Europe

[RichC]

[QUOTE=Mostar;1925299]Finishing 5th would be certainly over the achievement given how poor of the season we had until January and how weak and thin squad we have.

If we can get some good quality buys this summmer I agree the future would look bright.

On that note, I couldn't help but to think, watching the game today, how much better team we would have been if we could have signed A. Young and Adam in January's transfer window [/QUOTE]

Bit in bold -

For the balance of the side I'd happily see those 2 come in - LB and a CB and maybe a new DM and I think we'd have the look of a good 1st team.

We still need to improve the overall quality of the squad though as it's pretty thin still

[Exiled_red]

I think 5th is certainly do able, top 4 going to be a long shot for this season but we're really not that far off from being back there again - shrewd summer of transfers and we'll be looking good

A break down of our season:

..............Pl...W...D...L...F...A...PTS
Hodgson..20...7....4...9..24..27...25
Dalglish...10...6....2...2...17..9....20
Total.....30...13..6..11..41..36..45


If we'd had the form we've shown under Dalglish all season we'd have 60 points (3 behind Man Utd), we'd be in the title race! Ok this season alot of teams have been sloppy but still, decent signings and next season we could challenge.

[RichC]

A break down of our season:

..............Pl...W...D...L...F...A...PTS
Hodgson..20...7....4...9..24..27...25
Dalglish...10...6....2...2...17..9....20
Total.....30...13..6..11..41..36..45


If we'd had the form we've shown under Dalglish all season we'd have 60 points (3 behind Man Utd), we'd be in the title race! Ok this season alot of teams have been sloppy but still, decent signings and next season we could challenge.

makes me want to cry - that fool with the worrying love for Smints and all things Fergerson did a number on us this season, complete and utter disaster.

[Mattshark]

I don't want Europe.

Without it we can get back to playing saturdays. It's one less distraction to get in the way. We'll then start the season in August knowing we have 3 trophies to aim for.

I can't see it really hampering signings either. How many top players want to play in the Europa? CL yes.

Seriously lets trim the squad and bring in some quality. A smaller better squad with fewer games to play.

Can't agree with that in the slightest, I think that tactic would be suicidal. A smaller squad would be disastrous, it is already too small as it is.

[wavydavy]

I think it's critical just who we're up against. Let's face it Chelsea are a top side who'll fight and dig in. They won't capitulate while Spurs and City just might. You never know. If we can negotiate the next 4 games we could be sitting pretty. At least we've something to play for. Even Arsenal away doesn't fill me with dread these days. Would be a good time to get our first win there. I'm hopeful of reeling at least one of them in and making it into Europe but I won't be slashing my wrists if we don't. We're back, or on our way back. Of that I'm now sure.

[DannyMan2006]

Off the topic but good to see you post again DannyMan

Cheers mate, been busy with work lately, which with the way the team has been playing in Europe has been a good thing

[Mostar]

For the balance of the side I'd happily see those 2 come in - LB and a CB and maybe a new DM and I think we'd have the look of a good 1st team.

We still need to improve the overall quality of the squad though as it's pretty thin still

I personally would go and get us 2 LBs (if we can sign Insua for back up option with Aurelio still being on our payroll), a new CB, DM, CM and a "winger" (2 would be better).

After that if we could get few more to improve the squad overall I think we would be set to really contend for top 4 spots.

[BobTheCharmer]

Can't agree with that in the slightest, I think that tactic would be suicidal. A smaller squad would be disastrous, it is already too small as it is.

With only domestic football to concentrate on we'll be fine. Squad size is always a tough one. Few injuries or suspensions and you have players kicking their heels on the sidelines yet on the flip side you're down to your bare bones. I think its important that we don't stop the route for the youngsters by clogging the system with fillers.

I think an experienced forward that can come on and do a decent job would be a good starting point. Not a piff paff player like Ngog where it flys off him at all angles. Someone that if he scores a few maybe gets to keep the shirt for a while.

[andrewces38]

With only domestic football to concentrate on we'll be fine. Squad size is always a tough one. Few injuries or suspensions and you have players kicking their heels on the sidelines yet on the flip side you're down to your bare bones. I think its important that we don't stop the route for the youngsters by clogging the system with fillers.

I think an experienced forward that can come on and do a decent job would be a good starting point. Not a piff paff player like Ngog where it flys off him at all angles. Someone that if he scores a few maybe gets to keep the shirt for a while.

Kuyt?..............providing we sign a decent RM

[Baracus]

@dom9 so true

The last time, we had a similar thread, we drew to wigan, then a couple of weeks later the thread died a death after we lost to west ham.

Its not impossible, but I don't think it will happen. We don't have a decent squad. And it is crucial at this late stage of the season to have as many options and fit players as possible [something rafa used to say alot because it really is crucial] , we have neither.

On a side not. Not making europe should mean we end up playing the majority of our games next season on a saturday at 3pm.

However I have realised that Sky will end up using us a big draw to push monday night football down our throats. We may end up playing catch up in the league more often then not without being in europe

[magicalbarnes]

I think we can still finish 5th but that draw at home to wigan is going to cost us big time. If we would have won that one, we would have been 6 points behind city in 4th - with them having to come to Anfield.

Whatever happens its been a brilliant 2nd half to the season, and im really looking forward to 2011/12.

[Charly]

The effort we put into Europe this year was embarrasing.

It was still a trophy and we could not be arsed. They should scrap it altogether, and expand the Champions League slightly.

[yamiedo]

It would tie in with how this season has gone tbf............

This hasn't been the first "is Europe/CL possible?" thread. Everytime we see some light we **** up and throw it away. I was starting to get positive before and we drew with Wigan and lost to West Ham.

Now we've gone and won two difficult games in Man Utd at Anfield and Sunderland at the SOL. And that has given us SOME hope.

Yes but remember we have Suarez and Carroll fronting our attack now. We have options and with Gerrard coming back our team will look a lot more dangerous.

[Big Dave]

What happens if Birmingham get relegated? Will they still be playing in the Europa league next season or might they give their place to 6th?

I can see at least one of Man City or Spurs having a slump, I think that we're just too far behind to capitalise though.

[Darkon]

I think we stand a good chance of catching spurs, they are still in the CL and they hardly have the squad to play strong in that competition as well as the PL meaning they will drop points. If we get a home victory against spurs I could very well see us finishing on the fifth spot.

I don't think we will catch city, they are now out of europe and only have the top-4 to focus on. They also have a stronger squad than Spurs and can better coupe with an injury or two.