European Leagues Thread 2012/2013

[bobbybottler]

He's continuing to do, as widely expected, a superb job at FC Twente, has recently signed a one-year extension to his contract, and is being linked to posts at bigger clubs in Neths and also in Serie A ?

Merry Christmas to Steve, and all at FC Twente.

[soggy biscuit]

He's continuing to do, as widely expected, a superb job at FC Twente, has recently signed a one-year extension to his contract, and is being linked to posts at bigger clubs in Neths and also in Serie A ?

I refuse to be believe that as Jay has always confirmed how bad he is.

[bobbybottler]

He's continuing to do, as widely expected, a superb job at FC Twente, has recently signed a one-year extension to his contract, and is being linked to posts at bigger clubs in Neths and also in Serie A ?

I refuse to be believe that as Jay has always confirmed how bad he is.

I'm happy to report that I think Jay's stopped posting on this thread.

[prostak]

*bump* for the end of the Bundesliga Christmas break!

Köln - Dortmund 2:3 (0:2)
Schalke - Nürnberg 1:0 (0:0)
Stuttgart - Wolfsb. 3:1 (1:0)
Gladbach - Bochum 1:2 (0:2)
Frankfurt - Bremen 1:0 (0:0)
Hannover - Hertha 0:3 (0:2)
Leverkusen - Mainz 4:2 (3:1)
HSV - Freiburg 2:0 (1:0)
Bayern - Hoffenh. 2:0 (1:0)

Leverkusen remain top at the end of the weekend's fixtures, though Bayern kept pace through a win against TSG, with most results being fairly predictable.
Notable points -
- Today's greatly enjoyable Westphalian derby saw Köln fighting back from being 2 down with goals in the 82. and 86. minutes, before Dortmund regained the lead in injury time. Poldi's still failing to do anything much of note since his slink back to his hometown.
- Wolfsburg continue this season's catastrophic failure to take any momentum from last season's championship heroics by losing at Stuttgart. The Swabians, conversely, are finally finding their potential and no longer look doomed to relegation struggles - they did receive a blow at the end of yesterday's match when keeper Sven Ulreich was hospitalized following the frankly terrifying thought of a clash with Grafite.
- Hertha's world of pain received a slight salve at the expense of Hannover - whose collapse is entirely understandable, and look a fairly decent bet to take one of the automatic relegation spots.

[soggy biscuit]

How freaking good was Ronaldinho at the weekend, his 3rd goal was tastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf4th-q0Nao&feature=player_embedded#

Milan 6 points behind Inter with a game in hand and the Milan derby this Sunday

[handbags_harris]

If you're a fan of morbid injuries, there's been a good one in the Deportivo La Coruna v Athletic Bilbao game this evening, Filipe I believe, in the act of scoring Deportivo's opener, had the keeper land on his right leg, resulting in a horrific twist of the knee and ankle ending up with his foot pointing the wrong way.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

I tuned in right after it happened --had been watching the highlights of Juve-Roma that'd just ended on another channel-- and never saw a replay (until just this minute on SSN)

Anywas*, turn your volume down (cr@p music; no commentary) and watch --most useful replay angle comes in @ roughly 2:00

[Holding Out Hope]

Inter leading Milan 1-0, only 20mins gone, Inter all over them though.. good goal by Milito..

[Holding Out Hope]

Wesley Sneijder been sent off for "dissent" (clapping in the refs face at a foul)

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

Wesley Sneijder been sent off for "dissent" (clapping in the refs face at a foul)

I think there is more to it than just the clapping...

[prostak]

In lieu of a Bundesliga roundup, can I direct people toward Betfair where it's currently possibly to get 5.3 on Leverkusen (currently unbeaten, 2 points and 5 goals up on Bayern) winning the league. If this isn't the closest thing you find today to free money, I can only presume you've been here.

[RG30]

I'm off to Germany next month to catch 2 Bundesliga games out there on 20/02 & 21/02 (Borussia Dortmund Vs Hannover & Wolfsburg Vs Schalke). Tickets are all sorted.

[prostak]

I'm off to Germany next month to catch 2 Bundesliga games out there on 20/02 & 21/02 (Borussia Dortmund Vs Hannover & Wolfsburg Vs Schalke). Tickets are all sorted.

That second one should be good - wonder if Schalke will have started their annual collapse by then?

[RG30]

I'm really excited by it. I haven't been back to Germany since the 2006 World Cup but in that period I had an awesome time and the great thing this visit is I'll be going to cities (Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Hannover) where I didn't get too 4 years ago. In terms of the teams, I'm looking forward to seeing Kuba for Dortmund and with the 2nd game which on paper seems the better, the talent is endless with the likes of Dzeko, Grafite etc on display.

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

I tuned in right after it happened --had been watching the highlights of Juve-Roma that'd just ended on another channel-- and never saw a replay (until just this minute on SSN)

Anywas*, turn your volume down (cr@p music; no commentary) and watch --most useful replay angle comes in @ roughly 2:00

Awful - the reaction of their manager says it all.

[SWLR]

I was in Europe on business a few weeks ago - the only footi on TV was Cottbus vs Rostock (sps?) which I assume is a second tier game.

The camera swung to a section of the crowd at one point, clearly their 'hardcore'. In the freezing weather all of them were wearing the same style of 'beany' hat. How sweet.

My conclusion - Put a group of Brits together and you have a rabble. Put a group of Germans together, they put on a uniform and form an army.

[prostak]

In terms of the teams, I'm looking forward to seeing Kuba for Dortmund and with the 2nd game which on paper seems the better, the talent is endless with the likes of Dzeko, Grafite etc on display.

I wouldn't get too excited by Wolfsburg this year (or the town itself, Raphael Honigstein described it quite well in the Guardian this week as Germany's Detroit, which 'offers little else apart from a Ritz-Carlton hotel and the car factory by way of a meeting place'). Don't know if you've caught any games on TV, but the team seem utterly incapable of the slightest effort. They've just sacked Veh and stuck Lorenz-Günther Köstner in as an interim coach after somehow contriving to lose to pitiful Köln. It's looking more like a season of mediocrity rather than a relegation fight, but I think you may be watching two teams desperately trying to salvage something from their seasons - which of course could make for a good match.
It's at Westfalenstadion, isn't it? Are you braving the Südtribüne?

[RG30]

In terms of the teams, I'm looking forward to seeing Kuba for Dortmund and with the 2nd game which on paper seems the better, the talent is endless with the likes of Dzeko, Grafite etc on display.

I wouldn't get too excited by Wolfsburg this year (or the town itself, Raphael Honigstein described it quite well in the Guardian this week as Germany's Detroit, which 'offers little else apart from a Ritz-Carlton hotel and the car factory by way of a meeting place'). Don't know if you've caught any games on TV, but the team seem utterly incapable of the slightest effort. They've just sacked Veh and stuck Lorenz-Günther Köstner in as an interim coach after somehow contriving to lose to pitiful Köln. It's looking more like a season of mediocrity rather than a relegation fight, but I think you may be watching two teams desperately trying to salvage something from their seasons - which of course could make for a good match.
It's at Westfalenstadion, isn't it? Are you braving the Südtribüne?

Afraid not, as much as I would like to it's sold out but my contact has sorted me out a ticket in the South-West terrace. I've seen a bit of Wolfsburg this year, not as much as I would have liked but I saw midweek they sacked Veh after a run of straight defeats in the league.

[Mine's a Brazilian]

HSV fan here. Off to see the home game v Hertha BSC on 6 March. Followed by a night on the Reeperbahn.

I won't diss St Pauli though, I quite like them as well.

[bobbybottler]

Mourinho's home record under pressure now, with Inter Milan down to 9 men after 38 minutes v Sampdoria.