he's the type of CF that Tony pulis wets his sheets for...
He also fights really hard to get the ball from opponent CBs, injuring a few CBs last year (including Thiago Silva IIRC)

Kozak should be a muay thai fighter.

You're speaking of Libor Kozak, the one that played my nerves the whole match last season we played against them, the one who knocked out Legrottaglie for months with his violent foul (and yes, I know someone will jump the chance and say something like "he did us a favor")?

No thanks, he's Inter material.

Are you talking to me?

Maybe it was Leggro, sorry i thought i was Thago, you know a player of importance

Nice double bill on TV tonight

Shamrock Vs Tottenham then Birmingham Vs Maribor

Lovely night in

Both Spurs and Birmingham are going out, though. Supposedly.

It's likely yeah

Both need to win by about five goals and then hope results go there way

Tottenham 3-0 up at half time and Salonika beating Rubin Kazan 1-0 with Kazan down to 10 men. Two more goals from Tottenham and no further action in the other game would take them through

It's on for them

Spurs to go through then by the looks of it, think 1 more goal needs to be scored for Spurs/against Kazan. So long as it ruins their league form I'm fine with it.

10 man Kazan make it 1-1.

One goal either way and two from Spurs takes Spurs through then... I think

I dunno way to complicated for me

Spurs win 4-0, but PAOK and Kazan drew 1-1, Spurs out.

Pleased about that. Love the fact that Harry thinks because there out the Europa League they'll now qualify for the Champions League

Even admitted before the game they've all but given up on it. Love to see it come back to haunt him

Birmingham lead, but Braga are down to 10 men and Blues need them to win.

Brugges 1-0 up now. Birmingham all but out

UDINESE GO THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see both Lazio and Udine making it through.

Maybe Udinese could win it. Who knows... yet again they are strong, and unlike other Italians teams over the past seasons they seem to take this serious.

I can see Udinese beating United who may not take it fully serious anyway. City would be tougher I guess, depending on how serious they take this they are favourites at least on paper.

Yeah, I don't think Fergie will be that bothered at all. The board might be as it's more funding for the debt given to the club by the Glaziers. I would expect a fairly young, inexperienced team though showing for United.

City will care about it more.

Depends on the Premier League I think

If Fergie sees that slipping away Europa League could there only hope of a trophy with them drawing City in the FA Cup as well. Similar Mancini might want to concentrate on the domestic treble rather than waste time on it

Could do with an Italian team at least reaching the Final to boost the co-efficient back up a bit.

Not going to be easy. Lazio and Udinese both finished 2nd in the group so there guaranteed to get Champions League drop outs

Can see what you're saying.

Though United's expectations would have been to challenge for the CL, I just can't see Fergie paying that much attention to the Europa League. In turn using it as a chance to rest his key players and keep them fresh for the league, something he hasn't been able to do in years. I'm not saying he's going to throw his youth team out there, but I fail to see people like Rooney playing consistently on a Thursday night.

City still have only won the FA Cup, winning the Europa League would still be a big, big deal for them and their owners. Plus their squad depth is so good that even if they don't play their complete first XI their squad has more than enough to prove stiff competition in this tournament.

After Monday the league is anyone's guess again, suddenly City have lost, they aren't that unbeatable side anymore. United have the ability to rest key players in European games and Fergie will probably use the CL debacle as fuel for the rest of the year. They still only went out to one goal in the competition at the end of the day, sure they should have got through, with ease. Though I can't see Fergie allowing them to self-destruct.

Yeah true

When is the next round played is it sometime after Christmas? If that defeat for City was only a blip we'll know about by the time the games are played. If United are say 10 points behind maybe they'll change there philosophy. Although saying that Fergie has went through trophyless seasons before and it's never bothered him even if it's bothered the fans, that was under the old board though with the Glaziers who knows what he's promised them this season

Believe the next round, 1st leg is 16th February. Not 100% sure when the draw is for that though.

Agreed about the Glazier's that was my only doubt, because of the debt that they bought to the club and winning, or advancing in the Europa League would obviously help financially.

LAZIO v ATLETICO MADRID

AZ ALKMAAR v ANDERLECHT

RUBIN KAZAN v OLYMPIAKOS

STOKE CITY v VALENCIA

SALZBURG V METALIST KHARKIV

LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW v ATHLETIC BILBAO

AJAX v MANCHESTER UNITED

PORTO v MANCHESTER CITY

LEGIA WARSAW v SPORTING LISBON

HANNOVER v BURGGE

TRABZONSPOR v PSV EINDHOVEN

UDINESE v PAOK

BRAGA V BESIKTAS

WISLA KRAKOW v STANDARD LIEGE

VIKTORIA PLZEN v SCHALKE

STEAUA BUCHAREST v TWENTE

LAST 16 DRAW

STOKE CITY/VALENCIA v TRABZONSPOR/PSV EINDHOVEN

WISLA KRAKOW/STANDARD LIEGE v HANNOVER/BRUGGE

STEAUA BUCHAREST/TWENTE v VIKTORIA PLZEN/SCHALKE

LEGIA WARSAW /SPORTING LISBON v PORTO/MANCHESTER CITY

SALZBURG/METALIST KHARKIV v RUBIN KAZAN/OLYMPIAKOS

AJAX/MANCHESTER UNITED v LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW/ATHLETIC BILBAO

LAZIO/ATLETICO MADRID v BRAGA/BESIKTAS

AZ ALKMAAR/ANDERLECHT v UDINESE/PAOK

Holy molly! Now, who's to say these draws aren't fixed. Both United and City getting decent enough teams to make it worth their while. Speaking in €€€ and $$$ and ₤₤₤, of course. Still should make both match watchable.

Excellent draw for Udinese

I think both teams would have preferred easier ties, I'm sure you get a lot more money from advancing through the competition than just playing 2 games.

Really, really weird to see Utd in the Consolation Cup.

Least it gives people enjoyment, an English club failing miserably, not only that but United whom everyone seems to hate, yet they don't mind Liverpool or Man $ity

I hate all English teams except Villa equally. Happy?

Buttering up to Kurt, though you've now annoyed our new member Calcio

In a way yes, but you know, revenue from Ajax and Porto is very big to ignore. The real money in the Europa League starts in the quarters and semis. And what better way to ease fans of both Manchester clubs in the EL with some juicy matches to maintain interest. Top clubs of Netherlands and Portugal against top EPL clubs is juicy, however you look at it.

Both aren't terribly big clubs (footballing skills-wise), but like you said, easier ties would have been preferred.

Yeah, I can see what you're saying to be fair.

I'm still interested to see what team Fergie puts out, as I was saying yesterday on here I think it will be a fairly low-key one, probably see people like Macheda, Owen (for 5 minutes before he gets injured) etc.

Between the two of them City and United could make a mockery of the English league. With Stoke getting Valencia it's highly likely that no English team will be in the last 16. Which would effect massively. Milan beat Arsenal leaving Chelsea as the lone team in Europe and even there in a bit of bother with a tricky trip to Napoli

Quite agree with both of you. A massive change of fortunes for the EPL this year.

Yeah, it's been a bit of a disappointing year English-wise in Europe no doubt. Though, in recent years it's fair to say a lot of the time the English league has been the most dominant (though usually toppled when it comes to actually winning anything).

Agreed. It was more mental for the EPL teams when it came to the finish lines these past few years. 2007 I can live with, we needed to teach Liverpool a lesson. The rest, while they had great squads and almost went the distance, their mental blocks came in the way. That and Barcelona. Even the 2006 Arsenal run was like this. Toppled.

Fixed. (probably going to get some hate for that).

It's strange really because the league in terms of depth is as strong as it has ever been I mean only Arsenal have really fallen off the board but teams like Liverpool and Spurs have improved immensely. I wouldn't discount Chelsea from anything just yet either.

Chelsea can and probably will go out and spend a fortune in January that's why there so dangerous. They've already got a hell of a squad though the likes of Mata, Torres, Drogba. I'd take them in a heart beat. They don't need to spend big but they normally do when things aren't going there way. Just need something to put them together as a team because the talents there. Can't understand why they keep throwing money at problems

Don't worry, I'll cover you, bro! In fact, I was about to type UEFArcelona, then decided against it.

Lescott owning Hulk so far.

Not the best advert for him.

Was surprised to see United put out such a strong team though forgot they were out of the FA Cup, so they have a week off anyway.

So, Huntelaar scored a hatrick (with two goals in extra time) to put his side through. What an immense finisher. Punch me right betwix the eyes if I ever see a better and more lethal finisher. You give this guy a chance, and he'll put it in. If he was still playing for us as a backup striker, we'd never have to worry about injuries or dip in quality.

I still remember all his awesome goals for us, just like I do Ronaldo's. Take a look at how calmly he takes the third goal, and makes it look easy and effortless. A lot of others would have panicked. Anyway, Schalke are into the next round, good on them. Their next match against Bayern Munich in the league should be fun.

Schalke 3-1 Viktoria Plzen

Yet, the problem will remain the same: he's a big time choker, and I think a club like Schalke is the best he can do. With that in mind, he'll never make the step towards the status IMO Milito or Higuain deserve.

Yeah, well that's subjective really. I mean, big time choker, the same can be said of a lot of players. I mean, a few seasons back everyone was saying Ibra was a CL choker, so on and so forth. Yet, if I re-watch all of Huntelaar's goals for us, I can sense immense natural talent.

Sure, it did not come out when we played him on the right, adrift of the goal. But hey, he's better than Boriello.

Bilbao won at Old Trafford 3-2 Bielsa is doing a good job there this season.