Champions league & Europa leagues 2023-24

[sussexpob]

Witnessing the Kop sing YNWA is pretty special too....

[mikesiva]

Arsenal and Manchester United win.

[Durhamfootman]

Bollox!

As I said on the domestic thread, if you can find a way to frustrate Newcastle then they start snatching at things and you have a chance. Dortmund seem to have managed that handsomely. Newcastle hit the bar twice in the last 5 minutes. The ball wasn’t going to go in tonight

Two players had to come off injured too, as well as this almost certainly being Tonali’s last game of this season

[sussexpob]

Two players had to come off injured too, as well as this almost certainly being Tonali’s last game of this season

10 months ban.... ouch!

[Durhamfootman]

ouch for Newcastle, certainly

No details on the BBC site, but I believe the 10 months was negotiated between the Italian FA and the player's legal team and includes a period of support to tackle his gambling addiction. Unlike Ivan Toney, I think Tonali's ban is only from playing football and he will be allowed to train. Newcastle are now trying to cut a loan deal with Man City for Kalvin Phillips, but whether that will wash is anybody's guess

[Durhamfootman]

as I said on the other thread, Tonali now has the chance to perfect his English ahead of the 24/25 season (of which he'll miss the start)

There is a real possibility that Newcastle will suspend his salary for the duration of his ban and free up his wages to bring a loan player in (Phillips is on 150k a week)

[sussexpob]

I think he's a lucky boy, because he bet on matches that he was actually playing in, which is a huuuuuggggeee no no. I take it the lad is a total prat from this... I

[Durhamfootman]

gambling addiction

addicts do stupid things

I suppose the difference is betting on your team, rather than against, which is a whole different situation and one where I doubt he'd ever play again

I read somewhere that there may be as many as 40 Italian footballers involved in this stupidity, although I have no idea where that figure comes from. Watch this space, I suppose

[Durhamfootman]

just noticed that I somehow managed to dredge up last season's thread rather than this season

[Durhamfootman]

that's a damned shame

Newcastle outplayed in the first half and 1-0 down at half time. Better second half seemingly, but despite pressing for the equaliser they got hit on the counter late on. Couldn't put a full bench out because of all the injuries and started with our second string right back playing as a winger. Could do with PSG beating Milan again now. Progression in the CL looks doomed, but still all to play for regarding Europa League. I was hopeful that victory at home 2 weeks ago would pretty much guarantee some sort of European football in the new year, but we've had a bit of lesson in what it takes to compete in the CL in these last 2 games.

[mikesiva]

Copenhagen 4-3 Manchester United

[Durhamfootman]

so much for Arteta's rant about how much better the officials and the VAR deal with football matches in every country in europe and around the world

perhaps he was just making it up because he'd lost control of his emotions

[Durhamfootman]

I confess to feeling nervous tonight. Not sure why, because at the start of the campaign, I didn't give Newcastle a prayer of progressing. Then they started well and progression seemed very plausible. Now it seems out of reach again, but it all depends on tonight really. Lose and everything might be over if the result in the other game goes against us. Draw with the other game going our way and Europa league could still be on

And to cap it all, we have a seven man bench comprising 2 outfield players, 2 keepers and 3 kids..... what could go wrong? Oh Lordy!

Still.... it's good experience for the coming years.... hopefully

[sussexpob]

1-0 up, not sure how, but its the result that matters... PSg missed a few good chances int he first 15 minutes...

[Durhamfootman]

Newcastle are doing okay. 1-0 up despite Isak missing a big opportunity. Going to be a massive second half. I think Newcastle will have to do this with the XI they have on the pitch, because I'm not sure the bench can help them much. From the reports I'm reading both Miley and Livramento are playing pretty well in the big game atmosphere

Bound to be a turning of the screw from PSG in the second half