So Bruce has already said he's going to play those who didn't start the QPR game on Saturday. Great if it works out but what if it doesn't? For instance, should we lose the first leg narrowly 1-0, and Bruce decides to employ the same "B" team for the home-leg because he wants to keep the "first 11" fresh for the following Sunday kick-off against Villa, will you be happy with Bruce risking our Europa status for a single Premier League game? Discuss.
Id say getting into the group stages is worth more at this moment in time, as we could get players to come to the Club that wouldn't otherwise, and thus taking us to the next level
I'm sure Bruce will be putting out a side strong enough to get a positive result on Thursday Night, The club have a great opportunity now to reach the group stages which they will not want to chuck away make no mistake. One or Two will be rested with an eye on Sunday's game with Stoke.
No Europa league trumps all. Specially at this stage where it's a two legged round to proceed into the group stage.
Off the top of my head there's 6 obvious changes will happen: Sagbo (suspended for league) for Jelavic (rushed back after Long left despite late start to his preseason) Quinn/Meyler for Livermore/Hudds due to Quinn's performance on Saturday and wanting to give a bit more protection to back 3 (as Brady/Elmo will be wingbacks) in European away game. Aluko for injured Snodgrass (Ince back to midfield 3 between strikers and Quinn/Meyler which won't work til Hudds replaces him or Aluko after 60) McShane for injured Bruce Brady for Robertson (young player having first season at this level not wanting to be burnt out)
Last year it was roughly: 1.3M Euros for playing in the group stage 100k Euros per point (looking at the performance totals teams got it's something like that) Then you get a "market pool" that seems to be based on how big the club is based on both the club and how they qualified. Swansea got 1.7M Euro, Wigan (Cup Winners remember) got 2.1M, and Tottenham 2.5M. This is presumably connected to us entering at 3 different stages (so we'd get Swansea's 1.7M as the smallest and first of our clubs to enter) Effectively 3M Euros plus 100k per point. There was expected to be a 20% increase this season but I haven't seen whether that happened or not. Future rounds the money for qualifying was (all in Euros): Ro32 - 200k Last 16 - 350k 1/4 - 450k Semi - 1M Final - 2.5M Winners - 2.5M (on top of the 2.5M for qualifying for the Final)
Saw something earlier saying Maguire isn't in the squad, can't be true can it? Expecting him to start with Figueroa and McShane either side
See it as something like: Harper McShane Maguire Fig Rosey/Elmo - - - -Brady Quinn Meyler Ince Aluko Sagbo Which is hardly a side to be sneezed at and is almost completely changed from Saturday.
Maguire wasn't listed on the City squad on the UEFA website, but I'm not sure if that was an accurate list, as it had 33 players(10 kids) on it.
McGregor Rosey Chester Davies Figueroa Elmo Huddlestone Meyler Boyd Sagbo Aluko Much more changed than that and I'll piss in a water bomb and lob it a Steve.
You know, do we have a weak squad? many people would of classed mcshane as a 'B' player, and look how well he did when he came on? Meyler missed the game with QPR, yet he was last seasons first choice and a top performer. personally, I think we have a very good balance of players that can come in and do a job with no real 'weaker' side
