maggiespaws 0 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 I can see why people would be disappointed if we were to finish outside the top 4 given the season we have had. I'd feel a tinge of disappointment because were playing so well and deserve it. However, when you look at the season overall and consider our expectations at the beginning of the season, European football of any kind is a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved. Part of me feels Europa league would be a better option because I think we'd fair better. Would a sustained run in the EL not be better (probably not financially) than a confidence battering early exist from the CL? I'm not necessarily saying the latter would happen, but it's a concern. I'd like to think a decent run n the EL might raise our profile just as much (if not more positively) than doing a Citeh and getting tonked in the group stages of the CL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 CL would be ten times as awesome, but if I were to leave that bandwagon for a small moment I have to agree. Arsenal last year had to play Udinese to qualify, its not easy even getting to the group stages. I can see us faring better in the EL. The thing is EL isnt really all that attractive to most top clubs, whereas we would piss alot of people off if we managed to qualify for the CL. Regardless of being stuffed 0-8 it would be so awesome to host Barcelona, Bayern Munich etc at St.James... EL doesnt compare, at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 You're trying to convince yourself you'll be happier with a worse result. Bollocks, we want to be in the champions League as soon as we can. So fuck if we get knocked out straight away, it's still 10 times the Europa league money, however well you do.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Its not the golden calf unless you actually get to the group stages though, is it HF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31216 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 (edited) In the history of British clubs in the CL it's only ourselves and Everton that have fallen at the qualification rounds, isn't it? Edited April 23, 2012 by ewerk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14013 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Its not the golden calf unless you actually get to the group stages though, is it HF? Yes but if you fail you still get into the Europe league as well as the extra money from the qualification round & finishing fourth., Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4839 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 I can see why people would be disappointed if we were to finish outside the top 4 given the season we have had. I'd feel a tinge of disappointment because were playing so well and deserve it. However, when you look at the season overall and consider our expectations at the beginning of the season, European football of any kind is a fantastic achievement and thoroughly deserved. Part of me feels Europa league would be a better option because I think we'd fair better. Would a sustained run in the EL not be better (probably not financially) than a confidence battering early exist from the CL? I'm not necessarily saying the latter would happen, but it's a concern. I'd like to think a decent run n the EL might raise our profile just as much (if not more positively) than doing a Citeh and getting tonked in the group stages of the CL. The main reason I will be disappointed is purely because it may mean we would lose players we would have otherwise being able to keep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 True, oh man. I dare not dream! Either way, we should go tits out on whatever european contest we end up in, as opposed to stoke who rested 8 players away to valencia to lose 1-0 so that they could finish... 10th instead of 12th in the league? pathetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14013 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Yeh for me you have to be going to win the entire thing & make the appropriate sacrifices. In the past you've seen people - Martin O'Neill for one - rest half his team for UEFA Cup games so they could be fit to qualify next season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31216 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Yeh for me you have to be going to win the entire thing & make the appropriate sacrifices. In the past you've seen people - Martin O'Neill for one - rest half his team for UEFA Cup games so they could be fit to qualify next season As I said before, they were in the CL places at the time and wanted to concentrate on a top 4 finish. Given the benefits that can bring to the long term success of a club then I can see his point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Its an understandable approach I guess but its not an admirable one. That being said sacrificing EL for a CL finish, that would be something I could sympathize with. But EL for 10th? or 13th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Manson 0 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 We really want to finish 4th so we can get back into the CL. We won't get past the group stages so we'd still have a cup run. Just imagine the players we'd be able to attract but more importantly, the ones we'd keep because the club took a massive step forward! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Yer, Group stages really is the target, get there and you have 6 CL games on the trot. Fantastic regardless of outcome. Thing is though, if we do get there - I doubt players like ben Arfa, tiote and Cabaye will be starstruck by being in the CL. Old news to them Could really see things starting to roll downhill from there. Danny Simpson would fucking tear Ronaldo a new one on the right flank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10972 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 We'll finish fifth. Arsenal are only playing teams with nothing to play for. We've got Wigan - a team that's playing well and trying to avoid relegation, City - a team who is playing well and is going for the title, Chelsea - Either high after winning the CL or looking to secure the highest position they can, Everton - a team that will be looking to finish above their neighbours for the first time in... I don't know how many years I still believe we've got the quality to see off Wigan and Everton if we play well, but I'm not sure 6 points will be sufficient to get 3rd or 4th. I've done the predictor thing on the BBC and I just can't see the other teams slipping up. fuck me, Europe. I mean, seriously... Europe?! I'm off to watch the Stoke game again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 We'll finish fifth. Arsenal are only playing teams with nothing to play for. We've got Wigan - a team that's playing well and trying to avoid relegation, City - a team who is playing well and is going for the title, Chelsea - Either high after winning the CL or looking to secure the highest position they can, Everton - a team that will be looking to finish above their neighbours for the first time in... I don't know how many years I still believe we've got the quality to see off Wigan and Everton if we play well, but I'm not sure 6 points will be sufficient to get 3rd or 4th. I've done the predictor thing on the BBC and I just can't see the other teams slipping up. fuck me, Europe. I mean, seriously... Europe?! I'm off to watch the Stoke game again Tottenham couldnt buy a win at the moment, so I dont see how you cant see them slip up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10972 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Tottenham couldnt buy a win at the moment, so I dont see how you cant see them slip up. Because, For all they've recently been shit, I think the reality of the situation will be made apparent to them (as much as it has been to teams in and around the relegation zone) and their performances and results will dramatically improve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Spurs have two very tricky away games against teams battling for survival. I expect they will slip up in at least one of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4863 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 We'll finish fifth. Arsenal are only playing teams with nothing to play for. We've got Wigan - a team that's playing well and trying to avoid relegation, City - a team who is playing well and is going for the title, Chelsea - Either high after winning the CL or looking to secure the highest position they can, Everton - a team that will be looking to finish above their neighbours for the first time in... I don't know how many years I still believe we've got the quality to see off Wigan and Everton if we play well, but I'm not sure 6 points will be sufficient to get 3rd or 4th. I've done the predictor thing on the BBC and I just can't see the other teams slipping up. fuck me, Europe. I mean, seriously... Europe?! I'm off to watch the Stoke game again aye but they'll be looking at their fixtures and saying "newcastle - playing for the champions league" we can beat any of them I reckon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Probably go to the last game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lake Bells tits 1 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Because, For all they've recently been shit, I think the reality of the situation will be made apparent to them (as much as it has been to teams in and around the relegation zone) and their performances and results will dramatically improve Lets hope they dont. I fancy Chelsea to grab 4th, us fifth, Tottenham sixth. I see us getting another 4 points, 1 win 1 draw 2 losses. 66 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 10972 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 aye but they'll be looking at their fixtures and saying "newcastle - playing for the champions league" we can beat any of them I reckon Aye, but the problem for us is that the teams we need to finish above are facing teams with nothing to play for, or who are down the bottom of the league for a reason. We've the toughest run in, by some stretch. Lets hope they dont. I fancy Chelsea to grab 4th, us fifth, Tottenham sixth. I see us getting another 4 points, 1 win 1 draw 2 losses. 66 points. I'm saying 6 points, to take us to 68, but I'm not sure that'll be enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4863 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Aye, but the problem for us is that the teams we need to finish above are facing teams with nothing to play for, or who are down the bottom of the league for a reason. We've the toughest run in, by some stretch. I'm saying 6 points, to take us to 68, but I'm not sure that'll be enough. we've played em all once already and we're 4th im being optimistic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4839 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Funny everyone trying to bring logic to it. The only important points are teams around us are having wobbles while we are in the best form and best run of the season. Might just fall short but the way we played on Saturday we CAN take anyone. BELIEVE..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howay 12496 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Funny everyone trying to bring logic to it. The only important points are teams around us are having wobbles while we are in the best form and best run of the season. Might just fall short but the way we played on Saturday we CAN take anyone. BELIEVE..... Agreed CT, we're the form side in the league and we're comfortably brushing teams aside unless we falter in the Wigan game I'm quietly confident of us getting a result against Chelsea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22176 Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 if we keep playing like we have been, we've as good a chance as any of the teams around us of finishing in the top 4. can we really keep it up though? particularly against city and chelsea, two big sides that should have lots still to play for. i'm beginning to believe but I won't be too down if we don't make the top 4 it's still been a mint season whatever happens. it'll hard not to be disappointed though if we do fall short. it's not every season you get this close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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