Europa League 2017/18

[snortingfrogs]

Group J: Athletic Club (ESP), Hertha Berlin (GER), Zorya (UKR), Östersund (SWE)
Pretty tough group for Östersund but doable, they did beat Galatasary, Fola Esch and PAOK to get to EL group stage.

Welcome to Northern Sweden

 

[Dirk]

What is the capacity? 8000-9000? looks like artificial turf, right?

Bilbao should make it first here. Hertha hasn't played in Europe for years. So, yes maybe the Swedes can reach #2

btw: Cologne against Arsenal. First European matches for the Geißböcke in 25 years and then Arsenal.

 

[snortingfrogs]

What is the capacity? 8000-9000? looks like artificial turf, right?

Bilbao should make it first here. Hertha hasn't played in Europe for years. So, yes maybe the Swedes can reach #2

btw: Cologne against Arsenal. First European matches for the Geißböcke in 25 years and then Arsenal.

8500 is the capacity, so not big, but it's an incredible achievement imho.
They have gone up from the 4th tier to top tier in a very short time.

 

[DarkSithLord]

8500 is the capacity, so not big, but it's an incredible achievement imho.
They have gone up from the 4th tier to top tier in a very short time.

And have a British manager of course too

 

[Dirk]

And have a British manager of course too

of course. Otherwise they would still be in the 4th tier

 

[Smudge]

Not been around here lately so sorry its late! Made harder work of the Split tie than we should have, at 2-0 in the first leg, we eased off after half time and nearly let them get an away goal, and then played a shocking first half in the second leg over there. Sigurdsson's ridiculous goal killed the tie though, but for Ashley Williams' obligatory brainless moment given the pen away, the second half was quite comfortable and in control.

Made up with the group, ended up saving my money and skipping both away trips to Slovakia and Croatia, so made up to finally get my away trips! Atalanta's ground doesnt meet UEFA standards, so they are playing at Sassuolo's ground in Reggio Emilia, around 120km away from Bergamo. We've been given 4,000 tickets as well, so this one could be an epic. Im going via Milan and getting the train down, as quite a few others are. Lyon just doing the day trip because of work, but I can afford it because Ive managed to do Italy so cheap. With any luck, we'll be back in Lyon for the final anyway...

 

[smat]

Not been around here lately so sorry its late!

that's ok

 

[mistermagic]

that's ok

How's the stand-up comedy going, mate?

 

[smat]

How's the stand-up comedy going, mate?

Great, these days I just read out your terrible predictions and people fall about laughing.

 

[mistermagic]

Great, these days I just read out your terrible predictions and people fall about laughing.

Things'll pick up, mate.

 

[Super_horns]

20k Koln fans in London - are they all going to the game!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Everton deservedly 1-0 down away against Atlanta

 

[Aber gas]

FC Koln fans arrive in London. Crikey.
https://twitter.com/emandagoonn/status/908330461134512128

 

[DarkSithLord]

2-0. Everton terrible so far.

 

[DarkSithLord]

.

 

[GodsGift]

This Everton side is painfully slow and pedestrian. Koeman's recruitment has been really poor.

 

[Abertawe]

Been a few big games where they've failed to keep it competitive so far this season despite having a busy summer window. If they're not careful any hopes of breaking that ceiling will be over before they'e begun.

 

[Pagnell]

Christ, Everton are fucking shite. They're going to have problems this season. 6 goals conceded in three halves of football without scoring.

And Rooney showing himself to be the shit transfer we all expected.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

20k Koln fans in London - are they all going to the game!

Most of them seemed to have showed up to the ground!

 

[Lance Stoe]

Top notch support from Koln

 

[Dirk]

FC Koln fans arrive in London. Crikey.
https://twitter.com/emandagoonn/status/908330461134512128

20.000 although only 2.900 tickets for Köln fans were available. This can't go well...and right...already some "skirmish". Damn! Behave yourself "Kölsche Jungs" Just wanted to watch the game right now but I see that UEFA has delayed the kickoff for 1 hour.

 

[Skinner]

Hopefully for Everton's sake, Bolasie returning from injury will give them the pace and directness they obviously need.

Still a problem only having one proper winger though.

 

[Lance Stoe]

Close to getting cancelled I've heard. Stupid only giving them 2900 tickets. Should have given them 10000 at least

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Seems to be thousands of Koln fans in home sections of the ground.

 

[Dirk]

Seems to be thousands of Koln fans in home sections of the ground.

How is that possible?
Is it that easy to get a ticket for Arsenal matches? Become a (1 day) member just in time and you 'll get one?

What really pisses me off is that it's FC Köln who gets punished by the UEFA later and not those idiots. It's good to be excited after a 25 year absence of European football but those who make the fuzz only damage their own club (and maybe they'll have to play one of the next matches at an empty stadium in Köln)

 

[Skinner]

Yeah it probably is that easy at arsenal. Without meaning to dig 'em out, but for a club with such a big fan base that complain about ticket prices/waiting lists, they still won't go to 'lower' game ie cups europa league as they feel they are above that. Strange fans them lot.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Arsenal fans are spoilt twats, seeing them complain because they've only won the FA Cup 3 times in 4 years boils my piss.

 

[Laker]

If Koln had brought 2,900 fans, I bet there wouldn't have been more than 40,000 in the ground tonight. Arsenal fans are ridiculous with midweek cup games that aren't CL. Not surprised there's been so many tickets sold on the black market.

I'd love Arsenal to take another look at their disgusting season ticket arrangements as this would have been avoidable if it was fairer but it obviously won't happen as Arsenal will continue to chase the cash.

And the police should have been alerted when 20,000 Koln fans marched through the West End earlier. A complete fuck up all round.

Edit: and why did Arsenal's stewards let all the Germans in to home ends in the first place. So many mistakes it's untrue.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

What really pisses me off is that it's FC Köln who gets punished by the UEFA later and not those idiots. It's good to be excited after a 25 year absence of European football but those who make the fuzz only damage their own club (and maybe they'll have to play one of the next matches at an empty stadium in Köln)

To be fair, I imagine Arsenal will also have some questions to answer to UEFA regarding their ticketing.

 

[Lance Stoe]

Hopefully the Koln fans in the home ends don't cause trouble. No need to be intimidated if they are just there for the craic. Can't see Koln having a prevalent hooligan element