First off, let's lay off the stock response of "we should try to win every competition we're in." Yeah, sure- you can say that- but the fact is that we don't- nor does anyone else- and that's not a bad thing. If we went all out to "win every competition" we'd likely flame out of all of them. Every team plays the kids, every team rests starters and every team prioritizes certain matches/comps over others- it's just the way it is.
So- with that in mind: how do we all feel about our being in the Europa League? Will we honestly try and win the thing ("trying" being: not going all out for the FA Cup, playing front line starters in every match we need to win, and basically putting the needs of the EL ahead of any other requirements)? Will that happen- or will Poch do the slow torture thing of putting out strong teams in some games and mystifyingly weak line ups in others- with no rhyme or reason to anything?
And if he does this- if he only takes it semi-seriously- will you lot be infuriated? Because can we all agree that if you're not going all out then just throw the damn thing from the off (i.e. start the kids against Gent and never, ever look back) rather than his usual mix and match, "what the fuck is he DOING?!?'-method of these past few years...
And let's say that somehow, someway by some miracle he actually takes the competition seriously and fields strong, potent teams consistently (for each and every match when necessary)- then- in that case- do we all agree that we can actually win it? I mean look:
Round of 32 draw
Athletic Club (ESP) v APOEL (CYP)
Legia Warszawa (POL)* v Ajax (NED)
Anderlecht (BEL) v Zenit (RUS)
Astra Giurgiu (ROU) v Genk (BEL)
Manchester United (ENG) v St-Étienne (FRA)
Villarreal (ESP) v Roma (ITA)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)* v København (DEN)*
Celta Vigo (ESP) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Olympiacos (GRE) v Osmanlıspor (TUR)
Gent (BEL) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)*
Rostov (RUS)* v Sparta Praha (CZE)
Krasnodar (RUS) v Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER)* v Fiorentina (ITA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Lyon (FRA)*
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) v Beşiktaş (TUR)*
PAOK (GRE) v Schalke (GER)
I challenge you to name a team that is demonstrably better than us. Who? Man U? Please. Roma? Um, no. Shalke? Fiorentina? Lyon? No, no and- sorry- no. Look- even if you could prove that so-and-so is dangerous and should not be taken lightly ("Hey- Ludogorets Razgard are 4 points clear of Nevski Sofia in the Bulgarian League!"), the fact is that there are no Chelseas or Real Madrids lurking to face us. Sure- such-and-such team may be strong- or bigger- than us-- but are they miles ahead?
Because the fact is that, whether we want to acknowledge it or not (and to acknowledge would be to admit that if we don't take it seriously this time, we will basically be committing a fucking crime), we are- and should be- among the favorites to win this trophy. No way around it- not this year.
So there we are. My feelings on it are that we ought to prioritize this competition (wait for it) over the League. Yes- I said it- this should be what we go all out to win, not the Prem- which is not only unwinable but an unlikely prospect as far as us even finishing in the top four is concerned. Chelsea, City and Ars*nal are shoo-ins for the CL spots- and Liverpool- with no Europe to even think about- are basically a lock as well. And even if we somehow could finish ahead of either 'Pool or Arse (which, again, probably won't happen)- the chances are so much lower than the chances of us winning the Europa League that I don't understand why we would even bother to prioritize the League over the EL.
Let me be clear: I'm NOT saying "throw the League" or "play the kids in the League"- I'm saying "go all out to win the Europa League"- even if on occasion that means resting one or two players for a League match in order to play them in the EL. Go for both- with the edge to the EL (rather than what will happen which will be to go for one [the League] over the other [the EL] while pretending to go for both: that, I hate).
Everyone says it's "hard to win the EL" and I would agree- except this season. This season, it's doable. Difficult, yes- but eminently within our grasp. Smash Gent (and c'mon- why would we not?) and then there'll be 7 matches left- the first two likely against someone relatively easy. Win those, and it's crunch time: quarters- semis- and then the final.
I mean, why not?!? A much-shittier-than-us Liverpool squad made the final (and likely would've won the whole thing had they not faced relative EL juggernaut Sevilla)- so why not us?!?
I truly, honestly know- not think, KNOW- that we can do this if we really want it. And if we do, then there's us in the Champions League again, for the second straight year. Why is this competition always out of our reach? Why is something that other clubs do- but not us? Why not field solid, competitive teams in the League while at the same time taking this ultra-seriously?
Will we?
Should we?
Could we?
So- with that in mind: how do we all feel about our being in the Europa League? Will we honestly try and win the thing ("trying" being: not going all out for the FA Cup, playing front line starters in every match we need to win, and basically putting the needs of the EL ahead of any other requirements)? Will that happen- or will Poch do the slow torture thing of putting out strong teams in some games and mystifyingly weak line ups in others- with no rhyme or reason to anything?
And if he does this- if he only takes it semi-seriously- will you lot be infuriated? Because can we all agree that if you're not going all out then just throw the damn thing from the off (i.e. start the kids against Gent and never, ever look back) rather than his usual mix and match, "what the fuck is he DOING?!?'-method of these past few years...
And let's say that somehow, someway by some miracle he actually takes the competition seriously and fields strong, potent teams consistently (for each and every match when necessary)- then- in that case- do we all agree that we can actually win it? I mean look:
Round of 32 draw
Athletic Club (ESP) v APOEL (CYP)
Legia Warszawa (POL)* v Ajax (NED)
Anderlecht (BEL) v Zenit (RUS)
Astra Giurgiu (ROU) v Genk (BEL)
Manchester United (ENG) v St-Étienne (FRA)
Villarreal (ESP) v Roma (ITA)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)* v København (DEN)*
Celta Vigo (ESP) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Olympiacos (GRE) v Osmanlıspor (TUR)
Gent (BEL) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)*
Rostov (RUS)* v Sparta Praha (CZE)
Krasnodar (RUS) v Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER)* v Fiorentina (ITA)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Lyon (FRA)*
Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR) v Beşiktaş (TUR)*
PAOK (GRE) v Schalke (GER)
I challenge you to name a team that is demonstrably better than us. Who? Man U? Please. Roma? Um, no. Shalke? Fiorentina? Lyon? No, no and- sorry- no. Look- even if you could prove that so-and-so is dangerous and should not be taken lightly ("Hey- Ludogorets Razgard are 4 points clear of Nevski Sofia in the Bulgarian League!"), the fact is that there are no Chelseas or Real Madrids lurking to face us. Sure- such-and-such team may be strong- or bigger- than us-- but are they miles ahead?
Because the fact is that, whether we want to acknowledge it or not (and to acknowledge would be to admit that if we don't take it seriously this time, we will basically be committing a fucking crime), we are- and should be- among the favorites to win this trophy. No way around it- not this year.
So there we are. My feelings on it are that we ought to prioritize this competition (wait for it) over the League. Yes- I said it- this should be what we go all out to win, not the Prem- which is not only unwinable but an unlikely prospect as far as us even finishing in the top four is concerned. Chelsea, City and Ars*nal are shoo-ins for the CL spots- and Liverpool- with no Europe to even think about- are basically a lock as well. And even if we somehow could finish ahead of either 'Pool or Arse (which, again, probably won't happen)- the chances are so much lower than the chances of us winning the Europa League that I don't understand why we would even bother to prioritize the League over the EL.
Let me be clear: I'm NOT saying "throw the League" or "play the kids in the League"- I'm saying "go all out to win the Europa League"- even if on occasion that means resting one or two players for a League match in order to play them in the EL. Go for both- with the edge to the EL (rather than what will happen which will be to go for one [the League] over the other [the EL] while pretending to go for both: that, I hate).
Everyone says it's "hard to win the EL" and I would agree- except this season. This season, it's doable. Difficult, yes- but eminently within our grasp. Smash Gent (and c'mon- why would we not?) and then there'll be 7 matches left- the first two likely against someone relatively easy. Win those, and it's crunch time: quarters- semis- and then the final.
I mean, why not?!? A much-shittier-than-us Liverpool squad made the final (and likely would've won the whole thing had they not faced relative EL juggernaut Sevilla)- so why not us?!?
I truly, honestly know- not think, KNOW- that we can do this if we really want it. And if we do, then there's us in the Champions League again, for the second straight year. Why is this competition always out of our reach? Why is something that other clubs do- but not us? Why not field solid, competitive teams in the League while at the same time taking this ultra-seriously?
Will we?
Should we?
Could we?
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