Everton still in CL hunt?

[Ashtonian]

Realistically we should bomb out but so what, the fact we are in it and travelling around europe playing the elite teams when the world is watching is what its all about. Im also not kidding myself but what is your definition of bombing out ? 6 defeats out of 6 ?...... no chance.

Bombing out is bottom of the group.

If we are the novelty team in the tournament the world won't be watching us. Can you name any team from any country that has been the genuine suprise qualification? YOu instanlty forget their crap performances because of the teams who can genuinely win it.

We should aim to get there sure but the priority with a bit of common sense is making sure that when we do we aren't there to make the numbers up.

 

[Khalekan]

One worry I have.

I am confident we will make the CL this year.

And if we do, the received wisdom is we will splash out and buy some better class players to play in it.

Which is both natural and fine.

But what happens if we don't make it in again the following season and are left with players on mega bucks an no CL money coming in?

For this reason I wouldn't expect Roberto to go on a CL inspired trolley dash.

 

[Garrick]

Warped ? well thats your opinion but its just what i fear.

I also fear we simply HAVE to make CL sooner rather than later too

And starting next season, Europa League will provide a qualification route.

 

[meagher94]

One worry I have.

I am confident we will make the CL this year.

And if we do, the received wisdom is we will splash out and buy some better class players to play in it.

Which is both natural and fine.

But what happens if we don't make it in again the following season and are left with players on mega bucks an no CL money coming in?

For this reason I wouldn't expect Roberto to go on a CL inspired trolley dash.

Yeah good point, I'm sure we'll be sensible about it. We wouldn't be buying players in the world class tier, just better than what we currently go for, so I doubt the wages will be huge.

Luckily if we do get into it we have a manager with the nous to keep us up there competing.

 

[blue4eva77]

Bombing out is bottom of the group.

If we are the novelty team in the tournament the world won't be watching us. Can you name any team from any country that has been the genuine suprise qualification? YOu instanlty forget their crap performances because of the teams who can genuinely win it.

We should aim to get there sure but the priority with a bit of common sense is making sure that when we do we aren't there to make the numbers up.

Malaga the year before made a good account of themselves, spurs when they qualified also got people talking.

80% of the teams that are in the competition are just making the numbers up though, maybe higher, as going by your logic only a very select few could win it. Just BEING in it and playing in the competition is what players want to do. It attracts the better players out there....... its why teams like Galatasaray, CSKA Moscow and Porto attract better players. Those clubs will never win it ( currently ) but we are all aware of those.

I do understand where you're coming from though.

 

[Ashtonian]

Malaga the year before made a good account of themselves, spurs when they qualified also got people talking.

80% of the teams that are in the competition are just making the numbers up though, maybe higher, as going by your logic only a very select few could win it. Just BEING in it and playing in the competition is what players want to do. It attracts the better players out there....... its why teams like Galatasaray, CSKA Moscow and Porto attract better players. Those clubs will never win it ( currently ) but we are all aware of those.

I do understand where you're coming from though.

Those teams you mentioned, they are all giants in their fish ponds of a league.

Malaga and spurs are where now?

All i am saying is rathe rthan us getting all excited about the champions league qualification, we should put it into perspective. Look at our team the last time we done it, and then look at it now. We are better sure but would it not be nice to strengthen to the point where we aren't a surprise entrant? there is no point in qualifying for the CL if we bomb out, but if we are in a position over the length of martinez's contract for example to threaten to do it every year then it is much more in our interests.

I'm sorry for the comparison but Athletico in a 2 horse race has done this, started small and just built each year to the point of this season, ok they are going for the league but they have guaranteed qualification again, but 2 years ago they weren't in that position. The difference between then and now is they have developed more good players on a budget compared to the other 7 left, made themselves good enough in their league and bagged some trophies as well.

That needs to be us before we dream of the big leagues.

 

[efcfanwirral]

One worry I have.

I am confident we will make the CL this year.

And if we do, the received wisdom is we will splash out and buy some better class players to play in it.

Which is both natural and fine.

But what happens if we don't make it in again the following season and are left with players on mega bucks an no CL money coming in?

For this reason I wouldn't expect Roberto to go on a CL inspired trolley dash.

I've got an even bigger worry for you....until you make the groups you dont make THAT much money. there will be no splashing of the cash til we qualify (one of the reasons I believe the transfer window doesnt end BEFORE the season does which would be fair), however, as we'd be seeded low we run the risk of another team like Villareal, meaning we need a stronger team to actually get past them. but the funds to buy that team (and indeed players to actually come e.g. Lukaku would be pretty annoyed if he came here and we got cast out in the qualifiers again), would only be available if we qualified. which would be less likely.

basically, 4th is not the holy grail for Everton. the group stages are. Finish 4th and as we well know, you've not done anything yet. We would need to hope for a very kind draw.

 

[EFC Si]

And starting next season, Europa League will provide a qualification route.

I thought it was the season after?

 

[Brennan]

I thought it was the season after?

Nope.

 

[billycopper]

So, if we win our remaining 8 games we'll finish on 81 points. We'll have to beat Arsenal to manage that, meaning that, if they win the other 6 of their remaining 7 games, they'll also finish on 81 points. Goal difference is +3 in their favour at the moment but, if we beat them by a single goal, it will be down to +1.

If they fail to beat City on Saturday teatime fourth place is in our hands.

 

[Toffeelover]

Aw! stop permuating just sit back and watch the games and trust our team to come good.

 

[Brennan]

So, if we win our remaining 8 games we'll finish on 81 points. We'll have to beat Arsenal to manage that, meaning that, if they win the other 6 of their remaining 7 games, they'll also finish on 81 points. Goal difference is +3 in their favour at the moment but, if we beat them by a single goal, it will be down to +1.

If they fail to beat City on Saturday teatime fourth place is in our hands.

We're not going to win our remaining 8 games ffs lol

 

[bluejock]

DAMN YOU BRUNNERS AND YOUR NEGATIVITY

The only game out of the last 8 I'd find it acceptable not to win is City at home. The rest I'd say we were favourites to win.

 

[billycopper]

We're not going to win our remaining 8 games ffs lol

I know that but my point is that we're very close to our destiny being in our own hands rather than relying on Arsenal to slip up.

 

[Allezfan]

7 points behind le arse with 2 games in hand and them still coming to goodison.

Entirely in our own hands, now. We win all our remaining games and we're 4th. We'd have all taken that at the beginning of the season.