BIG NEWS: FA has decided

[icemike49uk]

The F.A has decided to let in the 4th team into the champions even if liverpool go on to win HA HA what a blow to liverpools ego this might hinder their performance in the final knowing even if they win they wont be able to defend their title next season lol :D :cool:

[Coach_McGuirk]

And it might give them even more incentive to beat Arsenal this weekend as if they don't finish 4th they'll be in the UEFA Cup.

[fox point fury]

Good for the FA.

[Jasonisimo]

I don't think Liverpool will be any less motivated to win simply because they possibly will not be able to defend the Cup next seasonk. The decision will just make them savor it more, if they do win. Besides, it's not like Steven Gerrard has plans to defend it anyway! :eek:

It will also serve to motivate them on Monday, as Coach said. :(

[djm277]

I think it's ludicrous to not give the champion a chance to defend their title, never mind the sport.

[Jasonisimo]

They have to earn the chance. Plenty of sports and competitions don't guarantee the champion the opportunity to defend the title. Now even the World Cup doesn't guarantee the winner a place.

[Arsenal_pwns_all]

I think it is even more ludicious to deny the hard workers of Everton a chance to play in the Champions League next season after all the hard work the have put in. They were far and away a better team than the joke of a team that is Liverpool. Liverpool is just lucky that they fought against a out-of-sorts Juve and a Chelsea with a Championship winning hangover. Trust me, they will NOT defeat AC.

[jwaldman11]

I think it is even more ludicious to deny the hard workers of Everton a chance to play in the Champions League next season after all the hard work the have put in. They were far and away a better team than the joke of a team that is Liverpool. Liverpool is just lucky that they fought against a out-of-sorts Juve and a Chelsea with a Championship winning hangover. Trust me, they will NOT defeat AC.
I agree with that. A place in the Champions' League is a reward for being consistent through the long haul against other clubs looking for the same thing, not for sporadically flipping the switch in a tournament. The standings say that Everton has been a better side than 'Pool this season and, if it stays that way, then they'll have earned the chance to do what Liverpool is doing this year.

And the point about other champions not being guaranteed the chance to defend their title is right on. There is nothing in the NCAA rules, for example, that guarantees a team an automatic spot in the tournament if they win the national title. They have to earn their way in. It's a rare occurence to be sure but, if Liverpool win it all and don't get the chance to defend, they only have themselves to blame for poor efforts domestically.

[Miles Brasher]

If they lose on sunday, and the 2 teams behind them win, they're slipping out of Uefa cup spaces too... :p

[Gunners11]

I don't think they should be given the place just because they "win" the title. Lets say they do win, what does winning it this year have to do with winning it next year? Nothing, if they want to defend their title they have to earn it. I'm glad UEFA decided it should be that way.

By the way, I'm still pissed they beat us at Anfield, so fuk 'em.

[Maczebus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4515401.stm

It's not as final as everyone is making out here. If Liverpool win it they'll be lobbying for an extra spot. Something UEFA has said could feasibly happen.
Everton were never going to be done out of a 4th spot.

[martymarts]

IMHO if you win a tournament it's absurd not to be an automatic qualifier for the next year! I felt this about not giving Brazil an automatic place for Germany 2006, while the hosts were given one! I mean it's not like it's a challenge tourne, as Wimbledon used to be, the holders still have to get through all the stages!

I know this would mean that Liverpool winning the CL would hurt us, having to qualify, but, if it were Arsenal in this position I know darn well most of you would feel aggrieved?

Everton has done really well, but, let's get things into perspective, they've won 17 out of 35 games (less than half) and have 58 points; 15 points behind ManUre, 19 points behind us and 30 points behind the Chavs? Sorry, but, I think winning the CL is a bigger achievement than finishing 30 points shy of the EPL leaders?

[Jasonisimo]

Marty, How many games have Liverpool won this EPL season?

And would you care to name names after saying that you "know darn well" most of "us" (who? Arsenal fans?) would feel aggrieved? Who, exactly, are you so sure would be upset?

Personally, I wouldn't feel aggrieved if Arsenal won the CL after finishing 5th, therefore losing out on the chance to defend the trophy. I'd be delighted they acheived something so coveted on the back of such a disappointing season.

Nevertheless, this whole discussion could become moot if Milan win and Everton drop points--both distinct posibilities. Let's wrangle over this if and when it the situation arises.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

IMHO if you win a tournament it's absurd not to be an automatic qualifier for the next year! I felt this about not giving Brazil an automatic place for Germany 2006, while the hosts were given one! I mean it's not like it's a challenge tourne, as Wimbledon used to be, the holders still have to get through all the stages!

I know this would mean that Liverpool winning the CL would hurt us, having to qualify, but, if it were Arsenal in this position I know darn well most of you would feel aggrieved?

Everton has done really well, but, let's get things into perspective, they've won 17 out of 35 games (less than half) and have 58 points; 15 points behind ManUre, 19 points behind us and 30 points behind the Chavs? Sorry, but, I think winning the CL is a bigger achievement than finishing 30 points shy of the EPL leaders?

Liverpool winning the CL would not affect Arsenal in any way shape or form. Maybe a little bragging from their fans but that is it.

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Also, someone asked whether we would swap our season for Liverpool's. Absolutely not, no way could i stomach us losing some 13 league games with so many woeful displays just for the chance to appear in the CL final. If anything the current situation with Liverpool just goes to highlight how much of a lottery this competition is. I don't think many people would argue that we are currently a much better side than Liverpool in almost every department. But there they are.

[martymarts]

Liverpool winning the CL would not affect Arsenal in any way shape or form. Maybe a little bragging from their fans but that is it.If the FA had kept to the rule as stated on their website, earlier in the year, Chelsea and Liverpool, if CL winners, would get the automatic places and us and ManUre would have to qualify. Everton would've been relegated to the UEFA Cup!

In the knock out stages The Pool got past Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea and qualified from a group with Monaco, Olympiakos and Deportiva De la Coruna. They won 8 out of 13 games, including their qualifier. Some teams are better cup teams than league teams; lord knows we had our years where that was true! Just personally, I think winninng the CL is more of an achievement than a mediocre 4th, 30 points behind the leaders?

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Again. Liverpool winning the CL would not affect Arsenal in anyway. The CL winners are always given the No.1 spot in the seedings and thus automatically qualify. They would not take Arsenal's automatic place.

[bjb7223]

FOOTBALL: REDS GIVEN EUROPEAN CUP LIFELINE
By David Maddock
LIVERPOOL were last night sensationally thrown a Champions League lifeline.

UEFA confirmed that if they beat Milan in the final later this month but fail to finish in the top four of the Premiership, then they will seriously discuss the possibility of offering them a place in next season's draw. Anfield officials had feared that their prospects of joining Europe's elite next season had virtually gone after the FA decided only the top four teams in the Premiership would qualify. Now, though, UEFA have taken pity on the Merseyside club, despite originally insisting that there were only four places available to English clubs. A spokesman for Europe's governing body explained last night that there had been a change of heart because they feel the Champions League could be devalued if the winners aren't allowed to defend their trophy. UEFA's top brass will discuss the possibility of offering a fifth place to English clubs at a meeting in Manchester on June 18 and 19.


If the Anfield club do gain entry into next season's competition after winning it, then they will be top-seeded and given immediate entry into the group stages, forcing both Arsenal and Manchester United to go through the qualifying rounds. And that will infuriate Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger, who yesterday ranked Liverpool alongside last season's FA Cup finalists Millwall.


Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has assured worried fans that he won't be tempted away from the club. Real Madrid, who will terminate the contract of current boss Wanderley Luxemburgo if - as seems likely - they finish a second successive season without a trophy, have Benitez top of their wish-list. Yet even though the 45-year-old, hailed by chief executive Rick Parry as Europe's top coach, has admitted that one day he would like to go back to the city of his birth, he insisted yesterday that he is committed to bringing back the glory days to Anfield.


"Liverpool fans can rest assured that I will not be leaving. I want to win lots of trophies and I want to do that with this great club," he said. "I have perhaps 20 years left as a coach. If I can stay that long at Anfield then that would be great."

[bjb7223]

and tell thatfrog Wegner he can put that in his pipe and smoke it.

[Claus KJ]

A spokesman for Europe's governing body explained last night that there had been a change of heart because they feel the Champions League could be devalued if the winners aren't allowed to defend their trophy. UEFA's top brass will discuss the possibility of offering a fifth place to English clubs at a meeting in Manchester on June 18 and 19.

If they're so worried about their precious tournament being devalued then they should have thought about this scenario when they made the rules regarding qualifying for it. Lame jackasses.

And why should another team be punished because Liverpool couldn't hack it in their domestic league?

KJ