Europa Final: Fulham v Atletico Madrid

I got to Claddagh late, right after Davies scored, and found about 12 already there in the prime area of the bar. So I sat in the back area with three others since my son planned to join me. About 5 of us wore various Fulham shirts so I suppose there were about 10 that actually followed Fulham out of the twenty or so who were paying attention to the match.

Cant say there were any rowdy displays when things went well {having missed the Davies reaction}, but the crowd was definitely into it. Stone Silence when Forlan scored. That was what I felt as well.
All told.. the reaction was the same, I suppose, as if the Crew were to lose a tough one away to LA.

Because there were no avid Fulham cheerleaders, such as our girl in Atlanta..

I sort of feel for Dempsey from what I say of his expression in the award parade. I couldnt understand his subbing Zamora. I thought an even lame Bobby playing off Clint might make things better but that's why Roy is MOY and I'm a follower of the team.

That's because there werent real announcers... this is the first match to be run through a supercomputer with modified code from Fifa 2010.
That was my impression of the booth guys.

{And causes me a smirk when I recall bitching about how lame US commentary is....}

 

This is what makes this team so special and worth following. What a great season!

 

A good read: http://blogs.soccernet.com/soccernetcom ... lipses.php

 

Madrid had better players, Fulham were the better team. The better players won on the day b/c they took the chances and as a result, got two fortunate deflections to score. We held the ball too long, seemingly looking for the sure goal too often (too cautious?). With a 19 y.o. keeper, we probably should have thrown more balls at the net since you never know what may come.

But the team fought hard and valiantly, they answered immediately when put behind, and it took Madrid the full 90 plus 27 extra time minutes to dispatch of our little club. I still believe we could have beaten them, but on the night we didn't. Either way, my expectations for Europe were exceeded when we beat Basle away. The rest was gravy.

Thanks to Fulham and all of her supporters for a great year. I'm more saddened that this season is over than for the loss. On to the WC...COYRWB's.

 

FYP
I think this, as well as the blog WB points to, defines the final.

Looking back, if Forlan was not playing for Atlantico Madrid, we would not even be seeing them. If players in this tournament were rated for MVP, there's no question at all who wins.
All the more remarkable when you consider that ATL squeaked into the next game/round at the last minute with no really decisive victories.

 

I packed up and went to a friends house that has DirectTv during my prep period and watched up to the end of the first OT...

I cant bring myself to go back over there to watch the 2nd and I think I am just going to tell them to delete it.

Oh - and agreed - one of the biggest matches of the year for me and I found myself cursing the TV because I couldnt fast forward thru the HORRIBLE announcing and FLAT sound.

Who was mixing that sound?!? It was inexcusably bad.

As for Fulham - what a brave and inspiring group... Too good to be left with this empty feeling.

 

I think Simao and Aguerro were both handfuls and caused us quite a few problems. Defensively, Perrea was very stout.

 

Still difficult to even think about the details of the match. Simon was terrific and the kid GK made a great save to deny him a second goal around the 60th. Roy made some good adjustments at half and we looked real sharp that first 20-25 minutes of the second. The Captain looked his age. 4 minutes from PKs??
:cry:


Good point from sfm, Dio would have been very useful yesterday.

 

Still fighting the sads...really, really wanted this. When we first got into Europa, I was hoping we'd be out early because I was afraid we wouldn't be able to keep up with amount of games we would play (EPL, FA and this...). I've never been more happy to be proven wrong.

All said, I love this team, I love the fans, and I am proud beyond words at what we have accomplished. I think back to April 5, 2008 when I went to Craven Cottage with fellow FUSAs for Fulham v. Sunderland. Thought for sure we were on the brink of relegation. Left the Cottage in tears because I was certain I'd never see them on TV again...and had almost started my search for a "second team" for my soccer fix. And to think now I am lamenting because we lost a cup final...after such a good fight. Perspective, I suppose...

Anyway...chin up. Look towards August. And we have the World Cup to occupy our time!

COYW! Great job, boys!

PS One of the best moments of yesterday was the excitement in the BH when Dempsey came on the pitch...the first American in a European Cup final! So proud! So excited for USA domination this summer!

 

Even though Forlan scored both their goals, I thought Aguerro was the best player on the field on Wednesday.

 

Have we re-qualified for Europa League 2010-11 through our third place finish in the Premier League Fair Play table? The final season standings are in the link below, but there is nothing noted on the Fulham FC official web-site, nor in tonight's Evening Standard. I presume that as Arsenal and Spurs finished ahead of us and have already qualified for Europe, we take the Fair Play ranking award and return to the qualifying rounds, same as last season. However, if England are allocated less total places in Europe, perhaps the Fair Play ranking does not come into effect. I would appreciate any clarification, and I suspect good news on this front might assuage some from lingering effect of last night's result. http://www.premierleague.com/page/FairPlayTable

 

The Prem League have not won a fair league place this year and so no European football for Fulham next year. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 653443.stm

 

Been a long time everyone. I purposefully stayed away these past few weeks cuz I was superstitious that if I showed up we would lose in Europe. I should have come back to the fold earlier damnit! That said, I love the boys, I love Roy and am looking forward to next season when we make a run in the FA Cup. I'll be there at the Wembley when we do. Write it down. It's good to be back

 

Damn you Oms it's all your fault . . . and I'll be at Wembley too . . . write it down. How 'bout the rest of you?

 

One hell of a season. Initially I was just saddened by the loss to Atletico Madrid and then I got angry because Fulham deserved to win just because of the road it took to get us there. But now I see that it doesn't matter. Atletico walked away with a trophy they were favored to win (at least for the final). Meanwhile Fulham and its fans walked away with memories to last a lifetime from a competition they were never supposed to qualify for. Memories of wins against clubs they were never supposed to meet in a meaningful match, let alone win them. Memories of the first American to play in a major european final. Fulham Football Club you are simply indescribable

 

Welcome back Oms, it's been way too long.

 

No more superstitions, Omsdogg!*

And still, seeing photos of Atletico's celebration with the trophy really, really burns.




* unless you're Stevie Wonder.

 

i'm done with superstition. So proud of our boys though!