davio

Europa League: after last years great success with Porto (33/1ew) lets look at this years candidates.

To start with, im getting rid of Athletico Madrid as, although they won it in 09, they are just too nconsistent. (Hi Yooz!)

Sevilla are also scrubbed from the list and ditto Bilbao. I just can’t see Sevilla going all out to win this and Bilbao will struggle to play at home and abroad.

Roma have a new manager in Luis Enrique but I can see that going tits up after a few months so that’s a line through them and you can add their city rivals Lazio onto the snub list as well, Ditto Palermo, for the same reasons as Bilbao.

PSG look a dark horse but is French football that strong at the minute? Im unsure about that overall but with the money behind them and the players they have now bought they are one for the shortlist.

Hanover, Schalke and Mainz make up the German challenge but I can’t see any of them going close either. Schalke may have reached the semi finals of the champions league but the soccer u’s showed them up for what they were, a mid table German soccer ball side.


Is Harry going to take this seriously or is his main focus getting the 4th spot? That’s the question you have to answer and I think he won’t and hearing the below only cements that fact…

The White Hart Lane tactician has labelled the situation a 'nightmare', although he insists the club will be giving it a go in the tournament.
"The young lads will get plenty of games in the Europa League because, otherwise, I think it's a killer, to be frank," explained Redknapp.
"Thursday and Sunday every week, you've got no chance in the Premier with that. It kills you off, it's a nightmare.
"You have to go to crazy places, but we'll give it our best shot and just give it a go."

Like Athletico I can’t see Fulham repeating their exploits of ’09 and the Russian sides this year look weak to me. As for Celtic, well let’s not even bother discussing them.

After that teams are 50/1+ and I can’t see any team above that price getting close.

So after all that we are left with two teams to Join PSG on the shortlist.

Sporting and PSV.

Sporting didn’t have the best of seasons last year but still managed to finish third. They have plenty of champions’ league experience and at 33/1 they could go close.

PSV, like Sporting, came third in a close finish in the Eredivisie. Quarter finalists last year they should build on that and at 25/1 look like a solid e/w bet.



Udinese have been added as well, 33/1 ew with ladbrokes looks a cracking bet