Scramble in the box. Defender makes a last ditch slide and clears it and Defoe clatters into him as the ball's pushed out wide. Defender stays down injured and play goes on. Ball's played about to the edge of the box, where someone (I forget who) hits it and it falls to Defoe. The defender on the floor is playing him onside and he puts the ball into the net. Nobody has a ****ing clue what's been given for ages, til it turns out that the bloke behind the goal that never gives anything has actually given something. Free-kick to PAOK. No goal.
I don't think Defoe's challenge warranted a red it was dangerous but that was only because the other player also went to ground to clear the ball. You can argue that it was a booking as he should've known that he wouldn't get the ball. I didn't actually see whether the ref looked back to the injured player at all but he surely saw the challenge and dismissed it. That's the big problem. That and the huge delay.
A sharp reminder of how strong the squad...isn't! Harry said today, he didn't know how much longer he could go in this comp without switching to the 1st team...he does now. Maybe he missed the 2 Rubin games! If we get through fine, but if it doesn't go for us in the last games, its full on the league. Win win! As for the game, can't be arsed to talk about it.
So for the Spurs fans that aren't happy with Ade's finishing, mmm How much did we miss him tonight? 100% and then some We sooooo need another striker back up for Ade in the window. I just hope we play a complete 2nd XI in Ireland - forget about the EL now, concentrate on top 4.
Surely no ones surprised we are out.If this competition was being treated as a reserve league what can you expect.I think it was just a matter of time. If it was a comp just to blood young players,that was wrong.Good Lord,they may not be at White Hart Lane in a season or two..... I myself think if you enter a competition you should try to win it,or not enter the blooming thing (Harry!) Kindly tell the fans in future:- "Don't bother to turn up lads,we're not interested!"
PAOK are already through, so why would they conspire to take Rubin through. Can't say I care whether we go through or not, it's a distraction from the main business of getting 3rd in the league. Doesn't hurt to be reminded that we are not infallible.
Not exactly the best birthday present you could ask for, maybe a belated gift against Bolton will do!!!
Just for the record, West Ham have won one tie in a major European competition in the last 30 years. They beat NK Osijek 6-1 on aggregate in 1999. Hadn't won a game before that since 1981 and haven't won one since.
Yep, who can forget West Ham's last great 'European tour' when they qualified after bottling a two goal lead in the FA Cup final, and then proceeded to embarrass English football by going out in the first round of the UEFA, losing home and away. This continued their woeful record of non-achievement over the past 30 years
Atleast the PAOK coach says he'll still play his 1st team"coz i don't have a 2nd",nice to hear if we can beat Shamrock.
