I totally agree about the playing European sides bit, apart from anything else it encourages people to socialise with people from all parts of Europe (not just lying on a beach in a tourist resort) which I thing has some benefit in reducing the 'we good, they horrible tossers' vibe being promoted widely. Great to see Murillo and Luiz back but personally I would like to safely negotiate the return of Zinchenko to wherever he camest from at the soonest possible opportunity.
11 Dec 2025
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Yes, we weren't seeded very highly. If we succeed in getting into the top 8 at the end it would be quite an achievement given the managerial shenanigans of the last few months.
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Seeding didnt really matter though - we got 2 from each of the four groups. Basically the coefficient really underrated Midtjylland (pot 3 with us) and slightly underrated Braga and Ferencvaros (pot 2).
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Loads worse. The UEFA Cup (having the couple of teams immediately below the league winners the previous season) arguably was the hardest competition to win - before football was bent those teams were more likely to be the next winners of their countries top league, than the previous winners. Back to back winners were more infrequent. So the UEFA cup was stocked with teams who might prove to be their countries best that season.
All of those teams are now in the champions league.
The Europa is stocked with tinpot teams who had a lucky season, or financially elite teams that temporarily went down the shitter.
The league below that is for teams in england just above the relegation zone, or teams across europe worse than that in absolute terms. Largely with the status of friendlies that nobody wants to watch.
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We seem to play down to the opposition. I am fully aware that we rotate but we have a squad that should be up for the job. Douglas Luiz is a Rolls Royce of as player and if he could stay fit will be a massive a cog to the machine. See also Murillo. Zinchenko. Pretty sure most are coming around to my way of thinking. What is the point of him in this side. He is a tremendous liability. yes, he has just come back from, injury but as a full back I have a massive Doh reaction everytime he gets caught on the ball, or ends up at centre forward and the other team just knock the ball into the space where he should be.
Our best performances have been Porto and Liverpool this season (Okay Brentford but that doesn't count because Nuno is a cnut)...
i am all for sending Zinc back. Seems like a nice lad but it looks like the Brazilian is coming and he at least looks like an athlete. Jesus really is our best striker at the moment (and I love Taiwo) as his spacial awareness is excellent. N'Doye on the other hand seems to be still stuck in Italy. I don't think he currently has any idea where he is meant to stand or go. I think he needs a rest.
Also the reason I really like Douglas Luiz is because he totally uses the field. He passed to Zach Abbott when others wouldn't. If only he can stay fit....
Braga will decide if we are going to the playoffs or not. They are just above us and we need to pick up points on them. Maybe Chris Wood will be back for that as he is now training on the grass (not full training just yet). I am worried that if we break Neco, Murillo or Jesus, we are in trouble. Kali-no-bueno looks like a finisher but not a footballer. Good Goal but a bit rubbish elsewhere, that is why Taiwo could still have a role if the fucker can like Douglas stay fit... Biscuits the lot of them.
Sean needs us to play more progressively rather than start lumping the ball. Jesus can take that, even though it frustrates him. The Frenchman not so much. McAtee started well and then vanished. Is he a Magician?
This team has the potential but needs to start grinding. We did it last night even though it wasn't pretty. Spuds next.
Chicago: Musing.
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I have a football friend who was scouted as a potial elite prospect as a 14 year old. Unfortunately he was in his twenties at the time, but just quite little. The scout assumed no adult could be that size, and thus got the wrong end of the stick. Though technically brilliant, he would never have cut it in professional ranks because of his size.
McAtee reminds me of that, when he plays at the very top level.
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Great news on this! You don't have to wait as long as you thought, we're playing on the Friday night.
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FA Cup third-round TV games
Friday, 9 JanuaryWrexham v Nottingham Forest (19:30 GMT) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Saturday, 10 January
Macclesfield v Crystal Palace (12:15) - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Tottenham v Aston Villa (17:45) - BBC One, iPlayer, TNT Sports 2, 1 and discovery+
Charlton v Chelsea (20:00) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Sunday, 11 January
Derby County v Leeds United (12:00) - TNT Sports 2 and discovery+
Portsmouth v Arsenal (14:00) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Manchester United v Brighton (16:30) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
Monday, 12 January
Liverpool v Barnsley (19:45) - TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
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Jeez, the FA Cup's fucking boring too isn't it
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The FA Cup is brilliant.
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Was better in my day.
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Everything was better back in the day, apart from grot.
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Means we travel to Villa on the 3rd, West Ham on the 6th and Wrexham on the 9th.
