http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32651839 From what i gather, 7th place could still qualify for Europa if Arsenal win the FA cup. This could round up for an exciting end to the season! Thoughts?
Yes 7th is good enough if Arsenal win. The extra place will be given to the team with the best fair play record. Think West Ham and Everton are in contention at the moment as other teams with a good fair play record are already qualified for Europe
Realistically we could come anywhere from 6th to 8th, though 7th is probably most likely. Ordinarily I support the underdog in the FA Cup, because they are "Southampton" - a team that doesn't get to enjoy many big days out. Like us, Aston Villa don't get many days out at Wembley, so its a special occasion for their fans. It's not so the same thing if you are a fan of one of the big teams, who tend to a little more blasé about these things. If we come 5th, 6th or 8th this season, I'll be cheering on Villa. However, if we come 7th, I'll have to vote tactically, and Arsenal better put in a damned good shift or I'll be calling for Wenger's head.
We're not that far off West Ham in 2nd in that fair play league....could still qualify that way if they get a red card....? Can Burnley qualify if they get relegated this season?
I believe so, yes. Interesting that you're the only person on here who appears to have openly mentioned that this could be a European route for us (should either Swansea catch us, or Villa win the cup and we finish 7th). We didn't pick up a single yellow card today (Everton, West Ham and Burnley all picked up at least one), and none of those three committed fewer than our ten fouls today. So today must have gone in our favour to some extent. A West Ham red card or two in these final two games, and who knows.
I'm really, really hoping we don't qualify on that basis. It's a berth in the first qualifying round...eight matches away from the group stage. No thanks.
At the moment spurs are holding the door open for us, saying "after you". We're saying "no no, after you". In a minute Swansea are to going bowl right through saying "thanks lads, see youl later".
After being in the top 4 for so long, it would be a flat end to the season if we don't get into the Europa. We need this as a pointer that we are steadily improving. It means our season starts early with the qualifiers, but will only ruin our season if we keep winning and get to the final....hope that doesn't happen What's wrong with a little European tour.
This much was enough for me. I hope we can pull off the great Europa escape, but we're just depending on Villa (well I am, I know no one agrees with me on this). At least I'm not hoping we get players sent off as well.
It's the 89th minute at the Etihad on the final day of the season, as we're 3-0 down. Ron gets the word that West Ham have just received their second red card of the game (the first naturally being issued to Kevin Nolan). Ron immediately calls Vic overs to him "Vic, that little Argentine up front for City, it's time, you know what to do..."
I still don't really understand the reasoning behind not wanting to be in the Europa, why are you against it?
Man City will understand. This game got them to the UEFA Cup, despite Dunne and Sven's best efforts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381794.stm
I don't think it will be good for us, particularly if we got to the groups. Don't accept that it adds extra recruitment power or money, but it does hurt PL performance and put bigger squad requirements on.
I agree that it doesn't massively influence player recruitment, but I think that realistically the glass ceiling for us is about 7th/8th and any higher finish is more to do with bigger clubs ****ing up than anything else. So if we ever want to play in Europe then Europa League is most likely the only outcome. Almost definitely if we go far in it then it will effect our league position for that season, but as long as that is not getting relegated then I am willing to accept that as for clubs like ours the chance of European does not come along every day.
I'd like to go to EL, but I still want Villa to beat Arsenal. If that knocks us out, too bad. We had a chance to come in 6th and we blew it. You have to earn your place.
Fair point. I'll hardly be upset, I'm just a bit agnostic about it. If we could finish top 7 next season then I'd be more optimistic about having a stab the one after. It might just be because I think the competition is stupid and should be binned immediately.
I wouldn't care if Aston Villa collectively fell over and did their cartilages....as long as we qualify for Europe. #onlysaintsmatter
