Fourth place

[Craig_H]

Your assuming that they have that choice.

Their are only 32 teams in the Champions League and half of them are crap no hopers in weak leagues. No disrespect to Norway but is someone really going to choose a team from Norway over Liverpool because they are in the Champions League?

The 10 to 12 real world class teams in Europe, of which we are one, cannot buy up every available player. Every team will have different needs in the summer.

So yes, maybe we will struggle to get a player that we like because another top 10 European team wants them and they are in the Champions League but it doesn't mean we cannot attract world class players this summer.

The top players in europe who are on the move, of course they have that choice.

[topscorer]

We'd all rather be in the Champions League.

But the more competitions we are in the better chance we have of winning something. And the later stages of the Europa League does get the pulse racing. The games against Benfica and Atletico last year were exciting games.

I Agree

[topscorer]

The top players in europe who are on the move, of course they have that choice.

Who did we bid against for Suarez?

[Craig_H]

Oh well, that concludes it then. When Europe's top young players are available, we'll have a free run at all of them.

[topscorer]

Oh well, that concludes it then. When Europe's top young players are available, we'll have a free run at all of them.

I'm not saying we will always get the players that we want or that top players will never have a choice to make.

I'm just saying it's wrong to assume that every top 10 club is going to be chasing every great player that becomes available in the summer and we'll always be last choice of that player.

No one competed against Chelsea for Traitor either. Even the best players don't necessarily have a line of clubs begging them to join.

[Craig_H]

Torres thing was purely one of money and the fact that he'd been tapped up. The whole thing was contrived by chelsea, to be done late in the window.

It is without any shadow of a doubt that a CL club is a more attractive prospect than a Europa League club. If people want to debate whether that is true or not, then i'm out, because it's like debating whether or not water is wet

[Lecter]

We'd all rather be in the Champions League.

But the more competitions we are in the better chance we have of winning something. And the later stages of the Europa League does get the pulse racing. The games against Benfica and Atletico last year were exciting games.

Of course we would

But the question is we need at least the Europa League financially and anyone suggesting any different has no real idea of the club as a business and as as a criteria for meeting the FFPR

[Craig_H]

Not saying the Europa League doesnt have a financial benefit Lec, but if you think we "need" that €10m or whatever it is, then i would dispute that. Of course it'd be nice and we wouldnt turn it down, but we would get by fine without it. We dont NEED it as such.

[Lecter]

Oh well, that concludes it then. When Europe's top young players are available, we'll have a free run at all of them.

Behave yourself you are starting to go way off reservation here

The Europa League might not be a draw over the Champions League but it will be a bigger draw than not being in Europe AT ALL

[topscorer]

Torres thing was purely one of money and the fact that he'd been tapped up. The whole thing was contrived by chelsea, to be done late in the window.

It is without any shadow of a doubt that a CL club is a more attractive prospect than a Europa League club. If people want to debate whether that is true or not, then i'm out, because it's like debating whether or not water is wet

You are changing the debate. No one is saying that Europa is better than CL.

Everyone, except you, is saying Europa is better than no European competition at all.

[Craig_H]

Behave yourself you are starting to go way off reservation here

The Europa League might not be a draw over the Champions League but it will be a bigger draw than not being in Europe AT ALL

I wasnt saying otherwise. I never said not being in europe is a bigger draw, did i?

The 'amount' of draw it has though, compared to not being in europe, isnt worth the hassle it also brings, IMO.

[Lecter]

Not saying the Europa League doesnt have a financial benefit Lec, but if you think we "need" that €10m or whatever it is, then i would dispute that. Of course it'd be nice and we wouldnt turn it down, but we would get by fine without it. We dont NEED it as such.

Do we need the money to survive - NO

Would an additional €10 million plus come in handy for strengthening the squad under the FFPR - Yes

Sorry but the rules mean that the larger the income the more you can spend - that is the bottomline Craig

The more we can spend the better chance we have of getting in the Champions League

Might not be palatable but thems the facts

[Craig_H]

You are changing the debate. No one is saying that Europa is better than CL.

Everyone, except you, is saying Europa is better than no European competition at all.

And you also know which is the most read 'newspaper' in the country. An example there of how 'meaningful' the majority vote can sometimes be...

Whether or not everyone else agrees, doesnt shape my views.

When weighing up all the positives and negatives, I would rather not be in the europa league. Me. That's what I would prefer, it's MY opinion and my preference. Is that ok? Hopefully, in our democratic society, i am allowed to have that preference.

[Lecter]

I wasnt saying otherwise. I never said not being in europe is a bigger draw, did i?

The 'amount' of draw it has though, compared to not being in europe, isnt worth the hassle it also brings, IMO.

Listen I dont like playing on a Thursday and then on a Sunday but its needs must and if you cant see that then you are dumber than I thought*





















* looks like Arn might have a challenger for his title

[Craig_H]

Yes yes, very funny.

It's not 'needs must' though, is it? You said yourself we dont NEED the €10m. And again, it's only that much if you get to the final, which isnt a given.

Do we need the money to survive - NO

Would an additional €10 million plus come in handy for strengthening the squad under the FFPR - Yes

Sorry but the rules mean that the larger the income the more you can spend - that is the bottomline Craig

The more we can spend the better chance we have of getting in the Champions League

Might not be palatable but thems the facts

Indeed they are the facts. The €10m figure is down to getting to the final too, isnt it? Not something you can exactly rely on, but a possibility.

Personally i dont think the €10m would make a significant difference to us, and i wouldnt be too fussed at missing out on it, if it means we avoid the other annoyances of being in the Europa League. But that's just me apparently Each to their own. Also apparently.