Europa League Draw, Round of 32 - we got Real Sociedad

[Maciej]

Sorry, I just wanted this depressing thread to appear on the list.

The draw takes place on Monday.

Who would you love to play against?

I'm thinking of Milan (it's not decided until tomorrow whether they are seeded or unseeded), so they destroy us and we can avoid those frustrating Thursday night fixtures.

The first leg will be played on 18 February, after Newcastle at home and the second leg on 25 February, before Chelsea away.

Because we'll probalby be a seeded team, we'll play the second leg at home.

 

[hungrywing]

Everyone coming into this thread is going to come into it like it's a limp support group in a musty church basement on a really rainy night when you'd rather be almost anywhere else at all.

 

[Micky Targaryen]

There should be an option for UCL group exiters to opt in or opt out of the Europa League. Personally feel that Europa League fixtures are too inconvenient and I'd rather we focus on getting top 4 in the league.

 

[RexHamilton]

I want someone good, who will beat us. Or someone shit who will beat us. Just someone to knock us out of this competition. Focus on the league. Thursday night football is a league form killer.

 

[Volumiza]

There should be an option for UCL group exiters to opt in or opt out of the Europa League. Personally feel that Europa League fixtures are too inconvenient and I'd rather we focus on getting top 4 in the league.

Yep, I agree. We really should just be allowed to focus on the league. Usually I’d be all for it but I feel the EL could be damaging this year, we feel a bit broken right now.

 

[RashyForPM]

Probably the wrong thread but this CL campaign could have really bad repercussions. From a physical standpoint, we’ve played 6 intense games where we couldn’t rest players for nothing, and from a mental standpoint, we’ll be screwed after failing to qualify despite such a bright start. All of Bruno’s great work for nothing.

Still though, I like the Europa and would want us to win it.

 

[Josh 76]

Sorry, I just wanted this depressing thread to appear on the list.

The draw takes place on Monday.

Who would you love to play against?

I'm thinking of Milan (it's not decided until tomorrow whether they are seeded or unseeded), so they destroy us and we can avoid those frustrating Thursday night fixtures.

The first leg will be played on 18 February, after Newcastle at home and the second leg on 25 February, before Chelsea away.

Because we'll probalby be a seeded team, we'll play the second leg at home.

City, Chelsea and Scousers all in UCL and we all know Mourhino loves this competition. Maybe a chance to play the reserves and go for it in the league.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

City, Chelsea and Scousers all in UCL and we all know Mourhino loves this competition. Maybe a chance to play the reserves and go for it in the league.

Nah. Go for it. It's a trophy and I feel we let ourselves down. Sevilla were nothing special.

My big concern is that Ole and his staff don't learn and adapt. We have been caught by sucker punches on the break again and again since the EL semi.
My hope is that we have a better squad. Integrate Amad and Pellistri, and keep Cavani fit;we have a good chance.

Re Mourinho. Spurs are due injuries and suspensions. How long can they keep playing Kane and Son? It may be the case that Spurs say 'feck the EL, we can win the PL.'

 

[Samid]

Mr. “I'm not watching Europa League” seemed quite eager to make this thread

 

[GMoore23]

I want someone good, who will beat us. Or someone shit who will beat us. Just someone to knock us out of this competition. Focus on the league. Thursday night football is a league form killer.

Spurs aren't doing too bad in the league.

 

[Nickelodeon]

The indignity of having the next fixture against a LASK or a Ludogerets is too much to handle repeatedly. For once, let’s just chuck in the kids like Pellestri, Diallo, Mengi, Lingard etc. No more fecking up the league and having Europa as a hail mary.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Mr. “I'm not watching Europa League” seemed quite eager to make this thread

Innit

 

[ti vu]

Spurs aren't doing too bad in the league.

Their EL group games haven't been smooth sailing as they're second in the group at the moment. And they have a balanced second team for it, and a clear XI for the league. We may have squad depth, but there is no balance for our second team, and our starting XI is chopped and changed every week.

 

[red_de_pologne]

play the kids.

 

[FrankDrebin]

I think it downgrades the EL somewhat that CL failures can just fall into it.

 

[Bastian]

I hope we get the hardest possible draw. Then at least it will be interesting, and if we're still jojo-ing between good and absolute shite, we might get it over with quickly.

 

[Evans999]

Best of a bad situation. Draw Rangers and batter them.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

I want someone good, who will beat us. Or someone shit who will beat us. Just someone to knock us out of this competition. Focus on the league. Thursday night football is a league form killer.

Rubbish! This season games are being played at all times of the week, EL on a Thursday makes no difference, does not seem to be affecting Spurs and Leicester !

 

[Yagami]

Might as well have a classic while we're here. Manchester United vs A.C. Milan

 

[Lee565]

Sad thing is ole will take it serious and the board won't sack him even if we are flopping bad in the league and look out of reach of top 4 football as long we are still in this competition knowing it would potentially gives the club a another way of securing champions league football, which is all the board care about in terms of objectives for the season.

 

[Greck]

Even Ole should want to opt out of playing this shite competition. Fan approval won't survive failing in two European competitions in one season.

 

[RexHamilton]

Rubbish! This season games are being played at all times of the week, EL on a Thursday makes no difference, does not seem to be affecting Spurs and Leicester !

It's not rubbish. We've seen teams in the Europa League, ourselves included over the years, struggle after Thursday night games. Two teams doing OK through handy group stages doesn't change that.

Our squad is thin. Fighting on two fronts is hard enough when we need certain players to play almost every game, but having games on a Thursday, has to hamper preparation for the weekend. Between match prep and travel, you're always going to be light on preparation for the game at the weekend.

 

[PieCrust]

In the past few years I've felt that United should take this cup seriously and a club of that size should easily be able to compete on multiple fronts. This year though, I just can't be asked to care. Run out the kids and squad players and let them have at it. Focus on the league.

 

[bosnian_red]

Well we further fecked ourselves in terms of fixtures. Its a winnable cup, but I don't think we'll win it. Motivation is always a huge problem when you fall out of the CL to the Europa League compared to last year when we were always in it. Realistically though, for the past 7 years, we haven't been more than Europa League level anyway. Out of the groups in the CL twice, out to Bayern once in the QF after getting past Olympiacos, out to Barca in the QF after getting past PSG. Until we get a proper manager in, we won't get past this level.

 

[pascell]

play the kids.

The social bubbles will provide a nightmare logistically. Think we'll probably see Henderson, Williams, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, Matic, Van de Beek, Daillo, Pellistri, James, Greenwood.

 

[AshRK]

I will play the likes of pellistri and diallo and some more young players. If we reach till semis somehow then maybe we can bring in the senior pros.

 

[Botim]

The arrogance in here is something to behold.

We haven't won anything in the last three seasons, haven't been anywhere near the top of our own league for 7 years, yet somehow we are too good to even put in an effort in this great historic cup?

There's plenty of decent teams still in it (Napoli, Milan, Tottenham, Benfica,... + Real Madrid/Inter, Ajax), so why not redeem our CL failure and show some fecking ambition (rather than aim for a top 4 finish, as if that's somehow a trophy)?

 

[Chipper]

Granada so I can make shit jokes about the match being on ITV. Maybe Antwerp so I can feign offence at the 'twerp' part.

 

[Slevs]

Yeah... whatever.

 

[MemphisDepay]

Can't wait for this! Kill me now

 

[BlackShark_80]

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[el3mel]

I still can't believe this is fecking true. We are going to play in EL again. Way to kill the mood.

 

[red_de_pologne]

okay, drawing Inter would be fun, I'll admit that

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

okay, drawing Inter would be fun, I'll admit that

Please no I do not want to see Lukaku and Sanchez destroying us.

 

[Jimble]

hopefully we draw Molde

 

[AJ Bullet]

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What he said and that headline are totally misleading and wrong.

 

[OleBoiii]

The only argument to take this cup seriously is that it's a potential lifeline to next season's CL. Because of that we'll probably half-ass it. We wont play our B team, but we want go all out before the semis.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

hopefully we draw Molde

If they knock us out then that would be insane.
If Ole survives that our club would be a joke.

Even if we are top of the league he would deserve the sack for that.

 

[croadyman]

Sorry, I just wanted this depressing thread to appear on the list.

The draw takes place on Monday.

Who would you love to play against?

I'm thinking of Milan (it's not decided until tomorrow whether they are seeded or unseeded), so they destroy us and we can avoid those frustrating Thursday night fixtures.

The first leg will be played on 18 February, after Newcastle at home and the second leg on 25 February, before Chelsea away.

Because we'll probalby be a seeded team, we'll play the second leg at home.

Would rather not be in it and just concentrate on the league instead,ideally under a new manager but that clearly won't be happening.

The trouble if we get a harder draw is Ole will shit himself and we will see the first team rolled out,so better to get a supposed easier one then at least we might see some of the young players but with Ole don't bet on it.

 

[croadyman]

The arrogance in here is something to behold.

We haven't won anything in the last three seasons, haven't been anywhere near the top of our own league for 7 years, yet somehow we are too good to even put in an effort in this great historic cup?

There's plenty of decent teams still in it (Napoli, Milan, Tottenham, Benfica,... + Real Madrid/Inter, Ajax), so why not redeem our CL failure and show some fecking ambition (rather than aim for a top 4 finish, as if that's somehow a trophy)?

Ambition is not ending up in this