To the europa league haters...

[Joey66]

If you look at Newcastle , and Swansea in the last two seasons they slumped a lot due to the Europa - it can strain any squad with injuries like we have had!
We have not got the luxury of a massive quality squad?

 

[helpimonfire]

Europa league para mi

 

[penev10]

5 teams and 9 games but I agree with the point.

Have since realised my error and corrected. Still looks doable if we get two handy draws then its game on.

Also a lot of the bigger sides don't look arsed in the EL and go through the motions.

 

[joey_macmo]

Haha we've had no one to rest, everyones having there turn on the treatment table.
Europa should have been used to give players like Atsu a full 90 mins & introduce a couple of youngsters.

that in no way answers my post, how have we prioritised the europa over the league?

we've rested players in the europa for the league. Not once have we done it the other way round

 

[4737carlin]

I would rather we had prioritised the league cup, something we are far more likely to win. Everton have been awful this season in the league but i dont think it is because we are also in the Europa, no excuses like that for last night.

 

[davek]

No reason why you cant progress in both. It pains me to say it, but Moyes achieved both. Last 16 of the EL and 5th in the PL in 2008. He did that by not taking the group stages too seriously; playing a lot of fringe players and getting injured players back to fitness. Truth is, if you cant get top two in one of those groups you really shouldn't be in it. The KO stages are the time to put your best foot forward, and that's into the new year.

IMO, Martinez has emphasised Europe way too soon and we're paying a heavy price.

 

[blulouie]

that in no way answers my post, how have we prioritised the europa over the league?

we've rested players in the europa for the league. Not once have we done it the other way round

Barring Injuries we've fielded the 1st Team in the Europa lge ....cant really say that in the league ...ffs Osman plays most of the time

 

[Librarian]

It's gone downhill since Lordi won it

 

[helpimonfire]

Were gonna win it. Come on.

 

[WarringtonBlue]

Martinez will troll us all by playing a full side against Krasnodar

Mate if that happens I'm just making popcorn and sitting here

 

[WarringtonBlue]

No reason why you cant progress in both. It pains me to say it, but Moyes achieved both. Last 16 of the EL and 5th in the PL in 2008. He did that by not taking the group stages too seriously; playing a lot of fringe players and getting injured players back to fitness. Truth is, if you cant get top two in one of those groups you really shouldn't be in it. The KO stages are the time to put your best foot forward, and that's into the new year.

IMO, Martinez has emphasised Europe way too soon and we're paying a heavy price.

TBF, if I remember that year there was an absolutely dominant Utd side but Spurs were gash, Chelsea in transition under Avram Grant, City falling apart under the Thai owner... league has strengthened. However you have a point

 

[Groucho]

Most of the '80's squad reckon this 'tiredness through more games' excuse is nonsense - Southall in particular. Even the other lot's goalie, Grobelaar, agreed with them.

They all wanted to play, all the time. And the travel is better now. A man in their 20's/30's can play two footy matches a week easy, and train if he's not in other work, which they're not.

We can cope with Europe, we're just in bad form. It happens.

 

[streeky]

Mate if that happens I'm just making popcorn and sitting here

Could be a chance of us putting out a half decent side for krasnodar, with players coming back from injury needing a run plus some good kids. Naisy and pienaar should play eto'o maybe kone ,atsu hibbo ,garbut, mc geady. ledson and mc carthy (hopefully) maybe galloway at cb and maybe oviedo

 

[barneygumble]

Can't fluke yourself to a League title, but you can to a cup win.

Could easily see us drawn against Qarabag FK, Anderlecht, Celtic and Legia Warsaw on a run to the Final, then again, we could also draw Athletic Club, Internazionale, Sevilla, Borussia Monchengladbach before the final!

 

[dannyboy]

I think it's great and we should probably make the most of it. What's the point in football if you're not happy watching your team line up in European competition?

We need to get realistic and realise this is our level right now and probably will be for sometime. We're not getting top 4 any time soon regardless of playing on Thursday nights or not.