I'm putting 10 quid on us winning it
After seeing that fixture list yes, we should go for it. We should have more than enough depth to give it a real go. If Poch can somehow strengthen in Jan then we are in even better position.
Great response.
One question (or thing to think about at least): wouldn't being in the Champions League in 2017-18 be a lot better than, say, a fifth place finish in the EPL this season? I mean yeah, sure, a fourth place finish- along with its attendant CL qualification- would be ideal- but pragmatically we are the likeliest not to be invited to that party. As much as I would love it, chances are we're finishing 5th at best. (Yeah I get it- we could do it; my point is that- odds are- we won't).
HOWEVER, we are practically odds-on favorites to win the Europa League, with only Manure being favored over us! And they are freakin' terrible!!!
Wednesday 24th May 2017
Europa League Winner 16/17 - Win Outright
Manchester Utd 4/1 Tottenham 15/2
Roma 11/1 Zenit St Petersburg 12/1
Shakhtar Donetsk 12/1 Schalke 14/1
Lyon 16/1 Athletic Bilbao 16/1
Fiorentina 18/1 Villarreal 22/1
FC Copenhagen 28/1 Borussia Mgladbach 28/1
Fenerbahce 28/1 Ajax 28/1
Besiktas 28/1 Celta Vigo 33/1
Olympiacos 33/1 FK Krasnodar 40/1
Sparta Prague 50/1 Rostov 50/1
Genk 50/1 Anderlecht 50/1
St Etienne 66/1 Ludogorets Razgrad 100/1
Osmanlispor 100/1 APOEL 100/1
Gent 150/1 Legia Warsaw 150/1
Hapeol Beer Sheva 150/1 AZ Alkmaar 250/1
Astra Giurgiu 250/1PAOK 250/1
So why in God's name don't/won't we take this seriously?!?
WE CAN FINALLY WIN THE FUCKING THING!!!!!
I understand that sentiment but I almost feel like if we as a fanbase demanded that the club take the competition more seriously then maybe- just maybe- it might bleed over to the board/Levy/Poch. Remember how the Liverpool fans boycotted Hicks and Gillette until those slimeballs left, because they just couldn't deal with it anymore? Well, what if we, too, were rancorous- if somehow we also made our voices heard? Look, I'm not saying we have a situation like theirs (although tbh under Hicks and Gillette they made two Champions League finals and won one- so it's not like they had it that bad either)- but throwing this competition when we absolutely 100% positively could win it is fucking criminal imo- and I'm betting 90% of us (at least) would truly want to see us give it a proper go.
I think our supporters just feel impotent, that's all (and not in a way a Smurf could help with lol).
After seeing that fixture list yes, we should go for it. We should have more than enough depth to give it a real go. If Poch can somehow strengthen in Jan then we are in even better position.
We certainly have a good enough squad
including fringe and youth players to win it
without unduly jeopardizing our chances of making the top four.
But Poch needs to be cleverer than he has been about rotation
and there is always an element of luck in Cup football.
Injuries,form, draw, weather referees, need I go on?
Beat Chelsea in January and the whole Prem is much more open again.
None of the other teams above us have been consistent
and there is still half a season to go FFS (as they say).
We need to pick our games carefully to play the wider squad
in the Europa, the Prem and the FA Cup.
Good thread.
You don't need a disguise on the Webnet thingy.
focus on the league. play second team unless we reach semi
Catch 22 rears its inevitable head!focus on the league. play second team unless we reach semi
So employ the usual approach of playing weakened teams, getting knocked out and then falling away in the league when it matters? And people wonder why we do not have the required mentality and never win anything.