7th place to get Europa League

[TheChosenOne]

All I can focus on is that if Woolwich the the FA cup they will have played every match in the old County of Middlesex, charming. At least we had a brummie semi on our cup run in 1982.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Nah, the CL failures still get in...

I assume you're talking about the teams who finish 3rd in their group in the CL group stage

I thought they were stopping that ?

 

[StartingPrice]

Love having a game on thursdays! Makes the wait much shorter... But would like us to scrape through groupstages with a minimum, playing youths and reserves as long as possible.

Also worth noting; atletico have learned their trade in Europa league the last years, and now their rocking in CL...

All good times!

Btw, we'll finish 5th or 4th...

The point about Athletico is so important. The value or otherwise of the Europa League is an old argument with well-rehearsed positions. But while I can well understand the way it is seen as devalued in comparison to the old UEFA Cup, I can't help but reflect on this and then contrast it to the way we performed after our CL forays in our one appearance in CL. Our team was just so not used to competing in Europe and then playing in the league - and it took its toll in points that could have gone towards making sure it wasn't our one appearance. I do also understand that league performances suffered after Europa games, but as said we should have been using it as a chance to acclimatize our squad for regular European competition - instead we went too heavily into the early rounds (without corresponding performances).

When this sorry mess is compared with the way Atheltico have built themselves up and particularly used the Europa to blood themselves in Europe, get a together squad (even when loosing some phenomenal players every year) and build a winning mentality, it makes me want to have a little boo-hoo

 

[Tit&Ham]

The point about Athletico is so important. The value or otherwise of the Europa League is an old argument with well-rehearsed positions. But while I can well understand the way it is seen as devalued in comparison to the old UEFA Cup, I can't help but reflect on this and then contrast it to the way we performed after our CL forays in our one appearance in CL. Our team was just so not used to competing in Europe and then playing in the league - and it took its toll in points that could have gone towards making sure it wasn't our one appearance. I do also understand that league performances suffered after Europa games, but as said we should have been using it as a chance to acclimatize our squad for regular European competition - instead we went too heavily into the early rounds (without corresponding performances).

When this sorry mess is compared with the way Atheltico have built themselves up and particularly used the Europa to blood themselves in Europe, get a together squad (even when loosing some phenomenal players every year) and build a winning mentality, it makes me want to have a little boo-hoo

Hey! Don't be cheap! If you love my post, throw me a winner

Naa, anyways, you just said it the way I feel. Very good. Infact, I agree with every word! Nice

 

[worcestersauce]

Atletico isn't really a good example as they play in a league with four CL positions two clubs nailed on and then Atletico, who get the highest tv money after the giants, so Europa league isn't the drain on them for CL qualification that it is on an English club. I wonder if they could compete for the la liga title if they were playing in that rather than the CL?

 

[JohanTheYid]

It needs a big shake up but its still European Competition. Id like to see it go back to the old format, straight knock out, 2 legged games, no seeds, no champs league dropouts, least it would be exciting !

 

[Shanks]

Are all 4 remaining teams in the Europa League CL drop outs?

Can't be arsed to go look, nor do I know which teams are in it, but thought I'd ask the question!

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Our only vaguely realistic chance of CL qualification...

I can guarantee that it will always be easier to finish 4th than win the Europa.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Are all 4 remaining teams in the Europa League CL drop outs?

Can't be arsed to go look, nor do I know which teams are in it, but thought I'd ask the question!

Nah Valencia and Sevilla have come through the Europa.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Really enjoyed the Valencia match last night, great comeback. Once the competition gets to these stages it's actually decent. The problem is the drawn out qualifying round and group games against opposition far away. Having said that if we get a manager that knows how to rotate and use the squad properly then I'd be happy for us to be in it.

For the group games we should be able to give playing time to the likes of Kane, Bentaleb, Veljkovic and Pritchard depending on the strength of the opposition.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

TBH, I think we'll get sixth because United still have to play Southampton and Everton away and their home form hasn't exactly been inspiring

UTD have the best away form in the league

 

[Mullers]

If we finish 7th we should get NOTHING because we deserve NOTHING. We spent 100 million pounds to find ourselves in the position of trying to scrape EL qualification off an Arsenal cup win is a disgrace.
I will never wish for Arsenal to win anything.
#FuckUArsenalcomeonWigan

 

[Deleted member 26368]

I'd have no problem with the Europa League if UEFA stopped allowing CL drop-outs to enter at the latter stages.

I don't think it's fair that teams such as Spurs, Swansea etc balance Thursday/Sunday fixtures for half the season to progress in a competition that is a) compensation for failure in the CL and b) has the playing field distorted half way through.

Not a universal view I know, just my 2 cents.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

I'd have no problem with the Europa League if UEFA stopped allowing CL drop-outs to enter at the latter stages.

I don't think it's fair that teams such as Spurs, Swansea etc balance Thursday/Sunday fixtures for half the season to progress in a competition that is a) compensation for failure in the CL and b) has the playing field distorted half way through.

Not a universal view I know, just my 2 cents.

I really don't understand how people think that it would be easier to gain CL qualification in a tournament that even when there is no cl qualification at the end of it you'll probably play Juventus in the final. Imagine what it will be like when teams take it even more seriously.

 

[Deleted member 26368]

I really don't understand how people think that it would be easier to gain CL qualification in a tournament that even when there is no cl qualification at the end of it you'll probably play Juventus in the final. Imagine what it will be like when teams take it even more seriously.

Exactly. Benfica and Juve are CL drop outs, you'd fancy both to win ahead of Valencia or Sevilla. The chavs won it the year before having binned out of the CL. I really hope we're proved wrong on that front, just can't see it unfortunately.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I thought they were stopping that ?

Nope
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014–15_UEFA_Europa_League

Clearly shows that in Round of 32, CL dropouts get in. The EL winners getting into the CL was the only change as I was aware.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Nope
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014–15_UEFA_Europa_League

Clearly shows that in Round of 32, CL dropouts get in. The EL winners getting into the CL was the only change as I was aware.

That's bollocks. I really despise that concept.

 

[Wellspurs]

So ideally Hull win the cup, Arse and Manu join them on Thursday nights to impede their season?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

At some point, sooner rather than later, Spurs WILL play CL again. When that time comes, we'll benefit from EL participation due to stacking up points for the UEFA Club coefficients. The better placed on the UEFA ranking, the easier matching through the group stage in CL. Thus, at the end of the day, I'm in favour of EL football.

 

[talkshowhost86]

For all the criticism of the Europa League, can people honestly say they wouldn't be looking forward to a match against Juventus (which is what we'd have got if we'd beaten Benfica)?

Next season you can add the chance of a Champions League place to that and I think it becomes a lot more palatable.

If we qualify, I'd still play the reserves/kids in the group stages, but if we get through that then I think it's a lot more worthwhile concentrating on next season.