Thoughts on the fact we've apparently turned down the fair play route into Europa? Smart move due to insane amount of games involved or arrogance on our part? Edit: and could we have backed out of pre season commitments even if we wanted to? But if we could is it more important to gather supporters further afield rather than play in Europe?
I wouldn't say it was smart or arrogant TBH. I think it is a silly move. It means we won't be in Europe next season (unless a freak of occurances happen*) and that means that we'll have dropped out of the top thirty in EUFA's rankings by this time next year. Any European qualification will then see us having to go through the hard route and having to play 'better' seeded sides. Very short sighted IMO. You could say that it is a lot of games to qualify but we started in round two this year using kids and reserves whilst the main players rested after the Euro's and Olympics. Qualifying through the FP route would mean starting from the first round, a whole two games more which would be against some second rate team that the youngsters would be able to beat comfortably anyway. However, maybe BR felt that the distraction of Europa League has not helped this season and we would be better off without it? Can't say I agree with this either it that is the case. We didn't exactly use the first team players much in the EL, in fact we had two teams for the early part of the year! In short, I am disappointed. * If Chelsea win the EL but fail to finish in the top four (lets assume fifth), they qualify for EL as holders meaning the sixth placed league team qualify too.
I have to agree G; as lucrative as the pre season tour may be the club is here to play in real competitions even if it is the 2nd tier. Putting ahead commercial interests for unknown long term benefits rather than the possibility of actual cup success seems a strange one. As you say, maybe its a footballing decision but I can't see it. Can you see BR thinking he's likely to attract quality players by NOT being in Europe!? This smacks of the money men. And its how we got the young players the games they needed in a slightly less pressurised environment this year. I'm old fashioned I'm afraid , I like to see my football team actually playing football that matters. Not good.
UEFA have confirmed that, if Chelsea were to finish fifth in the Premier League and win the Europa League, the sixth-placed league team would not gain entry into Europe To be honest I am torn on the issue but I think it would be better if we werent in the Europa the Thursday Sunday thing is a pain.
Fair enough, didn't know that UEFA had said that. I wanted Chelsea to win the FA Cup and finish fifth as that would definitely meant sixth would get EL but obviously they lost to Man City, can't see them dropping to fifth sine they are nine points ahead of Spurs with four games to go
I thought it had got to be the money men but then, why would they not want the club in Europe where sponsors would be happy that the clubs name is getting more publicity? Plus, in the early games we could end up visiting the lower ranked nations that could get us more followers just like the pre-season tour stuff. I think this decision has been taken by Br and his staff. I reckon they thought it was a big distraction and, on top of that, I think FSG will expect a CL challenge this year so BR wants 100% concentration of the league. As I said, not smart or arrogant, just silly and disappointing.
Going into the Europa via Fair Play would mean we have to play the equivalent of over half a season of football if we succeed. Our squad is already in need of additions so I can see it not being worth the burden at this stage.
But as I said above, the main players didn't get too involved until the knockout stages anyway. The youngsters and reserves played all the qualifying games and a lot of the group games. A few of the key players didn't even travel for some of the away matches!
You would have to say though that by turning it down (whoever it was) its put BR's and to an extent FSG's eggs all in one basket. To keep the quality players we've got and add quality to it we'll have to convince them all that by not being in the EL we will guarantee CL the following year. It would have been a tough rude for him if he failed to achieve it anyway in some quarters but to go two years sacrificing the other comps and NOT get at least 4th would be asking for the screaming to begin....and risk losing the faith of the stars both young and developed that we have.
Yep, pretty much what I meant in #6. This decision makes it do or die time for BR IMO. We need to be fighting for top for going into the last two or three games of the season, anything less and he may well face the boot. We already know a cup win won't save his skin so expect us to field youngsters and go out early in both
Good move. Put all our efforts into the League with no distraction of terrible Thursday nights is some godforsaken hole in Russia. We focus on the League then we're more likely to get into the proper European competition. We are not strong enough for both.
Who cares if we'd have to play half a season worth of games to win it? It would be an excellent experience for the youngsters like Wisdom, Shelvey & Robinson who desperately need game time to develop. They won't learn from playing 1 or 2 League cup games a year, thats for sure.
I agree we could even play youngsters all the way through if we wanted. Would these early games count as first team games for Suarez or is that different to his ban. (PL - EUROPA)
If true, arrogant and stupid. We had better get ****ing CL next year if this is true. Turning down Europe, no matter the format is dumb. It gives you games to blood youngsters, give players coming back from injury/need a boost games. Europe, no matter the level, attracts players, good players want to play across the continent. Last time we focused on the league we did well in the domestic cups but were **** in the league.
If this is true it's an absolute disgrace. Who the **** is running our club and making decisions like this? So now we can't handle extra games? European travel a bit much for us? We are supposed to be a European club and yet we are miles off CL standard and now turning down a free route into European competition...seriously? If this was Rodgers decision he'll get an absolute ton of grief for it. If it wasn't his decision then he should be doing his best to make whichever idiot's responsible change his mind. Not only is it a massive benefit to youth players to play in Europe and to give them more games it would also be a great learning curve for Rodgers himself. Absolute madness if true.
It's a domestic ban but (if he's still here) surely the Europey would give us a chance to give him games while he can't play in the league.
The competition is getting a better reputation and getting more popular since in the last few years Liverpool, utd, city, Chelsea, Milan, juve etc have all featured so can't understand this logic. Can't stand people that turn their nose up at this comp but are still unable to win it It does wonders for the youngsters/fringe players and makes us more money in ticket sales and its good exposure so I really can't understand this at all
not sure we would have made it the fair play route any way, the media and certain rival managers would have made an issue out of what a mockery it would have been if we got in it because of the Suarez incident, so might be a blessing in disguise esp if we go all out for the top 4 position with only the domestic cups as a distraction. if it was a choice between Europa football or top 4 push, i would take the top 4 push all day, as its what is needed now days to progress and usually to attract the better players,City struggled until they got CL football even though they had a bottom less pit, then they had no problem getting players as they was more attractive a club to play for and didn't rely on mercenaries, they actually got decent players. if it is a case of we fail to get top 4 next season, then i hope we look at this again if we can, and say this club should be in Europe, and not turn down routes that could get us in to it, but at this moment in time i agree, if it is an all or nothing push for top 4 finish, less distractions the better it will be hopefully.
Getting into EL is still pretty much against us as things stand. My heart says we shouldn't be refusing to play - this is European football. Perhaps the board and/or Rodgers have forgotten that we're not an attractive club to potential targets as we once we were. Rodgers says he wants to qualify the proper way (which is noble) but I don't care. Good experience for everyone - 2001 was a great triumph. However, my head says no. If we were to gain entry, we would start on July 2nd. Our squad is simply not strong enough to copy IMO (unless we significantly improve in the summer). The theory is - less distraction of EL and Thursday night games should equal better success in the league. I'm guessing Rodgers has a very busy summer planned and could do without the early games - in terms of pre-season and signings?
