Champions League 2023/2024: Group F (Newcastle, Milan, Dortmund, PSG)

[Miggys First Goal]

Got a nagging feeling that we’re just going to exit this competition with a bit of a whimper.

[Decky]

4 minutes ago, oldtype said:

I'm not sure I even want Europa at this point to be honest. I don't know if we can handle all those extra games.

 

We'll have a lot of our injured players back and maybe a signing or two in January. We have to get at least the EL, a run in that would be tremendous for the club and fanbase. It is also a route into the CL next season too of course. 

[The Prophet]

Those misses from Joelinton and Wilson over the Dortmund games proved costly. We'll learn from the experience, let's try and get third.

[frankpingel]

Always thought Europa was an achievable goal this season. Hopefully we have an opportunity in the final group match to secure a place. Obviously still some good teams but, much like the League Cup, we've a chance of going all the way.

[duo]

It isn't over yet.  I have a sneaky feeling we'll beat PSG and Milan to grab 2nd.

[James]

6 minutes ago, oldtype said:

I'm not sure I even want Europa at this point to be honest. I don't know if we can handle all those extra games.

Im in favour of having a good go at Europa, I think our group of death has been a big problem in how it has restricted us in rotating the squad and to stop this happening in future seasons we need to build up our coefficient.

[Decky]

Imagine Brighton over two legs in the EL semis, then Liverpool in the final in Dublin. Scenes. 

[HaydnNUFC]

Losing a final to that lot surrounded by Paddy Murphys would be fucking lifting.

 

 

Edited November 7, 2023 by HaydnNUFC

[Jonas]

On balance it would be a pisser to wear ourselves out and get injuries for nothing in these remaining two games when there's next to no chance of qualifying.

97/98 revisited. A narrow defeat in Paris followed by a dead-rubber against Milan to follow.

 

I'd rather qualify for the CL than get to the Europa league final, but I'd rather win the Europa league than qualify for the CL.  Theoretically almost all the players will be back by then which puts a different complexion on things.

Chances will still be slim so not much bothered what the outcome is now. There's virtue either way.

[Optimistic Nut]

I'd take a Milan win tonight to keep us in it even if we go bottom.

 

Think before the match I'd have taken 3rd if we lost but fuck it, I want us to have every chance of going through. We can take Europa League as a consolation prize if we finish outside the top 5 in the league, let's do everything we can to try finishing top two still here. All it takes is a Milan win tonight and for us to pinch a win at Paris and we're in there still. 

[Paullow]

I just can't see us winning in Paris at all, especially with the stretched squad. We'll realistically lose, in which case we'd definitely be out, so I'd rather put eggs in one basket and know that if we beat Milan stay in Europe a bit longer.

[Bizza]

PSG 1-0 up already

[Optimistic Nut]

Even a draw would be good. Keeps us 3rd but with a chance of 2nd still if we did beat PSG. 

[Jonas]

Prefer Milan to have less to play for than us by our meeting and a casual game and win ala Dynamo Kyiv to round things off on a positive note.

 

*also means we might get to enjoy and savour it for what it is as fans - Milan in the CL - with nothing/little to lose.

 

 

Edited November 7, 2023 by Jonas

[Optimistic Nut]

Touched on it in the Other Games thread but sad seeing people giving up on this after 4 games. 3 weeks before we play PSG. Even just Isak back would give us a sniff. 

[Ketsbaia]

Be gutted if Milan hold on to win this, like.

 

Even third place is starting to look tough.

[Yorkie]

I just can't make up my mind about Europa.   As I keep saying I really love it as a competition, I've got some really strong memories of it feeling like the one that would finally bring us silverware. And I think it's for that reason that I don't want it to feel like a consolation or, much worse, seen as an inconvenience. It should be a pleasure to be in, and something to be celebrated - an achievement, not a failure. Just being in Europe is class; it's not all about the bloody CL.

 

The bottom line is I want us to progress in 1st or 2nd of the group we're already in. But, if we do drop, I dearly hope it's not seen as uncool to suddenly be in a competition that we could actually win.

[gbandit]

I’d love the Europa if I thought we had a chance in it but with our squad situation we’ll likely not be able to compete, not to the level where we could win it. I’d prefer to just bow out and focus our efforts on the national cups and trying for top five 

[Whitley mag]

3 minutes ago, Ketsbaia said:

Be gutted if Milan hold on to win this, like.

 

Even third place is starting to look tough.

Or the whole group is wide open again and if we beat PSG we go above them.

[ChrisJbarnes]

Assuming this score stays the same, a point away at PSG and then beating Milan at home would see us go through on head to head If Dortmund hold PSG to a draw at home

[SUPERTOON]

If the last game is a dead rubber, at least we can play a weakened side 

[Heron]

Doetmund will beat PSG at home and will top the group now for me.

 

We can beat Milan at home. We can draw away at PSG.

[madras]

1 minute ago, Yorkie said:

I just can't make up my mind about Europa.   As I keep saying I really love it as a competition, I've got some really strong memories of it feeling like the one that would finally bring us silverware. And I think it's for that reason that I don't want it to feel like a consolation or, much worse, seen as an inconvenience. It should be a pleasure to be in, and something to be celebrated, because being in Europe is class - it's not all about the bloody CL.

 

The bottom line is I want us to progress in 1st or 2nd of the group we're already in. But, if we do drop, I dearly hope it's not seen as uncool to suddenly be in a competition that we could actually win.

I see it as a no lose situation.  We haven't been embarrassed, we've learned loads so far. We qualify and our profile and coffers are boosted. We qualify for Europa,  we'll continue to learn and grow the profile and possibly do very well. We finish bottom, we get fewer games to give the top 4 another push. 

 

We are only moving forward at this stage. Neither of the 3 alternatives are going to stop that.

[timeEd32]

2 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

Or the whole group is wide open again and if we beat PSG we go above them.

 

Yeah, I'm finding it hard to be upset at a result that leaves everything in doubt. Maybe we end up 4th and in that case so be it, but heading to Paris with a chance to turn the group on its head again is not a bad thing.

[Yorkie]

2 minutes ago, madras said:

I see it as a no lose situation.  We haven't been embarrassed, we've learned loads so far. We qualify and our profile and coffers are boosted. We qualify for Europa,  we'll continue to learn and grow the profile and possibly do very well. We finish bottom, we get fewer games to give the top 4 another push. 

 

We are only moving forward at this stage. Neither of the 3 alternatives are going to stop that.

 

Yeah you're absolutely right. My main fear is the possible misery of people who might grumble at the so-called inconvenience of being the Europa League, should that come to pass. It's basically just an afterglow of anxiety from the Alan 'thank God we're not in Europe' Pardew days.