European Football — Week 2

I've set up this European Football thread as there seems to be sufficient interest. There's a reluctance, I feel, because it goes to underline the depressing fact that we're not part of it... but as Danny keeps telling us, we were only one match away.

Posts will be moved over here...

With the state of our squad, then it was probably a godsend that Ancelotti didn't know how to win many matches at Goodison when Everton weren't backed by the crowd.

We were, Michael. Even more annoying than my repetitiveness is that we shouldn't have been in that situation. But one game away we were.

Watching Man Utd v Villarreal.

Moise Kean only on the bench. I see he's only started 1 game and scored only 1 goal so far this season.

Nice stat that, of the startings players, none has scored more than 1 goal this season.

Juventus only have eight subs, two of which are goalies. What's all that about? Ooops, I see Chelsea also have two goalies on their bench!!

Paco you're a piece o'. Villarreal should be ahead. We can't reproduce Emery's use of space vs Utd but it's interesting and effective early.

And thanks for moving this. Didn't notice this option.

Interesting point relating to the Stadium. Juventus, giants of European football, are playing in their relatively new stadium, which has a capacity of just over 41,000 having redeveloped from the previous stadium that housed nearly 70,000. They downscaled.

Don't be shy or think that 52,000 for Bramley-Moore Dock is not ambitious. It's the site, the statement and what it means for the club as well as the city.

Next season, Michael. We'll be there next season. Passport is ready and in date.

Juventus 1-0. Ten seconds into the second half!!

Chiesa the scorer.

Many will slate the keeper as its near post, but he dinks that nice and high. Cute and very nice finish. Not going to criticise the keeper there. My brother will!!

Was it a dink, or was it smashed in, Danny? Either way I don't think Mendy had much chance.

Excellent goal by Villarreal – after all their missed chances.

Alright Paco I take that back. Very stylish counterattack Yellow Submarine Keep the clean sheet please.

Great finish, Rob. Put it high and out of reach of the keeper.

Villarreal ahead now too. Good counter attacking play by them.

My eyes are all over the screens right now!!

Just had something pointed out to me on WhatsApp. We play Brentford away on Sunday 28 November, then are scheduled to play Liverpool on Tuesday 30 November. I trust the derby game will be pushed back 24 hours to the Wednesday night?

What a goal by Telles!

Heck of a first-time strike, that.

Ross Barkley on.

Now Moise Kean is on. Three former blues on the pitch.

Rob @15,

They'll probably move it up to Sunday so we can have a double-header that day.

Funny thing Barkley wasn't supposed to be part of Chelsea's first team squad yet has played in the last 2 cup games.

Ronaldo!!!! CR7 does it yet again, almost the last kick of the game.

Spawny bastard. Keeper should have saved that.

How the fuck did Man Utd win that?

We've got a decent chance to get at this Man Utd side on Saturday in the early kick-off. They've had a tough game tonight. Plus they'll be missing Maguire and possibly Shaw.

We need to play exactly like Villarreal have tonight. United's midfield gives you so much space to play when you get the ball, we need to try to stay solid and hit them on the counter.

I'm never overly confident against United, but the fixture secretary may have been kind to us here. Hopefully we can make it count.

Goal should have been disallowed for offside. Lingard was in an offside position, laying right in front of the goalie when Ronaldo hit it.

Disgusting. I'm not sure that gets them back on track but Ole will take it.

Ronaldo saving Solskjear from another nail in his coffin.

Rob (23) - Nah, Christiano smashed it. Always going thru the keeper's hand.

Man Utd have a midfield attacking talent. Yet, other than Pogba when he feels like it, they don't track back well.

Hope Rafa has us on the front foot this weekend. For sure that midfield can be got at.

Bill (28) - I wonder about that. It appears to me that his players get after it; work hard.

Ole's problem is that he doesn't have a defense down the middle comparable to Man City, Liverpool, or Chelsea.

Hoping Rafa has us attacking all game, come the weekend.

Michael 1) - "I've set up this European Football thread as there seems to be sufficient interest. "

Suggest you treat it like the weekly discussion threads you open up for Premier League games.

You'll get the response to it.

It's good having the forum to discuss wider football and matches (both European and Premier League) with fellow Evertonians.

It also stops me getting told off for posting non-Everton stuff elsewhere!!

On a serious, note, it's healthy to look outside our Everton lenses and bubble every now and then. Thank you for making it available, Michael.

Loved seeing the kipper on Carlo when Sherriff scored in the last minute, a totally deserved victory according to reports. I've never watched a live Champions League group game as I have zero interest in it. I read the report and watched the highlights just cos he lost.

As for Koeman, love watching that lazy fraud and his Barca side getting their arse kicked!

Just read Southgate's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and no Calvert-Lewin. I wonder how bad his injury is, or is it he has not played any games lately?

Bill,

Calvert-Lewin is back in training, along with Seamus, but I don't think there's much chance of either being available for this weekend. Hopefully both will be back for the West ham game. No news on Richardson though.

Rob,

It was nice to see Calvert-Lewin running around with the ball at his feet, and as you say, back in training, but he seemed on his own from the short clip of the training session I seen.

Interesting to see that according to the Beeb, Koeman's number is up at Barca, the most fascinating bit is Martinez is now favourite. Everton seem to have done quite well in doing over Barca without even playing a match. Link

Ron, then it's Allardyce's turn.

Why is it so many players leave Everton and show great prowess elsewhere.

The prime example was of course Rooney.

Could it just be we had the wrong managers at the wrong time.

Yes I do acknowledge it's not always the club or the manager at fault but the player himself and generally Everton always lose out.

Hopefully this is a trend that Rafa can help turn around.

Koeman is a phony much like Ancelotti and if he cannot do well at Barca then he belongs at a much lower level.

Good news about Calvert-Lewin. Hope he returns soon along with Richarlison.

Not looking good for Leicester in the Europa league. A defeat in Warsaw tonight has left them bottom of their group, and with two tricky games against Spartak Moscow come, they could be out of Europe after four games.

Rob

Have you heard DCL wont deffo wont be playing ?

I haven't, Darren. I'm only going by what Benitez says on the club website, where he states he hopes Calvert-Lewin and Coleman will both be available after the international break. So I assume that means neither are available for this weekend.

Oh okay, Rob.

I suspect you are right. I doubt we will see a repeat of last season when players were repeatedly rushed back from injury before they were ready.

West Ham lead against Rapid Vienna, causing a scuffle between rival fans, with stewards bailing into the Rapid fans!!

My son is at the Tottenham match.

He commented that he hopes the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock can emulate the Tottenham stadium.

What a strike, by the way!!

Alright Danny. The new ( ish ) stadiums like the Etihad. Emirates and I think this spurs one all have the design of roof that doesn't really trap the noise. We have been promised bmd will be a bear pit intimidating arena close as possible to the pitch. Hate using them shower as an example but the kop roof was built up then a steep curve down to trap the noise. Hard to tell on the tv about the spurs one. Unless your son means the amenities etc.

As I have mentioned before (having attended a match there) I hope Bramley Moore has a far more intimidating atmosphere for away fans than the Tottenham Stadium: there, the seats are too far back and the incline too gentle. We want a Coliseum-like atmosphere (and I've been there too!).

More disgusting racial abuse at Rangers game, Glen Kamara roundly booed when he touched the ball according to reports, and the taking of the knee booed also, There was a stadium ban at Sparta Prague so they let 10,000 school children and there chaperones in to create an atmosphere and yet the abuse still happens, surely these clubs have got to start getting banned from European competition if they can't get their house in order, so much for the stadium ban by UEFA if u can get round it by letting kids in for nothing who then have to have adults as guardians

Looks like R Koeman in trouble again: Barcelona down 2-0 at halftime to Atletico Madrid.