Europa League: Toon Announce Traveling Squad For Benfica

For all appearances, it looks like Alan Pardew is heading to Lisbon with the idea of trying to give Benfica a match in the away leg of the Europa League quarterfinal, unlike the intention at the weekend against Manchester City. One might logically deduce (at least if they want to give Alan Pardew the benefit of the doubt) that Alan Pardew had written off the points on Saturday with the intent of putting full effort into this match at Estadio de Luz; even if that was not his intention, he will need to hope for a good result in Lisbon (to vindicate not showing up at City) as well as a good result on Sunday against Fulham (to quell the rumblings in the fan base as well as ease fears of relegation).

Here is the squad that Alan Scott Pardew, Esq. has taken to Portugal. Who would you play? What tactic would you use? What are you hoping to take from this match?

GK: Tim Krul, Rob Elliot

DEF: James Perch, Davide Santon, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa

MID: Vurnon Anita, Gaël Bigirimana, Yohan Cabaye, Dan Gosling, Jonas Gutierrez, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Moussa Sissoko

ST: Shola Ameobi, Papiss Cisse, Adam Campbell