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UEFA Cup...Is it worth the effort ?
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I would like to pose the question... Is the UEFA Cup realy worth being in? I only ask as it seems to me to be a lot of effort for not a lot of return.
Firstly, taking the financial side of it into account, the winners of the Uefa Cup receive only £2.1 million as opposed to the £33.9M given to the CL winners. I understand that there are gate receipts to be taken into account but, even so, it seems a paltry return for such a large effort. Which raises the next point...
Does playing in the Uefa Cup put an unnesassary strain on the squad in the domestic league? Our squad as a whole is already very small, so is it worth risking injury and having players sidelined for league games, possibly proving detrimental to our final position in the league?
Is it not more important to channel all our efforts into trying to secure a top 4 finish thus giving us entry to the CL where the big money is?
I know that playing in a European competition is good for the fans and can give good entertaiment.
However, given the club's current situation in relation to finances and ability to compete successfully with the squad we have, given the money on offer in this competition, is it all really worth it?
Martin Trent, Posted 23/09/2008 at 12:47:32
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Michael Kenrick
Someone has asked this question before, but I think it is still worth asking again.
Some players will only join a club to play in European competition of some sort. At this stage it does look highly unlikely we’ll be competing in it next season, save for some magical FA Cup run.
The difference in prize money between Champions League and Europa Cup (as i understand it’s to be called soon) has been tackled before but it doesn’t take a genius - the gap is ridiculous.
As for channeling our efforts at 4th place i think it’s going to take a mammoth effort to finish 6th this season. If we don’t shape up defensively soon i think we’ll be top 8 at a push and make no headway in any of the cups. Personally, financial issues aside i enjoyed the last UEFA cup run and it brings something else to the season. I only hope we haven’t already shot ourselves in the foot in this seasons competition.
The difference in prize money between Champions League and Europa Cup (as i understand it’s to be called soon) has been tackled before but it doesn’t take a genius - the gap is ridiculous.
As for channeling our efforts at 4th place i think it’s going to take a mammoth effort to finish 6th this season. If we don’t shape up defensively soon i think we’ll be top 8 at a push and make no headway in any of the cups. Personally, financial issues aside i enjoyed the last UEFA cup run and it brings something else to the season. I only hope we haven’t already shot ourselves in the foot in this seasons competition.
Hold on a moment!
We spend all season battling to finish in a european spot, then go "actually lets not bother with it"???!
Whats the point in spending all season fighting to get as many points as possible, get our rewards and then decide its not worth the hassle?
You unfortunately have fallen in to the modern concept that football is all about money, not exciting nights at goodison like last season when we took on teams from across europe and aquited ourselves very well (except against metalist). The profile of the club increases, players become interested in joining, it gives the fnas something to cheer about and look forward to.
Football isn’t just about money Martin and although we all want to be up in the top 4 challenging for the title that isn’t going to happen any time soon, especially with our main rivals all spending crazy amounts of money.
We qualified for the Eufa Cup, enjoy the game on Thursday and any that may follow. Forget about the size of the squad, the league, money etc and enjoy it for what it is... a game we worked soooo hard to be able to play in last season.
Eufa Cup football shouldn’t be seen as a negative, or a distraction from the league, but our reward for doing so well last season.
We spend all season battling to finish in a european spot, then go "actually lets not bother with it"???!
Whats the point in spending all season fighting to get as many points as possible, get our rewards and then decide its not worth the hassle?
You unfortunately have fallen in to the modern concept that football is all about money, not exciting nights at goodison like last season when we took on teams from across europe and aquited ourselves very well (except against metalist). The profile of the club increases, players become interested in joining, it gives the fnas something to cheer about and look forward to.
Football isn’t just about money Martin and although we all want to be up in the top 4 challenging for the title that isn’t going to happen any time soon, especially with our main rivals all spending crazy amounts of money.
We qualified for the Eufa Cup, enjoy the game on Thursday and any that may follow. Forget about the size of the squad, the league, money etc and enjoy it for what it is... a game we worked soooo hard to be able to play in last season.
Eufa Cup football shouldn’t be seen as a negative, or a distraction from the league, but our reward for doing so well last season.
By that logic, the only reason our club exists and tries to win games is to earn money. The FA Cup doesn’t pay so well either, does that mean we don’t want to win it?
How about we deliberately go out in the first round of every cup so we can concentrate on coming 4th? And then the following year, we can concentrate on the Champions League and aim to finish 17th in the league because that would be more profitable.
And if some Middle Eastern bloke wants to pay us millions to play games at his kids’ birthday parties, why shouldn’t we leave the Premier League and accept since we’d earn more money?!
There used to be more to this and I would like to think that there’s still some part of it that is not about the money.
How about we deliberately go out in the first round of every cup so we can concentrate on coming 4th? And then the following year, we can concentrate on the Champions League and aim to finish 17th in the league because that would be more profitable.
And if some Middle Eastern bloke wants to pay us millions to play games at his kids’ birthday parties, why shouldn’t we leave the Premier League and accept since we’d earn more money?!
There used to be more to this and I would like to think that there’s still some part of it that is not about the money.
Re Andy Hudson, well said. I couldnt agree more, you play to win trophies, we go the game to see us win trophies so le'ts forget about all this, "is it really worth it?" shit and put our best, fit team out to every game we can.
Every game is worth it.. We are not in a position where we are like Man United and pick and choose what competitions we take serious. Like someone said we have to play to win trophies. The game has become so obssessed with money that the object of the game has been lost on most people.
Do we never want to win a trophy again? Our best hope is the Carling Cup admittedly and I for one will be gutted if we go out on Wednesday night because I am desperate for Everton to lift some silverwear and I couldn't give a monkey's what dividends it reaps in money as long as we win something again...
I accept the points made suggesting it’s debatable whether the UEFA Cup is worth it. But for me, the European nights are special and a good run in Europe lifts everybody, including the players. When we were going well in Europe last season, we were playing well in the League. When we went out of Europe our form in the League collapsed and we limped to the end of the season. I don’t think this was a coincidence. So I for one will really miss the Thursday night games which were so enjoybale last year and pray we can find a way to get past Standard and look forward to another series of matches which will please us fans and help the players confidence if we do well. There was a time last season when for a period we were playing with a swagger. This was, in my opinion, a result of our good performances in the UEFA Cup. We need a good run in Europe. It will actually help us in the PL.
Its been said many a time that finishing fifth is the best of the rest and people are supposed to be more happy with that than actually winning a cup. I find that outlook totally depressing. Why can winning the Carling Cup not be the best of the rest? Or the Uefa Cup?
We know the league is out of bounds but we should be looking at winning silverwear again I agree. Surely Moyes didn't come to Everton just to finish fifth in the league and get to the last 16 of the Uefa Cup as his sole achievement?? I would rather win the Carling Cup than finish fifth in the Premier League any day of the week..
Ultimately, yes it is.
It raises our non-existent profile by taking our club to various different countries. It's a good baragaining chip to try and entice players who want European football. It's alaso a sign that last season you did okay.
It also gets our players used to playing in Europe midweek and then having to prepare for prem games at the weekend. This can help senior and junior players to develop their game. It also gives us fans some nice experiences playing teams like Liege and Fiorentina.
By playing foreign teams it also exposes our players and coaching staff to different styles of play and tactics.
It raises our non-existent profile by taking our club to various different countries. It's a good baragaining chip to try and entice players who want European football. It's alaso a sign that last season you did okay.
It also gets our players used to playing in Europe midweek and then having to prepare for prem games at the weekend. This can help senior and junior players to develop their game. It also gives us fans some nice experiences playing teams like Liege and Fiorentina.
By playing foreign teams it also exposes our players and coaching staff to different styles of play and tactics.
It was me that asked the question recently and I still maintain that it depends on whether you’re a realist or not.
Do we have the squad to compete on all fronts? No.
Would we better equipped to concentrate/succeed on our number one priority if we played less games? Yes.
They’re the facts, but the rest is down to opinion and we all have to accept there’s no right and wrong answers, just opinions...and we all have em and nobody can take em away *LOL*
Do we have the squad to compete on all fronts? No.
Would we better equipped to concentrate/succeed on our number one priority if we played less games? Yes.
They’re the facts, but the rest is down to opinion and we all have to accept there’s no right and wrong answers, just opinions...and we all have em and nobody can take em away *LOL*
Sorry, Martin, but what you had written was absolutely crap. It seems that you are one of those who have been brainwashed by SkySports which believes that modern football = (and ONLY) $$ !!
Financially, No it's not much use and it does tire your players... but we do get to play in Europe on a Thursday night!!
If we get knocked out, I won't be too upset for the above reasons but, as with all games, on the night I want to win them.
If we get knocked out, I won't be too upset for the above reasons but, as with all games, on the night I want to win them.
I see the point but from a more long-term view you want to attract the best players we can and the best players all want to play in Europe.
Being succesful in Europe increases our statute as a club. Why did Riera chose the RS over us? because the were in the CL. Why did Saha chose Everton over the likes of Boro ? because we are in the Uefa Cup.
Simple.
Plus, nights like Fiorentina at home last season... okay we lost on pens, but that was something to savour.
Being succesful in Europe increases our statute as a club. Why did Riera chose the RS over us? because the were in the CL. Why did Saha chose Everton over the likes of Boro ? because we are in the Uefa Cup.
Simple.
Plus, nights like Fiorentina at home last season... okay we lost on pens, but that was something to savour.
If we have no interest in the uefa cup and have no chance in qualifying for the champions league then why bother.Let’s just have a stratedy of avoiding relegation.
The uefa cup is vital for the following reasons;
Raising the profile of the club to potential investors and sponsers.(Had anyone heard of Zenit till they won?)
Providing players with European experience of facing fast counter-attacking football.( Leige demonstrated how much we need that)
Bringing in revenue.The prize money is poor but last season we had decent attendances throughout.
Allowing our new signings further opportunity to play together.
Giving our manager much needed experience of tactical awareness.
Most importantly,giving Evertonians nights to remember.
For an Evertonian to call it the useless cup is unjustifyibly arrogant.
The uefa cup is vital for the following reasons;
Raising the profile of the club to potential investors and sponsers.(Had anyone heard of Zenit till they won?)
Providing players with European experience of facing fast counter-attacking football.( Leige demonstrated how much we need that)
Bringing in revenue.The prize money is poor but last season we had decent attendances throughout.
Allowing our new signings further opportunity to play together.
Giving our manager much needed experience of tactical awareness.
Most importantly,giving Evertonians nights to remember.
For an Evertonian to call it the useless cup is unjustifyibly arrogant.
I tend to be of the opinion that becoming a regular fixture in the Uefa Cup would be expected to precede becoming CL regulars? What's more, I don?t assume that bombing out of the Uefa Cup at the first hurdle would label us ?ready? for the CL nor put the fear of God into Real Madrid, Barcelona et al.
That being said - I will make the cavalier statement that Standard Liege being subject to qualification to play in the CHAMPIONS League is quite absurd - being CHAMPIONS of their respective CHAMPIONSHIP and all, especially considering the 2nd place team from Premier League gets automatic entry.
I understand that UEFA want the best teams playing in the Champions League - but with a ruling so clearly biased in favour of certain clubs - why even bother with a league placing system of entry?
That being said - I will make the cavalier statement that Standard Liege being subject to qualification to play in the CHAMPIONS League is quite absurd - being CHAMPIONS of their respective CHAMPIONSHIP and all, especially considering the 2nd place team from Premier League gets automatic entry.
I understand that UEFA want the best teams playing in the Champions League - but with a ruling so clearly biased in favour of certain clubs - why even bother with a league placing system of entry?
The whole system is designed to keep the top teams at the top. If we do well in the Uefa Cup it inadvertantly affects our league form and keeps us away from the Champions League. The one time we finished 4th they let the red shite in anyway.
I think what's happening at Man City is great and hopefully we can get a few more Billionaires investing in the "smaller club". Maybe Uefa will then allow the top 8 into the Champions League... Obviously not, but what they probably will do is bring the prize money for both competitions closer together so that Man Utd and Liverpool can compete financially.
Of course it is. I wish football fans in general would get back to worrying about football & not money. If we were to qualify for CL we could potentially have the same problem with squad size so i think it is worth the effort & am hoping we can get through next week. We were starved of European football for so long, let's not knock it & enjoy it!!!
No it isn?t. Profile? Uefa cup? Honestly, hands up who watches the final? Only the fans of the sides in it normally... to struggle in the competetion, well that's just negative PR.
That said, I'd love us to win it :)
That said, I'd love us to win it :)
What a stupid letter. I?m not a shareholder I?m a fan, and as a fan I want trophies.
Just say that in 85 we broke even or even lost money in the ECWC would you care would it spoil your memories?
Get a grip. I actually care more about the Cups than the league. Let's face it we?re never gonna win the leage at least in the short- to mid-term, so we?re basicly playing to qualify for Europe, that?s it. The Cup is now more important than ever for us.
Just say that in 85 we broke even or even lost money in the ECWC would you care would it spoil your memories?
Get a grip. I actually care more about the Cups than the league. Let's face it we?re never gonna win the leage at least in the short- to mid-term, so we?re basicly playing to qualify for Europe, that?s it. The Cup is now more important than ever for us.
Every League position gives you £1 million extra in prize money. We should be aiming for as high up in the table as possible, and if we end up in Europe fine, but if we finish mid-table, and out of the cups then the season will be a disaster anyway. That's why you need strong squads to fight on all fronts. Injuries notwithstanding I expect a top 8 finish and hopefully a cup final (if we get lucky draws like the red shite).
Roll on the the Thursday nights in foreign towns, getting pissed... and I nearly forgot the footy as well.
Are you an Accountant by any chance? Because you sure sound like a number fucker!!!
There may not be much dosh in it and UEFA has done it’s darnedest to crush it’s balls, but it remains a prestigious European competition that has a list of winners that have gone on to further distinguish themselves in the premier European competition.
Don’t forget, Everton have not a great European pedigree...in fact, barring 1985 we’ve achieved very little, so don’t begrudge the floodlit Thursday evenings!!!
There may not be much dosh in it and UEFA has done it’s darnedest to crush it’s balls, but it remains a prestigious European competition that has a list of winners that have gone on to further distinguish themselves in the premier European competition.
Don’t forget, Everton have not a great European pedigree...in fact, barring 1985 we’ve achieved very little, so don’t begrudge the floodlit Thursday evenings!!!
Go to Leige mate and find out for yourself. Just enjoy the craic ? no ticket required.
Every cup competition should be important to our club. We haven?t won a trophy in 13 years and our squad isn?t big enough to challenge for the Premier League but I do believe that we can put out a team that can go all the way in a knockout format. Cup final anyone?
While I love the fact that Everton are in the Uefa Cup and that I think that we will win next Thursday, I feel that basically the competition and its format is flawed.
1. How can a team (Everton) who finished 5th in their own league, be drawn against a team who played in the CL qualifiers while a team like Man City who qualified through the Fair Play League be drawn against part timers?
2. Why are teams that are eliminated from one European competition (CL) allowed to "parachute" into the later rounds of another competition and start off at the latter stages? At this point they have made big money in the CL, if rumours that by beating Liege the RS were guaranteed a minimum of £12m are to be believed.
3. Looking at the winners of this competition over the last few seasons, all the winners (I am open to correction) have participated in the earlier rounds of the CL. I feel that this is grossly unfair to teams like Everton and diminishes their chances of winning and getting decent revenue.
"3. Looking at the winners of this competition over the last few seasons, all the winners ( I am open to correction) have participated in the earlier rounds of the CL."
I don’t think Zenit Petersburg did last year. http://www.fc-zenit.ru/eng/competition.phtml?id=105&show=1 suggests they were in the UEFA Cup from an even earlier stage than we were.
I don’t think Zenit Petersburg did last year. http://www.fc-zenit.ru/eng/competition.phtml?id=105&show=1 suggests they were in the UEFA Cup from an even earlier stage than we were.
There are a litany of negatives associated with playing in the UEFA Cup. However, it affords Everton the chance this year of playing the likes of AC Milan, Sevilla, Valencia, Benfica, Ajax etc...you cannot dismiss that out of hand.
Will makes a good point, one of the major benefits is the experience our players get should improve them. Playing in Europe certainly can?t hurt our chances of recruiting players and spreading the Everton name.
All that said, and as much as I enjoy watching us play in Uefa Cup, 4th place should be the number one goal if only for its financial rewards.
All that said, and as much as I enjoy watching us play in Uefa Cup, 4th place should be the number one goal if only for its financial rewards.
The Uefa Cup does make our team more popular in Europe. I support my team for fun and passion. Last year we were able to witness that and I hope this year too. Money is to be put apart. Being consistent in the Uefa cup we will slowly but surely attract more skillful players and thus there will be time for us to really challenge for the CL places and be good enough to progress to the group stages.
I seem to remember a time when no-one ever asked how much money was generated from European competitions, it was all about glory..... Seems to me football is now broken and I can?t imagine how it can now be fixed.
John Charles, whilst you may well be right that UEFA participation gave us the edge in terms of Saha choosing us I think there?s a bigger reason. Some of us may be rather suspicious of our relationship with Man Utd at some times but the players there have a lot of respect for Ferguson. And he has a lot of respect for Davey and EFC. His advice seems to be that we are indeed a grand old team to play for. And while we may not be sure about a number of things we have to be appreciative of his views. He does know his stuff!
Ask teams that fight relegation every season if it's worth being in the Uefa Cup!! Of course it fucking is!! What a stupid question!! Fucking hell! What will be next?! We?ll win the FA Cup and someone will say, "Oh yeah... but is it really worth it?"!!
Personally I would go for it against Liège and if we reach the group stage rotate the squad there. We did it last year and we won the group.
If we ever qualify for the Champions League and want a decent draw, we need Uefa-coefficients badly so please let?s just pick up some points each year and see how far we can come. Once in the last 16, play the strongest team and really try to win it.
If we ever qualify for the Champions League and want a decent draw, we need Uefa-coefficients badly so please let?s just pick up some points each year and see how far we can come. Once in the last 16, play the strongest team and really try to win it.
I would love to see us win the UEFA Cup! I saw us win the ECW Cup and that was fantastic despite it only being a "Micky Mouse trophy" (probably because the RS had never won it!). Victory in ANY cup competition is worth it, even if it only goes to show you were the best of that bunch and does not carry huge financial rewards.
money, politics, money, politics, money, politics...
HANGON A MINUTE... what about the FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Totally agree Mike
If you keep looking to tomorrow, you miss today. Lets beat Standard and enjoy another cup run.
When Arteta scored against Fiorentina and Goodison nearly collapsed under the euphoria, THATS what its all about.
Magic. Yes, It’s worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HANGON A MINUTE... what about the FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Totally agree Mike
If you keep looking to tomorrow, you miss today. Lets beat Standard and enjoy another cup run.
When Arteta scored against Fiorentina and Goodison nearly collapsed under the euphoria, THATS what its all about.
Magic. Yes, It’s worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS SIMPLE EVERTON ARE BACK ON THE MAP!we all know that its not the cream of football as a competition but im afraid to say the way footballs gone the ’top 4’ will always be the top 4 no matter how much money man city pay players.well until fifa let a fifth english team in the european cup anyway.and the most important thing about everton football club is its supporters....and dont we love our european tours!!!!!!!!! imagin if we won it.35000 blues in istanbul,the songs wed sing!
Quite simply yes. What is the point of supporting a team if you don’t want to see them achieve glory. It may not be financially rewarding which is wrong but that is a complete other issue.
I agree with Andy Hudson. Whats the point of accumulating enough points to get into Europe, and then not wanting to do it? That would be like winning the chance to stage the olympics and then realising that it is too expensive and not enough people care (hang on a minute though...)
Didn’t Platini (or some other mentally deranged international footballing icon) recently state that the prize money in CL and Uefa cup will be more evenly split in the future? If/when this happens then everybody will be interested.
Didn’t Platini (or some other mentally deranged international footballing icon) recently state that the prize money in CL and Uefa cup will be more evenly split in the future? If/when this happens then everybody will be interested.
The question is a completely legitimate one to ask, and I often wonder it myself.
In my opinion, the early rounds of the UEFA Cup should be treated the same as the Leagur cup, with squad rotation, blooding of youngsters etc.. As we progress to the latter stages of the tournament (quarters on) I think the big guns should be deployed to try and win a european trophy.
In my opinion, the early rounds of the UEFA Cup should be treated the same as the Leagur cup, with squad rotation, blooding of youngsters etc.. As we progress to the latter stages of the tournament (quarters on) I think the big guns should be deployed to try and win a european trophy.
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