BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Europa League and bets need no exaggeration

FEW people love the Europa League more than me, but even I was left shaking my head back at Billy Bunter towers by Michel Platini's comments last week.

"The Europa League is a brilliant competition, it's amazing," reckoned Uefa president Platini.

"The world does not revolve around England – I know Mr Ferguson would have preferred to be in the ChampionsLeague but so would many clubs who don't have that possibility," added the Frenchman in reference to the Manchester United manager calling the Europa League a penalty for falling out of Europe's premier club competition.

The words brilliant and amazing are rarely used after 90 minutes of watching Tottenham's reserves getting turned over by some foreign team I've never heard of and I assume Platini will be describing the climax of Wednesday's group stage as thrilling when weall know there is very little left to play for.

That makes punting on this round of matches a nightmare, however, Besiktas to beat Stoke is the best bet.

The Potters have been one of the success stories of this tournament as foreign teams face up to football like they've never seen before.

And on that subject I wonder how long it will be before Tony Pulis puts in a bid for retired rugby player Jonny Wilkinson!

But I am not sure the rough stuff will work for their tough trip to Besiktas and the Istanbul boys will surely have too much quality.

Portuguese trio Ricardo Quaresma, Simao and Hugo Almeida are not brilliant and nor are they amazing, but thenagain nor are Stoke.