Is my understanding correct: 5th Place qualify automatically 6th place qualify this season due to Chelsea winning the Carling Cup If Liverpool and Arsenal compete for the FA Cup final, the team finishing 7th will qualify (assuming both of these teams finish in the top 6) Is that correct?
ah thanks - i've been wondering about this. So, there is a very good chance that 7th will do - not that i don't think we can finish higher mind! It would be a real shame to not get europe footy for next season after this truly amazing campaign! I bet reading and villa make the final now
Taking this one step further. Does anyone know which qualifying round we would need to enter depending on each scenario?
Isn't it a case that as long as one of Arsenal or Liverpool win the FA cup then 7th is good enough, it doesn't have to be those playing each other in the final. I thought they had scrapped the runners up qualifying as a lucky loser
If you finish in the Europa League spot and not the Champions League, don't be disappointed, the latter is far more interesting and you get to play far more exotic teams. Heck, you could get an away tie in Wales for all we know! Or the Faroe Islands! If someone offered me Champions League or Europa League, I'd pick the latter 100 times out of 100.
Wasn't looking forward to EL a few months ago but now I think it should be fun. And with Koeman's emphasis on cups, it wouldn't be unthinkable for us to win it.
I stand to be corrected, but my understanding is: 5th place: Straight into the EL group stage FA Cup winner (or 6th place, if the FA Cup winner finishes in the top five): One qualifying round League Cup winner (or 6th place, if the League Cup winner finishes in the top five, or 7th place if both cup winners finish in the top six): Two qualifying rounds
If we want to progress, they should be in addition. We need to have games before these to get to match speed, or we could catch a cold. It may mean we don't have a headline pre-season game though.
Given that you're suggesting that the Europa League is the more interesting competition, you do realise you contradicted yourself. I assume the first time your used the word latter you meant former. Interesting point of view, but I'd take Champions League over the Europa by choice myself.