Should the league or Europa League be our priority this season...?

[parklane1]

I want to see us win a trophy.

 

[sunnydelight786]

Both should be but come March/April and if we are well out of the running for a CL spot in the league then we should go all out for the EL.

 

[faze_coys]

Both should be but come March/April and if we are well out of the running for a CL spot in the league then we should go all out for the EL.

this, cruise through europa till the knock outs then take it a bit more serious after christmas depending on our league form

 

[yankspurs]

Both. We have a strong/deep enough squad, IMO. But lets see where we are at in the league by the knockout stages and which CL teams come down into EL.

 

[TwanYid]

I think we should prioritize both (PL first, then EL since at this point the EL is relatively easy) but at the same time I think we should deprioritize the Cups. If we got knocked out of both UK Cups next week I would celebrate.

Yes- I mean that.

The FA Cup has some value, the League Cup doesn't (imo)- or barely does- and both should be scrapped. Now is not the time to lose Lamela to injury because some Notts County Neanderthal kicked the shit out of him in whatever the League Cup is called these days.

 

[sloth]

League cup is the easiest to win because the big teams don't take it seriously, so it's the best chance for us to win a trophy, with the bonus that EL is guaranteed if we do, which as we've seen in this thread, is no longer something to be sniffed at.

 

[DaSpurs]

A question, if by chance we were to get the final of the EL and were beaten by a team who by their current league position would have qualified for the CL anyway, would we qualify as runner up by default?

A good question, and I also am genuinely interested if anyone knows the answer to this. Surely the other finalist would be more deserving than a recipient of trickling down the winner's domestic league.

 

[Spurger King]

A good question, and I also am genuinely interested if anyone knows the answer to this. Surely the other finalist would be more deserving than a recipient of trickling down the winner's domestic league.

The only way to get into the CL via the Europa League, is to win the Europa League. Similarly, if a team wins the Europa, but has already qualified for the CL via the league, the 5th placed team in that league wouldn't be given the extra spot.

 

[spurs9]

Why do you put it that way around when the rewards for winning the EL are much higher than for getting fourth in the PL?

As much as I would prefer us to win the EL than finish 4th, I have to agree that 4th would be the priority if, in Feb, we are looking like we could qualify. The reason's:

- In a knock out comp (even with 2 legs), there are no second (ok, maybe third) chances. In the league, you could lose a couple of games, go 6 points behind and hit great form over take the 4th place team (look at Arsenal when we were 11 points ahead).
- Continental refereeing. We may think the refereeing is poor in the EPL but in the Europa league, from a EPL team's point of view, it is on another level. Due to most countries not allowing as physical challenges as our league and diving being encouraged, it leads to us being penalised a lot more. This means more free-kicks, higher chance of conceding penalties, more yellow cards, suspensions and most of all more frustration, which can lead to mistakes/playing under par etc. This may seem like a minuscule point but it can make a huge difference.

 

[eViL]

I'm going with Europa in terms of season objective.

I don't think there's a need to play our best 11 every game, particularly in the early stages of the tournament, but it needs to be balanced.

Get the rotation wrong and before we know it, were out of Europa AND in danger of getting sucked into a mid-table slog.

We need to be competing in the cups - time for some Glory.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Both are difficult tasks, and I would not commit to either one at this point - or I should say, I would commit to pursuing both for now.

Lets get through the group stage, hopefully clinching early, see where we are in the league at the end of December, see who our owner is, and see what, if anything we can do to strengthen the squad in January.

Then when the knockout stage hits, we can re-evaluate where we are, and use our players appropriately.

 

[Larryjanta]

for me, it depends on who the champs league drop outs are. We're currently one of the best sides in the comp so, after group stages, I would prioritise the EL. However, if a Barca, City, Real etc. drop down, I don't think we can win it so then I'd go league.

 

[Larryjanta]

The only way to get into the CL via the Europa League, is to win the Europa League. Similarly, if a team wins the Europa, but has already qualified for the CL via the league, the 5th placed team in that league wouldn't be given the extra spot.

ignore, misread your post

 

[St José Dominguez]

I think we can fully rotate and get through the group stage. Then I guess you reevaluate looking where we are in league. As it stands I think us, Everton, Napoli, inter, Fiorentina and the German teams could probably all beat each other over two legs so we'd have decent chance. It's about who drops down though. Looking at CL groups either City or Roma are going to be in it, which would be very hard to see us overcome unless a one off final. The others dropping down if went to prediction I'd think we'd have a chance at beating but only takes a PSG etc messing up and that's another tough ask to overcome.

No doubt in my mind that EL is our best chance of CL football next year, I think we've a chance and I'm glad we've taken strong squad to game to show we're taking this very seriously. No disrespect to Sevilla, who were excellent last year, but if they can win it so can we.

 

[guy]

CL dropouts could potentially (at this early stage) be:

Olympiakos - beatable but difficult
Basel/Liverpool - very tough
Leverkusen - very tough
Galatasaray - beatable but difficult
Roma - very tough
Ajax - beatable but difficult
Sp Lisbon - beatable

Very good teams there, Sp Lisbon would be the easiest IMO, but we saw how good benfica were last year, so certainly not a gimme.

It comes down to luck of the draw most of the time, and hoping either in the Round of 32
a) Other EL teams can knock out a few of the CL dropouts
b) CL teams get drawn against each other

 

[dontcallme]

I don't particularly want to see us prioritise either.

Finishing 4th or winning something is often about opportunity rather than how good we are.

If Liverpool maintain similar form to last season and Utd's All Stars get it together then 4th will be extremely difficult. If Liverpool struggle with the CL games and miss Suarez and Utd play like a bunch of strangers unsure of how to play for LVG then 4th becomes very gettable.

We can certainly play a so-called weaker team at the beginning of our EL campaign and get through the group stages but ultimately I want to see us go for it.

 

[HoltbiusMac]

We can do both for now. Rotate the squad sufficiently in the group stages that we are in the strongest position we can be from a fitness perspective in January. Then when the knock-out stages roll around we can assess whether we need our very strongest team (if our league position isn't fantastic) or if we could still afford to rest some key players. Our worst XI of senior players would still probably win the group stage because we're strong in depth so it's all about fitness management and giving players minutes who need them until the knockouts swing round.

 

[Gassin's finest]

League is the bread and butter. Must come first.

 

[sloth]

League is the bread and butter. Must come first.

Why?

 

[Gassin's finest]

Why?

That shouldn't need explaining tbh. Without doing well in the league, all else is irrelevant. Success in the league means bigger slices of TV payments, the reward money, the bums on seats... not to mention actually getting into Europe. The league is the raison d'etre of a football club.

That's why it should come first.