Europea League a real possibility next season

Given hyping up things based off very little is what we specalise in I thought I'd point you all towards the current Fair Play rankings.


Saints are currently top, if you discount clubs who would qualify for European competitions anyway and will most likely stay that way http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/fair-play.html

We're thus relying on the EPL to be one of the top 3 leagues when it comes to fair play rankings... at the half way stage we're #4 http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/uefaorg/Respect/01/91/16/53/1911653_DOWNLOAD.pdf

If the EPL moves up to 3 by the end of the season then we're going on a European tour!

 

It would be exciting for the fans but it would be a hell of a long season if we did qualify. Our season would start in July! We would certainly need a bigger squad. Look what happened to Newcastle earlier in the season.

 

dont think i fancy it. better to qualify for auto champs league next season

 

Still think it's unlikely. More chance of the premier league moving down than up.

 

Gave Fulham some good memories but is a hell of a stretch on the squad.

 

What makes you think Liverpool will qualify for it outside of that?

 

We got to the PL faster than thought and struggled at the beginning. Would be delighted if we got into the Europa League, but doubt we would be ready. Bit of fun, but that's all it would be. Stay up this year, then qualify next year would be best.

 

We could handle it if we played our reserves and youngsters. It'd be fun to play in the competition and not take it at all seriously.

 

Yes, luckily we have a Chairman who is very laid back.

 

What?

 

Think he means the OP said we'd be top excluding teams who will qualify for Europe anyway, but Liverpool are above us and don't look likely to qualify for Europe anyway.

 

When do the qualifiers start if we qualify for it via Fair Play? Because instead of playing friendlies, wouldn't we just play ****e teams that are essentially friendlies?

 

Start of July I think. But it could be mid-July.

 

The more I think about it the less I want it...we want MP and NC to concentrate on getting a few good players in and having a good preseason in some sunny spot. Do we really want competitive matches during the off season...does anyone remember if this was of any benefit to other teams that were in the Europa League qualifiers.

 

Fulham didn't do too bad after playing in the Europa League qualifiers in July:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8649420.stm

If a lot of Saints supporters had been told their team would have the chance of Europa League 3 seasons ago I bet they would have bitten the persons hand off. Now it seems they're not so keen.

 

Well, yeah, it would mean we are in the premier league.

Fulham were an established premier league side, we aren't, yet. I'd rather not risk relegation by committing to a European campaign.

 

Don't mind if we do, don't really care if we don't, a sincere "che sera sera" as Doris would sing.

The one thing I do know though, is that if we DID qualify, we would all get behind the team and back them to the hilt.

 

The thing is that if you qualify for the Europa League via the league, you are good enough to be in it. Whilst I would love it if Saints qualified via the Fair Play league, it may be too early to gain anything from it.

 

I think some would say that having only lost 3 of their last 16 Premier League matches and having beaten Manchester City the current Premier League holders, Southampton might just be qualifying for your "good enough to be in it" status.

 

Have to judge at the end of the season.