...regardless, I'd prefer to be in it than not be in Europe. A couple of away trips will certainly be on my agenda. Nothing better.
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bitter-no-better
Player Valuation: £25m
A bit will depend on who we get in the group stages. Strong team to qualify early then play a few squad players.
toffeeblue9
Player Valuation: £35m
We had a great season in 07/08, finishing 5th in the league and it was the season that we got knocked out by Fiorentina
We took the EL seriously and we had a really good league season
We also had a bit of squad depth (by the standards of the Moyes era), being able to call on Yakubu, AJ, Vaughan and Anichebe up front
http://toffeeweb.com/season/07-08/squad.php
It isn't rocket science - take it seriously and have a squad which can cope with the extra number of games and there is no difference between playing Wednesday and Saturday in the Champions League and playing Thursday and Sunday in The Europa League
Plus, if you went to Wolfsburg or Nuremberg then you've probably been spending most of your life since then hoping for a repeat
We took the EL seriously and we had a really good league season
We also had a bit of squad depth (by the standards of the Moyes era), being able to call on Yakubu, AJ, Vaughan and Anichebe up front
http://toffeeweb.com/season/07-08/squad.php
It isn't rocket science - take it seriously and have a squad which can cope with the extra number of games and there is no difference between playing Wednesday and Saturday in the Champions League and playing Thursday and Sunday in The Europa League
Plus, if you went to Wolfsburg or Nuremberg then you've probably been spending most of your life since then hoping for a repeat
Been in Europe ace. You try to finish as high up in the league as possible to qualify so when you get there you enjoy it and try win it.
Can't wait for it
Can't wait for it
Think I heard a while back it was down to losing rest and family time for some players. Depending on where you played you may not get a day off all week. Train Monday and Tuesday, travel Wednesday, play Thursday, travel Friday (in some cases), train Saturday and then play Sunday. Best case scenario you get 2 days off if at home, worst case you may get 1 day off in 2 weeks. EL teams do the full training Saturday and I can't remember the player but he said it meant no family time all weekend which did affect him. Maybe the Wed/Sat CL teams aren't affected the same way as they know they have Sunday off.
Baines' left foot
Player Valuation: £90m
If we're playing in Europe next season it'll harm our chances of finishing in the European places next season...
I don't get all that. To progress as a club we need to be playing in Europe every year. We just need a big enough squad to cope with the additional fixtures. We've got the money to do that now.
I don't get all that. To progress as a club we need to be playing in Europe every year. We just need a big enough squad to cope with the additional fixtures. We've got the money to do that now.
The Cowboy
Player Valuation: £60m
But if you're not going to take Europe seriously, what's the point in trying to qualify for it next year?
I want us to try and win every competition we're entered into.
evertonarntwe
Player Valuation: £35m
[Poor language removed] right I'd take it serious, united are in the semis playing absolutely no one we should beat, and even celta we should beat
chrismpw
Player Valuation: £70m
I mean, we take it seriously, but prioritise the league next season. Once we're stronger and in Europe again, then we go for both.
Obviously, every sport and every game should be played to win, otherwise stay at home. I just wouldn't want a long season, with qualifiers, to lead to burn out at the end of next season which would see us drop away on all fronts.
In all honesty I'd take the league title or fa cup over any European trophy. In an ideal world I'd take the lot, obviously.
OneTrueLegend
Player Valuation: £35m
I would say try and qualify from the group as soon as possible and play the kids in the games that are left to give the first tram a break, possibly have to play the kids in the opening round of the league cup as well (with one or two squad players)
I remember in 2009 Moyes did this in the group stage, we played youth / reserves,
we won the opener at home 4-0 against AEK ATHENS, with almost a first team
then won the 2nd game 1-2 away at Bate with a first team line up, all kids on the bench
then we got smashed 5-0 away in Benfica, first team line up with Saha on the bench with the kids
then we got beat 0-2 at home to benfica, mostly first team line up with Coleman and Saha on the bench with the kids
then we beat AIK athens away 0-1, mostly first team squad, used all 3 subs
then we lost 0-1 to Bate Borisov at home in the last game, started 6 kids plus the reserve goalie, because qualification was assured
I remember in 2009 Moyes did this in the group stage, we played youth / reserves,
we won the opener at home 4-0 against AEK ATHENS, with almost a first team
then won the 2nd game 1-2 away at Bate with a first team line up, all kids on the bench
then we got smashed 5-0 away in Benfica, first team line up with Saha on the bench with the kids
then we got beat 0-2 at home to benfica, mostly first team line up with Coleman and Saha on the bench with the kids
then we beat AIK athens away 0-1, mostly first team squad, used all 3 subs
then we lost 0-1 to Bate Borisov at home in the last game, started 6 kids plus the reserve goalie, because qualification was assured
toffeeblue9
Player Valuation: £35m
That Benfica side which smashed us had some tremendous players in it
David Luiz, Ramires, Angel Di Maria, Oscar Cardozo, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar
Big Neville Southall
Player Valuation: £8m
We haven't won the league for 30 years, in Europa or out of Europa each league campaign has been ruined at some point every season since then.
Just play the reserves. Have to focus on going from strength to strength in the league; Europa means next to nothing in comparison.
Or, if we for some reason have to take Europe seriously, at least do not play any senior player whatsoever in the domestic cups to alleviate the workload.
Or, if we for some reason have to take Europe seriously, at least do not play any senior player whatsoever in the domestic cups to alleviate the workload.
We just need greater strength in depth. If you can rotate players out from time to time, that's one thing. But if the player who comes in to take their spot is actually competition for that place normally, then that's another thing entirely.
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