I was reluctant to put him on my fantasy team because… well, you never know. I made the transfer before the match was even over. LOL! Dropped Keane to add Defoe.
at this point it increasingly looks like that might not be us. Everton 2 points behind with 2 games in hand, ManU 5 points behind with a game in hand... After all the years we have been in it - we could miss out on EL in the year that it really means something - CL Qualification to the winner next year.
I'm sorry, I still maintain the Europa League's value is in winning the thing. No matter what else comes with it.
Missing the Europa League might have some benefit in terms of fixture congestion and travel. Look at Liverpool's league form w/o it. Notice that the only year Spurs qualified for the Champions League (09/10) had no Europa League to worry about.
Playing in the Europa league gives us a double chance at CL qualifications. Given how strong the league is, EL maybe a better option at CL qualifications.
You just made me realize that - 7th only makes it to EL if Arse win the cup and also finish outside top 4. I think.
we definitely will not qualify from 7th. if the FA cup winner is in the CL, the runners up go into the Europa. if both finalists are in the CL, then it goes to 7th place in the league. but that is an impossibility this year. one of the FA cup semifinalists will be in the Europa league next year, either via winning the cup, or losing in the final to arsenal. 7th place will not get into Europe.
The league could get an additional EL spot for fair play. I think Fulham took advantage of that a few years back, when they made the finals of the EL. Note: Actually Fulham made the EL Finals in 2010, and got the Fair Play spot in 2011.
seems arsenal is only marginally better than spurs - they've had nearly as many beatdowns by the top 3
Can't even take pleasure from watching Arse gets smashed, just sums up how garbage this season has been.
I hear ya funny thing is, its not been a terrible season points wise, but compared to expectations its been awful
Well points-wise the last two seasons says more about the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in the Prem, I wouldn't read too much into that. Quality of football has been appalling, let alone some of the results.
you know - I think Everton has a decent shot at 4th. Their next two games are away to Newcastle (today i think) and to Fulham. If they can win both those, then their next game is home to Arsenal. They also have a game in hand against Arsenal (Palace) that they would be expected to win. Plus - the week before their Arsenal clash, Arsenal have to play City.
Good shout, but I noticed they've been eking out results a few times - last minute winners against lowly teams (Cardiff I definitely remember). I haven't watched them in a long time. But maybe they are not quite as good as their results.