The World of Football/Soccer.

[ry1220]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Looking at the remaining schedule Liverpool still have a slight chance of reaching 4th place. They're playing Chelsea plus three of the bottom four while Spurs and Man City have a much tougher finish, with both having to go up against two of the top three. They also play each other, which helps the Reds.

Eh...I've resigned myself to a 6th place finish and another year of Rafa trying to win the Europa League over the Premier League.

[ukhotstove]

Unless I've failed to pick up some latest news, Portsmouth will not be in Europe next season even if they do win the FA Cup. The deadline to apply for a UEFA Licence was March 1st of this year to play in European competitions next season, Portsmouth failed to apply for said licence and have launched an appeal which if this fails doesn't matter if they win the FA Cup they will not be in Europe next season.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by ry1220

Eh...I've resigned myself to a 6th place finish and another year of Rafa trying to win the Europa League over the Premier League.

He wants to do well in Europe to get his dream job of manager at Madrid.

[LFC1892]

Thank #@*& they have put Liverpool up for sale. Thats all.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

Portsmouth will NOT be playing in the Europa Cup if they lose. The place will go to the 7th place team.

The national cup winners get a EL place if they hadnt qualified for the CL.

Just to be clear, in normal circumstances bababui would be incorrect about this, but because Portsmouth is most likely ineligible for European play next season, that's how it'll probably work.

England gets three Europa League spots each season. One always goes to the team that finishes fifth in the table. The second goes to the winner of the Carling Cup, unless that team finishes in the top five in the table, in which case the sixth place team gets it. The third spot goes to the winner of the FA Cup, unless that team has already qualified for European play (either by winning the Carling Cup or placing high enough in the league). If the winner of the FA Cup doesn't take the place, it goes to the runner-up in the FA Cup (this is how West Ham were able to play in the UEFA Cup a few years ago). It's only if that club has also already qualified for European play (or is ineligible) that the spot can go to the club that finishes seventh.

[mlyons]

dola

In other words, if Portsmouth hadn't screwed up their paperwork, they would be playing in the Europa League next season regardless of how they do against Chelsea next month.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Thank #@*& they have put Liverpool up for sale. Thats all.

As a Liverpool fan do you.

A) Blame the owners.

B) Blame Benitez.

C) Blame both.

Something that may interest you, in the two full seasons that Hicks and Gillett have owned the team they have let Benitez spend more than Fergie, Wenger and the various managers at Chelsea. Taking into account what the so called top four have spent and what they have brought in they are as follows Liverpool spent £8m more than they brought in whilst Man Utd -£33m, Chelsea -£6m and Arsenal -£16m have all brought in more than they've spent.

[His Own Bad Self]

I turned on the Spurs-Chelsea match at about 70 minutes and spent maybe two minutes thinking I was watching a replay of their win over Arsenal. It was uncanny.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by His Own Bad Self

I turned on the Spurs-Chelsea match at about 70 minutes and spent maybe two minutes thinking I was watching a replay of their win over Arsenal. It was uncanny.

Gareth Bale is playing out of his skin at the moment as are Spurs, probably the inform team at the moment in the prem. If Man City can get a handful of points from their next two games against Arsenal and Villa it should set up one of the games of the season when they play Spurs, be interesting next season if both Man City and Spurs can take that extra step.

[His Own Bad Self]

I finally settled on a team to root for. I started by looking for a team that has been in the Premiership since its inception. I eliminated the Big Four - too easy, although I enjoy Arsenal very much. Bill Simmons is (supposed to be) a Spurs fan, and Marc Stein supports Man City, so I went with Everton. I at least recognize Saha and Howard... it's a start.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by His Own Bad Self

I finally settled on a team to root for. I started by looking for a team that has been in the Premiership since its inception. I eliminated the Big Four - too easy, although I enjoy Arsenal very much. Bill Simmons is (supposed to be) a Spurs fan, and Marc Stein supports Man City, so I went with Everton. I at least recognize Saha and Howard... it's a start.

Good choice, known as the peoples club. I work with a few Everton fans (z cars ringtones on phones are often heard around the office) and some Liverpool fans and not knocking any Liverpool fans on here but the Everton fans at work are easier to get on with than the Liverpool ones.

Great tradition, throwing the Everton mints to the fans, coming out to the Z cars theme (old cop tv show from years back). Nice to see someone not taking the easy option and picking one of the so called big four.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by His Own Bad Self

I finally settled on a team to root for. I started by looking for a team that has been in the Premiership since its inception. I eliminated the Big Four - too easy, although I enjoy Arsenal very much. Bill Simmons is (supposed to be) a Spurs fan, and Marc Stein supports Man City, so I went with Everton. I at least recognize Saha and Howard... it's a start.

They're who I support. Good club, and one of the best at making do without much money. Lots and lots of good midfielders -- Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini, Jack Rodwell.

[ukhotstove]

Man Utd without Rooney, playing probably the inform team at the moment and still win 3-1. That's what seperates the top teams and the nearly teams.

[rudel.dietrich]

Chelsea looked like a team that wanted to win the title. That was an absolute wrecking from top to bottom on poor Wigan.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Chelsea looked like a team that wanted to win the title. That was an absolute wrecking from top to bottom on poor Wigan.

Wigan showed themselves to be gutless and spineless. now Burnley, on the other hand, showed the world courage and fighting spirit.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by bababui

Wigan showed themselves to be gutless and spineless. now Burnley, on the other hand, showed the world courage and fighting spirit.

I think it is more that Chelsea wanted the title race to be over and wanted that scoring record. It was not so much that Wigan was bad it was more that Chelsea simply overpowered them in every aspect of the game and you could see the disparity between the top and bottom teams in terms of pure talent.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

I think it is more that Chelsea wanted the title race to be over and wanted that scoring record. It was not so much that Wigan was bad it was more that Chelsea simply overpowered them in every aspect of the game and you could see the disparity between the top and bottom teams in terms of pure talent.

Tottenham had a chance to move up to third and automatically qualify for the Champs league group stage. They scored two quick goals and packed it away. They allowed 3 goals to the worst team in the Premiership. 'Arry's face after the second Burnley goal was priceless.

[LFC1892]

Theres always next season.....

[bababui]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Theres always next season.....

At least until 2012 and the end of the world.

[Cooleyvol]

Once Torres and Gerrard leave Liverpool this offseason, it will be the end of the world for that town.