European Leagues Thread 2012/2013

[papereyes]

Temperamental communist wops.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Didn't Italy have a relegation playoff within the last few years for sides that finished on level points? I think Reggina were involved, or maybe Brescia, I dunno.

Reggina played Hellas in a relegation play off about 6 years ago in the season catalogued by Tim Parks' "A Season With Verona" (Great book, by the way). There's a playoff when there's more than 2 teams involvedand that season 3 teams were tied on points for the last relagation place. The team with the best head to head record stayed up (Brescia, I think) and the other two played off. Hellas nicked it with a late Martin Laursen goal. Hellas were dead and buried that season but like Fulham this season, won their last 4 games

Consider yourself saluted.

I was thinking in particular of 2004/5, when Fiorentina won the mini-league tiebreaker over Parma and Bologna, all on 42 points. Parma, who were by far the worst in the mini-league, beat Bologna 2-1 over two legs --with all goals scored away-- to send the latter down.

I believe that you speak of 2000/1. Lecce won the mini-league handily over Reggina and Hellas (all on 37 points), and the latter won the playoff over two legs (2-2, with a 1-0 edge on away goals).

[RoyalChicagoFC]

SPAIN

Real Zaragoza relegated on 42 points after falling 3-2 away to Mallorca on the last day.

Osasuna (on 43) spared the drop despite 1-0 defeat away to Santander, and Recreativo de Huelva (with 44) escape despite 1-1 home draw with Valladolid (themselves finishing on 45).

Racing Santander scored the winner on 85' and earn UEFA Cup berth at the expense of Mallorca.

[Starfish]

We went down for fnuck snakes!

[papereyes]

We went down for fnuck snakes!

Snap.

What's so special about being mediocre?

[soggy biscuit]

Roma beat Inter 2-1 to win the Coppa Italia

Mexes 1-0 Inter
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2008690

Perrotta 2-0 Inter
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2008741

Roma 2-1 Pelé
http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=2008745

[soggy biscuit]

Roma's parent company, Italpetroli, have revealed debts of €370M and as such Roma will now be sold.

Seems either American billianaire Georeg Soros or Egyption Naguib Onsi Sawiris (owner of Italian telecom operator and Roma shirt sponsor WIND) will be the new owner havig both reported to have made offers of £220M

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Lyon beat PSG 1-0 after extra time (Govou) in the Coupe de France to win their first double.

PSG already into the UEFA Cup having won the Coupe de la Ligue, so I'm guessing that relegated Lens -- runners up in that competition-- will get the remaining UEFA Cup berth out of France.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

1985 Scudetto winners Hellas Verona escape relegation to Italy's 4th Division with a 90th min goal in their 'Play Out' match against Pro Patria.

Italy has play offs for both promotion and relegation outside Serie A.

Verona have a strong, but openly racist, following and have suffered a lot recently partly because of this.

Did you know a few years ago their Ultra's hung a doll of a black man by a noose from the Curva with a banner above him saying "give him the stadium to clean"

[Starfish]

1985 Scudetto winners Hellas Verona escape relegation to Italy's 4th Division with a 90th min goal in their 'Play Out' match against Pro Patria.

Italy has play offs for both promotion and relegation outside Serie A.

Verona have a strong, but openly racist, following and have suffered a lot recently partly because of this.

Did you know a few years ago their Ultra's hung a doll of a black man by a noose from the Curva with a banner above him saying "give him the stadium to clean"

Have you read 'A Season With Verona' by Tim Parks? Worth the investment if you haven't.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

1985 Scudetto winners Hellas Verona escape relegation to Italy's 4th Division with a 90th min goal in their 'Play Out' match against Pro Patria.

Italy has play offs for both promotion and relegation outside Serie A.

Verona have a strong, but openly racist, following and have suffered a lot recently partly because of this.

Did you know a few years ago their Ultra's hung a doll of a black man by a noose from the Curva with a banner above him saying "give him the stadium to clean"

Have you read 'A Season With Verona' by Tim Parks? Worth the investment if you haven't.

Yes, one of the best football books written.

Michael Foots Calcio is also a excellent book on the History of Italian Football

[soggy biscuit]

Roberto Mancini has departed Inter Milan.

Would certainly be an interesting appointment if he goes to Chelsea considering his rather clown like reputation in Italy.

Personally I would have thought the Man City job (if it comes up this summer) would be a good one for Mancini, his son also plays for City.

Portuguese press are reporting that Mourinho has signed a 3 year contract with Inter.

[soggy biscuit]

Dennis Bergkamp appointed coach at Ajax

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Bologna & Chievo promoted back to Serie A.

Serie B Play offs start tonight with Brecia v Albinoleffe and Pisa v Lecce.

Albinoleffe are a tiny provincial team from Bergamo who until this season used to get crowds of about 1,500.

[soggy biscuit]

Zico quits as manager of Fenerbahce. Some speculation that he will move to an Enlgish Premier League club this summer.

[Huntley & Palmer]

He had been linked with Chelsea, can't see Blackburn being interested

[RG30]

Currently in Poland, the on-going corruption/match fixing scandal continues with my side Zagłębia Lubin being relegated to the 2nd tier of Polish Football for match fixing around 4 years ago despite finishing 5th in the Orange Ekstraklasa. The club suggested a -15point deduction and a fine but the PZPN officials decided against that and just went for a relegation and a smaller fine. Who joins them in getting relegated is still a little confusing, though it's probable it's Widzew Lodz, Zaglebie Sosnowiec and maybe Korona Kielce.

Teams will be replacing them but I'm unsure as to who and also that maybe affected is Groclin's participation in next seasons' UEFA Cup.

Still also waiting further news on the sitation of Dariusz Wdowczyk who's getting done for match fixing.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Lecce win the Serie B play offs and join Bologna & Chievo Verona back in Serie A.

[soggy biscuit]

Sounding more and more like Zico will become the manager of the Portuguese national team

[soggy biscuit]

Alain Perrin leaves Lyon by mutual agreement

Lille manager Claude Puel expected to be confirmed as Lyon manager by the end of the week