European and Domestic Cups Discussion 2018/2019

Seeing the reaction of the Solihull executive after the draw makes me hope they can do it against Blackpool as a fixture against Arsenal could be like winning the lottery for these non-league clubs.

Update

Sina wrote:BVB/MonacoBrugge
PSV/Inter
Napoli
Lokomotiv/Gala
Benfica/Ajax
Shakhtar/Lyon
Cska
Valencia

Good stuff, don't think EL is as strong this season. All these teams are beatable imo.

Ozil and Ramsey are available for tomorrow, but Mustafi is a doubt.

My guess at the team:

Cech; Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Willock, Ozil, Smith Rowe; Nketiah

Though since we've been playing a back three, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw:

Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Willock, Maitland-Niles; Ozil, Smith Rowe; Nketiah

But I'm hoping we get to AMN in midfield for once.

I get that Koscielny, Monreal, Ozil could use some game time but Sokratis really shouldn't play in this meaningless game. I don't know how fit they are but Pleguezuelo/Medley could start in this one.

Mavropanos missed a huge chunk of development this season due to injuries

Seeded

Napoli
Valencia
Inter
Benfica

Unseeded

Plzen
Brugge
Shakhtar
Gala

Tonight's team:

Martinez; Jenkinson, Sokratis, Koscielny, Maitland-Niles; Elneny, Willock; Nketiah, Ozil, Saka; Lacazette

We'll see if we line-up like above, or if Saka plays LB and AMN in a midfield diamond.

Smith Rowe is out with a groin problem, hence Saka starting.

1-0. Lacazette finish, Ozil assist. Words I wish I could type more...

Good work from Nketiah to win the ball back high up the pitch.

Hopefully our last ever Europa League Group stage Match

It's so apparent that Jenkinson and Elneny are too limited on the ball for this team. Makes you wish we just played kids.

Zech Medley on for Lacazette. He's playing left back, while AMN has gone into mid and Nketiah has gone down the middle.

Saka has been more impressive on the right than on the left.

Hope we see John-Jules come on at some point.

Edit: Monreal is on for Koscielny. A good 70 mins for him without much to do.

Nketiah has a goal ruled out for offside. Looks the right decision.

Great play from Saka to set up the chance.

FenerBahce.Galatasaray,Lazio and Shakhtar toughest teams we can face in round of 32

We got BATE Borisov in the Europa League. Alex Hleb etc etc.

A boring draw, really. We stuck 10 past them over two games last year playing our reserves and kids.

First leg is February 14th. As for the 2nd leg...

#afc's EL last 32 match, second leg is moved to Weds 20 February, 5pm so as not to clash with CL that night or #cfc's second leg the following night. The determining factor why Arsenal's game was moved, according to UEFA, was because Chelsea "won the national domestic cup."

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 17, 2018

Work that one out.

Anyway, the fixture list isn't looking too bad:

Sat 9th Feb - Huddersfield (A)
Thur 14th Feb - BATE (A)
Fri-Mon 15-18th Feb - FA Cup fifth round
Wed 20th Feb - BATE (H)
Sat 23rd Feb - Southampton (H)

We are going to Win Europa League and there nothing anyone can do about it

Team to play Tottenham:

Cech; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, XHAKA, Monreal; Torreira, Guendouzi; Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi; Aubameyang

Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Willock, Nketiah, Lacazette

Spurs' team:

Gazzaniga; Trippier, Alderweireld, Davies, Rose; Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Alli; Lucas, Son

Ozil was left out for "tactical reasons", reportedly.

I feel like Emery is being even more stubborn than Wenger in regards to playing out of form players.

Missing Ozil, or a player like Ozi, big time.

Players treating the ball like a grenade. No measured passing to open up gaps, just throwing it forward to Auba or Ramsey.

Spurs have kept and used the ball 10x better than we have.

Fucking Ramsey man lmao, trying a backheel in that position

Passes up a presentable chance to try a flick in the penalty area, loses it.

Volleys a cross against the post with his weaker foot.

Aaron Ramsey, everyone.

We missed some very good chances in that half and should probably be level, even if our general play has been erratic as hell.

Iwobi's one month of form was nice, but it seems he's back to being headless. It's like watching Gervinho again.

I‘m actually tired of Iwobi‘s inconsistency, wouldn‘t mind if we sell him.

But then Emery keeps playing him so he should get some blame too.

Koscielny is on for Mkhitaryan at half-time.

Possible knock for Mkhitaryan after kicking Moura.

...and it's going to be a back three. ffs Emery.

Our defending

Three against two, yet somehow we fail to pick up the striker who drops deep AND the player making the run.

Amateur level stuff back there.

That goal is doubly annoying since it was XHAKA, playing out of position, who doesn't get out to Kane, so Koscielny tries to do it instead and leaves a gaping hole in the middle.

Perhaps it wouldn't have happened if we played players in their proper positions.