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Europa League 2009-10
Topic Started: Aug 7 2009, 08:40 PM (1,531 Views)
MerlinTX
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Just more suffering. That's it. No hope on the horizon. In my bitterness, I wish would field 11 girl scouts against Chelsea. Enough. I'm done.
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valenciano
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I do not want to take anything away from Atletico's accomplishment and I did praise them following their elimination of Liverpool but I can not help think what if, regarding what should have been a penalty against Valencia's Nikola Zigic late in the 2nd match against Atletico, a series Atltico ended up winning on away goals. Every team needs good fortune to advance to a final and that was Atletico's big break.
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Winslow
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So--is Fulham now England's version of Getafe a few years back?
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Sporting
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Winslow,May 3 2010
05:17 PM
So--is Fulham now England's version of Getafe a few years back?

Or Alavés?
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ursus arctos
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The history and grounds of the two clubs and the areas in which they are based are so different that it is very difficult for me to say that they are similar.

If you were looking for a Spanish parallel to Fulham, one might consider Espanyol, who reached two UEFA Cup Finals, most recently in 2007, when they lost to Sevilla. At least Espanyol have a long history as a top flight club (without ever having won the title) and share Fulham's position as a "smaller" club in a major city, with some tradition of success in cup competition (though Espanyol have been more successful than Fulham in that respect).

Though even that comparison is full of holes.

[Edit: the above was written in response to the suggestion of Getafe, but applies even more to Alaves.]
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Winslow
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ursus arctos,May 3 2010
09:25 AM
If you were looking for a Spanish parallel to Fulham, one might consider Espanyol, who reached two UEFA Cup Finals, most recently in 2007, when they lost to Sevilla. At least Espanyol have a long history as a top flight club (without ever having won the title) and share Fulham's position as a "smaller" club in a major city, with some tradition of success in cup competition (though Espanyol have been more successful than Fulham in that respect).

Though even that comparison is full of holes.

Well, yeah. ;) Fulham is more like the sixth club in London (behind Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham, and probably Crystal Palace) and has little tradition of top-flight football. Nothing against Espanyol, which is one of my favorite Liga clubs, but it used to play in an Olympic stadium. Compare that to Craven Cottage, where I think people used to play cricket in the 1800s.

The Getafe comparison only refers to another club that rose from near-nowhere to international renown for one brief shining moment. And Sporting is absolutely right that Alaves could be an even better comparison.
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ursus arctos
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Fulham have about 25 years in the top flight, which is not "little" in my book, but your mileage may vary.

I would also say that there is no way that Palace are more popular than Fulham. Charlton are more popular than Palace, and QPR (and even Millwall) are comparable. If Palace had a large base of support, they wouldn't be on the verge of disappearing.

Craven Cottage was originally built as a hunting lodge, but I'm pretty sure that it doesn't have any cricketing history. Bramall Lane (the home of Sheffield United), on the other hand, has hosted England cricket test matches (as well as England football internationals, and FA Cup finals).

Though as you say, it all depends on what criteria you are basing the comparison on.
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Yogi
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You know what I find interesting about Fulham is that when Mohamed Al Fayed bought the club they were still in a lower division in England and there was talk he would be for Fulham what Roman Abramovich would later become for Chelsea. And if I recall Al Fayed initially used his checkbook to buy some players, and a famous manager in Jean Tigana to help Fulham rise but ether he realized he could not compete with the biggest clubs or did not have the will or checkbook to rival them, Fulham decreased their sending and became a pretty modest Premier League club. But with a good manager and some hard working players they have achieved real success this season. That I find pleasing.
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Sammy Maudlin
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I like the comments made earlier that while the Champions League is for Europe's big spenders, the UEFA Cup and now Europa League is a competition where clubs like Fulham, Atletico Madrid, Alaves, Shakhtar Donetsk and CSKA Moscow can achieve success. Clubs which either are relatively small ones from big leagues (Fulham, Alaves), hard luck stories from those same leagues (Atletico Madrid) or clubs from nations which ordinarily do not win continental competitions (Shakhtar, Zenit, CSKA). Perosnally I think that makes the final rounds of the Europa League quite interetsing.
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Mr. Pither
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So tomorrow night is the Europa League Final between Fulham and Atletico Madrid. Fulham have some fitness concerns over both Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff while Atletico are, to my knowledge in pretty good health. Hard to predict a winner in this match between two clubs who have each been very inconsistent in their league play but obviously done well in this competition.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
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Manzanares
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I naturally am really looking forward to this match, it has been 48 years since Atletico last won a European Final, beating Fiorentina in the Recopa (Cup Winners Cup) Final in 1962. Since then Atletico lost on a replay the 1975 European Cup Final to Bayern Munich and the 1986 Cup Winners Cup Final to Dinamo Kiev. Fulham are in their first ever European Final.

I admire Fulham's battling qualities and Atleti will have to be alert to that and work every bit as hard as they. With an attack of Forlan, Aguero, Simao and Reyes I do think Atletico can threaten Fulham's backline. But Duff, Gera and Zamora have been an effective attack for Fulham in this competition too. This is where Atletico's defense will have to confirm the good moment they have been having in the league. Should be a fun match to watch, neither club has anything to lose as neither were expected to be in this final. Supposedly there has bene a great showing of Atletico fans in Hamburg, no surprise there as we colchoneros are a loyal bunch and are looking forward to our two Cup finals in two weeks.

No confirmation yet of Fulham's starting team but Atletico will go with this XI:

De Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Domínguez, Antonio López, Assunçao, Raúl García, Reyes, Simao, Agüero y Forlán.
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Simon
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De Gea starts? Sky Sports News this morning said he'd be missing out.

Well, I see Atletico Madrid as the big favourites for this one, but then I've been writing Fulham off at pretty much every stage of their European campaign so what do I know?

I don't particularly have a horse in this one, part of me says it would be quite nice for a team to win the Europa League that's been in it the whole way, rather than one of the CL parachutees, but that's not a deal breaker really! Hopefully it'll be a good game!
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Manzanares
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DeGea is fine, it is Sergio Asenjo, Atletico's other keeper who got injured and will likely be out 5-6 months. DeGea at 19 has been a revelation this season and even was named by Del Bosque to Spain's preliminary World Cup roster although his chances of going to South Africa are slim.

Simon, you will be interested in this, in Spain they describe DeGea as a young Edwin Van der Sar. Mainly because of his simialr build I think but DeGea has very good hands for a young goalie and has shown a lot of confidence this season.
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Sammy Maudlin
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Partial result
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

A half hour in and Forlan has put Atletico in front pouncing on a mishit by Aguero. Fair result so far as Atletico have controlled the game.

EDIT: and now Fulham have tied 1-1, Zamora with a nice individual play but looked to have held the ball too long, but Fulham kept the ball and davies volleye din at the far post.

Game on!
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Don Balon
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Final result











Atletico Madrid 2-1 Fulham after extra time

Diego Forlan wins the Europa League Final for Atletico as he redirected a cross by Sergio Aguero in the 116th minute. Great effort by Aguero to run down a long ball in the left corner and keep the ball in play, he has such quick feet. His cross was then hit in by Forlan through a Fulham defender's legs. After Atletico had the better of the first half the 2nd was pretty even with both clubs making their share of mistakes, the extra time was to me a bit in favour of Atletico who looked fresher and more dnagerous. And there was Forlan to win the match with his 2nd goal of the final.

You figured with two clubs with such history of suffering that they would make their fans suffer even more in this final but Forlan who was the hero in the semifinal win over Liverpool came through again.

iAupa Atlético! and congratulations to our colchonero here-manzanares!
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