This is Sparta! Build Up

First team for me, we really need a win for some confidence. Today's team with Hoj in for Clasie please.

They drew 2-2 at home today

Would expect a few changes to be honest. Targett, McCarthy, Yoshida, JWP, Austin and co all in.

Still a good enough team.

Would expect a few changes to be honest. Targett, McCarthy, Yoshida, JWP, Austin and co all in.

 

Still a good enough team.

I know nothing about Prague so I'm not as confident as you.

I wouldn't mind seeing Gardos get a game though.

I know nothing about Prague so I'm not as confident as you.

I wouldn't mind seeing Gardos get a game though.

Has he even played a game this year?

I know nothing about Prague so I'm not as confident as you.

I wouldn't mind seeing Gardos get a game though.

Just don't think we can go with a full choice 11 with a league game 3 days away, we'll mix it up. We'll have to.

Just don't think we can go with a full choice 11 with a league game 3 days away, we'll mix it up. We'll have to.

I agree, but McCarthy? Targett? Bertrands played one game so should be fine, and I'd much rather see Martina than Cedric nevermind McCarthy.

I agree, but McCarthy? Targett? Bertrands played one game so should be fine, and I'd much rather see Martina than Cedric nevermind McCarthy.

Bertrand has only just come back though, may be be wrong, but I think he's a shoe-in for a change. McCarthy as the GK by the way, he was apparentley given assurances he would play the cup games this year.

Bertrand has only just come back though, may be be wrong, but I think he's a shoe-in for a change. McCarthy as the GK by the way, he was apparentley given assurances he would play the cup games this year.

Oh yeah, forgot about him. Thought you meant the defender.

They drew 2-2 at home today

And their fans are not happy as Boleslaw are a poor team that Sparta should have beaten comfortably. As of Thursday morning they had sold 200 of their 900 allocation.

Who's the referee ? that's the key factor.

And their fans are not happy as Boleslaw are a poor team that Sparta should have beaten comfortably. As of Thursday morning they had sold 200 of their 900 allocation.

Sounds like us after watford and sunderland.

This has a 0-0 written all over it.

2-1 defeat

start well, crisp attacking play with good passing for the first 25 mins, then regress

redmond will play as a striker again with 2 recognised forwards on the bench and will do OK

followed by posts about it is all coming together

That's a ridiculous approach to European football. Especially when our league season is likely to be average

I value Premier League survival over the Europa League unfortunately

McCarthy, Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Hojbjerg, JWP, Davis, Tadic, Austin, Redmond

1-1

I value Premier League survival over the Europa League unfortunately

It's an understandable call. Personally, I'd like to see go out all guns blazing on Thursday night - imagine the feelgood we'd get from a win in Europe and the confidence we could kick on with to Swansea on Saturday. I run the boarding department in a school and am bringing 5 of my boarders down to watch it....COYR

Here's the goals from Sparta's home draw with Mladá Boleslav today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQmGldWRqjU

2-1 defeat

start well, crisp attacking play with good passing for the first 25 mins, then regress

redmond will play as a striker again with 2 recognised forwards on the bench and will do OK

followed by posts about it is all coming together

You're strange.

2-1 defeat

start well, crisp attacking play with good passing for the first 25 mins, then regress

redmond will play as a striker again with 2 recognised forwards on the bench and will do OK

followed by posts about it is all coming together

I know I shouldn't really encourage you but you do make me smile sometimes BM

I know I shouldn't really encourage you but you do make me smile sometimes BM

You must be easily amused because I find him quite astonishingly dull.

Got to go with as strong a team as possible. Given everything else, Europe has to be a priority this season.

You must be easily amused because I find him quite astonishingly dull.

.... well I did say sometimes.

Every now and again, when I think he can't possibly get any worse, he catches me off guard with a little gem like that ... what's not to smile about !!

Don't forget I'm newish here and haven't had years of him

Got to go with as strong a team as possible. Given everything else, Europe has to be a priority this season.

completely agree .... we've worked hard enough to get there and last year was embarrassing

Rotate please.

Got to go with as strong a team as possible. Given everything else, Europe has to be a priority this season.

Is the correct answer. We've qualified for the group stages only for people to fanny arse about whining about squad rotation? Give me strength.

Go for it, go for it and go for it some more.

2-1 defeat

start well, crisp attacking play with good passing for the first 25 mins, then regress

redmond will play as a striker again with 2 recognised forwards on the bench and will do OK

followed by posts about it is all coming together

Assuming you meant to put this in the Arsenal post-match thread, no...?

McCarthy, Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Hojbjerg, JWP, Davis, Tadic, Austin, Redmond

 

1-1

The scary part about that team is if you take Hojbjerg, Tadic and possibly Davis out of it you're looking at a Championship side.

And their fans are not happy as Boleslaw are a poor team that Sparta should have beaten comfortably. As of Thursday morning they had sold 200 of their 900 allocation.

Wonder if they'll make the 300?

[sorry, we've had that joke before.]

McCarthy for Forster

Martina for Cedric

Højbjerg for Clasie

Austin for Rodriguez

McCarthy for Forster

Martina for Cedric

Højbjerg for Clasie

Austin for Rodriguez

why would you want to drop forster for a home group game in the Europa league?

What is the status of Boufal, is he training yet?

What is the status of Boufal, is he training yet?

Puel says he will be back in a month.

Sounds like us after watford and sunderland.

 

This has a 0-0 written all over it.

not with our fuking defence it won't!

The scary part about that team is if you take Hojbjerg, Tadic and possibly Davis out of it you're looking at a Championship side.

With two European Championship winners and three England U21 players? Behave

Unfortunately we are in rather poor form and I imagine confidence will be low. Not exactly ideal preparation.

McCarthy for Forster

Martina for Cedric

Højbjerg for Clasie

Austin for Rodriguez

Not disagreeing with you that this might be the case, but I'd have thought this was a game for Clasie to start given his experience in European competition, and keep Hojberg for the (now) 'must win' home match v Swansea.

Unfortunately we are in rather poor form and I imagine confidence will be low. Not exactly ideal preparation.

I suspect it'll be the opposite. The team will be fired up, given the injustice of losing their last game.

Need to get our season going.. 1st team please.. Get back to winning ways.. It's still very easily in season, no need for squad rotation/tiredness yet... We can do that later on, when we've already got though to the knockout stages

Wonder if they'll make the 300?

 

[sorry, we've had that joke before.]

.... first time I've heard it

Strongest team possible, surely.

We tried our hardest to get European qualification ... now some want to let the fringe players take the places. Not for me.

Not sure what our strongest team is, but Puel must select it.

Strongest team possible, surely.

We tried our hardest to get European qualification ... now some want to let the fringe players take the places. Not for me.

Not sure what our strongest team is, but Puel must select it.

This , take it seriously and play our strongest team on the day and when Sunday comes do the same again.

Need to get our season going.. 1st team please.. Get back to winning ways.. It's still very easily in season, no need for squad rotation/tiredness yet... We can do that later on, when we've already got though to the knockout stages

Disagree, think complete opposite. Group stage is the time to rotate a handful of players out so they'll be fresh for the Sunday. If we make the knockout then we can decide if we want to priortise it over whatever league position we are in. I'm also hoping at some point in this european experience there will be opportunity given for likes of Reed to get opportunity to impress.

Disagree, think complete opposite. Group stage is the time to rotate a handful of players out so they'll be fresh for the Sunday. If we make the knockout then we can decide if we want to priortise it over whatever league position we are in. I'm also hoping at some point in this european experience there will be opportunity given for likes of Reed to get opportunity to impress.

Maybe we should actually try and make the knockout stage.

------------Forster

Martina Fonte VVD Bertrand

------------Romeu-------------

------Davis------Hojbjerg----

-------------Tadic--------------

Redmond----------------Long

Yoshida, Targett, Clasie, JWP, Austin all got to be in contention too.

Yes all about survival isn't it. So we can never take a cup seriously just in case?

 

We aren't going to go down. If we do at some point, this year, 5 years, 10 years, shouldn't we have had a crack at a cup while we were up there? Or do fans just cheer the p&l, frame that and put it on the wall?

 

Why so much fear? It's a sport, we aren't going to win the league, so why not go for the cup.

100% agree. No point in doing all the hard work in getting to the group stages and then not taking it seriously.

We won't go down, let's go for it. Let's go for it in all the cups. If not what is the point?

I'm really looking forward to Thursday, my first ever European game, what's not to like!

My bet is that we will take this game very seriously indeed and for one reason only, we won't get into Europe next season by any other route than winning this competition. No way we are going to make top six in the PL after the start we've had; with the all-seeing, all knowing Les talking up Champions League this is about the only chance we have of ever reaching such lofty heights.

I expect our strongest team to be put out to go all out for a win, no other result will please them that have to be obeyed!

Anyone got any idea if the King Alfred is planning on opening for this (or again at all this season)? Don't want to walk down there just to have to walk back into town before the game.

Anyone got any idea if the King Alfred is planning on opening for this (or again at all this season)? Don't want to walk down there just to have to walk back into town before the game.

Hasn't been open for months has it?!

Hasn't been open for months has it?!

Nope, but has closed for months at a time a few times over the years then suddenly reopened.

Don't forget, no beer in the ground on Thursday ...... UEFA rules.