Bigbluebear
Well-Known Member
Looks like West Ham should have beat them despite playing with 10 men for 75 minutes
If it was a two legged affair I'd fancy us strongly, especially at Ibrox.
A one off tie I don't know man. On paper they've put out stronger teams than us.
We have the biggest travelling support in world football. We'll be fine, will be like a home game.If it was a two legged affair I'd fancy us strongly, especially at Ibrox.
A one off tie I don't know man. On paper they've put out stronger teams than us.
They are a good team, reminds me a lot of us under Gerrard. At their best on the counter with breaking runners from midfield and the danger men on the flanks. Also very physical, they can mix it up if needed. Kostic is probably their stand out player, but Borre up top is also a dangerous striker who can find the back of the net.
Two big weaknesses though. In possession they aren't the best. They prefer creating by winning the second ball and countering. Lots of dangerous crosses rather than cutting teams open after long passing moves. Compact and organised and they won't get through (West Ham fans bemoaned losing the early goal for this reason).
Second is defensively. They concede a lot. In part because they push their wing backs up, exploit that and it's game on. But also in general, they are the kind of team to sometimes struggle with a simple long ball or a fast runner. Hinte is likely their best defender, him being out of an already shaky defence is huge.
They are tough and fully capable of punishing us. But if we are on our game we have the quality to beat them. Tav vs Kostic will be the big match up, Goldson's raking balls will terrify them and if we can keep Kent in a dangerous area there is a good chance for us to stop them from playing their usual game.
It'll be close. Can see both teams scoring. Reckon it will come down to who handles the pressure and turns up.
The fact there is this mindset that we already beat the better German teams is what's giving me the fear.
We underestimate this lot for a second we'll get torn to shreds. You don't get to a European Final on pure luck alone (no matter what a certain inbreded lot think). They are the real deal and we need to demand they are treated as such.
Their fans are just as excited about the game as us. They're already planning a homecoming celebration party for their players at the Römer, whether they win or not. They'll also sell out a beam back at Deutsche Bank Park.
Better teams than them have been knocked out, but there are very few, if any, that want the competition as much. Barcelona felt the Europa League was beneath them, while Leipzig didn't have the same kind of partisan fan backing. Like us, there's a feeling of destiny around Frankfurt when it comes to this tournament. Even their manager said they aren't the best players or coaches, but as a group they've stumbled upon something special.
It's a different kind of challenge to anything we've faced so far. They are desperate to be victors just as much as we are, and see it as a similar once in a generatiojn achievement. It'll be a refreshing game between two storied clubs that are buzzing to be there.
Yeah I thought the same but I don’t know if those games are characteristic of what I’ve seen of them through the season.Firstly I have to say I've only seen them in the two games against WH - so I'll certainly concede my observations are pretty limited
But like I said earlier in the thread - their defence seemed to me to be quite efficient at dealing with potential break-aways
I know that WH had 10 men in the 2nd leg for a lengthy period - but even when EF had men storming forward into WH's penalty box- they still had a solid backstop in position - at all times
They just didn't look too phased on the few occasions WH employed 'long balls or fast runners'
Going on these two games alone - I thought they look better at dealing with breakaways than most of the other opponents we've met so far
Yup agree with this. 2 leg match I think we're finding a way by them. I often think we use the first leg to suss teams out as we're nearly always far superior in the 2nd leg in Europe. This time we don't have that but I trust Gio will have them studied down to every single squad player they have and will know what we need to do.If it was a two legged affair I'd fancy us strongly, especially at Ibrox.
A one off tie I don't know man. On paper they've put out stronger teams than us.
I didn’t know thatAm I the first poster to mention that Eintracht means United?
13th.Massive club in Germany. Dying to win something. Massive fanbase.
They're 10th in Bundesliga, but I'd say a much bigger challenge than Dortmund (2nd in League) or Leipzig (5th).
They were unlucky to miss out on a Europa final a few years back
13th.
I can see an argument their league position undervalues them, and maybe they’re a better side than Leipzig. But not Dortmund.
But better than 2nd?They've basically chucked it in the league since the Barcelona games, they're far better than 13th.
They are a strange one. They havent won a domestic game since the 13th March yet have been brilliant in Europe.
But better than 2nd?
This.
They will be no mugs and we will need to be at our very best to win.