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Celtic's New Zealand striker Chris Killen - Source: Reuters -
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The group stages of UEFAs' trophies kicked off last week. While much attention was inevitably turned to the Champions League, especially the Inter v Barcelona square off, it was the advent of the new-look Europa League that added unusual interest. After some insipid 'big' games in the cash-rich league, the new competition had a freshness to it, an unfamiliarity with different teams and an odd quirkiness.
While watching the Basle-Roma game in full flow as the hosts broke to score, I could swear I saw the linesman (excuse the traditional parlance) run on the pitch. Wait, no, it's one of those 'new officials'. Michel Platini has exercised some of his executive powers in UEFA and is using the Europa League as a testing ground for this human solution to controversial goalmouth incidents, thus avoiding any intervention from technology.
These extra pairs of eyes, one official behind each end, are there to watch the nitty gritty confrontations that occur in the penalty box. While this would seem to be a sensible idea, many coaches and managers in the game remain sceptical, expecting a rush of penalties or cautions to result. If it discourages shirt pulling, diving (ok - simulation) and brings about a fairer match then it should be welcomed.
As with any new idea, there will be problems and it was
Everton's David Moyes who was its chief detractor. One of the new
assistants spotted Louis Saha with arms raised in an altercation,
where the opponent collapsed as if shot, and promptly drew the
referee's attention.
Extra eyes
This led to a sending off for the Toffeeman and Moyes was irate that the initial offence, a blatant kick at Saha went unpunished and missed by the extra eyes. Controversy and after match talking points aplenty then for the pundits and fans.
The onfield action was compelling, too. With the new format now involving 12 groups of only 4(not 5 teams like previously), it means the teams play each other in a much fairer home and away series of 6 games. So, that leaves little room for error and judging by some of the midweek games, encouraged teams to go in search of points immediately.
There are some big name in these groups, teams that missed out
on the Champions League and will expect to progress at this level.
The likes of Valencia and Villareal from Spain, Italy's Roma and
Lazio, not forgetting Britain's Celtic and Everton are favoured to
top their groups, but match day one didn't go completely to form.
The Italians both lost, Celtic surrendered a lead in Israel, while
Aston Villa's conquerors Rapid Vienna smashed last year's semi
finalists Hamburg.
Guilty
Perhaps Fulham were guilty of playing their squad men in Bulgaria, but the disappointment shown by the big name losers would suggest they are taking this 'second rate' European adventure more seriously and success matters to them, with no shortage of passion on the terraces, especially in Athens, where Frank Rijkaard's Turkish outfit Galatasaray beat the hosts Panathinaikos.
Only the top two progress from each of the groups to the knockout stage, where they are augmented by the 8 teams that come 3rd in their Champions League group and thus parachute into the safety net of the Europa League.
Because of this factor, trying to pick a favourite or a winner of this inaugural Europa League is nigh on impossible at the moment. Sensible money would go on one of the 8 parachutists, but not necessarily.
Expect the current UEFA Cup holders, Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, to put on a good show again, and then any number of ambitious 'wannabe' big names, who probably wish they were in the other competition anyway, to feature come February 2010.
