Paullow

I was quite fancying that idea at first. Obviously much more chance of winning it (than the CL), Dublin final, and a route back into the CL if we did, and you'd come in at the L32 stage so a chance to get a few more European games under our belt after only like 1 season in Europe in 15/16 years, but while it's only one game, the fact that we went from being 2 points clear over Liverpool to 4 points behind them out of nowhere the other day, Spurs looking better, and others improving, if we were to lose to Brighton, get knocked out of the cup by Man City and already starting to play catch up, then, while it shouldn't, a tough group and scraping 3rd then it might start putting needless pressure on Howe, and then if we did come through the L32, L16 and possibly get knocked out in the QF or SF stage, there wouldn't be much to show for it and may end up costing us a couple of places in the league, like finishing 8th or something. It's strange because since we haven't been in the CL for so long and 7/8 teams don't go into 4/5 places, so you don't know when the next time will be, I wouldn't mind us facing 2 of Real, Bayern, PSG etc. give them a good match, have some memorable night, and still being in Europe by finishing 3rd, but because of how competitive the PL is, the fact we have Man City in the cup, I now definitely want 2 more straightforward matches so that we should come through the group, maybe with a bit to spare and could use the squad more against the lesser sides, and just instil a bit more positivity. There really is such a contrast between some of the teams in each pot (ourselves included, as nobody will want us in Pot 4), but Feyenoord should really be in Pot 4, lower Pot 3 at best (nowhere near Pot 1), and the difference between Milan / Lazio and Copenhagen in Pot 3 will be huge as well. If you get Feyenoord and then like Copenhagen or Red Star then you really should be thinking of qualifying, and then we could look for a Real . Atletico etc. in Pot 2, have some amazing occasions, but still get through relatively comfortably.

Hoping for Feyenoord in Pot 1, Copenhagen in Pot 3, and then anybody in Pot 2. Was originally hoping for two big teams for some memorable nights and to really test the team, but now hoping it's a bit more straightforward. One huge team in Pot 2 should still give us a good chance in getting through, and a couple of big nights, but the competitiveness of the Premier League has kind of changed my outlook a bit. Defo want Copenhagen and would look to make that trip.

Braga, Young Boys, and Galatasaray through tonight, so by my reckoning: Braga join Milan, Lazio, Red Star, Shakhtar, Salzburg, and either PSV/Rangers in Pot 3 Galatasaray join Sociedad, Newcastle, Union Berlin, Celtic, Lens, and either AEK/Antwerp in Pot 4. If Copenhagen beat Rakow tomorrow they go into Pot 3 and Young Boys go into Pot 4, but if Rakow win, Rakow go into Pot 4 and Young Boys go into Pot 3.

Offside. Braga went 1-0 up on the night and 3-1 on agg so switched to Gala to see it go in. Suspected it would be ruled out. Will watch the final 10 mins or do of this one.

TNT Sports from 4.45pm to 6.45pm.

Na, very likely to be Pot 4. YB 2-0 up and if they go through, Gala are defo in Pot 4. I'd prefer to avoid them to be honest. Long travel and fans will be on edge - I doubt many would go without a ticket.

A sucker punch at the end and was absolutely sickening, but I always look back on Southampton at home, which co-incidentally was exactly 2 years ago today, 28th Aug 2021 - a 91st minute apparent winner by ASM, followed by an even later stoppage time equaliser from JWP, ending 2-2, and not an ounce of emotion on either goal, well actually I laughed at the equaliser, fast-forward two years and it really is great to care so much again, even if it did feel like a gut punch.

There's loads of undercover Newcastle fans on RTG, so suspect there will be some on here, but some of these posts are embarrassing. There's a Champions League draw coming up on Thursday, and for the first time in over 20 years Newcastle will be a part of it, and Howe was one of the main reasons for that. Crazy stuff.

Any further news on the Halifax situation? Is it looking like it'll just be rearranged and forgotten about?

Top 6 or 7 away to anyone fine, any combo of the top 6/7 Brighton and Villa playing each other fine as well, and that should cover the big teams getting their 25/26 matches on TV per season, but there's no excuse seeing these teams at home to fodder as chances are they will be pointless 3 or 4-0 type wins. There may be the odd surprise result, but 8 or 9 times out of 10 it will be routine home wins that nobody outside of fans of those clubs will enjoy. Granted, most of those teams will have more fans, hence reasonable viewing figures, but it's shite for the neutral (or those not wanting the better side to win ). It really is shite seeing teams 13/1 on TV and even worse when it's a standalone fixture unlike Super Sunder or no Championship alternative to watch.

It'll probably end up a classic or a spirited Luton result now that I have brought it up, but Chelsea vs Luton really should be a typical 3pm match. I know they can't play at Kenilworth Road yet, but Luton vs Chelsea would have been a bit different as there would have been more intrigue, but as it is, it's never great to see 13/1+ shots on a televised slot.

Lasted until GW3 this year before totally forgetting to sort my team. I'm in a £20 league as well.

Do you know if this one getting closer TBG?

I wonder how much of the wages they will cover? If he's on £60k p/w then 50% would be decent, and they have generated a lot of transfer fees this summer.

Extremely likely to be - they'd need Molde to overturn their 3-2 deficit to Gala, they'd need Panthinaikos to get past Braga, Maccabi to get past Young Boys, and Rakow to get past Copenhagen. 2 or 3 of them might happen, but very unlikely that all 4 do, especially Molde, you'd get very good odds on a 4 fold acca for them all to come through and Celtic to sneak into Pot 3.

Pot 3 will contain - AC Milan, Lazio, Red Star, RB Salzburg, Shakhtar, one of PSV/Rangers, and then two of the below in order, depending on who comes through the playoff round: Braga (if they beat Panathinaikos, lead 2-1 from home leg) Copenhagen (if they beat Rakow, 1-1 from the away leg) If those 2 come through then Pot 3 is sorted with the above 5, PSV/Rangers, and those 2 making up the 8. If either of those 2 lose then Young Boys will get in if they beat Maccabi Haifa (0-0 from the away leg), Sociedad are next in line, then Galatasaray (lead 3-2 from away leg, so should go through), then Celtic, but Celtic need ALL of Braga, Copenhagen, Young Boys and Galatasaray to get knocked out, so chances are they will join us in Pot 4. Panathinaikos, AEK, Antwerp, Molde, Maccabi, and Rakow will all be in Pot 4 if they come through so we definitely won't be playing any of those in the group stages. I'd like Feyenoord in Pot 1 and Young Boys/Copenhagen in Pot 3 because we should beat both of those and the latter two would be nice / safe trips for our fans. If we got Leipzig in Pot 2 then, without wanting to sound arrogant or over confident, there would be a decent chance we would qualify with a game to spare. No gimmes but Feyenoord's record signing would have been Minteh, and they have made a slow start to their league, and with the 400m or so invested over the past couple of years, despite a hostile environment we should have too much for them and YB/Copenhagen and should be looking at 3 or 4 points from Leipzig. If we got Feyenoord and a weaker Pot 3 side then I wouldn't mind a glamour Pot 2 side to potentially create more memories as, hopefully soon, but you don't know the next time we will be in the CL with 7 or 8 teams going for 4 or 5 spots, and we should still go through, but the more I think about it, the 'easier' I would like it to be in terms of travel, opposition strength etc. and I've definitely gone off the idea of being OK with 3rd and a chance of a good Europa run as that will likely impact the latter part of the season.

Bruno lookalike Icardi just scored a great equaliser out of nowhere for Gala. Edit, it's actually 1-2. I went away for 5 mins and was completely oblivious to the first goal.

It's all Molde, they lead 1-0 and probably should be more. Zaha injured or just not registered?

Hoping for wins for Molde, Young Boys, and Panathinaikos, but bar YB, the other two are fairly significant underdogs. Young Boys and Copenhagen would be great for Pot 3. Reasonably close geographically, both capital cities, shouldn't be any fan hostility or violence, and should be 6 points. I'd defo look to go to either of those cities (without a ticket) if they come through and we drew them.

Maccabi H vs Young Boys Molde vs Galatasaray Braga vs Panathinaikos All on TNT Sports at 8pm. Which match are you mainly going to watch?

Fun fact - Lee Johnson has now managed more European games (this season) than Sunderland, who sacked him early last year, have had in their entire history.

He loves a cup competition but I was surprised about that. I wonder if it was Luzern who came through last week, a similar level side, who were slight favourites for the tie at the bookies, whether he would have gone quite so strong, but the whole England-Scotland thing adds another dimension and they certainly won't want egg on their face. I'm sure they will, but I hope Villa do come through this tie and then get to the quarters / semi's before bowing out (unless it helps with the old co-efficient for 5th) to offer some distractions later in the season, although I'm sure most of their group matches will be far lower profile than today and there will be a chance to play reserves / youngsters.

Celtic are like 99.99% likely to join us in Pot 4, but yeah, if we're mainly looking to progress as opposed to having massively anticipated encounters then Feyenoord (definitely) and Leipzig are among the best choices in Pots 1 and 2, then Red Star and Copenhagen and Young Boys in Pot 3, should the latter two win their playoff. I wouldn't mind one biggish Pot 2 name because it will be more memorable, you always remember the wins over Barca and Juve and 10,000+ going to Inter, but if we got a relatively weak group then there could be a chance we actually qualify with a match or two to spare (which sounds mad) and possibly rest players later on, and less distance will also be beneficial when combining PL fixtures. I was originally hoping for 2 of Real/Barca/PSG types and then a weak Pot 3 side, and a potential crack at the more winnable Europa League should we just come up short and finish 3rd, as would be expected from a group like that, but I'm definitely leaning more towards hoping for a much more straightforward group now. Like others, I'm really looking forward to the draw.

First leg results: Antwerp 1 AEK 0 Rakow 0 Copenhagen 1 Rangers 2 PSV 2