Europa League

Do we start playing a stronger team as the competition goes on or stick with playing the squad memebers or a mix of both? Your opinions please!

 

I think Braga are going to be a tough test but I also think the team we played against Prague will be good enough when we introduce a strong front man.

Against Sparta we lacked any cutting edge upfront and I think with Carroll back we will be better equipped to cause problems. No disrespect to N’Gog but he had a torrid two games against the Czechs so a role coming on from the bench is best for now with his pace late on in the game.

Potentially play:

Reina

Johnson-Skrtel-Agger(if fit)-Wilson

Lucas

Gerrard-Meireles-Cole

Kuyt-Carroll

I wouldn't mind seeing Pacheco in for Cole but can't see it happening.

 

We'll take Braga home & away. Portugese football is terrible right now. If Rangers can see off Sporting Lisbon, who are 3 places above Braga, then I'm sure we'll have more than enough to get the job done.

 

I agree with you Roberto, I want us to win this cup and playing a weak team may mean we go out.

I wouldn't mind seeing some players come in but Gerrard has to start as does Mereiles to give us that quality.

 

We will not go out to Braga. Get a grip!!

 

I don't think anyone is saying we will! I just think the team needs to be stronger at this stage in the comp.

 

Yeah I want us to win something and despite what people say the Europa League is a big competition and a tough one.

Also as far as I was aware it would mean we qualify for next year right? like we did in 2005 when we won the Euro but finished 5th? I'm sure those rules apply still right? If that is the case it would be a great incentive to ensure we get some Euro footy next season.

Meireles will hopefully have some knowledge of their style which could help slighty but I don't think it'll be a deciding factor. Gerrard needs a big game performance right now. A lot of people been on his back of late saying he's past it, there was a really controversial article on TIA yesterday about it. I think he needs a goal or two over the two games and some really influencial midfield play to get the critics off him. Not just for the critics though I think he owes it to himself, he'll probably be the first to admit that he's not setting the world alight right now but I'm confident he'll start showing it again soon especially with Lucas playing so well this season.

I think this game will be perfect for Lucas. I think we'll see him pass the ball around nicely and breaking play up when nessesary to great affect. Never know he might grab a goal.

Hopefully we'll play in a similar way to the Manu game and not the two Sparta ones..

 

Maybe:

"If the previous UEFA Europa League title-holders are not eligible to take part in either of the current UEFA club competitions (UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League) by virtue of their domestic form, the UEFA Administration may, at the request of the association of the club concerned, admit this club to the current UEFA Europa League competition. Its participation will not be at the expense of the contingent of its association."

So it's the same deal as in 2005/06 - you don't qualify as holders outright if you miss the qualification criteria, but you may get a wild card entry if the FA and UEFA feel sorry for you...

 

Meireles is the man just now, just aswell he's playing well cos Stevie G is not at the races.

 

We aren't saying we are going to get knocked out but if the team turn up with that attitude we probably would.

Let's be honest Sparta are worse than Braga and they gave us a tough time. Braga did well in the champs league despite gettig knocked out. If we play like we did against Sparta we'll struggle but I doubt we will as I mentioned above we lacked the cutting edge up front which we don't lack now.

 

As long as we score in the 1st leg we'll be sorted. at Anfield we'll win by 2 or 3

 

We could find ourselves right at the start playing against some very unknown teams in some random league or city....

 

season would start in June probably!

 

Ha probably, do you remember the games at TNS and wasn't the other lot called Kaunas or something?

 

yeah that was July I'm sure!

 

Just seen Paul Tomkins retweet something on twitter that says Stevie hasn't travelled...?

 

The FA would put forward our case as they know it's good for the country's UEFA co-efficients (I'm pretty sure the FA also played a role in to getting us in to the 2005-2006 CL as well). I think we'll start taking this competition more seriously now 4th seems to have passed us by and Birmingham have won the league cup making league UEFA cup spots less then normal.

Bring on Braga!

 

I think we will put out a strong team for this. We need to win this and the cup in general for prestige and money. Braga willl be up for it.

1.0 Pool. 2.0 at home.

 

They wouldn't actually need to - I was quoting from the old UEFA Cup regs for some reason . The new situation is:

"Unless the UEFA Cup titleholder qualifies for the UEFA Champions League through its domestic championship, it is guaranteed a place in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. If the titleholder does qualify for the UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the number of places to which its national association is entitled in the UEFA Europa League does not change. If the UEFA Cup titleholder does not qualify for either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, its participation in the UEFA Europa League is not at the expense of the contingent of its association."

So if you win it you qualify anyway, along with the usual three English clubs.

 

Oh right so we can stil get Champs League if we win it. Interesting. I would put this in top priority then!