Europa (early but realistic)

[Ted Hughes]

We try to win the Prem & don't even give one player's worth of concession in the Europa imo.

In other words, we play to win every game & take every game seriously but leave half the squad at home (most who will be playing on the Sunday) & use the players who need a game. We don't gamble a single player who we need to start in the next Prem game.

Then they play it at 100% for all it's worth but we make up the numbers on the bench with kids.

[freshie]

Who said I would? :-p

No one said that. I asked you.

ok

League/Europe/FA cup/ Carling cup

Which proves my point

[freshie]

We try to win the Prem & don't even give one player's worth of concession in the Europa imo.

In other words, we play to win every game & take every game seriously but leave half the squad at home (most who will be playing on the Sunday) & use the players who need a game. We don't gamble a single player who we need to start in the next Prem game.

Then they play it at 100% for all it's worth but we make up the numbers on the bench with kids.

This is exactly what I would do and hopefully Mancini will too

[halnone]

a trophy is always nice. We should try to win every competition.

[The Original Special One]

We should decide on our first and second XI and play the latter, with one or two exceptions, in the Europa League: it will help keep everybody up to full match fitness

[dazby]

We aren't out of the chumps league until we are out of the chumps league. For now, we must beat Bayern.

[john@staustell]

Not sure what the rulings are regarding registering players, but assuming we can change the whole lot then put the kids/reserves in. Suarez, Rekik, Bridge, Onuoha, Henshall etc etc.

Let everyone else concentrate on the League, FA Cup and if we're still in it this time next week the Carling Cup.

Fuckin ridiculous.

We have 22+ good players for the purpose of putting out a good team twice a week. What would you do, rest all the 22 Saturday to Saturday, so some never play? Why not just withdraw from Europe and have done with it? 1 trophy in 30 odd years and you want to chuck one in?

If we've won the league and the Europa this year 'll be happy enough.

[CityGer]

Play the kids. We shouldn't risk a single player or a single PL point for the Europa.

[Dubciteh]

The thoughts of playing so many matches on a sunday makes me shudder, i hate sunday matches except 4pm sky ganes.

As long as we dont make same mistake as last year by overplaying yaya and barry we should mix it up with experienced and young players, we have the squad lets put it to use.

[avoidconfusion]

I'd rather see us focus on the League, FA and Carling Cup rather than allow the Europa League to be a distraction.

[lets all have a disco]

That for me is one of the worst aspects going back to Sunday games it WILL affect our league form as were always playing catch up.

[john@staustell]

Play the kids. We shouldn't risk a single player or a single PL point for the Europa.

So subs get 10 minutes in a fortnight maybe, unused subs 0, and those who dont make the matchday squad fuck all?

Mancini has clearly prioritised the PL over the CL. That is why Kolo played in Munich and why Zaba and Kolarov played last night, and why we look like going out. The policy seems to be working for the league, so let it continue if we pass into the Europa League. No need to just pass it all up at all.

[BlueinBosnia]

Play a strong side (though resting important players) for the home games, and field second-string teams away. For GK, I'm not sure- I'd put Hart in the net as much as possible, as I haven't seen enough of Pantimillion to be certain he won't be prone to a terrible error.

Home lineup for me would be:

Hart
Zabs Kolo Savic Kolarov
Johnson De Jong Barry Nasri
Dzeko AN Other

Away, make 2 or 3 changes:
Drop Barry or De Jong, dependent on needs
Bring in a youth player up front (Nimely and Bunn are coming back by Jan), or possibly elsewhere.
Rest Dzeko and Johnson, dependent on form.

[feedthegreek]

do what redknapps doing in europa league, concentrate on domestic trophys,
btw scum could end up in thr europa league as well.
logic being if you cant beat fc basle at home can you beat them away.

[steveo_88]

Bobby has built a squad to challenge for all domestic trophies and Europe. He, as well as many of us, will be dissapointed to end up in the Europe League but he'll definately try to win it. I certainly want it if we end up in it.

Remember when we got knocked out by Kiev at home we ran them ragged with 10 men, if we had the current Mario with his superb discipline we would have progressed with 11 on the pitch! The competition is weaker throughout, anyone who's been to Europa games and Champs League games has seen that for themselves. If you're in it, you're there to win it!

You have to concentrate on the league because it's necessary to be in the Champions League again next year, not just trying to win the title. Cup competitions are always unpredictable, form counts alot, rigged draws etc. I've said it already this year our hardest FA Cup games last year were Notts County and Leicester City! We were the better team in the semi's and although Stoke put in a great effort not even God knows how we didn't score a bucketful.

[patrickblue]

Don't count us out yet..Bayern will play a weakened side and Villarreal could easily get a draw at home

Quite seriously I think that whether Bayern play a weakened side or not, we are quite capable of seeing them off at home. It's the other part of the equation that I can't see happening

[patrickblue]

We try to win the Prem & don't even give one player's worth of concession in the Europa imo.

In other words, we play to win every game & take every game seriously but leave half the squad at home (most who will be playing on the Sunday) & use the players who need a game. We don't gamble a single player who we need to start in the next Prem game.

Then they play it at 100% for all it's worth but we make up the numbers on the bench with kids.

With that 100%, and as has been mentioned, I hope Mancini is too.

[Lee_R]

This is football.

[Bluedj]

Not sure what the rulings are regarding registering players, but assuming we can change the whole lot then put the kids/reserves in. Suarez, Rekik, Bridge, Onuoha, Henshall etc etc.

Let everyone else concentrate on the League, FA Cup and if we're still in it this time next week the Carling Cup.

THIS

[Dunnylad]

Presumably it's too late to field an ineligible player, suffer a points deduction & finish below Villarreal? ;)