Now, I've heard some people say "It'll be better if we're out of Europe next year anyway, then we can concentrate on the league." This is right, it would appear to be a blessing in disguise. BUT I want us to get Europe for the sake of the youth. Fulham got to the finals using their youth squad in the Europa, and I think if Kenny could get us into Europe, then allow the youngsters to try their best it could be an eye opener for us to see who is capable of being the next star. We only have to look at the likes of Kelly, Flanagan and Robinson to see the amount of quality we have on offer. The best part is that these kids weren't even considered to be near the best in the academy. We're still waiting on the likes of Suso, Sterling, Morgan, Coady, Amoo, Ngoo etc.. Who many have said are the future of our club. I personally want to see them get a run out soon, and I fear next season's Europa league could be the only chance they get in the team next season.
I think we should always strive to get into Europe, like you say it gives the youngsters a chance to gain valuable experience. I believe this summer, we'll see alot of comings and goings from the club. The youngsters will need every opportunity there is to prove there worth. Carling cup and Europa league would be ideal for that.
I would love to see us get Europe, I want Liverpool to win trophies and if we can establish a decent squad for next season it could mean we can achieve top 4 and possibly a trophy. Plus, after all the "channel 5 cup" comments from Spurs fans this year, it would be great to stop them even getting that next year.
I stand by my comment that I prefer the Europa League to the Champions League. I'd love to see us have a real go at the Europa League & Carling cup next season. My stance is that a trophy is still a trophy and this season is the first in a long time where qualiforcation for the Europa League through league positions is a real sign of a sides quality. I'm glad that Bolton & Birmingham are in Europe next year as it makes the run in to the end of the league that little bit more nail biting. That and i'd love for Spurs to miss europe all together next season, if that were to happen then i'd imagine 'arry will start looking for a new club to manage (especially now the press have reported that he is now on Chelsea's radar)
Bozz..I think given are recent lean spell, any trophy would be welcome. I like the Europa league, good format giving smaller clubs an opportunity to shine. Once past the group stages, some really good teams from the Champions league come in and make it as competitive as any cup competition. Yes everyone bangs on about the champions league, but not one club would say no to the UEFA cup in there trophy cabinet.
Bolton are in Europe? Since when did you get in Europe for getting beaten in the FA Cup semi final? Stoke will be in Europe whether or not they win the FA Cup. Personally I reckon not being in Europe for one season will be a blessing,as it will mean the youngsters can be involved in a long Carling Cup run,the challenge for top 4 will be easier and it keeps the players fresh for an assault on the FA Cup too.Get the players a taste for winning trophies and then we can with additional signings go all out for the title the year after.I believe that Kenny will turn Liverpool into champions within 3 years,I stand by that.
Not necessarily - if City win the FA Cup but finish 5th in the PL then 6th place in the league will get a Europa spot. There's quite a good article on Talksport about it. Basically if City win the FA Cup then not only is there an incentive for Stoke to lose to City to try and make sure City stay in the CL places, but there is also an incentive for Liverpool to lose to Spurs to try and get Spurs into the CL, and thus get Liverpool into the Europa League. I don't think either Pulis or Dalglish will consider that when playing those games, but it's interesting to see the various permutations. Makes you wonder why the FA Cup final was moved from the end of the season...
Good article. Yeah, getting into the Europa League would massively help the younger players. If we could put the youger players in with some of the more experienced players, it would help the younger players. They would get used to playing in the first-team and it would help us identify if some of the younger players are up to the required standard.
Fulham consistently played their first team and in fact sometimes rested their first team in the league rather than the other way around, so not sure where you have this idea from. Also how many of these so-called Fulham youth players are now in their first team? I agree with wanting Europe though, and think anyone who doesn't is being somewhat narrow-minded. I can understand people are bored of Channel 5 commentary and playing the likes of Spart Prague, but it brings in money, would indeed allow us to play some youngsters, and i get to watch more Liverpool matches. It depends on how we strengthen in the summer to some degree but i can see it being a good thing.
I never want to see our team have to play in July again. It's all very well to say Liverpool belong in Europe but Liverpool belong at the top of the league and games in July do not make that happen. It brings in very little money.
I agree with MFG. A year out of Europe will allow for a sustained run in the Carling Cup,we need trophies,and the youngsters can play in that.Only Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing really played in the EL this season,as for blooding youngster?Not many teams take the Carling Cup seriously and what we need in our progression is to get the players a taste for success.The Carling Cup is a viable option.Why not first and foremost,go all out for the two domestic cups,finish in the top four.That will get us to the top table of European Football,by then we can plot our assault on the title.When the players have had a real taste of success,which will mean under Kennys guidance they will want more and more.
Why not use the Europa league, as a glorified carling cup? Why not just use fringe players and the youngsters. Do Reina,Carroll,Suarez,Gerrard and Carra need to play? There are so few opportunites to give these players a game, surely any opportunity has to be taken? How are we going to know if a Suso, Amoo, Sterling or A N Other have what it takes to make it at the highest level, unless we give them game time? I agree getting back in the top four is a priority next season, but to scarifice all to achieve this is stupid.
Senior moment, my bad The same Dalglish who could have put the spanner in Man Utd's hopes for 19 by losing to Arsenal? Never, Dalglish doesn't have the word lose in his vocabulary I can't... I love Channel 5 commentary, it's at its best when Graham Taylor is the pundit. They don't take themselves too seriously and the don't over complicate things (I love the plug for the 10 o'clock films) I think that if we're going to qualify for the Europa league we need to be strict in using youngsters only, none of this using first teams against hard teams. Play youngsters as far as we can... I don't care if our reserve team suffers for it as it will do the boys a world of good against proper european sides
Using the young guys on their own wouldnt realy work. We would need to comit the big guns to help them, plus the name 'Liverpool FC' doesnt take Europe lightly. If we were in it, we would have to chuck everything at is. It's not good to see us fall out of small competitions for our reputation and global brand. I think you should play to win every game, and if you get into Europe you do it properly.
Bozz Being in the Europa league means you cannot attract the highest quality players, it tires you out meaning you probably drop a few places in the league, and its just generally not that exciting to be in. I know it gives you a better chance of winning things but is it really worth it?
With regards financial benefits: If we were to win the competition, besides the prestige we are looking at 8-9million Euros plus. Admittedly not a huge amount but still enough for a squad player, or Andy Carroll's wages for the next 2 years, and this is without factoring in TV rights, which accounts for nearly half of our overall revenue. There is also the knock-on effect of sponsorship and gate receipts, as well as our worldwide popularity. Maybe also consider that the Europa League is a new competition- it was relaunched as part of a drive by UEFA to rebrand and reignite it. It is reasonable to expect that revenues will rise, as will the status of the competition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_League#Prize_money http://live4liverpool.com/2011/02/v...y-league-but-were-only-going-in-one-direction I think we should also remember that if our squad cannot cope with the Europa league when we're playing mostly youngsters, how will we cope when we get Champions League football (presuming no Europe helps this)? Playing in Europe is an important experience i think and it is important that we retain and cultivate this mentality. That's how i feel about it, but i can understand those who disagree. I just think that were we to win it next year, it would buy us a ã10mil player (factoring in TV), would be a piece of silverware, and our youngsters would have played more games and gained European experience. This does however hinge on what my approach would be- and that is playing a significant number of youngsters.
