Top Four Possibility

[ianefc]

I can see the attractions BUT as every single one of our lads has stated they want European football, I think its fair to say that attracting players regularly to crack the top 4 will be difficult without European football. Leicester aside.

Mate, I spoke to an Everton player at the arse end of the 14/15 season and he was adamant we didn't want EL or in his words 'the lads' no player will admit to that in the media.

 

[Saint Domingo]

I'm not; I'm downplaying doing it while you don't have the squad or prestige to cope with it. If we broke the top four one year, built a squad up and finished in the Europa next season, that's progress and completely fine. The problem I have with qualifying and competing properly in the Europa League before breaking the top four is that it puts a barrier in your way for making that next jump.

It might be easier though to win the Europa than finish top 4.

 

[ianefc]

Never judge a season based on certain managers.

Moyes always managed European football and placing retention.

I'm not going to argue with that.

 

[Tubey]

Football players care mate.

Most of them have clauses in sponsor contracts that give them dollar, dollar bills for European football.

That'd be buttons compared to what we can offer anyway. As said, if WBA qualify for the Europa League, we blow any offer for one of their targets away if we want them regardless.

 

[Eggs]

people think you can just skip ahead from finishing 8th-11th to top 4

...I'm not sure where Leicester finished the season before they won the league, but the Reds were a fair way down prior to the year they very nearly won it. Obviously the teams repeatedly up there have purchasing power but i feel they win many games before they kick off, especially at home. We need to believe we can mix it with them as much as adding a couple of players.

 

[jinkyali]

The ironic thing is that not taking Europa league seriously is contributing to the possible removal of the fourth champions league spot.

 

[Goat]

That'd be buttons compared to what we can offer anyway. As said, if WBA qualify for the Europa League, we blow any offer for one of their targets away if we want them regardless.

We are 1, the sponsors are many.

I read a story about it a while ago, doubt I can find it, but when you factor in app fees, sponsorship and the like, it all adds up to a tidy penny to the player.

 

[ianefc]

TBF you cant judge it how many places it cost you as there are so many more factors that go into league season performances.

Don't we know it.

 

[Dymak]

That'd be buttons compared to what we can offer anyway. As said, if WBA qualify for the Europa League, we blow any offer for one of their targets away if we want them regardless.

Exactly. The idea that a player would choose West Brom over us, just so they can experience the sensation of being knocked out of the Europa League by a gang of part-timers really doesn't stack up.

 

[Tubey]

It might be easier though to win the Europa than finish top 4.

More English clubs have won the Champions League than the Europa League in the last 15 years. Indeed, Chelsea won it when dropping out of the Champions League - before that, the only English club to win it by qualifying "normally" was Liverpool in 2001; before it was even called the Europa League.

 

[USABlue]

...I'm not sure where Leicester finished the season before they won the league, but the Reds were a fair way down prior to the year they very nearly won it. Obviously the teams repeatedly up there have purchasing power but i feel they win many games before they kick off, especially at home. We need to believe we can mix it with them as much as adding a couple of players.

I see your point, however look at what happened to leicster and the RS the following seasons. I just think we need to start developing a winning culture and aim high was possible. Don't see how anyone can say it'd be better to finish 7th and miss out on europe then place 5th and get into EL. Rom would've never signed here permanently if we didnt finish as high as we did during his loan season

 

[Goat]

Exactly. The idea that a player would choose West Brom over us, just so they can experience the sensation of being knocked out of the Europa League by a gang of part-timers really doesn't stack up.

And our Europa run in 2015 helped expose the club to many players who simply didnt know what an Everton was.

Our smashing of Wolfsburg put us on the "map" to a few.

 

[USABlue]

Exactly. The idea that a player would choose West Brom over us, just so they can experience the sensation of being knocked out of the Europa League by a gang of part-timers really doesn't stack up.

no one is saying it's the only thing that matters, just an additional selling point in recruitment. Those in favor of EL are saying it'd be useful to be able to offer potential signees, say 100k a week AND play in a European competition.

 

[bluestevon]

I'm 100% sure we'll be bringing in quite a few very good quality players this summer with or without the Europa League. I'm sure we could cope with that competition and get to the latter stages, but it'd come at a cost in the league - I'd rather those very good players coming in were focussed on 38 games towards one set goal rather than 50-60 games aiming at four goals.

what i'd say is that in the Europa league - what you'd do is get in it first of all to boost slighlty the ability to bring players in, then don't play the strongest team for the majority of the games, just do enough to get through the group stage and the last 32 - which lets be honest can be done most time by squad players, young lads if there decent enough, then take stock of how your doing in the league and then make the decision on how seriously to take the rest of the comp - basically how United have gone about it this season to all intents, done just enough to ensure prgress to give them an option should the league have gone balls up for them

As for attracting players though, those extra games will be massive in persuading players who may be coming in not as starters nailed on to maybe join.

 

[bluestevon]

Mate, I spoke to an Everton player at the arse end of the 14/15 season and he was adamant we didn't want EL or in his words 'the lads' no player will admit to that in the media.

Maybe that sums up the mindset of the team in 14/15 a lot though mate, same players didnt seem to want the derby or any big away game either judging by there efforts