Some may mock the Europa league but I believe Europa League is key for one main reason.
If we hope to play in Champions league we need to be able to balance a league campaign with a European campaign.
There is absolutely no point in people saying lets take a weaken side to Europe. Is this is same attitude we will take if we were playing in the Champions league?
Those people that don't take Europa League seriously are simply saying..
'if we qualify for champions league let's not let it get in the way of our league competition because we need to finish Top 4 consistently'
Ironically the same people will be complaining if we followed that same strategy in UCL and finished bottom of the group stages because we fielded a weak team.
You can't win with some fans. We have a very convoluted strategic approach to what our objectives should be as a club. Everyone has an opinion I guess.
But in conclusion if we can't field a strong team in Europa League and play to a high standard in the premiership then all we are doing is preparing ourselves for league failure in a season when we do actually qualify for Champions league.
Football should be about winning every game and playing to your highest standard.
For the first time I believe we have the strongest squad capable of sustaining a campaign on both fronts. It should be about playing the best players that are fit and not fatigued. Not about saving supposed first teamers for 3points in the premiership.
In truth we no more have first teamers we just have a squad which is what I commend Baldini, AVB and Levy for creating.
The importance of Europa League!!
posted on 24/10/13
Celery
Ok fella, i get you...
posted on 24/10/13
Celery
I agree with you btw, it's just that Sandy has to be spoken to differently to most other posters on here.
Why, just because I post things you may not particularly like. That`s a bit of a shallow way to deal with a debate. It`s statements like you have just posted that really show how arrogant some of your supporters have become.
What sort of nonsense statement is this: You should be thankful and embrace it and appreciate that UEFA don't just think about us elite clubs
You are calling yourself an elite club now, if that is not arrogance I do not know what is. You won the lottery, end of, Doesn`t make you an elite club.
posted on 24/10/13
White Wall
A good reason for you to take the Europa cup seriously is the UEFA Coefficiant points it will bring.
They are a complete nonsense. How can a team like Arsenal, who finish 4th in their doemstic league on a regular basis keep getting a top seed in the CL, over teams that have actually won their countries title, just because they qualify every year. The seeding and the country protection nonsense are purely designed to keep the same stella teams at the top table for everymore. Needs seriously looking at.
posted on 24/10/13
Sandy
Please refer to my previous post to Chicken.
posted on 24/10/13
Celery (
Please refer to my previous post to Yourself.
posted on 24/10/13
Sandy,
Not saying the co-efficient points system isnt flawed, they appears a bit like the FFP rules to just keep the current so called big clubs at the top.
But if you like them or not, they do matter if you intend to play in the CL season after season and thats why a good run in the Europa should be taken seriously by yourselves.
The problem of playing league games straight after and the demands put on your players would be a good experience for your players and squad.
The problem is as originally stated its a balancing act, that is why some managers now earn more than the players.
posted on 24/10/13
As far as sending weakened squads to play Europa league group stage games - horses for courses. It's not a big deal.
If we were up against the top teams in the latter stages we'd obviously pick a stronger side in order to compete with them. We wouldn't all be sitting here hoping we send all the fringe/development squad to face a top side knowing that we'll probably get whacked 6-0 but pleased that our first team are fit and rating to go on Sunday.
It's not too different to athletics, take the 100m for example - usain bolt/other high level athletes will run 10.20 in the 1st heat, then step up to 10.05 and so on until they're up against the best, Why? Because they're doing enough to get the job done in correlation to the calibre of opponents.
posted on 24/10/13
Using the analogy of 100 metres, Usain Bolt obviously doesn't share the view that being reigning champion means that taking part in the heats is of lesser importance than the final. He may not deign to run as fast but he takes it as seriously as if it is indeed the final. Thats the positive mental attitude of the teams and individuals champions are made of. Each stage should be given the same importance as the final.
posted on 24/10/13
The winning mentality is the same but performing at the absolute optimum/playing the strongest team isn't required for the early rounds though, hence why they're both still doing enough to get the job done. So should we be playing our strongest available team in EVERY game then?
posted on 24/10/13
As I said earlier, surely the point is to field strongest team depending on who we are playing not just what the competition is. Players have to fit for purpose. just because the EL is of lesser importance to many fans doesn't mean that AVB has the same attitude.