Look, there will always be reasons why teams prioritise certain fixtures and I don’t think that can be avoided. It can even be argued that sometimes a few reserves anxious to impress might present a bigger challenge than first-team players who do not see, for instance, a cup tie against lower-league opposition as greatly inspiring. The difference here is the incentive for whoever is selected to play in a more restrained manner.

Harry Kane explains why he left Tottenham as he targets trophies with Bayern Munich AND England... while Joe Cole says he's the best striker in the world England's footballers do their own Great British Bake Off but can you figure out which Three Lions legends their gingerbread men are meant to look like?Wolves star Mario Lemina says 'I GIVE UP' while Matheus Cunha insists 'we are tired of hearing excuses'... after referee Michael Salisbury admitted he 'got it wrong' in Fulham defeat I agree. We’re very snobby about European football, competitions such as the UEFA Super Cup, which is highly regarded abroad. I don’t know why we sneer. The Europa League and, before it, the UEFA Cup have been the springboard for great successes – think of Jose Mourinho’s Porto or Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, who won the Europa League in 2010 and 2012 before claiming the La Liga title and reaching the Champions League final in 2014. Howard Webb insists VAR was RIGHT to allow Anthony Gordon's winner for Newcastle against Arsenal... but says two players should have been sent off

For all the derision that greets Martinez’s time on the ball, it is eminently watchable. Not because it is always effective, Villa scything through the Premier League’s great and good on a weekly basis, but because you become transfixed in finding out whether it will end in disaster (robbed of the ball in their own box) or triumph. After going in 2-0 down at the break, the match looked over already, but three second-half goals saw an incredible turnaround for the visitors who will now progress to the next stage of the competition. Gary Lineker slams 'most ridiculous penalty decision' against England as Rico Lewis is controversially penalised for foul in North Macedonia clash Fans are left baffled as Lionel Messi's bodyguardYassine Chueko seemingly appears out of thin air in video as he prepares to meet young fans The only way West Ham will get into Europe will be if Chas and Dave enter a song in the Eurovision song contest. James Clarke, Belfast.West Ham will suffer if they go into the Europa League. Swansea City last season and Everton this season are prime examples of why that competition is nothing but a distraction. Even top-six sides struggle with the fixture timetable. Premier League status is imperative and must be placed as a priority above all. West Ham’s squad is nowhere close to being able to cope with Europe, they couldn’t even handle an FA Cup run and league form has gone since once the injuries hit. The Europa League is an impossible task given that Champions League failures gain access at the mid-point, and little priority is given to teams having to play two days before a Premier League weekend. While the West Ham hierarchy might see Europe as a feather in the cap, they need to take the blinkers off. Key players in the squad are struggling to walk and running into Europe is the last thing we need. Hammertime, Australia. Tottenham hit with crushing blow as Rodrigo Bentancur faces TWO MONTHS on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage caused by Matty Cash's lunge... having only recently recovered from a serious knee injury

Tommy Fury parties with Chris Brown in Dubai nightclub with fans slamming the boxer for 'dancing to Sweet Caroline in his head' as star goes viral FA suspend council member for saying 'Adolf Hitler would be proud of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu', as they launch investigationIt begins with Emiliano Martinez. By which we mean: Martinez has the ball at his feet for an extraordinarily high percentage of a football match by a goalkeeper’s usual standards. The Argentinean might stand there for five, 10, even 15 seconds, a kind of long-form game of piggy in the middle in which he dares an opponent to come near him for the pleasure of having the ball passed by them. It also made West Ham supporters growl and howl with frustration. Brazil 'could face a points DEDUCTION in World Cup qualifying or be forced to play in an empty stadium' with FIFA 'set to open investigation' Europa League places should be given to Division Two clubs. They might put their first teams out. Nitram Sleumas, London.