To the europa league haters...

[robertosdream]

Time to play the kids / fringe players in the Prem and keep the bigger names rested for the EL. Ok, not really but I would hate to see our progress in the EL hampered next February because we are in 9th and want to finish 7th.

Why would we want to finish 7th in the league? The only place to finish is first innit? Now we all know that aint happening so bollocks to the league, stay up and win the Europa league. Cant see what the fuss is about 5th or 17th wins nothing but great trips around Europe creates long and vivid memories!

 

[robertosdream]

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

Does it matter? We aint got 500 million billion pounds to win the league like city and chelski so whats the point? And here is another one, Mourinho to manage a club without pocket money, how good would he be then?

 

[robertosdream]

If it meant winning the Europa League, which were definitely capable of doing, I'd be able to stomach finishing 7th-10th for this season only.

It's not good enough though, we should be able to go for the Europa League and be comfortably finishing inside the top 6.

What for though? No trophies for 6th.

 

[Tubey]

Does it matter? We aint got 500 million billion pounds to win the league like city and chelski so whats the point? And here is another one, Mourinho to manage a club without pocket money, how good would he be then?

The aim always has to be to mix it with the best. If you're aiming below that, you're automatically underachieving by definition.

Yes, we probably can't win the league, but if we don't start every season with that goal then something is very, very wrong.

Similarly, if we qualified for the Champions League, we probably wouldn't win it, but the aim to qualify should always be first and foremost ahead of a secondary competition. And then when you're in it, the aim should be to win it.

So for that reason, until this season, finishing 4th always took priority over winning the Europa League. Now that the EL has CL qualification attached, it has more importance, but only equal to the aim of finishing 4th.

 

[ianefc]

Why don't you think we'll win it, mate?

Because IMO we are not good enough, of course if people find there form then maybe, but our play is so slow and lethargic, I can't think of a chance we created outside of goals in recent league games and we haven't beaten any of the better teams in the league this season and we are going to meet better teams as it progresses another 4 double legged ties and a final, with the rest of our league campaign and FA Cup games to play its going to hammer our squad it already has and it will continue to do so, we could get a easy run, the draw is in 13 days so lets see who we get in the next round.

If it was worth more financially then yeah I'd go for it, but I read a stat a few weeks ago that in 07/08 when we got to the last 16 we earned the same money for getting that far that 1 of our CL clubs got for play 3 CL group games 2 home 1 away.

 

[robertosdream]

The aim always has to be to mix it with the best. If you're aiming below that, you're automatically underachieving by definition.

Yes, we probably can't win the league, but if we don't start every season with that goal then something is very, very wrong.

Similarly, if we qualified for the Champions League, we probably wouldn't win it, but the aim to qualify should always be first and foremost ahead of a secondary competition. And then when you're in it, the aim should be to win it.

So for that reason, until this season, finishing 4th always took priority over winning the Europa League. Now that the EL has CL qualification attached, it has more importance, but only equal to the aim of finishing 4th.

For the last 45 years that I have been to gp, all I ever expected was for us to challenge for the title at the start of every campaign. Point is we are in the uefa cup so lets try and win it. And that has to be better than the fizzy cup that only one man and his dog went to at Swansea?

 

[Polish_Blue_Army]

What for though? No trophies for 6th.

It could secure EL for next season. Such a good firm as Everton should be aiming and play in Europe every season

 

[Polish_Blue_Army]

If it was worth more financially then yeah I'd go for it

You woudn't be given that money

 

[ianefc]

You woudn't be given that money

Nice one

 

[Tubey]

For the last 45 years that I have been to gp, all I ever expected was for us to challenge for the title at the start of every campaign. Point is we are in the uefa cup so lets try and win it. And that has to be better than the fizzy cup that only one man and his dog went to at Swansea?

Is anyone saying otherwise? I'd be surprised if you found someone who actively didn't want Everton to win it!

The point being made in my eyes is that the league should still be the priority, which given the financial reward from a business point of view makes long term, practical sense. And to be fair I think it actually is the priority; it's just Martinez's tactics and "philosopheee" which is letting us down.

 

[robertosdream]

It could secure EL for next season. Such a good firm as Everton should be aiming and play in Europe every season

I agree with you! Other blues though dont want to be in the uefa cup it would appear. I think their minds are altered too easily by the media crap that is sky.

 

[robertosdream]

Is anyone saying otherwise? I'd be surprised if you found someone who actively didn't want Everton to win it!

The point being made in my eyes is that the league should still be the priority, which given the financial reward from a business point of view makes long term, practical sense. And to be fair I think it actually is the priority; it's just Martinez's tactics and "philosopheee" which is letting us down.

See what you mean. Think I better sober up now before city and another rant after that!

 

[AlE]

Because IMO we are not good enough, of course if people find there form then maybe, but our play is so slow and lethargic, I can't think of a chance we created outside of goals in recent league games and we haven't beaten any of the better teams in the league this season and we are going to meet better teams as it progresses another 4 double legged ties and a final, with the rest of our league campaign and FA Cup games to play its going to hammer our squad it already has and it will continue to do so, we could get a easy run, the draw is in 13 days so lets see who we get in the next round.

If it was worth more financially then yeah I'd go for it, but I read a stat a few weeks ago that in 07/08 when we got to the last 16 we earned the same money for getting that far that 1 of our CL clubs got for play 3 CL group games 2 home 1 away.

So what do you actually want us to achieve this season?

You don't think we'll get top 4 and you don't want us to go for the Europa League, so I can only assume you want us to finish 8th at best??

 

[Daniel Mckenna]

The Europa League is toss, we won't win it, it pays nothing compared to the PL and the CL and people have no idea how the 3 teams we have faced would fare in our league and are spunking themselves because we have got a few victories, it's costing us in the league the stats back that up and if you think we will win it then you are as deluded as we call the RS fans who thought they would cope without Suarez to the same standard. I'm sure many have had some great journey's and some boss night stuck in front of the TV but I would easily give that Wolfsburg result away to have gone to White Hart Lane and battered Spurs. Time will tell of course, as it always does, but when we meet our first decent opposition and get beaten fair and square over 2 legs and are stuck 13th in the league with no hope of doing anything productive in the league, I very much doubt many will be rushing out to buy the 14/15 season review DVD, and we are stuck doing nothing, except the only thing to be thankful for is that we won't be back in it.

This is not kneejerking by the way, and although I doubt anyone would be sad enough to check, but I have been consistent on this issue never wanted it and we are now having a much much poor season than many expected and this is one of the main reasons even Mr Positive or Mr Waffle has even said that the amount of games has started taking it's toll.

if you dont mind me asking then, what do you want from everton? we were very good last season and finished in europe, now we are in it you think its "toss" and you dont want us to play opur best players. were in europe, we need to play well and do well in this competition.

 

[ianefc]

if you dont mind me asking then, what do you want from everton? we were very good last season and finished in europe, now we are in it you think its "toss" and you dont want us to play opur best players. were in europe, we need to play well and do well in this competition.

I never wanted the EL I'd of rather finished 7th, no one can say for sure the only way to look at it will be at the end of the season and if we haven't won a thing and finish 11th (even when we finish 5th the media will try to sell our best players) you can imagine players looking at leaving the money will be less 500k per place, at the same time we may not win the EL and have a run in the league but then it would in my mind be a case of 'what if' I mean if we finish really strongly after not being in the later stages of the EL we may think that had the EL never been an issue we could have got CL or we could win something, you never know. But the end of the season is a long way away and for now Saturday's are the making of the weekend or in some cases Sunday's I hate crap league results (ruin my weekend) and I cant help but feel the EL is taking its toll and unless we win it it will not be worth finishing lower in the league.