‚ö? SC Freiburg v West Ham - Official Match Thread

[charleyfarley]

". V Europa-Park Stadion Thurs 5th Oct 17:45 GMT J?©r?¥me Brisard (France) Mohamed Al-Hakin (SWEDEN) : (39) - 130 4 Atubolu, Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Sallai, Eggestein, H??fler, K?ºbler, Adamu, Grifo (c), H??ler Subs: M?ºller (GK), Uphoff (GK), Schmidt, Gulde, Wei?ühaupt, Philipp, Makengo, R??hl, R?ºdlin, Doan, Breunig Fabia?Ñski (c), Coufal, Mavropanos, Aguerd, Kehrer, ?Ålvarez, Ward-Prowse, Fornals, Paquet?°, Kudus, Bowen Subs: Areola (GK), Anang (GK), Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson, Souƒçek, Coventry, Cornet, Benrahma, Ings, Mubama SC Freiburg 6/4: Draw 13/5 : West Ham 6/4 TNT Sports 2 ."

[Swiss.]

Should put in a cheeky bid for that Roland Sallai in Jan.

[Westside]

"If England has 5 CL places for next season then presumably we still have 2 EL and one ECL place. The 5th Champions League place is dependant upon the performance of English teams in this season's CL. There are two places available, for the best two countries' records this season (2 highest UEFA co efficient scores). https://www.skysports.com/football/news/21564/12940385/explained-how-more-than-four-premier-league-teams-can-qualify-for-next-seasons-champions-league"

[swindon hammer]

"isolated. No need to apologise. You were just giving an opinion just like I was. No one was right or wrong. For me, winning 2 consecutive European trophies back to back and likely having to beat Liverpool and maybe another big club that has dropped down from the Champions League would be our greatest achievement. Don’t think it will happen unfortunately but we live in hope. COYI!"

[isolated hammer]

"Swindon Hammer, you are right re the amount of games in Europe in those days, however, there were no seeded teams and you could have been drawn against anybody in each round. We also reached the Semi final the season after. I do agree that winning the EL this season would be remarkable as it would guarantee us Champions League football next season. So I have to back track really and say, I actually make you right. My apologies fella."

[Manuel]

"Have to agree with Swindon, let's keep it real, would anyone fancy us against Liverpool, 'coz I certainly wouldn't, pretty much a slim to no chance of beating them. if we can get to the QF in this it would be decent, but we could go further of course, just don't think we would beat the Scousers."

[swindon hammer]

"Isolated, Respect your opinion but we might have to agree to disagree on this. Both trophies you mentioned were great achievements but back then to win a European trophy there were a lot less games and less depth in strong teams due to only one team per country being allowed to participate. Aston Villa & Nottingham Forest certainly benefited from that in the late 70s and early 80s. Them winning the league was the bigger achievement. As for the FA Cup, again it was a great achievement but there was more of a level playing field in terms of finance back then. The bigger clubs in England didn’t have their pick of the best foreign players and the pitches weren’t as good as they were now. Even though we were a second division club we still had a team full of good 1st division players like Brooking, Martin, Bonds, Devonshire, Cross etc and were able to sign a world class goalkeeper for a record transfer fee. That wouldn’t happen now. It’s no coincidence that the amount of clubs such as ourselves, Stoke, Sunderland, Southampton, Oxford, Luton, Wimbledon, Coventry, Norwich etc were all able to win domestic cups in the 70s and 80s. That rarely happens now because the “Big clubs” dominate. Winning the FA Cup and Cup Winners Cup was a bigger achievement than winning the Conference League but imo (and it’s only that) if we win the Europa League this season it will top everything else. I don’t expect us to btw."

[isolated hammer]

"Swindon Hammer, I like alot of what you said in your post, but your last sentence is so wrong. Our biggest achievement was winning the Cup Winners Cup in 1965. That was our first ever time we had been involved in a European competition and the final was played by two sides who played an outstanding game of football truly fit for a final. We won a European Cup at our first attempt. Remarkable really. We were also the last team out of the top flight to win the F.A. Cup. That is also a major achievement. If we win the Europa League this season, it will be another major achievement on a par with the above in my humble opinion."

[swindon hammer]

ludo. Wasn’t aware that a top 8 finish would be enough for Europe. That obviously alters my thinking a bit although I totally disagree with the changes. At this rate half the Premiership will be playing in Europe. Yes it would be amazing to beat Liverpool in Dublin. How great would it be to upset all those Glory Irish Liverpool supporters as well as all the fake paddies that support them in this country. More importantly I would go as far to say if we win the Europa league this year it will be the biggest achievement in our history.

[ludo21]

If England has 5 CL places for next season then presumably we still have 2 EL and one ECL place. So a top 8 finish will result in Europa next season? If so that has to be the target for this season though winning the EL should be the main target. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to beat Liverpool kin Dublin!!

[swindon hammer]

"Virginia, probably more positivity than many on here that’s for sure. What bits do you disagree with?"

[VirginiaHam]

swindon hammer 5:11 Fri Oct 6 That's amazingly dismal. Do you have no positivity in your body?

[swindon hammer]

I can’t look beyond Liverpool winning the Europa League. They are the best team in the competition and with the final being in Dublin it just feels like it’s meant to be for them. However if we can at least get to a quarter final again then that represents a great period for us. Never before have we played in Europe for 3 season’s running and reaching at least the last 8 in all 3 years would be something to be proud of. Winning in Germany last night was a really good result for us and these nights shouldn’t be taken for granted because without a Saudi takeover of some kind there is a chance we may not experience proper European football again for a while after this season.

[nerd]

"We look a very good European team now , bet teams dread meeting us , we can attack and defend with pomp . Most teams that win the champs league and most European trophies bar city n barca have done so with being more defensive minded but great in the transition and we are one of those types which we have proved over and over now. Love being in europe it suits us ."

[Russ of the BML]

I think we are really starting to look like an established European side. We're going to have ups and downs in games and there will be times when we don't play well and its backs to the walls. But we are doing that without panicking now. There's an air of 'been here done it' and a quiet confidence now. Our European honeymoon is over and we are now past the point of every game being like a cup final. Playing in Europe has to become a habit. All the top teams have it and can balance Euro and domestic games. But that just comes with experience. Frieburg looked dangerous from 45 to 65 but we rode it and got the win. Moyes even went two up front and brought on two strikers at the same time to see the game out. He must've had his Weetabix.

[ludo21]

"Much has been said about the age of our squad (which has been lowered about by recent additions) but with age comes experience. I would like to have seen the youngsters get on for longer and if we had taken a few of the chances then I’m sure subs would have happened sooner but even so, some youngsters are travelling and getting experience which will stand them in good stead."

[Takashi Miike]

"""Every time we win people are disappointed we didn't win 6/7 -0"" You do understand you're the only cսnt saying that?"

[dealcanvey]

Only need to go 24 more games unbeaten in Europe and the champions league is ours lads.

[fraser]

Wd40 who has said that?

[Pedro]

European football suits us. We looked a proper experienced European team last night. Freiburg had a bit of stage fright early on on what was a huge night for them. We look great. I think it also shows how strong the premier league is. That said no easy games as Villa are proving in what many say was an easy competition.

[wd40]

Every time we win people are disappointed we didn't win 6/7 -0 You do understanding this is not some play station game of football ? maybe you don't anyway lets hope for a 6-0 win this weekend . fingers crossed .

[Manuel]

"Eerie - Change the record ffs, it's beyond boring now. ''performance'' isn't just based on mostly pointless stats, although it clearly is with you."

[Manuel]

"Eerie - Change the record ffs, it's beyond boring now. ''performance'' isn't just based on mostly pointless stats, although it clearly is with you."

[Kaiser Zoso]

"Could have been a complete rout. The goalkeeper touched one onto the post, and Kudus and Bowen? rolled a shot past either post in the second half, and Mavropanos put one over the bar. The first half hour went by without the home team mounting any form of attack. Not sure what the thinking was about Lingard. Fornals and Cornet hardly get on the pitch as it is."

[RM10]

Freiburg had their moments but for a German side in the top half their passing was awful together with the goalie.

[Eerie Descent]

"""I thought Brighton was our best performance to date."" 22% possession 208 passes (Brighton 749) 12 shots (Brighton 25) 4 corners (Brighton 17) MOTM - Areola with one of the best goalkeeping displays you'll ever see Performance? Fucking hell."