Would being in Europe next season help us?

In my opinion, to make something of your European run and also maintain your Premier League form, you need a squad full of good quality.

In my opinion, we have an excellent starting 11, one that could do the business in Europe, however our overall squad isn't strong enough in my opinion.

We would need to strengthen. We would need firstly a top class striker, and make sure that we kept Best and Ba. I reckon we would need to spend a significant amount to get the one we needed.

We also need to be able to replace quality in midfield with more quality.

At the moment we have -

Ben Arfa
Cabaye
Tiote
Gutierrez
Marveaux

After this our midfielders aren't bad, they're good players, but not what I'd consider as quality players. If a couple of the above midfielders got injured or suspended, we'd replace them with average players.

We need to consider the worst when it comes to us, so we'd have to assume that it's likely that one of mids above would get injured, which would hurt our PL season. Also playing a European game mid-week and then playing in the fastest league in the world a few days later isn't easy.

We would need to rest our best players often enough to make sure they don't suffer from over straining themselves or fatigue.

In my opinion we need at least 7/8 quality mids, so we'd have to go out and buy a couple. I'm not saying we need amazing mids or even ones as good as we have now, just ones that could at least do the business in the PL and keep our squad playing quality football.

Also, our defense. After our best two CB's we have no one of quality. Willo is all right but I'm never comfortable with him in defense. We need to buy a back up center back, and also another defender of quality that is versatile and can play in the center or in the full back positions.

Overall we have a good first team, but we lack depth. After our strongest options we have a poor team.

The fans know if we did get in Europe, that we'd need to strengthen, but the reason I'm worried is that Mike Ashley may not realize this. He may think that since we've gotten this far with our current squad, we don't need much strengthening, when we really do.

Never mind the future, in our current season, we're relying on luck with fitness. If we lose certain players we're ****ed.

So i ask you. Would being in Europe help us next season? I know we all want to get back in Europe, but i think as early as next season wouldn't be in our interest, unless Mike Ashley was to invest heavily into the team, which i don't see happening.

 

We'll never keep hold of players like Tiote, Krul and Ben Arfa if we don't get in Europe, not necessarily this season but at some point in the near future. We've already lost Enrique.

We need a proper left back this January. Pieters would be good.

I think Bassong would be a good addition to a Europa League squad, young, talented can cover in the centre and at left back.

A striker will be the problem area. I'm happy with who we have right now, but if we were to get in Europe we'd need more firepower and I don't think there's anyone available who'd give us that.

 

Is this your opinion?



Tbh I think the Europa league has been cheapened slightly by the likes of Stoke and Fulham. Now they're there slugging it out against some frankly ****e teams from places like Belgium, it just doesn't seem like much of a big deal.

I suppose if it helps raise our European profile though, then it could be worth it.

 

I think it would help us keep a hold of Tiote and Ben Arfa, but if we do get in Europe we need to spend and get players in, simple as.

 

I think our first team, with the addition of a left back, would go a good distance in the europa league. We have to get into Europe soon to keep players like the ones mentioned above.

 

As you said we have a very good starting 11, and if we get into europe it would help us attract more good players and improve our squad even more

 

Of course it would be, anyone who says otherwise is a fool. It brings in more revenue, makes Newcastle United a more desirable place to play when looking at bringing in players and encourages top players to stay.

Sure it's more games which could lead to injury and fatigue which may harm our League performance, but for me the pros outweigh the cons.

P.s Tash you're really going for it with posts today, you looking to get your unsightly face in that Guinness Book of Records?

 

If we Got into Europe, we would need another striker defo, two more CBs, a LB, 2 more midfielders and a winger.

 

Good thread. The UEFA Cup (old school) has changed alot since we were last in it. Would prefer a straight knockout like it used to be.

I think it would benefit us although our league form would suffer. But question is, what if not the UEFA Cup should we be aiming for?

In my eyes we should be looking have a go at winning a cup every season whilst maintaining premier league status be it 15th 8th 12th. Does it matter really if we win a cup??

 

nah, we should be aiming for a relegation spot

 

How hard did we mock the mackems for having threads on stuff like this around this time last year?

 

I think it would help us a lot

 

I think it's far too early to be thinking about European qualification.

Let's see where we are in the new year - if we're still in the top 10 and looking good then perhaps we could think about getting more bodies in.