4th place or the Uefa cup?

[SB]

I'm happy with the squad we've got and feel that they're good enough to make us challenge for the league next season. A season out of the CL could be a blessing in disguise. It could herald the end of the Yanks for one as we'll not look so attractive to them from a business point of view, but it could also mean we have a better crack at the league.

So Europa League for me, a European trophy in the bag to keep Torres, Mascher, Pepe and the others happy and to show them that their commitment has been worth it. Next season Rafa will have to have his eye on winning the league and that's where my priorities lie.

Not me I want Villa and Silva then I'll be happy

[Roboklopp]

This is a lot closer than it was last night- interesting to see that opinions are much more evenly split at this stage.

I think it is cos we are much closer to the possibility of winning something, that people can sense what it is like to have a trophy again. I dont think the split wouldve been so even if we were in the uefa last 16 but still in the same position in the league at the same time.

[SB]

This is a lot closer than it was last night- interesting to see that opinions are much more evenly split at this stage.

I think it is cos we are much closer to the possibility of winning something, that people can sense what it is like to have a trophy again.

The euphoria of winning a final will always outway the feeling of pulling off a last minute win to secure 4th spot while City loose there match. But financially speaking ??????? 4th spot and CL riches could await!

[Zapater]

UEFA cup (I refuse to call it anything else). Finals are fun, winning trophies is fun. Coming fourth is the sensible choice for the club's future, but sod sensible.

Its not really a fair contest though, we have as good a chance of winning the cup as any of the other 3. Wheras it'll take a minor miracle for us to take 4th.

Fair enough, but finishing 4th gives us a crack at winning the Champions league next season, the competition which is a lot more illustrious and "fun" if you will. Winning this just gives us another highly probable chance of winning this one again. Although with that being said I refuse to discard the competition. Even though it's true that no one gives a toss until the quarter finals there is still something to it.

Look how it enhanced the stature of Sevilla as a club and Juande Ramos for example.

Overall though, we've ****ed up this season so badly, having a trophy to celebrate would be a little bittersweet, although we deserve it and i'd rather have this than the league cup for sure. In principal looking at Atleti we should waltz through them (so happy we're playing them and not Valencia) then Hamburg in the final would be a challenge but I'd imagine us to emerge as victors. If we had to play Fulham it'd be a difficult match to approach considering how underwhelming their squad is but the ridiculous results they've managed to turnover.

Lastly, I just don't see us snatching 4th regardless if we can maintain a 100% record or not. Too many uncontrollable variables for me.

[Fan65]

It'll be another European cup that we've won more times than man ure

Cant wait to sing " We won it one time "

[G]

But to me we would just be another of those clubs in Italy, Spain, France, Germany that never win anything but are still present in the CL.

To me we really need to win the odd trophy for us to having any long terms hope of being a big club. Trophies are what makes our history and it is what we will be remembered for. Nobody will remember the years we finished 3rd, 4th and played in the CL till somewhere between the second round and QF's, heck even the semi finals will not be remembered.

It might be fun being in the CL and playing some of the biggest teams in europe year after year, but if we win nothing all along then we have settled for mediocrity IMO.

P.S. the carling cup should just be abandoned all together

If you dont win these comps then you may aswell not have been in them.

First is first,second is nowhere.**** knows what that makes fourth

[red g]

If you dont win these comps then you may aswell not have been in them.

First is first,second is nowhere.**** knows what the makes fourth

champions league entrants

[badpiggy]

head says 4th. heart says uefa cup.

i'm not sure any of us know the full implications of failing to qualify for the CL but can't see how it would improve anything. winning the uefa cup could have a fantastic effect on morale and would go some way proving to fans and players that rafa still has what it takes to see a competition through to victory.

both would be a fantastic end to a ****ed up season. no matter what now we have beat every team we play from here on.

**** it - voted 4th by a personal margin of 50.000001% to 49.999999% but will be totally gutted if we don't win the cup.

[G]

champions league entrants

Incorrect.

Champions league 3rd qualifying round entrants.No guarantee of even making it through to the actual competition

[G]

deleted:-duplicate post

[Craig_H]

**** forth place, there's no pride in that, lets win a trophy then smash the champions league winners in the super cup to show who the true giants of european football are, finally then we can spend next season doing what is needed.......WINNING THE PREMIERSHIP without the distraction of the champions league so Rafa can't get his priorities wrong again.

How do we strengthen the squad sufficiently (or at all) enough to win the Premier League, without the kind of money that consistent participation in the CL brings?

[Darkon]

How do we strengthen the squad sufficiently (or at all) enough to win the Premier League, without the kind of money that consistent participation in the CL brings?

**** it we can't even strengthen our squad being in the CL :/

just a question of how much money are reserved for interest and payment on loans.

[Craig_H]

**** it we can't even strengthen our squad being in the CL :/

just a question of how much money are reserved for interest and payment on loans.

Interest and loan repayments that DO have to be made, whether we're in the CL or not.

Missing the CL wont mean we can write them off. So either we get in the CL and find it easier to pay them off, lessening the chance of player sales being made to bridge the gap, or we dont get into the CL - and have to find the money from elsewhere.

[BG1973]

europa cup please.

something needs to give in order for change to occur and i think losing CL next season could be the catalyst.

[Icon]

Incorrect.

Champions league 3rd qualifying round entrants.No guarantee of even making it through to the actual competition

Is what I have been saying at work..