There's ways to qualify without jeopardising our place in the competition - after all, we played Defoe and Pav up front because they're likely to feature in the Premier League (well, the latter is likely to feature until January at this rate...), yet Sandro wasn't even in the squad last night and could've contributed a lot in midfield, whilst Dos Santos could have provided another outlet when it transpires we just weren't moving the ball forwards from midfield. In retrospect, we could've kept Naughton and deployed him at left back in the Europa League as well. Using the game to build up Gallas' match fitness was a gamble that was worth taking, similar to how we used the Carling Cup to give Sandro and VDV run-outs earlier in the season, but there's a point where you're beyond making the most of your squad and start risking elimination from a competition we have a good chance at winning.
We are joint favourites until City drop in, using one of the worst rules ever invented in a competition.
The worst rule I can think of is the way that Europa League matches have to make way for Champion's League ones - a couple of seasons back Liverpool were playing in the CL (remember that?) and Everton in the EL on the same night and both at home, so to accomodate this Everton's game had to kick off at something like 5:30, leaving them with a drastically reduced gate. Was it really so hard to switch venues or dates for one of these games, given there's several weeks between the draws and the games being played?
Hi SOS, so far Kane looks lost to me, he lacks pace which often helps youngsters out, he's nowhere near the level of Heskey who at Kane's age was about three times the player. The pace and power he had used to terrify a lot of defenders, I think he have Campbell a nightmare one game, he may have run Ledley ragged too once, he's certainly terrorised our defence more than once. Kane is way off that level, his best chance I guess is to use his football brain and be a good finisher, but the Prem is unforgiving, unless you've got natural attributes like strength and pace. I've heard even utter class acts like Sheringham given grief because of it, and it unbelievably happened recently with one of the best players to grace our team in the Prem era, VDV, and still some people thought he didn't run around enough. So what realistic chance has Kane got, very little I'm afraid at the top. We'll see though. The type of striker I want is back up for Ade, that should be Pav, but apparently that's not to be. I don't care whether whether we spend big or small, I'll leave that to Danny and Harry, but we need someone for sure. All IMHO of course
There are many ways to qualify HB, and Harry has chosen his, he's been quite clear about it. Like you, I suspect, I wish the EL got a higher priority rating, but it doesn't from Harry and Danny and I completely sympathise why. I don't think we played Pav and Defoe up front because they're likely to play in the Prem, certainly as starters, I think we played them precisely for the opposite reason, they don't get enough Prem game time to keep them sharp. GDS was injured, so that wasn't happening, otherwise I'm sure he would have played. I hope he's fit for POAK and maybe we can leave Pav on the bench. Sandro was being held back for the Fulham game is my guess, I'd like him to start instead of Lennon, but we'll see. Also Parker and Modric had/have slight niggles so Harry may be being cautious. I have massive problems with us loaning out players like Naughton, Smith and Caulker, but I can see the arguments for it, and most fans seeem to think it's a 'good thing'. Key thing is that Harry and Danny think it's a good idea, so it doesn't really matter what us mere fans think
I hate that rule, but I don't think City will drop in, I expect them to qualify for the CL knock out stages now. While I hate the rule, it does add some glamour to the ties available. I hope we top our group, but if we come second and draw a 'CL team', it might generate a bit more interest from our fans.
I'd rather risk getting eliminated from the Europa League than lessen the chances of getting fourth--like most, I think. So I like the policy of playing youngsters. If it works, it's great, if not, that's okay. When you think about it, the real problems start in the knockout rounds, especially the later ones when there will be every temptation to play the first team. I agree, it is too bad because Spurs have a real chance of winning--but given how much can happen and go wrong, I don't think the chance becomes important enough to gamble on until the semifinals.
I would hope our injuries might clear up at some point this season. That would allow us to put out a very good team in the EL without any of the players playing 2 full 90mins in a week still.
I do see the purpose of using the Europa League to give players a run-out to boost the fitness of players who will be Premier League regulars (in the case of against Rubin, Gallas), but I still can't see why we're not trying some first teamers in different positions. For example, Bassong can play left back and we don't have cover for BAE, so if we played him there it could help in the long term and, it has to be said, it's likely somebody with a better first touch wouldn't be caught in possession leading to their free kick.
I'd like to see us bring in some cover for BAE in January and loan Rose out. He seems to be injured whenever we need him and he'd probably progress better with regular starts, anyway. Perhaps a cut-price Figueroa (out of contract in the summer) or a loan move for Wayne Bridge with City paying most of his wages? As Spurfectionist says though, if we could get everyone fit then we'd have a great 2nd XI: Cudicini; Rose, Dawson, Gallas, Corluka; Huddlestone, Sandro; Dos Santos, Kranjcar, Pienaar; Defoe. Gomes, Bassong, Livermore, Caroll, Falque, Pavlyuchenko, Kane.
Not sure why people think this rule is crap? It's quite common for clubs to come into cup competitions in later rounds. EG the Carling Cup: most premier teams in round 2 and European qualifiers in Round 3. There is nothing fundamentally different about the Europa cup rule: 8 teams just qualify for the KO round by a different route....what exactly is wrong with that?
The one rule change I would like to see in the Europa League, is automatic qualification for the next season's C.L. for the winners. That would make it more worthwhile, for some, if they knew there was a lucrative C.L. place up for grabs. They have the same thing in R.F.U. now, The winners of the Amlin cup - which is the rugby equivalent of The Europa, get automatic entry into the next season's Heineken Cup.
Hi PS, the difference is they've already been eliminated from one competition so they get another 'bite at Europe'.
I'd go further, to make the Europa really attractive have all the top 4 finishers get in the CL, (excluding those already qualified via their domestic route). Just one spot for the winners, while useful and I would back all the way, I don't think will be enough, especially as the winners are often CL bound anyway, eg Porto. last season. If four is too much, and doubtless UEFA would think it is, then the two highest finishers get CL. Given one of the finalists would almost certainly be CL bound anyway, that means it makes a semi-final spot a real potential prize. Further I would make any 'tie break' dependent on UEFA coefficient points, which would give an extra boost to the usefulness of the rankings.
Because they're being eliminated from one competition that they've already played a substantial part in and entering one. Teams in the Europa League have often struggled through a ton of games to get to the interesting part and they then face teams that have failed in the Champions League. It's ridiculous. I'm not even sure that you're being serious. That's how stupid that rule is.
Apologies if I'm pointing out the obvious but they need the rule to prevent smaller clubs in the CL from losing interest. It's already enough of a competition between La Liga, EPL, Bayern Munich and Lyon without the champions from fringe nations resting players because there's nothing for them to play for. I don't like it but it's necessary, I feel.
Nah, they're going for the title. They'd absolutely love it! We'll be competing for 4th with Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd.
Just as long as they don't take note from the Rugby World Cup, and award the teams that finish third in their group a spot in the next competition, even though they weren't good enough to qualify for the quarter finals...
