UEFA Europa League 2015/16

[The Lusophone]

6 minutes ago, Whisper said:

Let's not get carried away. He was only played through absolute necessity. Credit LVG for trusting the youngsters but most of it isn't out of choice.

Rashford wouldn't have even been involved if Will Keane hadn't gotten injured on Monday, or if James Wilson wasn't out on loan, for example. He hasn't even started a game for our under 21s before. 

He did really well, yeah. But it's not so much a case of "LVG bringing in the youngster" as it is of our squad simply being so paper thin that we have no other choice.

Have you considered that our 'paper thin squad' might be a conscious choice on the part of LVG in order to easily bring in the youngsters?

[Baddar]

25 minutes ago, Lineker said:

Also, Radford.  

I was positive I'd double checked that one. Balls.

[Colly]

I heard he kneecapped Rooney, Martial and Keane to allow Rad Radford to play. Let's not get silly, you beat a mediocre Danish side (who described the home tie as their cup final to excuse the ticket prices) with a young striker. Wait until you have to play Premier League sides with him up top before praising Van Gaal.

[Matt]

Hey guys, remember when Macheda became one of the best strikers on the world?

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

If you see when the lad scores, Ryan Giggs pretty much orgasms as he leaps to his feet. No doubt he's been pushing him towards the first team.

 

His second goal, especially was well taken as, if I remember, it bounced/bobbled right in front of him and he got over it and controlled it nicely. However, yeah, plenty of time to be another Macheda. Let's not be throwing out England call ups yet, even if he IS playing for Manchester United and therefore will generally get a short cut up to the national team.

[Benji]

1 hour ago, Lineker said:

I imagine it'll be ten minutes of faff with the names start to be drawn around 12:10ish.

Ah, George Bear. He really polarized opinion.

Shame he was taken out so young by such a grizzly tackle

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

12 minutes ago, Benji said:

Shame he was taken out so young by such a grizzly tackle

 

I don't think it was meant to be such a brutal tackle but the defender made a Boo-Boo.

[Lineker]

@Colly

Quote

The big news is that the man who has stepped into Gianni Infantino’s shoes as Uefa draw overlord is Michael Haselswerdt, who has a doctorate. Perhaps in tombola. I don’t know. Anyway, he’s doing a reasonable job, although he lacks the knowing smile that Infantino wears so well. Slightly wooden delivery too.

[Colly]

Forgot it was happening! He should shave his head to properly fit the character he's playing, like Kevin Spacey or James McAvoy.

[Lineker]

Shakhtar Donetsk v Anderlecht
Basel v Sevilla
Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen
Athletic Bilbao v Valencia
Liverpool v Manchester United
Sparta Prague v Lazio
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham Hotspur
Fenerbahce v Braga

First team drawn to play home leg first. Games will be played on 10 and 17 March.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

...and we got Dortmund. Blagh. The two favourites facing each other.

[Lineker]

Dortmund. Bollocks. Still, going to be a terrific spectacle.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Wait, does that mean we get the home tie in the second leg?

[Baddar]

Cracking draw!

[Colly]

Watching the draw on a tablet (nicking BT Sport off my mums Virgin Sky go equivalent) and on my tv they've just shown Draw Baldy on SSN as Wenger was talking about FIFA. It was like seeing an ex-girlfriend doing so much better.

[Lineker]

Just now, ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster said:

Wait, does that mean we get the home tie in the second leg?

@ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster Yes. In Dortmund on the 10th, home on the 17th.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Just now, Lineker said:

Yes. In Dortmund on the 10th, home on the 17th.

Well, you've gotta beat the best teams to win a competition and so Dortmund will have to try to beat us.

[DavidMarrio]

1 minute ago, ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster said:

...and we got Dortmund. Blagh. The two favourites facing each other.

Who christened Tottenham the favourites for the Europa League

Can't wait for our game. Being home first could end up working in our favour!!

 

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

1 minute ago, David Marrio said:

Who christened Tottenham the favourites for the Europa League

Can't wait for our game. Being home first could end up working in our favour!!

 

Well, second or third favourites depending on who you look at. Dortmund and then Sevilla or Spurs.

[Whisper]

2 hours ago, Mad Jack said:

Have you considered that our 'paper thin squad' might be a conscious choice on the part of LVG in order to easily bring in the youngsters?

You're right. LVG definitely planned all these injuries. Just part of his philosophy.

Do you honestly think the likes of Borthwick-Jackson and Varela would be anywhere near the first team without these injuries?

Lets not forget, LVG chose to play noted full backs Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, ahead of calling them up.

That draw couldn't be much worse in terms of British involvement in the latter stages. One team definitely going out and one playing the favourites.