I'm really not getting carried away, but for the 4 teams that are now sitting comfortably in mid-table European Qualification should be starting to come onto the radar. There's only one way it could happen as far as I can see, and I don't expect it to happen because there are too many 'ifs', but none the less it still exists. 'England' are allocated 4 Champion's League slots and 3 Europa League slots (if the Premier League is top of the Fair Play League, there could be another begging, but Swansea's red card tally alone would probably scupper that). It needs one of the top 7 to slide out of the zone, and at the moment, the most likely candidate is Southampton who have only scored one goal in their last 5 Premier League matches. It requires ourselves to stay ahead of the mid-table pack and put points on the board consistently to the last day of the season. Any falling away after reaching 40 points would kill the chance instantly. I have a feeling Monk has already addressed this with the squad already. The outcome of today's League Cup Final is probably irrelevant, as I would expect both the finalists to finish in the top7. (Chelsea obviously, Spurs less so). At least there's no possibility of a bottom-half team snatching a Europa League spot. In the same way, it would require an FA Cup Final between two of the top sides (Liverpool v. Man Utd or Liverpool v. Arsenal) since, as I understand it, the Europa League slot can pass to the losing finalists as it did with Hull last season. We could see Aston Villa or West Brom taking a Europa League place So as I say, UNLIKELY, but something to keep going for. Any thoughts??
I think we should be aiming to play in Europe - aiming to just fall short is having lack of expectation - and I loved the away games last time round. It also is a useful bargaining tool when looking to bring better players to the club. That said, we would have to strengthen the squad considerably to challenge in Europe and keep our PL place for the silly money in season 16/17.
£25 million for Bony, sell Gomis for £7 million and that would give Monk circa £30-£35 million to spend. Unfortunately, we all know he wouldn't get a transfer kitty anywhere near that amount.
My motto is...If you are still in it go for it but dont worry about it. The league is the only thing you have to get right and we have done that in record time, Now its all about getting as many points as possible and see where that takes you...
I would prefer not having the same problem as last season being in Europe, we are not equipped to handle two different campaigns and two domestic cups as well. Better to get 50 odd points a season and progress on that if we can.
Unlikely to have 10 players out or influential movers undermining the manager. Also we are now playing a style that would get us hammered in Europe even by the like of Malmö who did well this season and that 'joke' of a manager Paulo Sousa's Basel.
I don't think we will get a Europa position, but we will not be far short, though I'm sure Monk and the team will be looking at that target now we have reached 40 points, and it's a good way of Monk combatting our falling away at tail end of seasons, so if it resolves our poor end of season then I'm all for it, as it will help us develop as a club and Squad, and if we should qualify then one of the domestic cups (League Cup preferably) should be kicked into touch by Monk!........ PS I can see where Jager is coming from, but that season under Laudrop was not just down to Europa demands, there were hostilities in the dressing room, and a very indiferant manager that compounded our problems on the field and off it, and performances suffered as a consequence, that will not happen under Monk. Anyway talking of the devil, does Michu still play footy?...........
