Fourth place

[Drago]

Even if a non European qualifier reaches the final of the FA cup we will need 5th. As it stands 6th will be enough.

[greystoneslfc]

Even if a non European qualifier reaches the final of the FA cup we will need 5th. As it stands 6th will be enough.

It would have to be a Man City vs Man U/Arsenal final for 6th to be enough. Or a situation like last year where Portsmouth were unable to compete in European competition due to their financial position.

[DannyMan2006]

It would have to be a Man City vs Man U/Arsenal final for 6th to be enough. Or a situation like last year where Portsmouth were unable to compete in European competition due to their financial position.

[Dantheman]

What if we win the UEFA Cup, is there a place for defending champions a la 2006?

[DannyMan2006]

I guess after beating United we can cling to the hopes of getting 4th.

What frustrates me so much about this season is our games against the "Big 3" of United, Arsenal and Chelsea have been pretty positive under both Roy and Kenny. A 1-1 v Arsenal despite being down to ten, losing late on to a Bebatov hat trick at OT, wins home and away v Chelsea and a home win v United yesterday.

So that suggests that we do have a squad of players to compete. Those results have all come at different times in the season with various players fit or not for all the sides so no excuses levelled in that direction.

So why can we raise ourselves for the big games but not the ones against Wigan (a draw under both Kenny and Roy) and Blackpool (a defeat under both Kenny and Roy). Fact remains we still have team that is not good enough to perform on a concistant basis. Question that needs answering is whether or not it's down to a lack of quality or a lack of mental strength. Maybe it's both.

[DannyMan2006]

What if we win the UEFA Cup, is there a place for defending champions a la 2006?

Yes, I think there is.

[magicalbarnes]

I guess after beating United we can cling to the hopes of getting 4th.

What frustrates me so much about this season is our games against the "Big 3" of United, Arsenal and Chelsea have been pretty positive under both Roy and Kenny. A 1-1 v Arsenal despite being down to ten, losing late on to a Bebatov hat trick at OT, wins home and away v Chelsea and a home win v United yesterday.

So that suggests that we do have a squad of players to compete. Those results have all come at different times in the season with various players fit or not for all the sides so no excuses levelled in that direction.

So why can we raise ourselves for the big games but not the ones against Wigan (a draw under both Kenny and Roy) and Blackpool (a defeat under both Kenny and Roy). Fact remains we still have team that is not good enough to perform on a concistant basis. Question that needs answering is whether or not it's down to a lack of quality or a lack of mental strength. Maybe it's both.

To be honest thats been our problem for the last 20 years. We always raise our game for the big matches, but come unstuck against the lesser teams.

[Red_Polo]

To be honest thats been our problem for the last 20 years. We always raise our game for the big matches, but come unstuck against the lesser teams.

I'd disagree in a subtle way. I think it's been our biggest problem in my fonder parts of the last 20 years

[little dave hedgehog]

don't the winners of the wafer cup go to the champions league? no idea, but it sounds right, like...

[Exiled_red]

don't the winners of the wafer cup go to the champions league? no idea, but it sounds right, like...

No it's a place in the Europa League again.

Edit: I had thought that they should consider giving the winners a champions league place though

[rudedog]

No it's a place in the Europa League again.

Edit: I had thought that they should consider giving the winners a champions league place though

It would certainly help raise the profile of the competition.

[Neil Young]

But if a team from England, Italy or Spain won it then there would be five teams from one country in the following season's Champions League and they don't want that to happen again.

[topscorer]

OK, so if Spurs nab 4th and Chelsea finish 5th but we win the Europa League what needs to happen in the FA Cup for Chelsea to be out of Europe

[Neil Young]

Chelsea get into the Europa League if they finish fifth, no matter what else happens (assuming the world doesn't end or something equally cataclysmic).

[topscorer]