Next Thursday...

[Spurvert]

It's going to be extremely difficult to beat Basel at their ground, especially with our injuries mounting up.

Chelsea look like they will go through as well.

If we are to go out, with Chelsea advancing, would it be the worst thing in the world considering the race for the CL is incredibly tight?

Is there anybody who thinks it would be best, all things considering, if we went out and Chelsea went through? Or can we still win this thing and finish in the top 4?

I'm not sure

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

Want to win it.

 

[Spurvert]

Fair points. I was just wondering what people's views were.

I can't see us winning there to be honest but I'd love to win the EL

 

[Bobbins]

I want us to win it but if we were to go out it would at least have the silver lining of allowing us to concentrate on the league.

Not confident about top 4 and worried about how absolutely dead Dembele and Parker are looking lately, so if we did go out at least we would have some more recovery time (though realistically the pair of them are looking like they need 6 weeks or R&R, which is fair enough considering how many minutes and how much effort they've put in this season).

 

[Spurvert]

I want us to win it but if we were to go out it would at least have the silver lining of allowing us to concentrate on the league.

Not confident about top 4 and worried about how absolutely dead Dembele and Parker are looking lately, so if we did go out at least we would have some more recovery time (though realistically the pair of them are looking like they need 6 weeks or R&R, which is fair enough considering how many minutes and how much effort they've put in this season).

Couldn't agree more.

 

[chrissivad]

We should still go for it, and i was talking with a few people the other weekend about Chelsea and Benítez

He wont be there next season, so he could be looking for what is best for him and his CV. Chelsea not being in the CL wont effect him much
Finishing 4th wont look as good as him winning silverware. I can see him putting out stronger sides in the cup's to try and get two more things added to his CV.

 

[mpickard2087]

Put it this way, if we sacked this competition off and just concentrated on the league, I wouldn't feel any more confident about our chances of getting top four. We are well capable of fucking up no matter how many games we have left to play.

 

[Original # 10]

We have a 10 day rest period after Thur before the City game. In contrast they have a Wembley semi final against Chelsea to contend with.

I'd like us to pick our strongest side for the game and go all out to try and win it. Advancing through to the EL semi final and dispatching a very good European side in the process should do wonders for confidence and hopefully give us some momentum going into the last few weeks of the season.

I don't think we've got anything to lose now. Basel were superior to us for vast periods last night and I'm not expecting much in the return leg.

I much prefer this situation though as defending a 3 goal in the last round resulted in a complete hiding and extra time which severely hurt us for the Fulham game.

A tightly poised tie where tactics and high levels of concentration are required should be a good experience for both AVB and the players.

I just hope the players have enough left in those legs.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Definitely want to win it and have done all season but weirdly when Bale went down my first reaction was, shit what about the league!

Just go for both, double or quits...to aim high and all that

 

[chinaman]

Aside from the Inter game, we've been playing better away perhaps because of less pressure from the home fans. So it is not impossible for us to win in Basel.

 

[Spurvert]

Great point about the rest between next Thursday and City

I have no doubt we will go for it in Basel

 

[chrissivad]

Aside from the Inter game, we've been playing better away perhaps because of less pressure from the home fans. So it is not impossible for us to win in Basel.

result's wise we haven't. Im sure i looked it up and neither us or Basel have won away from home this season in the Europa League

 

[dontcallme]

Definitely want to win it.

Did I hear right that we haven't won away in the Europa this campaign?

Basel were as good as any team I've seen come to WHL this season. I want to believe we are currently at a high level. If we can progress past Basel in difficult circumstances that'll do wonders for my faith in this team.

 

[Mattspur]

I want us to win it but if we were to go out it would at least have the silver lining of allowing us to concentrate on the league.

Not confident about top 4 and worried about how absolutely dead Dembele and Parker are looking lately, so if we did go out at least we would have some more recovery time (though realistically the pair of them are looking like they need 6 weeks or R&R, which is fair enough considering how many minutes and how much effort they've put in this season).

Pretty sure he missed the first half of the season completely.

 

[delpiero]

result's wise we haven't. Im sure i looked it up and neither us or Basel have won away from home this season in the Europa League

Runs like that usually come to an end. Basel had their go last night and failed, maybe we will be one ones to break that run?!

 

[Bobbins]

Pretty sure he missed the first half of the season completely.

But has played in almost every minute of every game since Sandro got injured, and had no pre-season or proper build-up?

 

[talkshowhost86]

It would be great to win it but in terms of importance, finishing in the top four far far outweighs the Europa League (unfortunately).

So my feeling is a bit like how I feel about the FA Cup these days. Would be good if we did well, but not really a massive problem if we go out.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Aside from the Inter game, we've been playing better away perhaps because of less pressure from the home fans. So it is not impossible for us to win in Basel.

Our away league form is also better than home this season. Still not confident of progressing lol I suppose the pressure is off us a bit after last night id assume Basel will be favourites to go through.

 

[Mullers]

Anybody who thinks it's good if we go out and Chelsea advance, should stop supporting Spurs and go and support Chelsea. I never want those mofos to advance in any competition.

 

[Bobbins]

It would be great to win it but in terms of importance, finishing in the top four far far outweighs the Europa League (unfortunately).

So my feeling is a bit like how I feel about the FA Cup these days. Would be good if we did well, but not really a massive problem if we go out.

See I agree and this makes me sad.

When we were mid-table crap I used to get really excited by the cups, as they represented our only real chance of glory every year. Now with this bloody Champions League I find myself thinking the same, not caring about the cups so much anymore as long as we get top 4.

That's no way to feel about football. That's shit. That's literally what Wenger said when he said there were 'five cups, and finishing in the top 4 is the third most important behind the Premier League and winning the Champions League'.

What a ****. He's sort of right. The ****.