MelvinBragg

I'm guessing something like this... Manager Craig Brown has "no complaints" after Motherwell were drawn to face Danish outfit Odense in the Europa League play-offs. "It's accessible for the fans and it's not too far to travel. I would hope it's an even game," said Brown. "Some of the other teams like Manchester City were much more formidable than Odense. "I have no complaints, the draw has been reasonably kind to us. It's another Scandinavian team." Motherwell booked their place in the play-offs with wins over Aalesunds and Breidablik. "I like the prospect of the second game at home, you know what you have to do, if it goes to extra time and penalties you have the home advantage," Brown added. 'Well travel to Denmark for the first leg on 19 August with the return at Fir Park seven days later.

What he said...

Missed this as I was under a pile of bodies at the time, what was his reaction?

John who...? Let's move on, people...

I'll worry about that if (and it's a big IF) we get there. The group stages are at least a possibility. If we had drawn Man City or Villareal, that wouldn't have been the case. The money for reaching the group stages and the chance of seeing at least one "proper" European name (not Man City, someone with history) is enough for me...

Anyone know when the signing deadline is for the next European round out of interest? Obviously Odense is not the money spinner John Boyle might have been looking for but I'd imagine the money for getting through last night might help a wee bit on the signings front...

The "glamour tie" everyone was looking for wasn't available to us after the pots were drawn up, perhaps with the exception of Villareal. Man City aren't a glamour tie for me, they're a rich club but I'd have been more excited with a Liverpool, Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund or Porto. For me a glamour tie means playing a team with a real European tradition. Bucharest and Dortmund were glamour ties. Man City would just have been a financially rewarding tie. And even then only if the first leg was at home...

Where's Stephen Hawking when you need him...?

Then we can have our glamour ties... It will be difficult, but at least we have a slight chance of going through. If we had a glamour game against Man City or Villareal, that wouldn't be the case...

No one is saying it will be easy. I just think this is our best chance, not necessarily to go through but with the second leg at home, to have another tie at Fir Park without it being like a wake. Imagine if we had to go to Villareal or Man City and come back to Fir Park having lost the first leg 5-0? What would be the crowd for that game, glamour tie or not? Not saying that won't happen with Odense but I think we have more of a chance of coming back from Denmark with the tie still alive and therefore more chance of an enjoyable atmosphere at Fir Park. That is, of course, if you enjoy tension...

Difficult but winnable. All I would ask of the team is the same I asked before they went to Norway. Come back with a chance of going through to make sure it's a good night at Fir Park...

Here we go...

Dundee Utd have got AEK Athens at home first. Ouch...

Three year contract...

No, I'm enjoying our European games. Still would rather Ross County had won the Scottish Cup though. I consider us being in Europe as a pleasant side effect of a bad result. Now away and find something else to carp on about...

Dundee United's pot has Juventus, AZ Alkmaar and Getafe in it as well as anoher known name (can't remember who) so slightly more glamourous. But I'd like a winnable tie, so Odense would suit me fine. Thought did strike me that if United draw Juventus and we get one of the less glamourous sides in our pot (basically anyone but Man City), it does in our chances of TV money as the Utd game would probably be their first pick. Then I realised that it doesn't really matter who us or United get, the BBC will go for the Celtic game...

According to Radio Scotland, there were a squad of scouts at the game all to see the Aalesunds goalkeeper. Let's just hope that one of them noticed Reynolds having a decent game and we maybe get a cheeky bid for him...

Odense or Dinamo Zagreb, please. Slight chance of going through over glamour for me...

In the Ross Forbes interview, it said tonight would be his 12th European game, actually only his 10th.. Spotted that looking over someone's shoulder tonight in the pub. Did look like a good read though...

A midfielder doesn't seem the priority unless he's a wide midfielder with a bit of creativity...

On the subject of the new EPL regulations being of help to us, I reckon they might be a hindrance. As well as the 25 man squad that EPL sides will be allowed, they will be aloowed an unlimited number of U21 players. So the chances of those U21 players going out on loan might be slightly diminished. There will be older, more established players that they'll have to sell/send out on loan but I reckon we'll be less likely to get them...

If he gets into the team and develops as he did even in his short run in the team last season then we will end up selling him for more than we sold McFadden for...

Bit early to even think about it really. We were poor tonight and I'm sure the Norwegians will be a sterner test than Breidablik. But will they be tougher than Steaua Bucharest who we faced at the same stage last season with pretty much the same squad as we have now (minus Slane, Coke and O'Brien)? And who we had worried for 45 minutes in Airdrie? My concern would be creating chances. No replacement for O'Brien, then we need to look at other ways of getting enough ball to the forwards. No prediction yet, just crossing my fingers that we come back to Fir Park with something to play for...

I reckon TV and internet counts, particularly on this occasion when no replays or commentators to distract you. All I was missing was Frazzle talking pish to me, and I could have sworn I was at the game I went for Murphy. Thankless task, stuck at it and calm finish for the goal. Held the ball up reasonably well against guys physically stronger than him. A good word for Jennings though. I do like the cut of his jib...

Latest is that Everton don't want him to go out on loan so the Coventry deal fell through, they're looking to sell...