The European Dividend

[davek]

With 10 of the other 19 PL clubs on regular weekday-weekend game schedules this should significantly and positively affect our ability to get results this season, more than any other.

Already we benefitted against Palace when the wheels fell off them in the last 20 minutes; and Liverpool were begging for the final whistle in the derby - and they're one of those teams involved in Europe who can rotate heavily.

It gives us a great chance to get a lot more points this season and we need to make that count again against Spurs this Sunday.

No reason whatsoever with zero distractions until the FA Cup we shouldn't be taking the majority of points against the likes of Palace, Forest, Villa, Newcastle, Man United, and being really confident in picking up points from the others.

We should be looking at 55 points easy this season, IMO.

 

[Mikey O]

I agree with your assertion and for many teams there is a "European hangover" which can be exploited to our benefit. There are a couple of provisos; that we ourselves stay clear of injuries (as we still have a relatively thin squad in certain positions) and that the certain teams have the squad size to manage through their rotation of players.

We'll still need lots to go our way but at least we're now looking at the upper reaches of the table and not at the bottom three places.

 

[Eggs]

…..the clubs nearer the top tend to have greater quality in depth to manage additional games. Whilst fatigue could be a factor in some games, I do think the teams playing midweek are generally better than those who don’t.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

With 10 of the other 19 PL clubs on regular weekday-weekend game schedules this should significantly and positively affect our ability to get results this season, more than any other.

Already we benefitted against Palace when the wheels fell off them in the last 20 minutes; and Liverpool were begging for the final whistle in the derby - and they're one of those teams involved in Europe who can rotate heavily.

It gives us a great chance to get a lot more points this season and we need to make that count again against Spurs this Sunday.

No reason whatsoever with zero distractions until the FA Cup we shouldn't be taking the majority of points against the likes of Palace, Forest, Villa, Newcastle, Man United, and being really confident in picking up points from the others.

We should be looking at 55 points easy this season, IMO.

ANOTHER BREXIT BONUS!

 

[bicycleheader]

This is just you whittling the stick you are going to beat Moyes with at a later date

 

[Rita_Poon]

We should be looking at 55 points easy this season, IMO.

How did you arrive at this conclusion, how did you calculate to expect 55 points please.

 

[davek]

I agree with your assertion and for many teams there is a "European hangover" which can be exploited to our benefit. There are a couple of provisos; that we ourselves stay clear of injuries (as we still have a relatively thin squad in certain positions) and that the certain teams have the squad size to manage through their rotation of players.

We'll still need lots to go our way but at least we're now looking at the upper reaches of the table and not at the bottom three places.

Yes, but this season is has historic levels of English club involvement in European competition. We need to exploit that.

 

[Joey66]

How did you arrive at this conclusion, how did you calculate to expect 55 points please.

Mid table will do me with our injury crisis plus no class fullbacks ATM ...

 

[davek]

…..the clubs nearer the top tend to have greater quality in depth to manage additional games. Whilst fatigue could be a factor in some games, I do think the teams playing midweek are generally better than those who don’t.

The whole organisation is focused away from PL fixtures. It isn't just the physical effort for those doubling up games.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Yes, but this season is has historic levels of English club involvement in European competition. We need to exploit that.

Correct

 

[Neiler]

With 10 of the other 19 PL clubs on regular weekday-weekend game schedules this should significantly and positively affect our ability to get results this season, more than any other.

Already we benefitted against Palace when the wheels fell off them in the last 20 minutes; and Liverpool were begging for the final whistle in the derby - and they're one of those teams involved in Europe who can rotate heavily.

It gives us a great chance to get a lot more points this season and we need to make that count again against Spurs this Sunday.

No reason whatsoever with zero distractions until the FA Cup we shouldn't be taking the majority of points against the likes of Palace, Forest, Villa, Newcastle, Man United, and being really confident in picking up points from the others.

We should be looking at 55 points easy this season, IMO.

Aim should be 30 by New Year if we have an ambition for Europe this season and we absolutely should.

Dec will separate the men from the boys.

 

[davek]

This is just you whittling the stick you are going to beat Moyes with at a later date

It's really not.

This season is very unusual due to circumstances outlined.

We need to discuss that as a factor in our season.

 

[davek]

Aim should be 30 by New Year if we have an ambition for Europe this season and we absolutely should.

Dec will separate the men from the boys.

We have a great opportunity for top 8 and maybe even a euro spot.

There's no getting away from that, and we should be welcoming this gift of congested and exhausting schedules for our opponents

 

[Eggs]

The whole organisation is focused away from PL fixtures. It isn't just the physical effort for those doubling up games.

….maybe more impact where significant travelling is concerned, especially against tougher opponents. I do have a theory that it’s difficult to win your domestic title and the CL, suggests to me that the best team don’t always triumph in Europe.

 

[davek]

How did you arrive at this conclusion, how did you calculate to expect 55 points please.

We got 48 points in a season we were sentenced to relegation by the PL. To not expect 55 points in a season like this when we have good players and 10 of our opponents in the PL are bogged down with two games per week is entirely reasonable.