The Europa League after Christmas could be...

mike65

....sprinkled with big money Premier League fairy dust!

Man City and Chelsea are now edging towards dates in the frozen wastes of Eastern Europe Stoke and Birmingham, its not impossible for Man Utd to join them as Basel perfectly capable of an upset.

MUSEIST

The europa league is where its at I tell ya.

I am convinced AVB just wants to win this again

ironbluedun

could not see city, utd or chelsea taking it seriously at all, especially when games on a Thursday before weekend league matches.

paddy978

Pity Rovers didn't get an easier group.

aidan24326

paddy978 wrote: »

Pity Rovers didn't get an easier group.

In fairness they overachieved by even qualifying really, and were always likely to be punching a bit above their weight. Spurs and Rubin Kazan wasn't the easiest group to get though.

VW 1

Thursday night's...channel 5


If United somehow do mess up against Basel and end up in the EL, at least we will see a fair bit of game time for the younger squad members as I couldnt see Fergie taking it seriously with the PL to concentrate on.

GavRedKing

It would be bad for revenue for us at Chelsea, but like City, or Utd we would probably through the reserves and fringe players.

Shanotheslayer

I'd understand why United wouldn't take it seriously, but City and Chelsea should want a trophy!

everdead.ie

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

I'd understand why United wouldn't take it seriously, but City and Chelsea should want a trophy!

In fairness no one will take it seriously if they believe it will affect their league form.

Fuhrer

Its better to be 4th and win nothing then to be 5th and win the Europa League

Kiwi_knock

Does any English team actually play their strongest team in the Europa League.

legendary.xix

Third placed teams entering the Europa League does nothing for either competition. Having a situation where 3 of 4 clubs in a group, regardless as to whether CL teams care or not about being lumped into the EL, will be playing after Christmas is ridiculous.
I've no problems with clubs like Shamrock Rovers or Everton in the past dropping in having failed to make the Champions League group stages. Once the group stages have started, no other clubs should be parachuted into any competition.
I'd like to see the Europa League expanded to 64 with the eventual winner earning a champions league spot. If a country has 4 clubs already, give the Europa League winner neutral country status with their points not going to their league's coefficient, similar in ways to Liverpool's involvement after the won in '05.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Fuhrer wrote: »

Its better to be 4th and win nothing then to be 5th and win the Europa League

There is the whole problem with European football IMO lets stop kidding ourselves and rename the CL the greedy bastards cup because essentially that's what it is now its an absolute nonsense to call it the Champions League when you have so many fourth placed teams in it


Thank you and Rant over

Zebra3

Fuhrer wrote: »

Its better to be 4th and win nothing then to be 5th and win the Europa League

Have football fans become that money obsessed that they'd prefer to get into the CL qualifiers than see their side win a European trophy?

A sad indictment of the state of modern football.

Eathrin

Fuhrer wrote: »

Its better to be 4th and win nothing then to be 5th and win the Europa League

I'm no Birmingham fan, but if I was I'd say the trophy was the most important thing to the club at the time.

flahavaj

Zebra3 wrote: »

Have football fans become that money obsessed that they'd prefer to get into the CL qualifiers than see their side win a European trophy?

A sad indictment of the state of modern football.

No its a sad indictment of how sh*t the EL is.

grenache

What have Manchester City and Home & Away got in common? Both will be featuring on Channel 5 come January :pac:

Zebra3

flahavaj wrote: »

No its a sad indictment of how sh*t the EL is.

A few years ago Aston Villa put out their reserves late in the UEFA Cup to concentrate on 4th in the English Premiership.

As a fan, I'd take Fulham's experience in making it to the EL final over CL qualifiers (and it's possibilties) any day of the week.

dfx-

flahavaj wrote: »

No its a sad indictment of how sh*t the EL is.

Nah. Zebra3 was right.

It's a European trophy. Anyone not taking it seriously should be thrown out of it/banned. I know I'd love nothing more than Spurs to lose out to PAOK in Group A. PAOK and Rubin have tried and deserve it.

Zebra3 wrote: »

As a fan, I'd take Fulham's experience in making it to the EL final over CL qualifiers (and it's possibilties) any day of the week.

I'd rather Middlesbrough's European adventure than Everton's failure in a qualifier

TheBigLebowski

flahavaj wrote: »

No its a sad indictment of how sh*t the EL is.

Yeah it's not on Sky sports, so it must be shit, right? Yeah, and there's teams from places that I don't know, so again it must be shit, right?

I mean do Marathon Sports Tours even go to Kazan?

Morzadec

I'll eat my hat if United don't get a result in Basle when it matters.

Chelsea and City on the other hand are in big big trouble. I assume they would be 1st and 2nd favourites for the Europa League if they qualified.

mike65

Morzadec wrote: »

I'll eat my hat if United don't get a result in Basle when it matters.

Chelsea and City on the other hand are in big big trouble. I assume they would be 1st and 2nd favourites for the Europa League if they qualified.

So then the two Manchester clubs are going to give ITV4 and C5 a mighty ratings boost in February.

Dempsey

Wonder what the odds at the start of the season for both Manchester clubs to be in the Europa League after Christmas

Morzadec

Morzadec wrote: »

I'll eat my hat if United don't get a result in Basle when it matters.

Chelsea and City on the other hand are in big big trouble. I assume they would be 1st and 2nd favourites for the Europa League if they qualified.

what sort of hat are you going to eat so?

theoneeyedman

Morzadec wrote: »

I'll eat my hat if United don't get a result in Basle when it matters.

Chelsea and City on the other hand are in big big trouble. I assume they would be 1st and 2nd favourites for the Europa League if they qualified.

How would you like your hat served ......

pistolpetes11

Some of you good folks will be needing these details :


10.773 frq, H polarisation , 22000 symbol , 5/6 fec

mike65

5 is now on the main EPG I think!

pistolpetes11

mike65 wrote: »

5 is now on the main EPG I think!

It would appear you are wrong ,

Just checked , Sky HD Box, Sky + box and standard Sky box and its only in other channels .

mike65

Ah must be with the card out, dunno why the Irish EGP doesn't have it. I have it on 105 (they have gone Freesat in the UK)

pistolpetes11

mike65 wrote: »

Ah must be with the card out, dunno why the Irish EGP doesn't have it. I have it on 105 (they have gone Freesat in the UK)

Not worth having on the EPG , only pure and utter muck shown on it , especially on thursday nights :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Fowler87

mike65 wrote: »

5 is now on the main EPG I think!

Sure theyl all be on 3e anyhow

d22ontour

3e with Ken Doherty hosting is what i hope for.