Top Four Possibility

[Jreverton1]

I still need to know why its much more difficult travelling on a Thursday evening to play a game 60 odd hours later than it is to travel on a Wednesday evening to play a game 60 odd hours later.

I can reconfigure my holiday/travel plans based on such info.

It isn't more difficult, just an easy excuse as to why you struggle in the league. For me the prize of Champions League if you win should be reason enough to be in it, what a good way to get there if you can't break the top four.
I do agree that it might not attract any better calibre of player but it does give the fans and players something to enjoy and aim for.

 

[Tubey]

I dont get why we wouldnt go for the Europa league. You want your team to do as well as they can in every competition- otherwise whats the point?!

I hate this 4th place trophy rubbish- set out to win everything and if you cant take the next thing on offer and if you cant win that take the next.

our club havent wont anything in 22 years and you get people moaning about qualifying for an additional competition that would could win. I just dont get it.

Nobody is saying we shouldn't go for it - but it's a consolation prize and a drain on the following season. My mind is always to aim for 1st place, so anything that gets in the way of that is of little use. The negatives outweigh the positives of the Europa League for me for that reason, whereas the Champions League - with the added prestige of playing amongst the proper elite and massive financial gain - adds towards the long term goal of being the best.

Like any fan, it's "nice" to see Everton playing Locomotiv Whatsitz in Nowhereville on Thursdays, but it isn't practical. So the only benefit I see of the Europa League is a run out for the reserves; that's how I'd handle it anyway until it's given a proper status by the governing body which at least somewhat competes with the Champions League.

 

[Tubey]

It isn't more difficult, just an easy excuse as to why you struggle in the league. For me the prize of Champions League if you win should be reason enough to be in it, what a good way to get there if you can't break the top four.
I do agree that it might not attract any better calibre of player but it does give the fans and players something to enjoy and aim for.

So you think it's worthwhile simply because if you win the whole thing, you get Champions League qualification, despite the whole tournament being polluted by the Champions League dropoffs entering late on and dominating the competition anyway?

That doesn't make sense to me, given the price of admission in terms of fixture congestion. But each to their own - everyone has very stubborn views on this. For me, if we were in the Europa League, I wouldn't be bothered about it beyond happily watching Everton on a Thursday and being annoyed when our legs go from January onwards if we commit the first team to it.

 

[Deleted member 24970]

After not winning anything for 20+ years, I will not be happy with less than 100% from the team, carling cup, fa cup, Europa, champions league or the league in general.

The issue we have is that a top 4 place is just as good as winning a cup - it isn't.
History remembers winners, not the fourth best team.

 

[blueblue]

Top four is out of our reach this season. I think top six is probably gone as well.
We are likely to lose as many games as those above us during the remainder of the season.

But, this season has been a huge learning lesson for the manager , it has allowed him to move out players he didn't want, deepen the squad with the best of the academy talent and start to bring in the players he feels he needs.

We can already see the difference that players like Williams, Gueye and Schneiderlin make. I feel sorry for Bolasie as I feel that he would be making a huge impact now.

I think RK has said that it will be year three before we are fighting for a top four spot, but depending on what happens during the summer it may well be next season.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

So you think it's worthwhile simply because if you win the whole thing, you get Champions League qualification, despite the whole tournament being polluted by the Champions League dropoffs entering late on and dominating the competition anyway?

That doesn't make sense to me, given the price of admission in terms of fixture congestion. But each to their own - everyone has very stubborn views on this. For me, if we were in the Europa League, I wouldn't be bothered about it beyond happily watching Everton on a Thursday and being annoyed when our legs go from January onwards if we commit the first team to it.

I don't understand that argument, as if we ever made the CL we'd play the same number of fixtures only on a Weds, and the argument about fixture congestion wouldn't figure, everyone would be chuffed with it.

The Europa league is the lesser competition but it's not like we've been playing in Europe every season lately, so I'd welcome it next year.

 

[Jreverton1]

So you think it's worthwhile simply because if you win the whole thing, you get Champions League qualification, despite the whole tournament being polluted by the Champions League dropoffs entering late on and dominating the competition anyway?

That doesn't make sense to me, given the price of admission in terms of fixture congestion. But each to their own - everyone has very stubborn views on this. For me, if we were in the Europa League, I wouldn't be bothered about it beyond happily watching Everton on a Thursday and being annoyed when our legs go from January onwards if we commit the first team to it.

There is pro's and con's for both arguments, I don't think Champs League drop outs should be able to have a second chance at a european cup, but we did have some decent runs in the Europe League in past years and if we can add a few good players in the summer why can't we win it? It also gives fans a good excuse to go to some places you wouldn't otherwise see.

 

[jinkyali]

Nobody is saying we shouldn't go for it - but it's a consolation prize and a drain on the following season. My mind is always to aim for 1st place, so anything that gets in the way of that is of little use. The negatives outweigh the positives of the Europa League for me for that reason, whereas the Champions League - with the added prestige of playing amongst the proper elite and massive financial gain - adds towards the long term goal of being the best.

Like any fan, it's "nice" to see Everton playing Locomotiv Whatsitz in Nowhereville on Thursdays, but it isn't practical. So the only benefit I see of the Europa League is a run out for the reserves; that's how I'd handle it anyway until it's given a proper status by the governing body which at least somewhat competes with the Champions League.

So your saying you would try and achieve a top three/four place playing nineteen teams over 38 games than playing nine teams over 15 games ?

Ok.

 

[USABlue]

Also being europe in some fashion looks better, recruiting wise, then not being in it at all

 

[Goat]

To advance as a football club and become attractive to the players we have and the players we want to have, we simply must have European football.

Its really that simple, as a club under a proper manager, Moyes, we got Europe 4 times, in 3 of those seasons we saw ZERO downturn in our league placing.

Its free money.

Sorry but I see ZERO downside from playing in the Europa.

 

[Tubey]

So your saying you would try and achieve a top three/four place playing nineteen teams over 38 games than playing nine teams over 15 games ?

Ok.

Erm, yes mate, very much so. Because, you know, maths.

 

[jinkyali]

Erm, yes mate, very much so. Because, you know, maths.

Surely number of games is a variable in your analysis of resource requirements?

 

[Tubey]

To advance as a football club and become attractive to the players we have and the players we want to have, we simply must have European football.

Its really that simple, as a club under a proper manager, Moyes, we got Europe 4 times, in 3 of those seasons we saw ZERO downturn in our league placing.

Its free money.

Sorry but I see ZERO downside from playing in the Europa.

How about this for a downside though?

Team Max. remaining games
Man Utd 31
Spurs 30
Arsenal 28
Man City 28
Chelsea 21
Liverpool 15

If you're chasing those clubs, what would you rather have - 15 games left, or 31 in all competitions to deal with?

 

[Goat]

How about this for a downside though?

Team Max. remaining games
Man Utd 31
Spurs 30
Arsenal 28
Man City 28
Chelsea 21
Liverpool 15

If you're chasing those clubs, what would you rather have - 15 games left, or 31 in all competitions to deal with?

I would build a squad capable of playing in all those games.

If we want to be successful as a club, we need to adapt to playing 60+ games a season.

 

[ianefc]

To advance as a football club and become attractive to the players we have and the players we want to have, we simply must have European football.

Its really that simple, as a club under a proper manager, Moyes, we got Europe 4 times, in 3 of those seasons we saw ZERO downturn in our league placing.

Its free money.

Sorry but I see ZERO downside from playing in the Europa.

And if Wirope next season plays it's part in us not getting it the season after?

Liverpool could conceivably still get top 4 this season, yetvtheyve proved this month that they're not capable of playing two game in a week. So had they been in the EL from the get go I reckon you could drop them a couple of league places. So if I see it as an advantage to their current campaign I'd surely have to see it the same way for us next season? Liverpools last really good season came with no Europe too. At least the CL offers the riches for it to be worth it.