Europa League place goes to West Ham

, 26 May, 36comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton have missed out on qualification for Europe via the "back door" of the Fair Play League after West Ham United were awarded the Premier League's place.

The two clubs had similar records in Uefa's Fair Play League, which ranks teams according to a number of factors, including disciplinary record, attacking intent and respect shown to opponents and match officials, but the Hammers have finished the 2014-15 season above the Blues.

They will take the place awarded to England and will kick off their campaign in the first qualifying round on 2nd July.

Despite the early start, Blues boss Roberto Martinez had indicated that Everton would welcome the opportunity to compete in the competition again were the club to be awarded the place.  



Reader Comments (36)

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Colin Glassar
1 Posted 26/05/2015 at 15:21:02
Some good news at last.
Jim Bennings
2 Posted 26/05/2015 at 15:38:42
dup
Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 26/05/2015 at 15:52:55
The performance against Spurs on Sunday was very, very poor but the result means we will not be in the "handicap league" so it wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
Pablo Brown
5 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:03:11
Martinez didn’t want Europa League football; he wouldn’t have played Barry if he did.
Joe Foster
6 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:06:44
Attacking intent....well that was us well out of the picture.
Jim Bennings
7 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:02:12
Handicap my arse!! It's just an excuse for overrated prima-donna players to fall back on when they play like shite.

Being in Europe didn’t harm us in 2007-08 did it?? We finished 5th in the league and got to the League Cup semi. It's just a sorry excuse when the team and the manager is shit e.

Were we in Europe when we got arse-banged 6-3 by Chelsea in late August? Or were we in Europe when the manager oversaw a totally inept pre-season last summer??

Being in Europe will not mean you will see any better more fluent performance levels, we will not pass the ball more quickly, we will not have lots of movement off the ball and we will make the same mistakes over and over again just like we have this last 12 months.

But we can always find other excuses for not performing next season. In fact, why don’t we just forever from now on always blame injuries, Europe or sticky grass on the manager and teams failings?

Patrick Murphy
8 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:13:03
We actually ended up in fourth place behind Man City, Liverpool and West Ham.
Patrick Murphy
9 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:14:44
I wonder if it all comes down to money Jim, i.e. if the players get compensated for all the extra games enhances their performances in the European competition but they decide to take it easier in the League, everything in the modern game seems to depend on extracting as much cash as possible from your employer and forget the glory and the fans - I could be wrong of course but it does seem strange that so many clubs find this tournament a burden when it should be a reward.
Dave Abrahams
10 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:15:26
Jim, I would have said we will be a lot better next season without being in the Europa League but not necessarily if Martinez is still in control of the club.
Harold Matthews
11 Posted 26/05/2015 at 15:59:55
Delighted. Squad not yet strong enough for Europe.
Geoffrey Risebrow
12 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:17:52
I am delighted with that news! But the reason we had a disgraceful season is because Roberto Martinez has been found out as not being a good enough manager! Poor tactically, poor team selections, poor motivational skills and no leadership qualities(he should have made it clear that Baines was taking all the penalties(15 out of 16 scored remember) until such a time came when he shouldn’t be taking them!
Denis Richardson
13 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:37:28
Whichever way you look at it, at least it's one excuse that can’t be used next season if it turns out like the season just gone.

I for one am disappointed as it’s another trophy (potentially), means we get to see the team play more often (maybe not a good thing at the minute!) and also increases the profile of the club.

Just domestic it is then for 2015-16...

Brian Harrison
14 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:29:44
I think that’s the best news we have had all season. Uefa have made the Europa League a non-event. I probably will not watch one game from the Europa League next season, yet will watch all the Champions League matches. As to why clubs don’t like the competition, it is simple: they travel much further for Europa League games, and the rewards for winning are pitiful.

You play more games to win this competition than the Champions League, plus if you finish 3rd in your Champions League group, you still get in the Europa League, and I don’t think that any club dropping out of the Champions League has ever won it. Surely that shows how little the Champions League clubs are interested in this non-event.

Phil Walling
15 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:47:32
That’s one excuse for a piss-poor 2015-16 season that Roberto can’t fall back on.

And I hope they replace that sticky grass for Barkley’s sake!

Geoffrey Risebrow
16 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:49:08
I want to see my beloved Toffees playing on a Saturday at 3pm instead of waiting until Sunday and constantly playing catch up. I would much rather win the FA Cup as well!
Paul Tran
17 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:54:27
How about a ToffeeWeb competition for the best excuse Martinez will come out with for next season? No World Cup, no Europa League, out of the League Cup early. My money’s on knife to a gunfight!
Tom Bowers
18 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:54:20
Getting in because of ’’fair play’’ is ludicrous. Whatever happened to being the most qualified in a footballing sense?

Everton certainly didn’t deserve to get in and probably it is a good thing. RM will have enough on his plate to contend with if he is to keep his job next season.

Europa League to Champions League – it's like the League Cup compared to the Premier League.

Tony Marsh
19 Posted 26/05/2015 at 16:54:47
If anyone on here doubts the damage the Europa League does to English clubs, then do some homework and look at the stats. Each EPL club that plays in this awful completion suffers in loss of form and League placings...

It’s not make-believe – it’s fact!

Patrick Murphy
20 Posted 26/05/2015 at 17:06:46
Paul... The players and I felt it was best to enhance their prospects of taking part in one of the most prestigious tournaments in world football, namely the European Championships, and it is a great credit to our club that we have so many taking part.

not quite as poetic as the Spanish bard himself would put it but it’ll be something along those lines.

James Hughes
21 Posted 26/05/2015 at 17:16:34
Brain (#14)

Does Chelsea under Benitez not ring a bell? Only two seasons ago, mate.

It was a trophy that was dismissed by Jose as being unimportant, maybe due to the warm and cordial relationship with the Spanish waiter.

Simon Robson
22 Posted 26/05/2015 at 17:16:30
I totally agree with Jim — our worst run this season was from November to January: we won 1 game in 13... but were not playing Europa League games in that period.

They fly first class or private jet; they only play in Europe — not South America!

Spurs still finished 5th... it's all a load of shite.

Pete Edwards
23 Posted 26/05/2015 at 18:02:52
Jim,I’m not sure if you think being in the EL hampered our PL campaign, could you be a little clearer in your opinion please ;-)
James Stewart
24 Posted 26/05/2015 at 18:15:37
Great news.
Kelvin Thomas
25 Posted 26/05/2015 at 18:26:22
Squad not near strong enough. Covering players aren’t any where near full fitness and probably will never be. Its to easy for our first eleven.

Oviedo, Gibson, Kone, Pienaar, Osman, Hibbert all good squad players if fit. They are hardly ever fit therefore we need to move them on ASAP.

Combination of transfers, loans and youth must replace them.

Jim Bennings
26 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:13:03
For anyone harbouring hopes of seeing a return to Everton for Gerard Deulofeu, Martinez has completely ruled it out at "not realistic".

Something which I have been saying for months, if it was going to happen he’d have been here the season just gone and not at Seville.

Rob Halligan
27 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:23:56
Geoffrey #16. I too would like to see us win the FA Cup next season. The reward for that? A place in the Europa League the following season!!
Ross Edwards
28 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:26:51
The Europa League had an impact on the season but the media and pundits seem to think it’s the main factor. it isn’t. It’s only an excuse to mask the numerous tactical failures of RM this season.

Our worst period of the season was between December and February, when there were no European games. 2 wins in 12 and out of the FA Cup at the earliest opportunity.

Between August and early September, there were no European games, so we can’t possibly attribute the thrown away leads against Leicester and Arsenal or that defensive shambles against Chelsea.

Brian Wilkinson
29 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:42:43
Great news combined with Alcaraz not being offered a new contract; things are looking up.
Stu Smith
30 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:47:09
I heard on the radio that uefa are looking to reform the Europa League. At the moment you play around 19 games to win the EL whereas the CL is 12 (?).

The money for winning the EL is £11m whereas the CL offers £40m. You then have the situation of Shit CL sides like the RS dropping into the tournament devaluing it.

Brian Wilkinson
31 Posted 26/05/2015 at 19:45:54
Paul@17 how about its the year of the crab, our Thailand trip was blessed by the chinese Ambassador wee whang winkle.

Martinez saw this as an omen to playing sideways footy, although he is looking forward to next January, when it will be the year of the bullshitter, when the green shoots of recovery will give us a strong second half of the season.

Geoffrey Risebrow
32 Posted 26/05/2015 at 23:01:15
Good point Rob #27. The FA Cup will always mean something to me where as the Europa League is a Mickey Mouse competition with CL teams dropping into it which makes a mockery of it. Why does a team get a second chance when they have already been knocked out?
Ian Jones
33 Posted 27/05/2015 at 08:21:49
I have mixed feelings re Europa League. I am not going into all the pros and cons. They have been covered many times by many people and are generally valid. I don’t agree with the current format. Far too many games to play if you can get to the final.

I just think a club like Everton should welcome the chance to play in Europe. We are more than likely not going to get too many chances to play in Europe. Champions League is unlikely. Fifth or sixth in the league is at least the minimum we should be after. That usually means Europa League which some don’t want. So the assumption is. For those who don’t want Europa League, does that mean they are relatively happy with 7th or 8th which carries less of a ’threat" of Europe. Oops. Also better not win a cup. Or is it go all out to get in top 4 and claim a Champions League place. Still Europe.

We are back to square 1.

Agreed. The above is simplistic and tongue in cheek but at least qualifying for one of the European comps means Everton would be achieving some sort of success. Success breeds success. Winning becomes a habit. Confidence. Raises profile of club. Perhaps raises some funds.

If we had gone on to win the final of Europa League, big if, how many would have complained about the comp.

Scheduling of League matches should be reviewed. Perhaps make sure teams involved in Thurs games play Sundays at 4 and not before or even Mondays. I think there were a few cases of teams who were involved in Champions League games playing Monday

Jim Bennings
34 Posted 27/05/2015 at 08:59:52
Ian

Let’s put it this way, regardless of what fans feel about the Europa League and it’s drawn out format in the early rounds, it remains the only European competition that you are likely to see Everton FC in over the next few year’s, possibly next 10 years even.

Unless you think we are going to be taken of by Arab Princes or something drastic happens the Europa League is basically Everton’s paradise of variety.

So far we are hearing Martinez talking up failed tried and tested players for next season like he expects some sort of animated transformation in these players that have 1) shown they are limited and 2) they are too old, too inexperienced or quite simply too injury prone.

When you consider Everton never saw any European football for 10 years between 1995 - 2005 it makes you realise how hard it actually is for this club to get into European tournaments and why when it happens it should be taken and cherished not derided.

If anyone thinks not being in Europe will make us better, just look at some of the season’s we were NOT in Europe...just as bad half the time.

Jay Wood
35 Posted 27/05/2015 at 09:48:55
No ifs or buts about it. If we have any ambitions as a club we need to be in Europe EVERY season, be that the Champions League or the Europa League.

The longer we stay out of Europe, the worst our Uefa coefficient ranking gets and as our seeding falls our chances of an easy draw and progress in either competition becomes.

The club, the board, the management and the players ... everything should be geared to coping with Premier League and European football EVERY SEASON.

Geoffrey Risebrow
36 Posted 27/05/2015 at 09:35:03
I want Everton to be in Europe every season (CL in a ideal world) but having to play on all these Sundays and possibly a Monday as suggested is ridiculous! The old Uefa Cup format (knockout football all the way through) should never have been changed!

Everton v Barcelona might get the pulse racing a little bit more than Everton v Krasnador as well! The Europa League is definitely a hindrance but our useless manager is to blame for this disgraceful season!

David Hallwood
37 Posted 27/05/2015 at 11:44:57
If Uefa had any sense (yeah, right) they’d go back to the original format of 3 trophies.

The idea of the CL was to have a breakaway creme de la creme league, which hasn’t happened and never will.

Therefore, instead of teams playing meaningless games, go back to the original knockout formula.


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