Yorkie

I agree with you. When I say the other leagues are more 'in need' of a leg-up; I'm not saying they're owed one, I'm just saying they could do with the help moreso than the PL. The PL, to its credit, is an absolute triumph in brand building and selling to a global audience; it's above the other leagues on merit. PS, just caught the end of TNT's round-up there; Liverpool fan/the best voice on football around Rory Smith was making the point that what happened this evening is good for European football. Maybe he's absolutely mental too. (I'm jesting)

Well firstly I don't think it's that crazy a notion; my view of football has recalibrated a bit over the years and the neutral in me is closer to the surface than it once was. That doesn't mean NUFC doesn't still dominate my thoughts and dictate my mood on a weekend; but I can more easily revel in schadenfreude/triumphant underdogs these days, even if it is 'at the expense' of Newcastle. But the other thing is in the merit issue. I honestly find that a quarter of the league being able to qualify for Europe's premier competition (without even a preliminary) degrades the gravity of the achievement. Of course I'd be blinkered not to apply that logic to the Bundesliga now too, but at least in that case it gives a bit of a leg-up to a league more in-need of it than the Prem. I do routinely worry about the potential for PL dominance but must concede that it's probably not even warranted at the moment; given it'll be two years in relatively quick succession without English teams in the CL semis. It was far more prevalent in the noughties than it is atm. But it is definitely highlighted in the Conference League, where decent-to-very-average PL teams are favourites to win. That fact has definitely checked my enthusiasm for Newcastle competing in it; it would be less meaningful an achievement if lifting the trophy would be the only thing not considered an abject failure.

Righto.

Well yeah. Seeing the favourites get dumped out - and their vanquishers enjoy a historic win - is always a good thing, especially when it's Liverpool. I don't get hung up on the coefficient situation at all. I would sooner truly merit qualification for the Champions League than be gifted it through a lax qualification regime. The Europa League is just as capable of delivering famous nights as the Champions League anyway.

Love those two results.

Hammers done

Bleh, rubbish. Highly doubt there's anything left in the competition that can match them now. Can very well understand why Villa fans might love Martinez.

Get the fuck in, Lille

It's one of the most obnoxiously brazen decisions that I can recall. Not a single fuck given about the interests of anyone other than a very select few. £33million is buttons relative to the prize money PL clubs get for competing in Europe and, spread thinly, does not replace the 'life-changing' windfall a club might receive off the back of a cup replay - even if it isn't budgeted for. Not to mention the devaluing of the competition itself by binning an aspect that it's so famous for. Besides, what in God's name does scrapping replays at the 1st and 2nd Round stages have to do with reducing fixture congestion for the rich few?

Wonder, given the amount of detail and the fact they're obviously fans, if they're the audio assistant comms for blind fans? Remember them advertising for it early last season.

Good to see all the PL teams dispatched. Pray to God there's no miracles tomorrow night.

Fair play, that's an unexpected boost.

What a fucking beauty of a strike that was. Whistles past the goalie.