***** The Official Benfica v Rangers Europa League Round of 16 Match Thread *****

[.Williamson. 82,308]

Just now, OrangeRab said:

Aye I’m sure he won’t. Just hope it doesn’t come back to bite us. (I don’t really see it as sacrificing because the chances of this team getting to the final are slim at best).

Don’t know mate, if there’s a god he will want us in Dublin. I don’t believe there is one but this is his time to prove to me he’s there imo

[TheKingObv 10,646]

10 hours ago, hawkfalcons said:

absolutely want to win this tie ,the euro run to seville was amazing and would love the same again

Spot on

[TheKingObv 10,646]

1 hour ago, King Jela said:

Is it? I'd sacrifice the cup to get through to the last 8 tbh. 

Agreed.

Some mental takes on. Be as well never trying in Europe again while there's a title race on.

[Prso's headband 35,482]

Hopefully a welcome break from domestic football. Put on a good showing and be in the tie at Ibrox will give the team a good lift. 
 

[VanVeenRangers 2,537]

Butland

Tav, Goldson, Davies, Ridvan

Lundstrum, Diomande, Sterling

Wright, Dessers, Silva

 

 

[Amokachi 3,014]

Whatever 11 he puts out, our bench is gonna be sparse on quality. 

 

[OrangeRab 2,761]

3 hours ago, TheKingObv said:

Agreed.

Some mental takes on. Be as well never trying in Europe again while there's a title race on.

We’ve got a squad with no depth in key areas and decimated by injuries. 

And a title with a huge financial reward swing that can materially alter the outcome of our domestic and European fortunes over the next few years. 

Not a mental take if folk are worried that playing in all these fixtures might impact our league chances.

I’d fancy our chances much more of getting to another European final next year having secured PC a small war chest

[Roy Hobbs 2,174]

3 minutes ago, OrangeRab said:

We’ve got a squad with no depth in key areas and decimated by injuries. 

And a title with a huge financial reward swing that can materially alter the outcome of our domestic and European fortunes over the next few years. 

Not a mental take if folk are worried that playing in all these fixtures might impact our league chances.

I’d fancy our chances much more of getting to another European final next year having secured PC a small war chest

There's no drop down from the Champions league to the Europa after this season.

[ForeverAndEver 71,530]

Anybody not caring about this round or wanting us to play a weak team aren’t allowed to enjoy the run when we get through. I don’t make the rules.

[TheKingObv 10,646]

9 minutes ago, OrangeRab said:

We’ve got a squad with no depth in key areas and decimated by injuries. 

And a title with a huge financial reward swing that can materially alter the outcome of our domestic and European fortunes over the next few years. 

Not a mental take if folk are worried that playing in all these fixtures might impact our league chances.

I’d fancy our chances much more of getting to another European final next year having secured PC a small war chest

Got no issues with people wanting us to prioritise the league over Europe, thats up to them.

But find it odd when people are saying they couldn't care less about Thursday.

[Essandoh 21,208]

Opportunity to make the Quarter Finals of the Europa League and people say they don’t care  

Don't understand that at all

[RockwellGers 14,712]

Lundstram to score in this, and by golly I'll place money on that.

[GA1972 9,587]

Can’t wait for this, feels like ages since we’ve played in Europe with us missing a round 

[JackAlex93 11,301]

Keep the tie alive for next week and see what they are about when they come to Glasgow. Ibrox hasn't been a happy hunting ground for away sides in europa league

[BookWorm 4,136]

Want us to get that Motherwell performance out the system pronto so needing Phil to get us back on track with a fine display and result in Portugal cheers.

[AGM_72 3,643]

2 hours ago, ForeverAndEver said:

Anybody not caring about this round or wanting us to play a weak team aren’t allowed to enjoy the run when we get through. I don’t make the rules.

Also not allowed to complain about mentality/being winners when they're happy to get pumped out a competition.

[Somemightsay7 2,409]

2 hours ago, OrangeRab said:

We’ve got a squad with no depth in key areas and decimated by injuries. 

And a title with a huge financial reward swing that can materially alter the outcome of our domestic and European fortunes over the next few years. 

Not a mental take if folk are worried that playing in all these fixtures might impact our league chances.

I’d fancy our chances much more of getting to another European final next year having secured PC a small war chest

Putting out a weakened team and getting hammered 5-0 will impact our league chances more than an extra game or two.

People always talk about how we should be a big draw for players as they get European football, so how can we possibly then say to give up on it?

[graeme_4 34,576]

I’m not very excited about this for some reason. 

[RFC55 108,979]

8 minutes ago, graeme_4 said:

I’m not very excited about this for some reason. 

Come Thursday you’ll be fine mate, think Saturday took the wind out of a lot of our sails tbh 

[OrangeRab 2,761]

18 minutes ago, Somemightsay7 said:

Putting out a weakened team and getting hammered 5-0 will impact our league chances more than an extra game or two.

People always talk about how we should be a big draw for players as they get European football, so how can we possibly then say to give up on it?

Most players would rather play in CL. Winning the league will be the biggest draw + cash we can get for players.

Disagree the first bit. But everyone sees it differently. We had the biggest high knocking Dortmund out but dropped points to Utd and Motherwell.

These players have played a load of matches. Add in a potential 4-6 midweek matches between now and end of season at that level is a lot. Injury, fatigue, flatness etc will hinder us more than losing when it wasn’t our strongest team. We looked flat as fuck with the short rest post Killie.

Anyways looking forward to it and I hope we get through (just in a way that doesn’t impact the league chances).

[maverick1200 2,828]

1 hour ago, Essandoh said:

Opportunity to make the Quarter Finals of the Europa League and people say they don’t care  

Don't understand that at all

It's how I feel about a lot of opinions on here

[.Williamson. 82,308]

12 minutes ago, RFC55 said:

Come Thursday you’ll be fine mate, think Saturday took the wind out of a lot of our sails tbh 

The wind are well and truly in my sails, I carried Hearts to that win on Sunday with my big confident sail boat

[.Williamson. 82,308]

6 minutes ago, OrangeRab said:

Most players would rather play in CL. Winning the league will be the biggest draw + cash we can get for players.

Disagree the first bit. But everyone sees it differently. We had the biggest high knocking Dortmund out but dropped points to Utd and Motherwell.

These players have played a load of matches. Add in a potential 4-6 midweek matches between now and end of season at that level is a lot. Injury, fatigue, flatness etc will hinder us more than losing when it wasn’t our strongest team. We looked flat as fuck with the short rest post Killie.

Anyways looking forward to it and I hope we get through (just in a way that doesn’t impact the league chances).

Tbf mate you told us that lot would be far better with Vickers now in their side and I’m pretty sure I seen him play on Sunday, so I don’t think anyone should listen to you.

Also, we knocked celtic out of the Scottish cup straight off the back of going to extra time in a game in that European run you keep mentioning now as evidence to your chosen point 

[bluenoz 30,871]

We will play our strongest team possible and then we will do so again in the SC and once more in the second leg. All trophies matter to the players, coaches, and board. You can't complain that they are catching our trophy count and then want a weakened team in the Europa. 

 

[.Williamson. 82,308]

Just now, bluenoz said:

We will play our strongest team possible and then we will do so again in the SC and once more in the second leg. All trophies matter to the players, coaches, and board. You can't complain that they are catching our trophy count and then want a weakened team in the Europa. 

 

As usual we are in agreement mate