Champions league looks a bridge too far for us now,to be 20 points off the leaders is a ****ing disgrace. Anyone share my view that 6th would be better than 5th,dont want channel 5 ****e,give us more of a chance to get top 4 for the next season ?
The Europa League places are given out to the FA Cup winners, the Carling Cup winners and 5th place in the league. 6th could still be good enough to get into it, depending upon how the FA Cup goes.
If you win the FA Cup will you be gutted because you go into the Europa League? As PNP says, if Liverpool get to the final against either us or you, you're garunteed Europa League for 6th. It's not worth taking it too seriously but I enjoyed our approach to it this year. It'll give you more of a chance to see the likes of McEarchren, Bertrand and other youngsters. Anyway 4th aint over yet, although I wish it was
We joined that Nextgen thing to give the youngster the taste of European football from next season. We might aswell withdraw and give then Europa instead.
Would be a good opprtunity to play the youngsters in the league matches now. If we finish 6th or 7th wouldn't really matter.
Unfortunately, we've loaned out our best youngster in favour of the hopelessly inept ****er Meireles! - Yet another AVB **** up!
They're totally different. Nextgen is under 19s and for academy squads really, Europa League would be good to play players who are on the fringes of the squad.
channel 5 cup would not worry me, its still europe and better than nought. the only down side to it in my opinion is the fact that it is actually very difficult to win, so would we want to put a lot into it ?, seeing that every one be littles it and also every body seems to think that being a cl club we are now to big for it .
I wouldn't mind playing in the Europa league, doesn't bother me by any means and always thought it was underrated. Might get rid of a few ****s currently 'supporting' us aswell
Winning the Europa League will accumulates less money than you get for qualifying out of the group stages of the CL. Considering it's more convoluted than the CL it's really not worth much of thought unless you make it to the quarters. Trips back from Russia on a Friday before a league game on Sunday would take it's toll on your first 11 if you used them.
YV is right. More Sunday games makes it **** for our supporters and will have a detrimental affect on our team and performances.
It is also quite hard to win: most of the teams in the group stages are lower PL standard so you should get out of that pretty OK without troubling many of your first XI (we nearly made it using a mix of reserves and youngsters). But the KO stage usually has 3 or 4 of the current top ten in Europe (either because they came down unluckily from the CL or are on the way up) and winning 5 successive rounds of cup football of a standard like that is a tall order.
Whatever happens, IF we miss out on top 4 this year, then next year, the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Europa League should be treated as surplus to requirements. Play squaddies and kids only. Getting top 4 and CL back is ONLY challenge we should concentrate on. It is a step too far to compete at top level in all competitions UNTIL we have a great team again and equally great back ups. Also think when it's mathematically impossible to get 4th this year, bring in the kids. Must be better than the dross we played against Spurs.
Unfortunately 4th place aint beyond you...or Newcastle...wouldnt give up just yet....thetes bound to be some major twists and turns in the next 8 games
