Liverpool v Stoke

[JoshBCFC]

of course you would mid table side in 3rd best league

Who would be favorites then Johnny?

 

[smat]

I don't know about that. Sevilla are still around and they're bloody machines in the EL. If we do knock out Dortmund we'd rightfully be favorites to win it, but it'd still be far from a given.

Yeah, far from a given and I'd still be surprised if you won it, but I reckon it's definitely worth resting players in the league for. Particularly when finishing 6th and getting into the Europa League isn't actually all that great in terms of the future. Finishing 10th, winning a trophy AND getting into the Champions League would be preferable by far, and presumably allow you to add more quality to the squad.

 

[Pagnell]

Exactly. If we beat Dortmund this week, on the weeks we play the Europa games we should go balls out for the win and bollocks to the league game three days later.

 

[Stevencc]

That post is very...testicular.

 

[JimJams]

I'd put the other yellow side in the favourites position if Dortmund go out. Villareal are a very good side, already in place to qualify for the CL. Bakambu is a free scoring striker and Pina and Bruno are a good central pairing to a solid side with a bit of everything. A better outfit than Sevilla as the league shows, but thanks to their performances in the competition in the last few years, they'd have to be favourites over Liverpool too.
Both sides have the advantage going into their second leg, if they fail however, then Liverpool might be favourites.

 

[JoshBCFC]

I'd put the other yellow side in the favourites position if Dortmund go out. Villareal are a very good side, already in place to qualify for the CL. Bakambu is a free scoring striker and Pina and Bruno are a good central pairing to a solid side with a bit of everything. A better outfit than Sevilla as the league shows, but thanks to their performances in the competition in the last few years, they'd have to be favourites over Liverpool too.
Both sides have the advantage going into their second leg, if they fail however, then Liverpool might be favourites.

shh i was trying to catch Johnny out because he had no clue and was still making stupid comments like above

 

[johnnytodd]

shh i was trying to catch Johnny out because he had no clue and was still making stupid comments like above

I know the comp is for shit teams, but there must be better than Liverpool though surely...........you were right i would have had to google it.

 

[SALTIRE]

I know the comp is for shit teams, but there must be better than Liverpool though surely...........you were right i would have had to google it.

Shouldn't you be more concerned about your own shit team that at this rate will finish just above the relegation zone despite having a squad full of supposed world class players according to you.

 

[johnnytodd]

Shouldn't you be more concerned about your own shit team that at this rate will finish just above the relegation zone despite having a squad full of supposed world class players according to you.

 

[Bilo]

Yeah, far from a given and I'd still be surprised if you won it, but I reckon it's definitely worth resting players in the league for. Particularly when finishing 6th and getting into the Europa League isn't actually all that great in terms of the future. Finishing 10th, winning a trophy AND getting into the Champions League would be preferable by far, and presumably allow you to add more quality to the squad.

Yeah, I agree. But as shown by our starting XI yesterday, we rightfully prioritize the EL right now. Which funnily enough resulted in us performing better yesterday than after any other EL game this season.

I'd put the other yellow side in the favourites position if Dortmund go out. Villareal are a very good side, already in place to qualify for the CL. Bakambu is a free scoring striker and Pina and Bruno are a good central pairing to a solid side with a bit of everything. A better outfit than Sevilla as the league shows, but thanks to their performances in the competition in the last few years, they'd have to be favourites over Liverpool too.
Both sides have the advantage going into their second leg, if they fail however, then Liverpool might be favourites.

While I agree (Villareal being strong was my original point), us being favorites would be based on us knocking out the strongest team in the competition. At least Dortmund were considered to be beforehand. In simple terms, if we can beat them we can beat anyone. Klopp seems to be a decent cup coach as well.

 

[JimJams]

Of course yeah if you beat Dortmund then you can beat anyone left in it. But I don't think it'd make you favourites. A bit like Wolfsburg beating Real (not that Real are favourites, but one of them), it won't make the German side favourites, or among the favourites. They'd still be the outsiders.

 

[Pagnell]

Of course yeah if you beat Dortmund then you can beat anyone left in it. But I don't think it'd make you favourites. A bit like Wolfsburg beating Real (not that Real are favourites, but one of them), it won't make the German side favourites, or among the favourites. They'd still be the outsiders.

We wouldn't be outsiders. Progress beyond Dortmund this week, especially if we put up a convincing performance, and I for one believe we would be amongst the favourites, to use your expression. We also have a manager with a decent amount of European experience, both in the Champions League and UEFA/Europa.

Still a tall ask though, Dortmund will be out all guns blazing and if they score early it will be a very difficult night.

 

[JimJams]

I didn't say you would be outsiders. I said Wolfsburg will be if they progress. The point being that winning one tie, even against the favourites doesn't automatically qualify the victor as the new favourite. If you were say 4th favourite before the tie, with the number 1 favourite going out you move up the ladder but you don't jump to the top. If you've continually knocked favourites out in the competition then thats a bit different.

 

[Pagnell]

No worries, I misread it then as a result of the direct comparison you made between the teams and their situations.

 

[SALTIRE]

I'd still have Sevilla as favourites no matter what tbh.

 

[JoshBCFC]

I'd still have Sevilla as favourites no matter what tbh.

Even if they get knocked out?!

 

[SALTIRE]

Even if they get knocked out?!

It won't happen, they'll still make the final.