Will we qualify for Europe this season?

[Toffeelover]

I like the idea of the Europa league, but we seem to really struggle with it, it’s got too much qualification and I don’t like that the champions league teams drop into it after the group stage.

I don’t think we will qualify any way though.

They should shove off.

 

[Toffeelover]

You have to take four things into account about our Europa campaign this year:

A. So many new pieces and three key pieces not involved/gone (Coleman, Barkley, Lukaku)
B. Maybe the toughest group in the whole competition
C. Really tough league campaign which destroyed whatever confidence our players had... combine this with A and you have a catastrophe of a team
D. Coaching situation was dire

I think if we got back in, it wouldn't be nearly as bad. There were an abundance of issues plaguing us. Still, it's a fatiguing journey for the players. If you don't have a competent second team to rotate during the competition, it can really hurt fitness levels for the weekend.

I think we get back into the competition (or 7th and no Europa) and our schedule isn't nearly as grueling as it was this year. I think of all the players we should have available next year as well: Coleman, Bolasie, Dowell, Connolly, Onyekuru, Joe Williams... That is a talented group of youngsters and experience coming into the fold. Allardyce would be wise to field a strong team while rotating frequently. Europa should be priority number 2 as it was for our final game against Apollon. If we don't advance because we play a slightly weaker team, NBD.

Our games inthe Europa under RK set the foundations for our dreadful start to the season. RK was clueless.

 

[Neiler]

Need 30 points by the turn of the year to have a chance.

 

[degsy]

Hope not

 

[Toffeelover]

...I think relegation should be an option as it’s just as likely as us winning the FA Cup.

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

I really, really hope not.

Or actually I hope we either finish 1st-4th and get in the Champions League, or 5th and politely tell the Europa League that someone else can do it instead.

We are never gonna finish top 4 so according to your post, what is the point in being an Evertonian? If all we are doing is celebrating a top 7 finish which gets you nothing.

Unless we support Man City or Man Utd there is no interest in football

 

[Tubey]

We are never gonna finish top 4 so according to your post, what is the point in being an Evertonian? If all we are doing is celebrating a top 7 finish which gets you nothing.

Unless we support Man City or Man Utd there is no interest in football

I want improvement and to ultimately win titles. Any club should always be looking to be winning titles.

The Europa League is a roadblock that stops you progressing as a club to winning titles in my view - an almost completely useless competition that is compromised by the Champions League dropout involvement, limited prize money, massive fixture congestion impacting every other competition you're in, very little pull to prospective signings and the fact you have to win it for it to have basically any value whatsoever.

So I'd rather finish 7th and not qualify this year to give us a better chance to finish 4th and gain the progression as a club that Champions League involvement gives you the following year. Then in the future I'd like to see us improve our squad, consolidate our position in the top four and challenge for the league. Then, if we won that, I'd like to see us constantly compete for league titles and challenge the Champions League latter stages.

So that's the point of being an Evertonian or any football fan really - having ambition, and understanding that certain things are counter-intuitive to achieving goals.

 

[Saint Domingo]

If you have a settled squad and a competent manager then Europa campaigns are not an issue. Moyes juggled them fine between 07-10. Just because Martinez and Koeman got found out in the prem doesn’t mean the Europa league is to blame. I personally prefer seeing Everton in Europe as much as possible, it’s good for the standing of the club.

 

[Lee Smith]

Disagree if we can hold ourselves together and other results go our way like yesterday, believe 6th may be possible- have faith.

We would need to make up 9 points on either Spurs or Liverpool for that though. Can't see it myself like but never say never

 

[Khalekan]

No .... we only got in last year because of Cup winners already being in Europe .... too slow of a start ....

In all probability both Cups will be won by teams already qualified for Europe by dint of league position anyway.

Especially as City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all kept apart in this week's Caribou Cup quarter finals.

I would bet 7th place will seal it this season as well.

And don't overestimate Burnley, Foxes and Watford.......a solid second half of the season from EFC will see us finish above those teams.

7th is very definitely attainable.

 

[Khalekan]

We would need to make up 9 points on either Spurs or Liverpool for that though. Can't see it myself like but never say never

If we win tomorrow night the gap to Spurs is already down to six points

 

[Lee Smith]

If we win tomorrow night the gap to Spurs is already down to six points

Lads.... I WANT TO BELIEVE!!!

 

[Azza]

Some weird stuff gets posted on here.

 

[cromofo]

I hope so.

 

[Toffeelover]

We would need to make up 9 points on either Spurs or Liverpool for that though. Can't see it myself like but never say never

We win tomorrow, fingers crossed it will be 6 points.