Posted April 12, 200717 yr Just interested to gather peoples opinions on our momentous victory at the Mestalla on Tuesday night. I personally have not ever seen us dominate an away opposition as forcefully as we did before Tues. (Okay, we did ride our luck for those 10 mins in the first half, but..) Not because Valencia were tired, or weary, or lost concentration. They just couldnt cope with us! They were helpless to prevent the onslaught, and if we didnt score when we did, then we would have surely done it in Extra Time? Over the years we've played well in Munich and ended up losing? (However going through on Agg). We have drawn at Barca when they were surely considered to be the best in Europe? We have smashed Galatasaray on their own turf, as well as beaten Besiktas, held our own at SS Lazio, and who could forget Wisey's goal at the San Siro of all places? Or Bridge's winner at the Library (If you can call that 'Away in Europe'?) To name but a few! Could Valencia be considered as our greatest away performance in Europe during the post Roman era? I certainly think it's up there.
April 12, 200717 yr I think it is right up there as well. When you factor in: 1. The superb record they have at home in Europe (both this season and against British opposition full stop) 2. The fact that for periods of the game at the Bridge they were the better side 3. The fact that we are still competing for three competitions at the moment 4. In Essien we had a player playing his first game for a fair while 5. In Joe we had a player playing his first game for even longer 6. We were 2-1 down on aggregate at HT and knew we would have to score at least one goal in the 2nd half without conceding another Basically the pressure was turned up to maximum and the boys, especially in the 2nd half, delivered in style. In the first half I was nervous about Valencia on the break and was not convinced we were going to score. In the 2nd half, before Sheva scored I felt good about us equalising, after Sheva scored I never doubted we were going to win (whether it was in normal time or extra time). The ony scenario I could see us losing on was penalties as we were suffocating Valencia.
April 12, 200717 yr Author I think it is right up there as well. When you factor in:1. The superb record they have at home in Europe (both this season and against British opposition full stop) 2. The fact that for periods of the game at the Bridge they were the better side 3. The fact that we are still competing for three competitions at the moment 4. In Essien we had a player playing his first game for a fair while 5. In Joe we had a player playing his first game for even longer 6. We were 2-1 down on aggregate at HT and knew we would have to score at least one goal in the 2nd half without conceding another Basically the pressure was turned up to maximum and the boys, especially in the 2nd half, delivered in style. In the first half I was nervous about Valencia on the break and was not convinced we were going to score. In the 2nd half, before Sheva scored I felt good about us equalising, after Sheva scored I never doubted we were going to win (whether it was in normal time or extra time). The ony scenario I could see us losing on was penalties as we were suffocating Valencia. I agree fully. In the 2nd half, you could see that there was only going to be one winner. I think the only other English team to beat them away was 'that' Leeds side of the early 60's?
April 12, 200717 yr Elliott Football success means nothing between 1956 and 1969 - it was just a lot of people passing time
April 12, 200717 yr ElliottFootball success means nothing between 1956 and 1969 - it was just a lot of people passing time That may be true, Loz, but there was one similarity with the 'trophy years' in that period - under Tommy Doc, there was never a dull moment.
April 12, 200717 yr I think it is right up there as well. When you factor in:1. The superb record they have at home in Europe (both this season and against British opposition full stop) 2. The fact that for periods of the game at the Bridge they were the better side 3. The fact that we are still competing for three competitions at the moment 4. In Essien we had a player playing his first game for a fair while 5. In Joe we had a player playing his first game for even longer 6. We were 2-1 down on aggregate at HT and knew we would have to score at least one goal in the 2nd half without conceding another Basically the pressure was turned up to maximum and the boys, especially in the 2nd half, delivered in style. In the first half I was nervous about Valencia on the break and was not convinced we were going to score. In the 2nd half, before Sheva scored I felt good about us equalising, after Sheva scored I never doubted we were going to win (whether it was in normal time or extra time). The ony scenario I could see us losing on was penalties as we were suffocating Valencia. I agree fully. In the 2nd half, you could see that there was only going to be one winner. I think the only other English team to beat them away was 'that' Leeds side of the early 60's? I heard variously that we were the first English team to ever win at their ground, and the first English team do so for 40 years. Also that the last English based player to score there was Terry 'enry of the Arse. Whatever the truth of the matter and however you look at it, Tuesday night's victory was a hell of an achievement, as Loz has eloquently summarised. Definitely up there with the best of them.
April 12, 200717 yr predictably it has received far less attention than utd and I noticed some writers still went on the same chelsea grind it out, relentless, efficient line, when our football in the second half was as good as anything in europe. I think it will work in our favour as utd are now favourites and everyone's attention is on them...it was funny yesterday on sky sports news when they led with 'utd on course for the treble' and 'can anyone stop them now'...then the link went, 'meanwhile chelsea are on course for the quadruple', but the whole report was far more understated and not so sensationalised. I think it has to rank as one of our best performances in europe, but there are others too of course...Galatasary 0 Chelsea 5 has to be right up there...they were a top side then and it was all about 'welcome to hell'...we showed them...beating barca in 2005, when I think their football was better than the team that won it last year and so on.
April 12, 200717 yr Also the fact that we played into their natural game plan- the counterattack- and still hammered them!
April 12, 200717 yr I thought we played well against Besiktas at the neutral ground in Germany. I thought we done well in the 1st half at the Nou Camp in 2000. Obviously Wisey in the San Siro!! Lazio 4-0 in Rome! And beating Valencia was a massive achievement.......... ...But the way we came back against Arsen*l at Highbury in 2004 was the best for me!! Vecenzia at home was also a great come back!!! Hughesie!!!
April 19, 200717 yr Just interested to gather peoples opinions on our momentous victory at the Mestalla on Tuesday night. I personally have not ever seen us dominate an away opposition as forcefully as we did before Tues. (Okay, we did ride our luck for those 10 mins in the first half, but..) Not because Valencia were tired, or weary, or lost concentration. They just couldnt cope with us! They were helpless to prevent the onslaught, and if we didnt score when we did, then we would have surely done it in Extra Time? Over the years we've played well in Munich and ended up losing? (However going through on Agg). We have drawn at Barca when they were surely considered to be the best in Europe? We have smashed Galatasaray on their own turf, as well as beaten Besiktas, held our own at SS Lazio, and who could forget Wisey's goal at the San Siro of all places? Or Bridge's winner at the Library (If you can call that 'Away in Europe'?) To name but a few! Could Valencia be considered as our greatest away performance in Europe during the post Roman era? I certainly think it's up there. a little late for a response, but better late than never. I thought your performance embarrassed british football and showed us up as long ball playing, hacking, diving thugs. There, i gave you credit although it was hard! [spoil]It was actually as good as any performance from an English side in the CL away from home against top class opposition as i can ever remember seeing. Well the second half anyway, didnt see the first but heard it was much more even. Great result.[/spoil]
