Europa League - Good or Bad?

[The Equaliser]

I was thinking about how they could do this, Ed.

I think a pure knockout is not going to happen.

What about if they cut the amount of teams in a group to three, which would mean playing two games less and also there would be weeks each team didn't have a game so there wouldn't be such demands on the squad?

They could then have an extra knockout stage when the competition resumes in the spring to compensate for the extra teams going through.

It's a tricky one isn't it. Maybe have less teams entering the group stage at the beginning. Certainly 6 games in the group stage seems too many. Maybe have 6 groups of 5 teams where you play 2 games away and 2 at home, so there is 4 games each. The top 2 in each group then qualify for the KO stages and are joined by the 4 best 3rd placed teams from the CL which would also reduce the KO stage from 32 to 16. It would certainly reduce fixture pile up at least. But not TV money which everything is now based on so it probably won't happen.

 

[efcfanwirral]

It's a tricky one isn't it. Maybe have less teams entering the group stage at the beginning. Certainly 6 games in the group stage seems too many. Maybe have 6 groups of 5 teams where you play 2 games away and 2 at home, so there is 4 games each. The top 2 in each group then qualify for the KO stages and are joined by the 4 best 3rd placed teams from the CL which would also reduce the KO stage from 32 to 16. It would certainly reduce fixture pile up at least. But not TV money which everything is now based on so it probably won't happen.

You have to play 6 games in champions league so why is it too many here?

 

[The Equaliser]

You have to play 6 games in champions league so why is it too many here?

The CL group stage is only 6 games long because it is a TV money-spinner. The TV money in the EL is paltry by comparison so there is no need really to have 6 rounds of matches in the group stage. A slimmed down competition would be more appealing to the clubs as it would have less impact on their domestic campaigns, especially so as the games must be played on Thursdays.

 

[summerisle]

Phenomenal not mentioned once - he must be worried :
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...s/martinez-ill-unleash-evertons-young-9227855

 

[Mogwai]

I think as it stands, and where the current state of our club lies, competitions like Europa League should be the main focus for clubs like ours. Its a shame the financial benefits don't match up to the physical demands of orchestrating a good run in that league. However, I believe without being bought out by a rich "sugar daddy" there is no realistic chance of winning the EPL title. Look at how much money Spurs have spent and they are still finding it difficult to challenge for a CL place. Given a good season, we may finish 5th?, which offers little more than a small financial incentive. Otherwise, we may fluke getting to 4th, in which we would likely be dumped out of the CL in the early stages. Hence, all roads lead to Europa League! For me, I would like to win something (its been 20 f$%^* years!), and I believe the chance of winning the Europa league, albeit small, is conceivable. This competition, along with the FA and League cups should be the focus. The EPL offers no winning incentives at the moment, unless you consider 2nd-5th some sought of trophy. Although, I suppose a higher league finish could conceivably attract better players to the club, its not a solid plan for winning something. As long as you maintain your premier league status comfortably, you should focus on what you can win.​

In saying all this, its not easy to balance the demands of both competitions, as you can see by our stellar season. And it is no coincidence our league topping form came when we got dumped out of the Europa league (or maybe because Osman returned fit, but surely not, Osman? really? come on!). So premier league survival is not a given, as I am sure you can appreciate. But why settle for mediocrity with a better league finish? Strive to win something you can conceivably win!

 

[blue_aussie05]

I know there was lots of excitement as we progressed in this season's EL, which led to talks of us winning it. This was due to us beating Wolfsburg home and away and our EL performances being like chalk and cheese to our domestic form.

I wasn't convinced we could win it, though. I always thought the domestic Everton was lurking somewhere in the background, and would resurface at some stage in Europe. And, sadly, I was proved right.

I also don't think we're in a position to win it any time in the foreseeable future, either. Despite how great we played at times in Europe, and despite how many games we played in it, we still didn't progress to even the QF stage. With a bit more luck we could possibly get a bit further in the future, but I think it's a step too far to win it.

 

[MrGrumpy]

If we get the fair play place our season starts on 2nd July. It's a waste of time, we made around 5 mil in it this year but lost 12mil in league placing.
Europa league needs to lose the CL team. Only way to make it fair

 

[Pabbers]

Im very happy how this vote has gone, and just shows we do have alot of common sense.

 

[blue_aussie05]

I remember Martinez saying something along the lines of we needed 6 players last summer to cope with the extra demands of the EL.

He only got Lukaku, Barry, Eto'o, Besic and Atsu. Two of those we already had playing for us all last season. So in effect, we only got another 3 additions, all of which have only played a handful of games all season!

That's only half the number he stated we needed, which surely by his own admission is nowhere near enough squad cover to play in 4 competitions.

Now if we don't sell anyone this summer and replace those who we know he's not going to play (eg Distin), and maybe replace those who aren't good enough (Alcaraz), that still only leaves us with the same number as this season; in fact, less, as we'll also need to replace the loans we'll send back too (Atsu).

That's already a lot of business to leave us in exactly the same position. But if we can do this AND add another 6 players, I think we can cope with EL.

Not realistically going to happen though, is it.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Would rather we earned a place in it on merit rather through the back door with fair play.

 

[HibbertsLeftFoot]

Take it.

The qualifying rounds are a great chance to field some of our promising youngsters. Throw in a few older heads (Hibbert, Osman, Kone, Pienaar, Naismith) who are also in need of the games.

If we get through to the group stages then full steam ahead. If not, then we haven't lost anything.

We'll have to learn how to cope with the demands of European football at some point. I think it's more psychological fatigue than physical anyway.

COYB.

 

[USABlue]

so we should swerve Europe to focus on the prem in order to....qualify for Europe?

 

[EFCPaul]

Football is about creating memories. Playing European football is great for that. I'm all for it.

 

[Ihaters]

We finished 8th or better repeatedly when in Europe in the previous decade, what needs to be done, is stop using it as an excuse to play bad football on the weekend, man up and put the effort in required to win our league games as well as playing in Europe.

 

[Pabbers]

We finished 8th or better repeatedly when in Europe in the previous decade, what needs to be done, is stop using it as an excuse to play bad football on the weekend, man up and put the effort in required to win our league games as well as playing in Europe.

Spot on this. Hate using Europe as an excuse for this season.