ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Play the `reserves` in Europe

I suspect there are a lot of Evertonians who, like me, have no time for the ridiculous Uefa Cup. The basis for entry means that far too many inferior clubs get entry and the sooner it reverts to a knock-out competition for Cup Winners the better.

Our esteemed CEO has told us repeatedly that only in its final stages can it be seen as a money maker as trips to the Russian Plains can hardly be expected to cover costs. Be that as it may, my main concern is the effect these daft excursions will have on our Premier League form. We saw two years ago that Europe was a trip too far for a club in our stage of development and all the portents are that history is about to repeat itself.

Let`s face it, no club outside that exclusive `Top Four` can hope to have the playing resources to compete in four competitions ? and which was the last `ordinary` English team to win the bloody thing anyway?

I just hope that Moyes faces up to the truth that the Premier must take priority (isn`t that where the money is?) and henceforth picks a team of fringe players for these unloved ties. McClaren set the scene by turning out his youngsters two years ago and they got to the Final ? perhaps Vidarsson & Co could do the same for us!
Tony Senter, Wirral Posted 22/10/2007 at 10:31:16

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Comments

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Andy Callan
1 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:09:34

Rubbish - football is about winning things. The only chance we have this year are the cups coz we ain’t gunna win the league are we?

I’m goin’ to germany and gunna get twatted. If you don’t like it then don’t watch it.

seasoned campaigner
2 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:09:46

you must be a kopite. Only one of them would make such stupid statments, if you are not interested in the uefa cup, do NOT make stupid comments.

Paul
3 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:20:32

You must be from a different planet mate! Why would we just throw away everything we worked so hard for last season?? You’ve got to remember we’ve still got Johnson, Vaughan, Cahill, Gravesen still to come back. 2years ago a bald ref cost us our place, this time round we could go far, get behind ur team, be positive and stop making stupid comments!

Mike Owen
4 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:12:14

Competing in the UEFA Cup raises our profile - and it needs raising.

It doesn’t bring in the loot that the Chums League does. But playing in the UEFA Cup does remind a lot of people all over Europe - including football fans in general and sponsorship people and up-and-coming players - that we are still around.

Or, should I say, that we even exist. "They’re in the same city as Liverpool, y’know" (Translate into 20 different languages)

Plus I am looking forward much more to seeing us play a Greek team at Goodison than I am Burrrrminghammm City.

Seamus Murphy
5 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:27:17

Disagree completly Tony with practically every point you made there.

Anto Doran
6 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:33:51

we have to make the most profit of how our club finished last season and that means progressing as far as possible in europe and hopefully taking some big scalps along the way, saying that, our Premiership form must not suffer because of Euorpe, IF we can actually get to the stage were we regulary qualify for teh uefa cup thru our final position in the premiership and are capable of going far in the Uefa Cup, I feel that is real progress being made

Michael Phillips
7 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:34:53

Err! The UEFA Cup never used to be a knockout cup for cup winners. That was the Cup Winners Cup (Remember 1985?). It was always the competition for the also rans of the various leagues around Europe.

paul hennessey
8 Posted 22/10/2007 at 13:40:07

I first started watching everton in 1989, when I was four, ever since then, despite the odd season, we’ve been mid table (if we’re lucky) . Try telling anyone else my age the UEFA cup is a waste of time, thousands like me are going to Germany, try telling them its a waste of time - It raises the clubs profile, gives us the chance to play against foreign teams and in some great places and potentially attract a better calibre of player to the club.

Ok who was the last ordinary team to win it? I’m not sure- but middlesborough got the final two years ago (yakubu being one of their stars (!!)) and espanyol the final last year - neither are as good as the current everton side- and actually if you look at boros run that year, quite the opposite happened, they played their first team in the UEFA cup and the youngsters in the league towards the end of that season.

Football is about winning, not money - we mightn’t have much chance of glory in this cup according to you - but we’ve more chance than winning the league!!!

Michael Newton
9 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:20:05

One of the attractions to new players is the very fact we are playing in Europe.
This posting is rather ludicrous if you have no time for the UEFA Cup then dont come and watch it.
I like the vast majority of Evertonians are fully behind the club as we try to get into the later rounds to win more money and prestige and make the name Everton better known.

seasoned campaigner
10 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:27:46

Tony Senter,

Are you Allan Hobbs in disguise ?

Allan Hobbs
11 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:32:16

Seasoned Campaigner - what the f**k is that supposed to mean? I back EFC all the way in every competition mate, the UEFA is a top priority as far as I’m concerned. Your comments are unfounded, though I’m not 100% sure what you’re havin a pop at me for??

Paul Wilkins
12 Posted 22/10/2007 at 14:37:18

What a load of rubbish from Tony Senter. I know people are entitled to their opinion but surely this type of negative comment has no place here. So Tony you will be happy each season then if we finish 8th or 9th as any higher and we will be in at least the UEFA Cup. The last few games of last season must have been difficult for you to stomach and I think you sat near me when Arteta scored the penalty against Portsmouth as you didnt jump up cheering. I for one am looking forward to my trip to Nurnberg.

Nick Wall
13 Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:14:43

Given our present league position, it’s all the more crucial that we do make progress in the UEFA cup. Larissa is a really big game for us.

Dana Barrett
14 Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:21:24

You silly man. uefa cup not important. right! league cup - give luton a four goal head start and let hibbert play on his own and the other 10 can have the night off. FA CUP - well, joes not in charge, and theres no way a team like everton can possibly win it is there?. Im having nightmares about that potential banana skin at boston united already. And the league, well yes, we are not going to win it, but we can damn well try and get a high a placing as we are able. With or without the help of bent referees.
the way i see it, this group we are in is more than progressable, I am confident and looking forward to the larissa game on thursday (Channel 5 again i hope) - What is it with referees and this club? is it some personal vendetta or - I will make it my mission in life that everton football club will achieve nothing so god help me. How about an articule - Not time for moronic comments. Come to think of it maybe i will give the larissa game a miss. my garden fence needs a new coat of paint or i might just clip my toenails...

danny smith
15 Posted 22/10/2007 at 15:43:09

twat

Colin Jones
16 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:37:33

Oh dear

Mike Oates
17 Posted 22/10/2007 at 16:47:31

To progress well in UEFA Cup is crucial as that’s where the co-efficients are gained to ensure that when you do "ever" get into the Champions League you dont get drawn against the Villareal’s again.

Like it or not getting into the Champs league and progressing into the league system is absolutely a must if the club wants to attract the "better" players and having the money to support them.

seasoned campaigner
18 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:11:41

Allan,

It was a light hearted joke, as it is usually you who make the controversial postings......no offence taken i hope.

colin Riley
19 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:13:52

where do these pricks come from.wooley backs everyfuckinwhere.Dont leave the wirral soon knobhead.
All european football is a sham and we know it.Come 4th and your in.Lose 3 games you con still win champs league.Winning TROPHIES is what its about.Yer fanny.

Anto Doran
20 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:24:34

people the guy made an opinion and has every right to do so and IMHO has being rightly slatted for it but no need slangs!!

Alex Spelling
21 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:23:01

I’d be content finishing 17th in the PREM and staying up on goal difference (heart palpitations, loss of hair, anger and depression at our state aside) if we could win the UEFA cup this season - does 4th place in the PREM become part of a club’s ’honours list’??? COYB for Thursday.

Gary Creaney
22 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:45:02

Quote: " I suspect there are a lot of Evertonians who, like me, have no time for the ridiculous Uefa Cup ."

It appears you’re on your own mate.

Dana Barrett, the match is indeed on Channel 5 programme starting at Channel 5. That’s another thing the UEFA cup offers us is more televised coverage.

Gary Creaney
23 Posted 22/10/2007 at 17:59:08

Programme starting at 7.30......me and my typing errors!

Tony Senter
24 Posted 22/10/2007 at 19:46:09

So i dare to put forward a minority view.That makes me a twat,knobhead and Redshite.What a cultured audience this site attracts.Proud to be an Evertonian?-you are joking!

David Booth
25 Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:03:08

Since when has making money taken preference over the possibility - and prestige - of winning something, especially a European trophy?

This has got to be a wind-up. No Evertonian would spout such rubbish.

robert pierpoint
26 Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:01:56

fairplay tony, everyone is entitled to thier comments, and it is fair to say that i along with many evertonians must be slightly worried about the fact that we may not have a team strong enough in both quality and numbers in order to compete in europe as well as the premier league. it is worth remembering that middlesborough only finished around 14th when they reached the final......however as a everton fan and a football fan in general i would without a shadow of a doubt always want us in europe. Can you say you would not have been gutted if we had gone out to kharkiv? its all about the romance, abut being in a cup compertition and about challenging teams we wouldnt normally play. Its the excitement factor for the fans and the club which stops the season being just a routine and boring fight for fifth in the league

Stan Turner
27 Posted 22/10/2007 at 20:21:42

Trouble is that if the European venture affects your league position,you have a crap season allround.I guess that whatever we do in Europe we shant qualify next year so the club loses every whichway.

seasoned campaigner
28 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:06:04

Tony,

I think you will find that you have stirred up a hornets nest, after feelings are running high resulting from one of the most controversial derbies in years. To dismiss our best chance of winning a trophy (given the fact that all things being equal, then we will not have to play any of the top four teams in this competition) is a naive view to take. Trophies raise your profile and serve as bait to lure better players to the club. I also get the feeling that you have posted this article just to be controversial??.or you are indeed a kopite.

harj
29 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:38:15

fuck that tw@t...go and see your doc.aneway anyone know why Cars isn’t playing much? we do better with him in the team

Paul
30 Posted 22/10/2007 at 21:46:43

What about being in Europe in order to attract top flight players to come to Everton?

Lee Smith
31 Posted 22/10/2007 at 23:54:35

Well Tony, with fear of receiving unwarranted abuse like you have I have to say I’m with you on this one. Although progress in the UEFA would be great, if it’s going to be detremental to further progress in the Premier, which no doubt it will, then I would rather see some of the younger lads given a chance. I mean, they are getting naff all opportunity elsewhere.

As for comments like "What about being in Europe in order to attract top flight players to come to Everton?", I suppose you mean like recent UEFA Cup finalists Middlesbrough..... just look at all the world class players queing up to join them!

Some of the abusive comments directed at Tony are just embarrassing to read.

Roy coyne
32 Posted 23/10/2007 at 01:07:55

Great Idea lets play the under 18s in the league as well and how about the womans team in the fa cup you arsehole

Lee Smith
33 Posted 23/10/2007 at 08:50:46

Roy Coyne,

your "hilarious" comment of playing the under 18’s in the league is a total contradiction of the reason the orignal post was put forward in the first place. Oh, and very mature insult at the end, how old are you, 12?

seasoned campaigner
34 Posted 23/10/2007 at 11:55:56

Lee Smith,

do you sit next to Tony in the Kop ?

Tony Williams
35 Posted 23/10/2007 at 14:58:44

I have noticed that no-one has pointed out the paradox (not the old nightclub) of the opening posters thread.

So we should fook the Wafer Cup off to concentrate on the league to get ..ermm...into...erm..the Wafer...Wafer Cup spotes....erm, I suppose if you think about it, it makes sense.

In fact No it doesn’t so we drop out of the Wafer cup to chase a Wafer Cup place, go figure

Tony Senter
36 Posted 23/10/2007 at 15:58:42

Well there was I thinking I had made a good case for opting ’the first team’ out of the Uefa Cup and I get dog’s abuse-which I guess is par for the course on this site these days.
I don’t think any club competes in the Prem just to qualify for this Mickey Mouse competition-more because the place-money on offer (now £1M per place)provides a lifeline.
I hope I’m wrong but I can see us getting nowhere in Uefa and slipping halfway down the League as a result of our participation.Is all!