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Showing results for tags 'er...sprouts?'.
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Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous. I don't ask for much. This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up. We've already assured ourselves of top spot in the group so this match is very much a dead rubber for us. I have a feeling that none of our fans are arsed in the least about this one. Union SG I think still have an outside hope of reaching the knockout stage, but may yet end up dropping down into the Conference League. The permutations for the other teams in the group are such that Toulouse could finish 2rd or 3rd, Union could end up 2nd, 3rd or 4th, and LASK could end up 3rd or 4th. The home game against Union was mundane and harder work than it needed to be, but goals at the end of each half from Grav and Diogo gave us an ultimately comfortable 2-0 win. Our last visit to Belgium was as defending European champions in October 2019, for a group stage game against Genk. We dominated the game and won it 4-1 thanks to 2 goals from Ox, and one each from Sadio and Mo. Ox's opener came after just a couple of minutes, with a precise low shot from the edge of the area into the far corner past a rooted goalkeeper. Ox's made it 2-0 with a peach of a finish, this time a half-volley with the outside of his foot from the edge of the area and in off the bar. I'm with those who think goals look more spectacular when they go flying in off the bar. Some lovely link-up play between Mo and Sadio allowed the latter to dink the ball over the advancing keeper from an angle and being played in. Mo got in on the act late on, dribbling free of 2 defenders with some tight control and a calm finish. Just class all round. Genk did grab a consolation with minutes to go but they were never at the races. We all expect Jurgen to ring the changes for this game, and select a more youthful/inexperienced line-up. He himself will be mindful of appearing to throw the game, and I suspect he will say words to that effect prior to the game. Stuff about not disrespecting Toulouse or LASK by giving Union an easy 3 points. That said, it would make sense not to have most of the first-team squad travel for this one. I think he will pick a side not dissimilar to the one that played in Toulouse, though Mac won't be involved of course. I don't think Kostas will be either, but I suspect Joe will lead the defence alongside Jarrel, with maybe Bradley and Scanlon in the full back roles. I think we might also see both Endo and Curtis in midfield. Harvey might be on the bench rather than starting, as he has a case for starting at the weekend. Not expecting much then, but I hope the players all have the right motivation, concentration, attitude and application from first minute to last. Try for the 3 points. Get it done!