ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

The Uefa Cup Place Race

Its pretty much safe to say that the race for 4th is over. Unfortunately, the loss of form after the crushing Euro defeat and a run of injuries have ruined any chance we had of beating Liverpool and their massive squad to 4th. The question now is can Everton limp to the finish line and stay in the only remaining UEFA Cup place 5th?

We don't really have to worry about Portsmouth. They may well pip us to 5th but they should also qualify for the Uefa Cup via the FA Cup. Baring a freak result, Pompey will qualify for the Uefa Cup via their FA Cup win so their league placing doesn't really matter to us. The real danger is Aston Villa.

With only 4 games remaining Aston Villa trail us by 6 points. So let's look at the final fixtures for both teams:

EVERTON:- Chelsea (h) Aston Villa (h) Arsenal (a) Newcastle (h)

ASTON VILLA:- Birmingham (h) Everton (a) Wigan (h) West Ham (a)

Villa need to win all their games and hope Everton lose at least twice. Considering Everton have to face both Chelsea and Arsenal those two losses are not hard to imagine.

One thing is for sure. The home game against Villa is now a must win game for Everton. Its arguably our most important game this season.

This season has had some wonderful moments and generally has been a step forward but to lose out on Europe entirely would be a crushing blow sending the club back a couple of years.
John Cottee, Romford Posted 12/04/2008 at 17:14:17

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Tony Wilkins
1 Posted 12/04/2008 at 19:37:01

There is still hope even if villa catch us and pompey dont win the fa cup

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7292892.stm

Intertoto Cup: England can gain an additional Uefa Cup place by entering a team into and winning the Intertoto Cup.

Uefa Fair Play League: In order to be eligible for one of the three places available via the Fair Play League, an association must score an average of over eight. The top association gets a Uefa Cup place, while all other associations with an average of over eight (there are currently eight) are placed into a ballot.

England are currently top of the Fair Play League. If they win the Uefa Cup place, it is given to the team placed highest in the Premier League Fair Play League that has not qualified by other means.

LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE FAIR PLAY LEAGUE STANDINGS

Nick Harding
2 Posted 12/04/2008 at 19:52:41

We do have to worry about Portsmouth. Pompey are a danger because if they finish above us in fifth and go on to win the cup the last Uefa Cup spot goes to the runner-up of the FA Cup not the team placed sixth in the league.

Anthony Newell
3 Posted 12/04/2008 at 19:53:42

The only consolation from today was that Portsmouth drew (I?ve a funny feeling that Cardiff will win the FA cup so it will matter). Have to agree with you that we must beat Aston Villa at home, you may as well forget about Chelsea and Arsenal as we can?t hope for anything in the big games. Mind you, beating Villa and a less porous Newcastle will be no mean feat.

Al Reddish
4 Posted 12/04/2008 at 19:58:26

Nick, I think the extra place wil go to the league rather than the runners up in the Cup as cardiff are registered with the Welsh FA and as such will only get a ?wildcard? place.

Carl Rimmer
5 Posted 12/04/2008 at 19:57:21

I?ve just filled in bbc predictor and had us lose to Arsenal and Chelsea, draw against Villa and win against Newcastle. I had Pompey draw away against City and Boro and win their other 2 games giving us both 65 points but we have a better GD. I had Villa draw against us, Brum West Ham away and win their other game and they end up on 61.

Sad I know...

I?ve been saying for weeks how we are going to struggle to finish 5th...

Neil Scott
6 Posted 12/04/2008 at 20:07:00

There?s still hope as long as we get Osman and Arteta back, fit and available. And if Moyes has another epiphany like he did after the Spurs game last season.

Mark Griffiths
7 Posted 12/04/2008 at 20:12:01

Carl, to be fair mate, I think you are underestimating Villa. I think they will get 2 draws and two wins at least!

I can see at best us needing to win against Newcastle to get into Europe!

Joe Coswell
8 Posted 13/04/2008 at 05:39:22

Its gona be close as fcuk thats for sure. I hope it doesnt come down to GD as the 6-0 drubbing Villa gave out today will see them beat us on that front (when you consider wed have to lose a couple and them win a couple, theyd definitely be ahead on GD by then). If we pick up 4 points at home I think we’ll squeak it, its gona go to the last day though.

And IF POMPEY WIN THE CUP THEN THEY GET THE FA CUP EURO PLACE EVEN IF THEY COME 5TH IN THE LEAGUE. 6TH IN THE LEAGUE THEN GETS EUROPE. Pls research what you say before you say it, this is 100% the case.

I quote

"If Portsmouth win the FA Cup and finish fifth in the Premier League, the sixth-placed team in the league would enter the Uefa Cup, not the FA Cup runners-up."

Dave Nelson
9 Posted 13/04/2008 at 10:10:48

Villa should pick up 8 pts. We look like getting 2 and a possible thrashing from the arse!

It's 2002-03 all over again, perhaps!

Happy holidays folks!

Lee Armer
10 Posted 13/04/2008 at 09:20:52

Uefa Cup... Does anyone know??? If we finish 6th and Portsmouth win the FA Cup, does this mean we will qualify for Europe?

Sami Fam
11 Posted 13/04/2008 at 14:09:32

Seeing that I think it extremely likely (given our final run in and poor form, I see only a chance of 3 points against Villa and Newcastle) that we will finish behind Pompey. If they win the Cup, do we get directly into the Uefa Cup with a 6th place finish?

I stayed up until 1 a.m. in the morning to watch that dreadful performance against Birmingham (shown tape delayed in the US)......... Overall it will have been a great season but changes need to be made.