Any kind of European football!!!!!!

[billycopper]

yes, as you have listed we really have brought in 9. suppose a few don't count as they haven't really played, but the others are all playing their part and have shown that we can cope reasonably well with a mass of change, especially when you consider we've changed our whole ethos of play with arguably our best player sold.

we've relied on loans for a good few years, so i suppose i can't get too bothered by that, just hope we actually buy a few perms though. at least we're seeing the signs of a good spine being built for many years to come with robles, stones, mccarthy and barkley.

If Lukaku doesn't sign I think there is money to buy a replacement. If not, getting Traore back on loan and seeing how he plays with his compatriot Kone could be interesting.

We don't really need to replace anybody else and, as long as we don't have another hideous glut of injuries, the squad depth doesn't look too bad. I'd still like to see us bring in an inventive player to mentor Barkley but, other than that, I think that we can flesh things out quite well with loans and bosmans, if we have to. And, as Roberto has said, if we're being offered players of the quality of Deulofeu why wouldn't we take them?

 

[deipnosophist]

that is barbaric. 6 teams competing in a "champions" league. they can't all be fecking champions

...if not barbaric, it is certainly ambiguous and/or oxymoronic

 

[deipnosophist]

Apologies if it's been mentioned but I think we have much better chance of bringing a better calibre of footballer to the club if were in Europe. We seriously devalue the tournament over here but players accross Europe see it as a good competition and a place to further advertise themselves to other top clubs. Despite it taking about 800 games to get the final it's another trophy to go for. I'm all for it

yes, it seems to go on and on forever. But I'd still like to be in it. Setting off for Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic etc etc (awesome looking girls in Prague!!)

 

[EvertonAmerican]

(awesome looking girls in Prague!!)

I agree with the rest of your statement too, but I wholeheartedly agree with this.

 

[deipnosophist]

I agree with the rest of your statement too, but I wholeheartedly agree with this.

You are evidently a man of great taste and discernment! I think a lot of Evertonians would LOVE Prague...and enjoy the football too! lol

 

[pornpimol2]

Everton v F.C. Iceburg,whats not to love.

 

[Ozdec]

The Europa games can be used to bring through guys from the U21s in bigger games or rotate through squad players - playing in front of a full Goodison in a night game - dealing with extended travel.

The likes of Duffy, Lundstram and McAleny would probably benefit enormously playing games mixed in with the main squad. Get a chance to see what a lot of these guys can do against more mature opposition.

For the Europa you would have the option of using the guys below - missing a couple of standouts in midfield - Junior and Gueye - not really good enough, other kids with promise (Ledson, Green et al) are still a bit young.

GK: Robles
Def: Hibbert, Stones, Duffy, Browning, Garbutt
Mid: Lundstram, Kennedy, Grant
For: McAleny, Hope, Long even Vellios

Robles - more games for him can only help bring him on.
Stones - already not out of place in the Prem so low level Europa opposition should be fine.
Lundstram and Duffy - Did pretty well in the main in the Championship
Garbutt did pretty well in League 1 and would be good to see if he can step up.
Browning is viewed as having lots of promise at the club.
Hibbert may not have the legs for another season - but would bring a fair bit of experience.

Mix and Match with the main squad as required - players needing match fitness would benefit from having these games to get up to speed instead of being thrown in cold against Prem opponents.

 

[deipnosophist]

Good post Ozdec. To not want European football smacks to me of a lack of ambition.

 

[Ozdec]

People are wanting replacements for Osman, Pienaar, Naismith and others - well most of those are not going to bring in transfer funds anyway.

So spending a bit on starters for the 1st team to replace and if we can afford it keep them for the squad to play in the Europa and keep them match fit for the bench

 

[cjuk87]

If we finish 6th, does this mean qualifiers first? is it just 5th that get straight into the group stage?

 

[EvertonAndAustralia]

If we finish 6th, does this mean qualifiers first? is it just 5th that get straight into the group stage?

6th will have to play qualifiers first.

If Hull/Sheff Utd/Wigan win the FA cup - they get auto Europa group spot, 5th enters in the 4th qualifying round (the last one before the group stage) and 6th enters the 3rd qualifying round.

If Arsenal win the FA cup and finish top 4, 5th gets auto group spot, 6th enters in the fourth qualifying round and the FA cup final loser enters in the third qualifying round.

 

[Come on Lad]

Anyone else wish we were playing Benfica at Goodison on Thursday?

 

[bluemantis]

The Europa games can be used to bring through uys from the U21s in bigger games or rotate through squad players - playing in front of a full Goodison in a night game - dealing with extended travel.

The likes of Duffy, Lundstram and McAleny would probably benefit enormously playing games mixed in with the main squad. Get ance to see what a lot of these guys can do against more mature opposition.

For the Europa you would have the option of using the guys below - missing a couple of standouts in midfield - Junior and Gueye - not really good enough, other kids with promise (Ledson, Green et al) are still a bit young.

GK: Robles
Def: Hibbert, Stones, Duffy, Browning, Garbutt
Mid: Lundstram, Kennedy, Grant
For: McAleny, Hope, Long even Vellios

Robles - more games for him can only help bring him on.
Stones - already not out of place in the Prem so low level Europa opposition should be fine.
Lundstram and Duffy - Did pretty well in the main in the Championship
Garbutt did pretty well in League 1 and would be good to see if he can step up.
Browning is viewed as having lots of promise at the club.
Hibbert may not have the legs for another season - but would bring a fair bit of experience.

Mix and Match with the main squad as required - players needing match fitness would benefit from having these games to get up to speed instead of being thrown in cold against Prem opponents.

I was thinking this total spot on with what I was thinking.

If we are not good enough for EL then why do we want CL? Because we will destroyed there realisticly if we cant be exspected to beat the teams in the europa leauge who arent good enught to get out of the groups then then what is goi g to happen to us if we end up inthose groups eh. At best we will end up 3rd and back in the europa leauge anyway so why is that sudenly acceptable? We will still be playing more or less the same teams just with a more bruised ego.

we need to have a bulid that has a gradual development over time and I think europa leauge Is going to be a big part of that build.

 

[efcfanwirral]

I'm not 100% we have the wage budget to add to the squad regardless of transfer budget - remember we were relying on heitinga leaving to get anyone in even on loan, so until we see otherwise im pretty sure we arent in a position to be adding to the squad too much, certainly not people of the right quality.

 

[TheFinnFan]

The man united game is looking like a cup final for that last europa place

Thats right