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Europa League

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A scenario still exists that could see us pinch a Europa League place via a seventh place finish. Presently the team finishing 5th will take the spot in the Premier League. If Liverpool finish in the top 6 and win the Carling Cup then 6th place will also take a European spot. If two of the top 6 contest the FA Cup Final (distinct possibility) then 7th place will also take a Europa spot.

With 13 games to play and 6 points from 7th, this has to be achievable now we are coming into form. With Newcastle not on the roll they were, it could be ourselves and The Toon fighting it out for this spot. And we play them on the final day at home.

Obviously we want to win the FA Cup but clinching a European spot can still happen through the league. Let's go for it.

Neil Smith, Wirral Posted 25/02/2012 at 17:19:24

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Paul Ellam
128 Posted 25/02/2012 at 19:35:59

That is very interesting! And hopefully the board and manager know so they can push the players on for the rest of the season.

Let's hope we keep up our recent form...

Michael Summers
131 Posted 25/02/2012 at 19:42:44

Well worked out, Neil. I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago and I see no reason why we could not achieve this if we keep up our current good form. It would amazing if we pulled it off but with a bit of faith and luck we could pull off the impossible. So come on, let's get behind our great club and who knows? COYB

Kev Lucas
153 Posted 25/02/2012 at 23:32:15

The key game could be the game in hand. If it wasn't for them in the 'micky mouse' cup final we'd be going into the game, well in form, with a chance to move into 8th just 3 points behind them.

That should be our aim now I think, finish above Liverpool (top 7) and win the FA Cup. I'm already dreaming of a Cardiff win tomorrow, us finishing a place (or 2) above them and beating them 3-1 in the FA Cup Final (ideally after them going 1-0 up just for clarit)..... If that happened then it'd be our happiest season since 85.

Discounting the Cardiff reference, I really think the other 2 are possible. I really get the feeling our season could well hinge on our results againt the RS in either the 1 or 2 games.

Yusuf Bobat
158 Posted 26/02/2012 at 00:33:14

Does that mean we all want Liverpool to win Carling Cup? Sorry but I can't do that even if it's to our benefit. I'll be rooting for Cardiff.

David Hallwood
165 Posted 26/02/2012 at 01:27:15

I'm with Yusuf on that. Let's win all our games and see where we end up. Even if it means that we lose out on Europe, I'll be cheering for Cardiff.

Shaun Brennan
166 Posted 26/02/2012 at 02:15:31

How about qualifying by winning the FA Cup.

Eric Myles
167 Posted 26/02/2012 at 02:40:56

I vaguely remember a scenario a few seasons ago where Cardiff (or could have been Swansea) could have made the FA Cup final (maybe did) but if they won they would not qualify for Europa because they were a Welsh team, not an English team.

Was this rule ever changed by UEFA?

If not, a Cardiff win today would not see them qualify for Europa and neither would the losing finalists so the place would automatically go to the league placings.

Even better than Neil's scenario as we do not rely on our neighbours to do us a favour.

Andrew Gilbert
168 Posted 26/02/2012 at 03:05:48

Bummer!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-561830/Cardiff-qualify-Europe-beat-Portsmouth-FA-Cup-final.html

Eric Myles
169 Posted 26/02/2012 at 04:31:06

^That was a decision by the FA, the Mickey Mouse Cup is a different organisation but I think they should do the same and let Cardiff into Europa.

Peter Hall
191 Posted 26/02/2012 at 10:24:46

Most likely Europa qualification is the FA Cup; win, obviously, or lose in the final to a team that qualifies for Europe, like Spurs, Chelsea or some other team that might.

If the semis are Everton Spurs Chelea and RS then - assuming Cardiff lose today, aren't we just one game from Europa?

Sam Hoare
223 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:20:50

Well the RS are losing now. Haha.

Sam Hoare
225 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:21:27

How about the shite lose today and then we beat them to 6th and get their europa league spot? That would surely make this one of the best seasons for some time!

David Hallwood
228 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:26:43

Bollocks to the permutations...

Cardiff 1 RS 0

Come on you bluebirds!!

David Hallwood
229 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:27:57

And have you seen the ref?

WTF??!!

Eugene Ruane
231 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:32:31

When they go a goal down in games like this, these days I don't think 'Great they're losing!', I just think 'No, no, no - this is just to lure me in, to taunt me, to make me dance about like a fool then to kick my legs from underneath me, as a crowd laugh and taunt'. This is just so I'll have to listen to how "You just can't keep this Liverpool side down" and "In the end quality told.." etc fucking blah. Well they're not having ME! (I know, I know but..Pavlov's dog type-stuff).

Sam Hoare
232 Posted 26/02/2012 at 16:43:08

Win win for us. Either they lose to a championship team in the final (cue much hilarity) or if they win there's likely an extra europa league spot that we could well challenge for...

Mark Riding
236 Posted 26/02/2012 at 17:07:29

Eugene... Totally get where you're at, mate...

Stephen Kenny
238 Posted 26/02/2012 at 17:17:57

I was half expecting that baldy twat Clattenberg to try and get on the end of that corner for them.

Eugene Ruane
242 Posted 26/02/2012 at 18:50:32

Hah - You're not kicking MY legs away!

Scott Hamilton
248 Posted 26/02/2012 at 19:20:14

Following today's Mickey Mouse Cup victory, the RS have announced that next year's shirt sponsor will be Tampax.

Apparently they are the number 1 brand for jammy c*nts

Paul Ferry
249 Posted 26/02/2012 at 19:22:35

if its not one fucking Gerrard its another.

Nick Entwistle
251 Posted 26/02/2012 at 19:52:32

Had my finger poised on the off button for the inevitable moment. Reminiscent of '05.
Still, that's Europe for 7th spot?

Barry Rathbone
256 Posted 26/02/2012 at 20:18:48

I would say if your formative years involved football watching in the 70s you know not to watch any important games involving the shite.

I have just read the predictable penalty victory from the jaws of defeat (do they win cups any other way?) and that will be it for me.

No match highlights, won't read the papers just let it dissolve into the ether as a fait accompli

Another forum has some calling for us to meet the fuckers in the final or semis of the FA cup, the innocence of the young.

Neil Smith
257 Posted 26/02/2012 at 20:55:01

As I said in the article, it all takes into account the fact that Liverpool win today. And they have. But Iam not rejoicing in it. If we were to finish 7th and clinch a Euro spot the fact that Liverpool won today will be forgotten as we relish another go at Europe.

Barry, I must be a similar age to you. I am the same with Liverpool big games. Don't acknowledge them. Apart from derby games, I haven't watched an entire Liverpool game in about 10 years. They aren't my team. At the time they won it today, I was cleaning dog muck in my garden. Ironic?

Paul Johnson
263 Posted 26/02/2012 at 21:17:09

Gentlemen really let them wallow in the glory of winning the carling cup.

We can just twat them in the FA cup final and pip them in the league.

Happy days.........

Jamie Tulacz
264 Posted 26/02/2012 at 21:32:43

So Stevie G's cousin misses the penalty which hands the dark side victory.. Hmm, suspicious methinks..!

Did think it was quite ironic that some of the RS fans in the pub I was in were complaining about Clattenburg's performance!

Dave Lynch
265 Posted 26/02/2012 at 21:34:42

Fucking pox ridden,spawny, devil worshipping, murdering bastards.

I would rather not qualify for europe if it meant them doing us a favour.

Wait for the arrogant bastards wanting an open top bus around the city.

Paul Ferry
270 Posted 26/02/2012 at 19:22:35

If it's not one fucking Gerrard, it's another.

Ian Smitham
273 Posted 26/02/2012 at 22:59:21

Noted the comments above, but what are the rules about Europa qualification please?

How, can, we get there?

James Flynn
274 Posted 26/02/2012 at 23:41:07

We're on 33 after 25 games. 13 to go. Run the Table would put us on 69.

COYB!

Kenwright OUT!!!

Colin Gee
278 Posted 27/02/2012 at 01:16:56

Ian #273

The easiest way to qualify for the Europa League is to win the FA Cup, finish 5th in the League or win the 'Mickey Mouse' Cup. Things start to get complicated when one of the teams who's finished in the Champions League place also wins one of the Cups...

At the moment, the RS have qualified for the Europa League; it would get complicated if they get to the FA Cup Final or finish 5th...

It would be even more complicated if the FA Cup Final was between Chelsea and Spurs, if they had both already qualified for the Champions League then possibly finishing 7th could get a Europa League place if the RS finished in 5th or 6th...

I think thats right!

James Morgan
330 Posted 27/02/2012 at 16:15:14

I for one miss us playing in Europe. We haven't exactly suffered in the league from playing in the EL in the past. I'd like to see us give a better account of ourselves against decent footballing sides, plus it will better prepare us for when we make our top 4 assault when our team of 2017 come good!

Roman Sidey
389 Posted 28/02/2012 at 06:38:56

James, who taught you maths?

Peter Hall mentioned the semis could see us into Europe. Is this the case if the other three semi finalists are already in ECL/EL? Does it go back to semi-finals, or transfer over to the league placings?

Personally, I think unless we're going to get a bit of cash to spend on at least five new squad positions (net, for want of a better word), Europe would be more harm than good. Look at our injury list now. Add at least eight games onto that, and people will be begging to have Neville and Johnny back in the midfield.

Eric Myles
391 Posted 28/02/2012 at 07:38:45

Roman, I think Peter means we are 1 game from Europa in the semis but we have to win it to appear in the final and we will qualify as winners or runners up.

If both winner and runner up are already in Europe then the Europa spot goes to league placings.

Colin Gee
435 Posted 28/02/2012 at 14:39:45

I think the following is how it works;

England gets three places in the Europa League, they are one for the winners of the FA Cup, one for finishing 5th in the League and one for the winners of the League Cup.

If the winners of the League Cup also qualify for a European spot through their league position, then the highest place team in the league who haven't qualified for Europe takes that spot.

If the winners of the FA Cup have already qualified for a European spot then the runner-up will qualify.
If both the winner and runner-up have already qualified for European football, then the highest placed team in the league who haven't qualified for Europe will take that spot.

James Stewart
452 Posted 28/02/2012 at 16:27:53

I agree, the aim should be to finish above one of the poorest Liverpool sides in years.

Sam Hoare
453 Posted 28/02/2012 at 16:48:39

I'm optimistic though making up 6 or 7 points on a liverpool team rejuvanated by a cup win and the return of Suarez and Gerrard will be no easy feat.

Reckon the cup represents our best chance at Europe. Beat a tricky Sunderland and anything could happen in the final 2 games.

Brian Keoghan
477 Posted 28/02/2012 at 19:02:56

Our end of season depends on us having "the rub of the green","good fortune", "fate", "karma" etc etc ... the kind of supernatural luck Liverpool have in penalty shoot-outs. When you think of all the permutations ? different players, different goalies and different situations ? it is uncanny that they have won 5 major finals in this way.

It is not as though they take penalties like the Germans (5 out of 5 !). If Liverpool miss one or two, the opposition oblige by following suite. Ironically, Everton were the first British team to take part in a penalty shoot out (and won!) but down the years that way of deciding matches has not been kind to us. Liverpool, on the other hand.... !!!

Tom Owen
499 Posted 28/02/2012 at 21:24:49

Definitely, finishing 7th is realistic.

Eric Myles
534 Posted 29/02/2012 at 07:28:04

How are we doing in the Fair Play League?

Stephen Kenny
536 Posted 29/02/2012 at 08:13:50

We could deffo reign in the R/S and Newcastle if we put a strong run together, something we normally do at this time of year.

I'd be confident of that if we weren't in the cup. I think in the end it will turn out to be a distraction if we get through. That said it will be the most welcome distraction ever if we win it.

Chris Fisher
571 Posted 29/02/2012 at 11:52:53

Nice to know but we'll just win the FA Cup and get in that way thanks!!

James Cadwaladr
707 Posted 01/03/2012 at 09:31:44

Answer - 7th place wont take a Europa League spot as two top 6 sides wont be in the FA Cup final.

We will be, thus a team outside the top 6 in the final.

Lets qualify by winning the FA Cup though.

Tell me ma!

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