ponsaelius

I think we'll go down. We had the lowest xG of any team in any major European league last season. Stats don't count for everything but it's almost miraculous we finished as high as we did considering how few chances we create. Now that the inherited defensive solidity has warn off to nick a few wins we we will really struggle. Especially with Dubravka starting the season injured.

No I'm definitely keen for another one, loved the last one you did. However I'm away next week so would prefer the week after if possible.

Bigger club historically? Maybe, pretty even probably up until this millennium. Both have won a title each a million years ago.

Must be absolutely rank being a Betis fan this century

Inter were awful. Why Conte stuck with that line-up right up until 75 minutes is absurd, particularly in midfield.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53817206 Good that some sense has been grasped.

I get the logic but you shouldn't need the prize of another better competition to give worth to a competition in the first place. It's a retrograde step. By doing so you fundamentally devalue it. Teams are now competing to win it purely because it gets you into the Champions League, rather than competing to win it because it's a major European trophy with 50 years of history. I don't think that makes it more prestigious, quite the opposite. It makes it the same as finishing 4th place in the Premier League or Serie A. UEFA Cup lost its worth because the Champions League has become hugely inflated in terms of participants from the major leagues (4 or 5 teams getting in now). Whether that's a good thing or not is open to interpretation. Personally I think it's rubbish.

That being said, I've never got the impression Liverpool looked down on the Europa League/UEFA Cup in the way some other clubs do. Interesting the attitude Man United fans have to it when they've won nowhere near as many of either the two European competitions as they have.

Giving the winners of it a CL place was the nail in the coffin regarding any respectability it had as a competition. Dropping CL teams in halfway through, changing to the current awful name, and expanding the CL were all steps towards this ultimate demise. The UEFA Cup used to be a fantastic competition.

Lukaku is great if you play to his strengths. He also works well with Lautaro, which Icardi never did really.

done with this husk of a sport

They've not scored past Sergio Rico today so not accurate

They do have a great academy and scouting network. Lots of their players are spread throughout the league and in Serie B that haven't made the grade and they've sold lots in recent years (Andrea Conti, Franck Kessie to Milan, Gagliardini,Bastoni to Inter, Mancini to Roma etc, Zappacosta). Even Caldara (playing at CB) they sold Juve who has made his way back now after not settling there or at Milan (he was involved in the weird Bonucci deal). The current team is mostly through good signings and very good coaching. It is becoming an older team though, particularly in the forward areas. Cheers. Hopefully, their growth continues in the following seasons. Another fun thing they do is gift a kit to every baby born in Bergamo, to try and stave off fans from supporting the big Milan clubs and Juve.

Atalanta look a bit knackered now mind. Certainly don't look like counterattacking effectively.

They do have a great academy and scouting network. Lots of their players are spread throughout the league and in Serie B that haven't made the grade and they've sold lots in recent years (Andrea Conti, Franck Kessie to Milan, Gagliardini,Bastoni to Inter, Mancini to Roma etc, Zappacosta). Even Caldara (playing at CB) they sold Juve who has made his way back now after not settling there or at Milan (he was involved in the weird Bonucci deal). The current team is mostly through good signings and very good coaching. It is becoming an older team though, particularly in the forward areas.

Atalanta's wage bill is akin to a mid table championship side. It's a hell of an achievement for them to even get this far and to play the way they have.

We've been massively fucked over here like If you didn't laugh you'd cry.

I'd expected it for a good couple of months now tbh, so not surprised.

Bloody BATE Borisov. 1 point!

great quiz, cheers yorkie

This was a question at the Hotspur quiz. Only World Cup winner to play for Aston Villa.

yeah that's fine

Yeah i'm in

Can't remember the last time a young Argie winger of that stature amounted to anything...

That sounds like it would be pretty good to me.