract Juan!

I wish!!

[Crimey]

Tottenham in a Europa League qualifier tonight, playing a pretty strong side.

Lloris, Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose, Paulinho, Dembele, Capoue, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Soldado


Should really be a comfortable win.

[Guest]

Gus Poyet likes his TV work. It's on ITV 4 if anyones interested.

[Guest]

AVB does seem to like this competition.

[Crimey]

I don't like Gus Poyet as a pundit, he's quite hard to understand and never seems to give any particularly interesting insight.

[Guest]

Yeah he's quite horrible to listen to at times.

[Crimey]

Good goal from Townsend.

Who needs Gareth Bale? 

[Guest]

I think they'll do just fine without him.

[JamesLincs]

great performance from townsend so far

[Guest]

Their guy up front looks anything but a footballer.

Looks a tad like Sir Clive Sinclair!

[Guest]

Townsend looks very good.

[Duty281]

0-2 Tottenham, and the tie is virtually over already.

[Guest]

0-2 Tottenham, and the tie is virtually over already.

Bull disagrees.

[Duty281]

0-2 Tottenham, and the tie is virtually over already.

Bull disagrees.

Probably.  

[Crimey]

Townsend getting a lot of praise, but have to remember who they are playing. He's played well but there a lot of people getting a bit carried away with the performance. He'll push Chadil and Lennon for a place though I imagine.

Swansea are also playing a very strong squad, I do feel there has been a change of attitude towards the Europa League in recent years, still think there would be a lot more impetus to win if there was a Champions League place for the winner.

[Crimey]

 Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Chico, Taylor, Hernandez, Britton, Shelvey, Routledge, Michu, Bony


Very strong Swansea line up. Expect them to win.

[Duty281]

Gary Lineker:

"I wonder how long it will be before Andros Townsend usurps Aaron Lennon from the first choice starting line-up. Not long I suspect."

Bit of an overreaction based on one half of football.

[GSC]

Lennons hit his ceiling a while ago

[Crimey]

Before I ever knew who Townsend was, just seeing his name on Football Manager and the like, I found his name hilarious because he was like a Spanish version of Andy Townsend.

I love Dembele, think he's such a good footballer.

[Crimey]

Another assist for Andros Townsend, but he's given so much space, nice finish from Soldado.

[Crimey]

Lovely finish by Danny Rose.

Weird that Kaboul has been given captaincy even though Michael Dawson is playing. I know it's not that important, but does seem very odd.

[Crimey]

5-0 now

I've been impressed with Soldado in his first two games, looked really sharp. Can see him pushing Van Persie for the top scorer position.

[Guest]

Lovely finish by Danny Rose.

Weird that Kaboul has been given captaincy even though Michael Dawson is playing. I know it's not that important, but does seem very odd.

I'm surprised Dawson is still there. AVB was desperate to get rid 12 months ago.

[GSC]

He brought Dawson back and he was far better than everyone bar Vertonghen

[Guest]

True.

[Crimey]

I like all three Spurs centre backs.

[Crimey]

It makes me sad that Swansea have replaced Joe Allen with Shelvey, can we not swap?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Jonjo is lucky to be on the field

[Crimey]

He does have a habit of diving in like that, but so did Gerrard at his age.

[Guest]

These Romanians are simply atrocious at defending. Hot knife through butter.

[Crimey]

Excellent overhead kick there.

[The Special Juan]

I really like Dawson as a footballer. He and Deadly Ledley were wonderful together but it was a shame both were never fit at the same time. Job done for everyone tonight but unfortunately I never saw the overhead kick because I was watching a clip of Nic Cage on YouTube

[NickisBHAFC]

Good to see Tottenham and Swansea run riot in Euorpe Tonight

[The Special Juan]

Dortmund v Bremen is on tonight, 7pm BT Sport 2. The Rangers are on BT Sport 1 and no one wants to see that.

[Guest]

Lewandowski, 1-0 so far

[NickisBHAFC]

Getafe 2-2 Almeria

Bilbao vs Osasuna has just kicked off 

[Duty281]

Messi injured, and Neymar (damn cute Brazillian) left on the bench?

Why spend £50 million on him then?

[Crimey]

He spent most of pre-season unfit because he was anaemic. Apparently he's still recovering from it. 

It's not great to see though, seems a waste and Neymar will be furious if he doesn't grow into the team with the World Cup coming up and knowing he could have waited for the move.

Good result for Rafa's Napoli, 3-0 against Bologna, a nice contrast to his start at Inter which began with a disappointed 0-0 draw against the same side. Really hope to see him succeed, always seemed a really top bloke as well as an underrated manager.

[CFCNick]

I hated watching that game last night. There was nothing else on. All the diving from Barca and the commentator was so blind with his boner for them he even found an excuse for Dani Alves to be rolling around. Alexis was the worst offender and he even had the cheek to moan at the player the ref penalised. Also, the ref would blow for any contact on a Barca player.

Sooner or later I hope La Liga is torn open like Serie A was.

[Crimey]

Nice goal from Tottenham. 

Holtby has looked really good and inventive, maybe Tottenham shouldn't bother spending money on Eriksen.

[Crimey]

Lovely goal by Holtby, if it's true he's going to be allowed out on loan then Rodgers needs to be all over that.

[Duty281]

Villarreal v Real Madrid (2100 BST)

Gareth Bale to make his debut...on the right wing.

[Crimey]

As expected, I'm pretty sure most people thought that's where he'd play when Madrid went in for him. 

The only other way I see it going is Ronaldo as a striker.

Saw a lot of columns about how Bale doesn't get his preferred slot on the left wing because of Ronaldo, but to be fair Bale hasn't been a left winger for a while, he's played mainly in the whole for Tottenham and coming in off of the right quite a bit as well. Ronaldo on the left and Bale on the right is obviously the best option.

[Duty281]

Since Bale is left-footed, and Ronaldo right-footed, wouldn't it be sensible to play Bale on the left and Ronaldo on the right?

[Sponsored content]