[kevruth]

If you look at the FA Cup pairings and the possible outcomes for this next round consider this:

If both Manchester United and Arsenal should win their respective matches there is one chance in three that they will be paired up in the Semifinals. If that happens, a non-Premiership club will make it to the finals. And with that spot goes an automatic trip into the UEFA Cup. How much does that suck as to have an English representative be a non-Premiership club? It could even be Second Division Tranmere who is only ranked 58th in the League. Is this good for the future of England in European competitions since they probably wouldn't go very far and would hurt England's Competition Coefficient?

And to think Charlton may not even qualify for Europe with a 6th place finish. Sheesh!

[olegunnar]

Well even Tranmere can't do any worse than Southampton and Blackburn did this season going out in round 1.

I for one would love to see Tranmere in the final of the FA Cup and in europe or any non prem club for that matter.

[John Boy]

What? Like Ipswich last year? (Albeit through the Fair Play Route).

I think it would be great. Although Millwall fans in Europe is a scary thought.

[kevruth]

Originally posted by John Boy
What? Like Ipswich last year? (Albeit through the Fair Play Route).

I think it would be great. Although Millwall fans in Europe is a scary thought.

Ipswich was an exception. Ipswich also won the Fair Play spot while in the Premiership. They still had most of their Premiership players from the previous season. Didn't they advance to the next round, too?

I never even thought about the possibility of Millwall in Europe. England would certainly get banned again if their hooligans had a Millwall match to terrorise.

[Fevernova99]

I think it would be wonderful for a non-pre team to make it to the final and into europe. Great payback to the true fans of the club that support the team.

Underdogs prevail with hard work and luck, isnt that what the FA cup is all about?

[pookspur]

it will undoubtedly suck - for whoever finishes 6th in the prem. i'm not sure about anyone else. it all depends upon what one considers to be a more deserving criteria for UEFA cup qualification.

i think most would agree that it takes a better side to finish 6th in the prem than it takes to reach a cup final; but is that a more impressive accomplishment? one could easily say that it takes a better team to finish the NCAA basketball regular season with the best record in the country than it takes to win the NCAA tournament - but which is the greater accomplishment? it's quite subjective.

and relative, for that matter. if 6th in the prem goes to a club like charlton or fulham, one might be rather inclined to say "quite impressive", and deserving of that reward. but what if it's liverpool? "with all those resources you've managed to finish in the top 30% of your league - big deal."

in my personal opinion, i really don't think that either 'accomplishment' (6th in the prem, or REACHING a cup final) is significant enough that the denial of a UEFA cup spot represents any great injustice. but i'll certainly understand the disappointment of any addicks fan if that's the way it plays out.

[billf]

If both ManU and Arsenal make the final they will already have wrapped up places in the Champions League. How would a UEFA Cup rep via the FA Cup be determined then? Would England just not get one at all?

[Eric B]

Originally posted by kevruth
And to think Charlton may not even qualify for Europe with a 6th place finish. Sheesh!

I thought England got four UEFA Cup places; FAC winner LC winner and 5 & 6 in the Prem. Did Blackburn get in last year because Liverpool came in fifth and also won the LC?

[kevruth]

Originally posted by billf
If both ManU and Arsenal make the final they will already have wrapped up places in the Champions League. How would a UEFA Cup rep via the FA Cup be determined then? Would England just not get one at all?

If both FA Cup finalists qualified for Champions League then the FA Cup spot goes to the highest placed club in the Premiership that hasn't aready qualified for Europe. In this case it would go to the team that finishes sixth (first four places are CL and fifth gets an automatic UEFA Cup bid).

Hope this explains things.

[M]

Originally posted by kevruth
Ipswich was an exception. Ipswich also won the Fair Play spot while in the Premiership. They still had most of their Premiership players from the previous season. Didn't they advance to the next round, too?

Yes, but ironically I don't think the fair play winner counts towards a country's coefficient?

The thing that screws England is giving one of its UEFA Cup spots to the winner of a competition that few care about - the League Cup. Having either Middlesbrough or Bolton in the UEFA Cup instead of the sixth placed team is ridiculous, imo.