Harvey Elliott (signed on loan)

[Clark W Griswold]

As much as I'm disappointed at the whole Elliott saga and believe that in the long run he could have been a really good player for us, I'm not sure Champions League qualification hinges on whether we play him or not.

[BoVillan esq]

We should play him, I think their is a really good player screaming to get out, if we played him we would end up keeping him.

[dorsetvillian]

The way this season has gone for Harvey on an individual level and the team as a whole, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a very happy twist of fate at some point where he makes a massive contribution to us gaining CL or winning silver ware.

[Olneythelonely]

Just have to bite the bullet and play him, even if Emery isn't fully convinced. We need champions league which will be worth more than whatever the FFP hit will be, surely?

Is he going to be the difference between us getting CL or not though?

[London Villan]

Is he in the EL squad,

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Not for long.

[usav]

Is he in the EL squad,

Yes, he's played.  But the squads can be adjusted before the knock-out stages

[Crown Hill]

Be interesting to see if he plays on Thursday which would indicate the obligation clause related to Premier League matches.

[Dave]

Be interesting to see if he plays on Thursday which would indicate the obligation clause related to Premier League matches.

Any more so than his absence last week?

[Goldenballs]

Just have to bite the bullet and play him, even if Emery isn't fully convinced. We need champions league which will be worth more than whatever the FFP hit will be, surely?

Is he going to be the difference between us getting CL or not though?

Depends how many more injuries we get. Hopefully with Luiz coming back we'll be OK.

[Crown Hill]

Be interesting to see if he plays on Thursday which would indicate the obligation clause related to Premier League matches.

Any more so than his absence last week?

It was a crucial match then and we didn’t have the three injuries in central midfield.

If he’s not selected I’ll find that interesting as well for the reasons you seem to be implying here.

[Dave]

Be interesting to see if he plays on Thursday which would indicate the obligation clause related to Premier League matches.

Any more so than his absence last week?

It was a crucial match then and we didn’t have the three injuries in central midfield.

If he’s not selected I’ll find that interesting as well for the reasons you seem to be implying here.

I don't think there's any reason to think that Premier League matches are different to any other.

If we wanted to use him, but doing so in only league games puts us in a tricky position re: our financial obligations, there's no reason we don't get every minute of running out him against Spurs, Fenerbahce, Basel et al.

Maybe our dire midfield situation does now force our hand where it wasn't forced before, but I don't see how league matches / non league matches comes into it.

[Crown Hill]

Be interesting to see if he plays on Thursday which would indicate the obligation clause related to Premier League matches.

Any more so than his absence last week?

It was a crucial match then and we didn’t have the three injuries in central midfield.

If he’s not selected I’ll find that interesting as well for the reasons you seem to be implying here.

I don't think there's any reason to think that Premier League matches are different to any other.

If we wanted to use him, but doing so in only league games puts us in a tricky position re: our financial obligations, there's no reason we don't get every minute of running out him against Spurs, Fenerbahce, Basel et al.

Maybe our dire midfield situation does now force our hand where it wasn't forced before, but I don't see how league matches / non league matches comes into it.

No I think the opposite.

The Telegraph stated last week that the obligation was triggered by 5 league games in the second half of the season.

That’s why think it will be very interesting to see if he’s used in the European games now our resources are so scarce.

Either way it will be revealing.

[Dave]

Where was he against Spurs then?

Surely if he might be needed in the future, you'd give him twenty minutes in a free game to help get him up to speed?

You'd at least stick him on the bench, no?

[Crown Hill]

We’ll find out on Thursday won’t we?

Anyway I think I’ve exhausted the explanations of why it’s of interest to me now.