HSV reax

Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

City would have deserved an extra 30 minutes, as unexpected as it would have been after a pretty one-sided first leg.

Having so often come up short when character was needed this season, City suddenly found what Hughes has been looking for last night. What a difference
a bit of spirit makes.

Afterwards Hughes didn’t seem to know whether to be disappointed or encouraged. It was that kind of evening.

Ian Herbert, The Independent

City exited the Uefa Cup with a win and with some great spirit on a night of high emotion which will help preserve the job of Mark Hughes and which provided a tantalising glimpse of what the promised land might one day bring. The City manager spent three hours yesterday afternoon with Mubarak, who did not arrive at the stadium until 3.30pm, and together they mapped out plans for the future. "I'm still here [in a job] and I'm fine," Hughes said. It is felt that the atmosphere in a stadium near its 48,000 capacity has helped Hughes, whose club have done him a favour by ensuring, immediately after victory in the last round again Aalborg, that Mubarak was here to experience the quarter-final atmosphere.

Daniel Taylor, The Guardian

Hughes will inevitably go into the next few weeks, rightly or wrongly, with his position under close scrutiny. This, however, was not an evening for recriminations and at the final whistle there was rich applause rather than the jeers that had followed his players down the tunnel when they lost to Fulham on Sunday. It had been a pulsating night of nerve-shredding football and, in a strange kind of way, it might even have strengthened Hughes's job prospects. The club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, had flown in from Abu Dhabi and, even though it is Hamburg who will face Werder Bremen in an all-German Uefa Cup semi-final, Hughes was entitled to be buoyed by the manner of his team's performance.

James Ducker, The Times

Some players have been accused of no longer playing for Hughes, but such suggestions seemed almost laughable against Hamburg. Elano, widely viewed as a troublemaker whom the manager could do without, produced arguably his finest performance since joining the club, but to a man — Richard Dunne excluded — City were magnificent and but for a glut of missed chances would have progressed.

Mark Ogden, Daily Telegraph

Superbia In Proelio - Pride in Battle - has been lost in translation far too often by Hughes's cosmopolitan collection of superstars and Academy graduates in recent months, but even those with the guiltiest conscience amongst the City squad came to the fore in a stirring 2-1 victory.

City may have been eliminated, an exit hastened by Richard Dunne's 76th minute dismissal, but pride was restored in front of Sheikh Mansour's key men.

SWP and NdJ hope for success

SWP:

"All I'll say is that it's not over until the fat lady sings. It's not finished 'til the whole tie is done.

"We're recognised as being very good at home, and if we play the way we usually do, we will make enough chances to win 2-0. It's a matter of taking those chances on the night. We have to put them on the back foot straight away.

"Anything is possible. If we go out there and play the way we know we can on Thursday, it will be difficult for Hamburg. Everyone is confident, we've spoken about it already and we have got the belief that we need."

NdJ:

"HSV are the favourites to go through, they showed that in the first leg," De Jong told Bild. "They really made a strong impression there, but I am not surprised by this.

"The team has been strong all the way through this season and is now playing with a lot of confidence - and confidence is important to success.

"Still, I feel we could win the match 2-0. We are playing at home and, despite the fact that losing 3-1 at Hamburg was a tough blow, anything is possible now we are playing at home."

Looking forward to this evening

Mark Hughes:

"So if you are able to win a trophy, that shows you are making progression. But it is a big ask and Hamburg are a good team. Players want to play in Europe year on year in the Champions League. We won't be able to offer that next year but in the future that is obviously the aim...

"Staying in the league in the past was deemed as success. But now, in the future, the club needs success and that is what we are all aiming to bring here.

"It is not going to happen overnight but we are progressing in Europe and reaching the latter stages of this competition this season will help us.

"We won't be able to win the tie tonight but it is possible we could lose it. We need to make sure we are in a decent position in the tie when we go back to Eastlands and, hopefully, have a great European night because we have not had that many over the years."

Richard Dunne:

"We have to ignore that it is Hamburg, a big stage in a country where football is huge. We have to go there strong in our minds and remembering that on our day we can beat anyone. This is the tie of the round. Hamburg are probably one of the better sides left in the competition but we feel we can beat them over two legs and that we have a real chance of lifting the trophy.

"When we started back in July the UEFA Cup did seem as though it was a bit of an endless competition and we seem to have been to Denmark an awful lot but we have come through and we know we are on the brink of a possible semi-final spot and a realistic chance of winning the whole thing."

"We have to have the belief that we can win," he asserted. "For us to progress as a club and be seen to be progressing we have to go to places like Hamburg with a massive crowd against us and put in a strong performance. It has to be one full of character and one in which we display all our talents."

Micah Richards:

"We are more stable now and I do not think the pressure affects the players. We just give 100% every game.

"Hopefully we can take our home form into this game and get the result we need. This is a crucial match for us as we need a good result here. It is important to keep a clean sheet and if we could nick a goal that would be great.

"The UEFA Cup means a hell of a lot to the players. We have come this far and don't want to give it up."

Options for Thursday

Our biggest match in years and we're in an injury crisis. Wayne Bridge and Vincent Kompany limped out of the Arsenal game, which Stephen Ireland didn't even make. Combined with the ineligibles - Valeri Bozhinov and Nigel de Jong, and the long term absentees Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov we're not going to be at our strongest.

Ten of the team pick themselves. Shay Given will surely continue in goal, as will Micah Richards, Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha in defence. Although Pablo Zabaleta has twice replaced Bridge recently, the absence of de Jong, Kompany and Ireland from the midfield will surely require his presence there. And so it will be a recall for Javi Garrido, unless Hughes takes a huge gamble and gives a debut to 19 year old Ryan McGivern.

Skipping over the midfield briefly, the front three should all be fit. Robinho, Bellamy and Wright-Phillips have produced some of our best football of the season in European games - København at home and away, and Aalborg at home.

But in midfield we've got problems. Zabaleta is sure to start, as is Elano. But who else? Without Kompany, Ireland and de Jong we are short of options. I imagine the most obvious one is to give Gelson Fernandes his first start since Forest in the FA Cup:


If that prospect is just too worrying, then how about this: one last hurrah for Dietmar Hamann. He's back in training, he played Reserves last night and could just be the calming influence we need in the midfield.


If no nous Gelson and no pace Didi are just too worrying then there is one more option: Wright-Phillips in midfield. We did it for much of the autumn, allowing us to accomodate Darius Vassell on the right wing. I'd rather Vassell didn't play on Thursday, but how about Daniel Sturridge? Last time we played in Germany we had Sturridge on the left and he did quite well.


One final option would be Martin Petrov in place of Danny Sturridge, but I'm not sure he's match fit. I think that the Fernandes option is the least bad one, but none of them are great.

Winning mentality

When I wrote about the toughening up process which I labelled Sparkyisation I focussed mainly on physical strength and stamina. Craig Bellamy, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Wayne Bridge and Nigel de Jong are all better athletes than those that they replaced. They are bigger, stronger and last longer - into games, and, if all goes to plan, into seasons. But I think Sparkyisation extends beyond the merely physical to the mental as well.

It's about inculcating the squad with a mental strength so that it fights to the death not just for big games but twice a week every week for nine months each year. Look at Manchester United, (or Chelsea 2004-07) - they never know when they are beaten, they fight back from deficits, they score late goals and score crucial goals. We're nowhere near this. One of the most disappointing things of this season has been our failure to launch late comebacks, but our vulnerability to them. How many late game-changing goals have we scored this season? The late own goal at Midtjylland, and the equalisers at the Parks of Ewood and St. James. But on the other side? The stoppage time goals which lost us the home games against both Merseyside teams, the late equaliser at Brighton which took it to extra-time, the late losses at the Hawthornes and the Reebok, and just last month the late equaliser against København. This is not one of our strong points.

But mental strength goes beyond just late goals, it's also about the whole club's approach to success. Having success rendered so alien to City over the past thirty three years has meant that even the prospect of challenging for a trophy is viewed with incredulity. Remember our two FA Cup quarter-final surrenders of March 2006 and 2007? They were the performances of a side who didn't take its presence in a cup quarter-final seriously, who felt a bit embarrassed to be there. And this wasn't against Manchester United and Liverpool; it was West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers. Removing that whole irony about success has to be one of the main thrusts of the club's leadership. One of my favourite things Garry Cook has ever said was this, eight days before the ADUG takeover:

“I’ve got to change the culture here. I talk to my employees about it. You get 'This is England, not America, you know’. And then 'This is Manchester, not London’. And then 'This is City, not United’. So do you roll over, play dead and go home? No. Today you can grow faster than it took United.

And in the context of the UEFA Cup Mark Hughes has made similar comments. This article in Thursday's Independent by Ian Herbert quotes Hughes talking about the importance of winning a trophy; both on its own terms and as a symptom (and cause) of a new winning mentality within the club:

Hughes has gone to great lengths and incurred serious unpopularity in some quarters at Eastlands to imbue his side with what he calls a "winning mentality", something Robinho has also said he feels City lack. For Hughes that means stripping away years of poor match preparation and cultural flabbiness at City, as he sees it. But a trophy would be a fundamental part of the club's cultural development; a staging post on the bigger Manchester City journey.

"Winning a trophy brings many things to a club," Hughes said. "It gives you an understanding of what it takes to be successful. It changes the mentality of players, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively if you think you are going to do it every year. There are things that you have to be mindful of and you have to hit the same standards year on year – that is what the top clubs are able to do."

I don't think we're going to win the UEFA Cup. But if, in eight days time, we have overcome Aalborg we must not get carried away (although we must not be embarrassed to be in the last eight), but simply realise that this is just what serious football clubs do.

Potential last 32 opponents

Those teams finishing 3rd place in the Champions League group stages (who UEFA Cup Group stage 2nd placers get):

Bordeaux, Werder Bremen, Shakhtar Donetsk, Marseille, Aalborg, Fiorentina, Dinamo Kiev and Zenit St Petersburg.

To be honest I wouldn't fancy us against any of those teams, with the possible exceptions of Aalborg (who themselves looked very good at Old Trafford last night) and the two sides from the Ukraine. So we really need 1st place in our group. For that we need to beat Santander or rely on PSG getting something against Steve McClaren's FC Twente.

City vs Omonia ratings

Hart Did not have much to do. The goal was too quick for him. One awkward fumble late on, went unpunished. Competent kicking. 6

Zabaleta Steady progress continues. Got up and down the right hand side quickly and cleverly, putting in some pretty good crosses. Defensively solid. Even managed to break Zlogar's nose with the back of his head. 7

Richards Captain today, and had a comfortable evening. Consistently in the right place at the right time. Even managed to get forward at times, with mixed success. 7

Ben Haim Again not entirely convincing. Did not inspire confidence against high balls or in possession. At fault for Alabi's consolation goal. In no danger of challenging Dunne or Richards for a starting berth. 5

Garrido Good by his standards. Troubled only once or twice by pace on his side, and impressed going forward: he's no Evra, but he got into good positions and used the ball well. Seems to have an improving understanding with Robinho, running beyond and outside of him. Risks being out run by Kuyt on Sunday. 7

Kompany Not a very serious test of his prodigious talents. Shielded Richards and Ben Haim well, and generally kept hold of posession when he needed to. Will not have it so easy in the group stages. 7

Ireland Another good performance by the player of the season so far. Instrumental in many of our attacks, almost executing some perfect through balls - and succeeding for SWP's goal. Went close with an attempted chip. Even popped up to help out Richards in our six yard box. 8

Elano His best performance yet in the more withdrawn midfield role he has played since the arrival of Robinho. Tends to get out-muscled and eventually ignored, but his passing was immaculate today - finding Robinho and Wright-Phillips time and again. Scored probably City's goal of the season thus far. 8

Wright-Phillips Probably my Man of the Match today. Never stopped running, and displayed his almost unique ability to keep the ball under control despite opponents. Involved in most of City's best attacking play. Took his goal very well. 8

Robinho Not the star of the show today, but a good contribution nonetheless. Did not quite reach the heights of imagination and execution seen in the first leg or against Portsmouth. Did well to pick out Elano for the opener. 7

Jô Looked a bit tired at times: has started six games in eighteen days since his return from Brazil. His contribution since the 6-0 has gradually diminished in each game. I remain a fan, but perhaps time for a rest? 6

Subs

Hamann A situation made for Didi: retained possession and didn't let Omonia have the slightest sniff of a comeback. 7

Evans As brave and lively as we have come to expect, if not quite as composed in front of goal. Cannot be far from a starting place. 7

Petrov Good for the fans to see him back, and he looked even happier. Got in some good positions, and could have scored two or three. But where does he start? 7

City 2 -1 Omonia

• To have got through to the group stages is a genuine achievement. There are legitimate complaints to be made against the UEFA Cup, but some serious teams got knocked out this evening: including Borussia Dortmund, Everton and Napoli. We have not come up against any very strong opponents, but simply getting past three two-legged ties whilst starting a league campaign, particularly given the boardroom turmoil, is not something to be sneered at.

• That said, our progress in the European games has been pretty slow. This evening was probably our best performance yet. But we still don't look like a team fully at ease with European competition. We struggled to get going in the first half, and did not look fully at ease with Omonia's gameplan. I always thought that one of Hughes' main improvements on Eriksson was an ability to combat physical, intense, high tempo teams. Maybe not.
  

• In the second half, however, we stepped up two gears. The interplay between Ireland and Elano and the front three was almost as good as at points against Portsmouth. With some better finishing and some less selfish play in the final third it could have been many more than 2-1. This is not the first time we've said this recently, and the more often it happens the less well it reflects on Jô.

• It was pleasing to see the return of Martin Petrov. He didn't really run at players much, but had one good shot from distance and two from close in. Looked sharp and lively, despite not playing for six weeks. Not sure where exactly he fits in now (on the left of a 4-2-3-1 I imagine of an Elano-less team).

• Ignoring the Brighton game, we have stuck with almost exactly the same team and formation for the last four games (two Premier League, two UEFA Cup). The only change from that set up was Tal Ben Haim for Richard Dunne today. More consistent than I expected in this regard: but by the same token less flexible. Will this be a permanent arrangment this season?
  

Omonia preview

I feel like I haven't fully engaged with our UEFA Cup campaign thus far. I was out of the country for EB/Streymur away and FC Midtjylland at home, at a long standing social engagement for AC Omonia away, and called away for most of the second half of Streymur at home. The only game I've seen in full was the penalty triumph in Denmark.

But we are now 90 minutes away from the group stage. Things would need to go very badly this evening for us to fail. I know that cup upsets are part of our DNA, but for tonight I'm pretty confident. A win, a draw, or a 1-0 loss puts us through. Surely we can manage that?

Rather than risk a repeat of the Withdean disaster, it sounds as if Hughes will stick with the current first team tonight. Any potential changes (Johnson and Petrov in) are rendered impossible by their injuries. So Elano keeps his place. I think that he's a luxury in a 4-3-3, but tonight could just be his game. At home, with the protection of a UEFA referee, against a side that needs to come out and attack: we may see the best of him this evening.

I'd like to predict that the Wright-Phillips, Robinho and Jô front line will do some damage tonight, but I thought they were going to at the JJB last Sunday. The difference, though, is that Wigan are more used to having to deal with top quality forwards than Omonia will be. In the first leg we ought to have scored five or six. But I'd take 1-0 tonight.

City vs FC Midtjylland Player Ratings

Hart. Even before the penalties he was our Man of the Match. Pulled off a few very good saves, including a superb one down to his right early in the first half. From the start of the shoot-out he was clearly relishing it, and after conceding the first two, saved the next. The save from the third penalty was wonderful. The hero of the day. 10

Corluka. Scored the winning penalty with what could conceivably be his last kick as a City player. A good way to go, but his performance was not what it could have been. Caught too far up the pitch too many times, but failed to really provide much incision going forward. Made one good saving tackle. 6

Dunne. Good to have him back. Comfortably our best defender on the night. Won almost every header, and kept close to some lively opposition forwards. A few colossal tackles at crucial moments. And in a game not marked out by the quality of the passing, you can forgive his straight up in the air clearances. 8

Ben Haim. Not as accomplished as the last few matches. Caught out of position at times, and looked rather flustered by the challenge, and in those conditions. No surprise that he was the defender to make way for Richards. 5

Ball. Generally competent and solid, but with two stand out moments. A heroic sliding tackle to prevent Midtjylland going 1-0 up late on in the second half. And the run and cross which Ched Evans headed onto Danny Califf's face. Could the last two games have turned Hughes (and Cook) away from looking for a new left back? Or will he too be off before Monday night? 7

Ireland. After such a confident performance on Sunday, I was hoping for a bit more. Failed to cause genuine problems for a well organised defence. Was muscled out of the game too easily, and when in good positions, did not always produce a good final ball. Today's events in Manchester put his place in serious jeapordy. 6

Richards. Did very well just to be here today, but is not a genuine central midfielder. Full of effort and running, but lacks the touch and nuance to play here much in the future. Defended competently when moved back. 6

Johnson. Not a good day out. Failed to impose himself on the Midtjylland midfield, letting their physicality get the better of his undoubted talents. Had a chance to win it for City in extra time and blew it. Then missed his penalty. 4

Petrov. Not as influential as he has been so far this year. Was tightly marked, and only rarely got down the byline. Delivery was not very good, and passed when he should have shot in stoppage time moments after our goal. 5

Elano. Another attacking player who failed to replicate what he did against West Ham. Tried hard in the first half, was probably our most threatening player. Was willing to shoot for goal, unlike some of his team mates. In the second half the close attention got to him, and he went into Bramall Lane mode. Should have been sent off for a headbutt, Hughes did well to get him off. 5

Jô. Tried hard but looked like someone whose only City game had been six weeks ago against EB/Streymur. Never really linked up with Elano as we presumed the two lads from São Paulo would. Will need some patience before we see the best of him. 6

Subs:

Hamann Did an important job well. Made sure we kept possession when the temptation would have been to go long or throw everyone forward. Will do a job for the last thirty minutes of many more games this season, I hope. Took his penalty like a man with 59 German caps ought to. 7

Sturridge Showed glimpses of the fire and flair we expect from him now. Did not find the conditions or the opposition easy, but generally lively and hit one great shot onto the crossbar. 6

Evans Headed the ball onto Danny Califf's face for the goal, and took his penalty beautifully. What more could we ask for? 7

The greatest penalty shootout since Gillingham

• I thought City, for the ninety minutes at least, were woeful. Everything good about the West Ham performance was gone. Vigour had been replaced by sloth, courage by timidity, precision by fecklessness. To come away with a victory was a smash and grab raid that would embarrass Liverpool.

• The drama! I can't remember a game as exciting as that for ages. I'm not knocking the great wins of 2007/08, particularly the two derby wins, but the dynamic for those was slightly different. I've just looked through a few years of games on the website, and nothing springs to mind. Maybe the 4-3 at Spurs four and a half years ago?

• Our solution to the problem of having too many defenders is no solution at all. Richards gave it his all, but simply isn't a top class midfielder. Replacing Corluka with Zabaleta will not solve this. Ben Haim at left back anyone?

• Having played four UEFA Cup matches so far this season, and not living up to expectations (or, at least, my expectations) in any of them, I'm beginning to think we are not a team constructed to play in the competition. Last year's team maybe. The caution in possession, the lack of bite, the manager who'd won a UEFA Cup and a Cup Winners' Cup. We could, in theory, have done something. But this is a different team. And let's not forget Hughes was embarrassed by Larissa this time last year. I was hopeful of getting as far as Everton or Spurs did last year, but now, I can't see it.
  

Midtjylland preview

In amongst all the transfer excitement - as I type this Guillem Balague has claimed that Zabaleta is '90%' done and Corluka will be leaving - it is easy not to give sufficient thought to tomorrow's match. But the game in Denmark will be definitive to this season: regarding our schedule, our cashflow and our attractiveness to transfer targets.

I'm moderately confident. We've slowly improved in the past few weeks: poor in the first leg, mixed at Villa Park and then good against West Ham. But I know that we will need to continue this progress tomorrow to get past a well organised side. Sunday's match will have been instructive in terms of teaching patience. Just before Sturridge scored, frustration was growing at our inability to break down inferior opposition. Rather than panic, we trusted our quality and the win came easily.

As Danny at Bitter and Blue wrote, 'the ghosts of Groclin past still lurk ominously'. To have got ourselves into the UEFA Cup this year, to have assembled a squad which may be capable of achieving something in Europe, and then to piss it all away would be a perfect encapsulation of the 'typical City' mentality that Cook is so keen to eradicate.

The team is rather complicated by the return of Richards. Had he been unavailable, Dunne could have replaced him to play alongside Ben Haim at centre back, thus delaying the solution to our surplus of quality defenders. Richards could conceivably be fit and rested, but otherwise we may see either Ben Haim at left back, or Richards himself replace the potentially outgoing Corluka at right back.

Vincent Kompany is ineligible, having not been registered before the tie's first leg. He could be replaced by either Gelson Fernandes or Didi Hamann. The experience of Hamann could be vital, but I fear that, having turned 35 on Wednesday, he does not have the legs for 90 minutes. Perhaps the enthusiasm of Fernandes from the start to ensure a high-tempo opening, giving way to the more patient and subtle Hamann later on? The rest of the midfield: Petrov, Johnson and Ireland ought to stay the same.

We do not know definitively on Jô's fitness yet. Hughes seems inclined to start him if he can, meaning an unfortunate demotion for Danny Sturridge. Elano will surely continue in his second striker role which I feared Hughes would abolish. I understand the wish to pair the Brazilians up front together, but if Jô is not up to speed I see no real point in breaking up the partnership which put three past West Ham.

City 2 - 0 EB/Streymur

• I know I predicted a three goal margin or better, and we didn't match it. But I'm not too disappointed. It's not like our win was laboured. We played really well: the passing and movement was impressive throughout. We just failed to take lots of chances. But then, I don't imagine Vassell, Sturridge, Petrov and Corluka will be among our very top scorers this season. I'd like to think that Jô, Benjani, Bozhinov, or whichever striker we're planning on buying would have done more with this evening's opportunities.

• Elano and Petrov as the two wide players worked really well. Yes I know we were playing against carpenters and kindergarten teachers, but they were both very lively. Petrov, the more conventional winger, got down to the byline often, whereas Elano drifted inside, with Corluka frequently going round the outside. And it worked well. They created chances which, we can only hope, would have been converted by our first choice strikers.

• Despite missing too many good chances, Daniel Sturridge was very impressive. We didn't learn anything new: he's always been talented and confident but lacking in the composure that comes with experience. Vassell worked hard and deserved his goal. Naturally I hope he doesn't start at Villa Park, but he was ok tonight.

• He wasn't very necessary, but Gelson Fernandes did a good job. I've always been a fan. We probably could have got away with Johnson and Ireland, but I guess it was good practice for when we're inevitably up against Ronaldinho or David Silva in the 1st Round Proper. Michael Johnson was very competent today, but I would have liked to see him dominate a bit more.
  

EB/Streymur preview

I'm not used to being this confident before a competitive match. I never usually enjoy cup ties against underdogs (you know why), and obviously I remember Groclin, but somehow I feel different about this. It might just be that the odds are so overwhelmingly stacked in our favour: they're from the Faeroe Islands, it's at 'home', we're 2-0 up; or maybe it's because it's wrapped up with pre-season confidence, and it's Mark Hughes' first game on home soil. But I expect us to win and will be genuinely shocked if I don't. I can't remember when I last felt this. We haven't won a competitive match by a three goal margin for over two years (3-0 against Newcastle, February 2006) but tonight could just be it.

Team selection involves treading a difficult line between complacency and caution, as we focus on the competing goals of both establishing and settling our best eleven and taking a look at those who have not been fully involved so far.

Hughes has suggested that the returning internationals; Elano, Corluka and Fernandes will all play this evening. Michael Johnson, who missed the trip to Hamburg with a knock, should also return. Presumably we will stick with the 2007/08 back four, with a possible start for Kasper Schmeichel behind them. The central midfield partnership is less clear. As we saw against Hamburg, Elano and Fernandes is defective. At least one of Hamann and Johnson is desirable, although Ireland is as good a choice as any other in the central role. I imagine Gelson and Johnson is the most likely pairing, with Elano or Ireland on the right hand side.

I imagine one of the youngsters will play up front: Evans looked lively against Hamburg, although Sturridge and Caicedo also played. I'd rather see two of them (or one and Bianchi), but I fear we'll partner one of them with the seemingly immovable Vassell.

It's EB/Streymur!

The draw we all feared.....EB/Streymur.

Based in the village of Streymnes (population 201), they are one of the biggest forces in Faeroe Islands football.

As you have all seen on their official website, they're currently running away with the Formuladeildin (the Faeroese League), with 32 points from only 13 games. NSI Runavik, despite winning their last three games on the bounce, are still six points adrift.

EB/Streymur are in the UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round by virtue of finishing second in the 2007 Formuladeildin (which, like the Russian league, runs spring-autumn and so is slightly out of sync with UEFA competitions). They took 54 points from their 27 games, finishing seven points behind their hated rivals NSI Runavik.

The man to watch is surely Arnbjorn T. Hansen, Faeroese international and current top scorer in the league - with 11 of EB/Streymur's 24 goals so far this season. They also have the league's third top scorer, Hans Pauli Samuelsen, but he doesn't have a Wikipedia article for me to link to. The dynamic midfield duo of Marni Djurhuus and Mikkjal Thomassen have thirteen Faeroe Islands caps between them, although Djurhuus is currently on temporary international retirement following a bust up with international coach Jogvan Martin Olsen.

Don't say you haven't been warned.