Can We Opt Out Of Europa League?

[john@staustell]

We have built a strong squad so we can compete twice a week. So some people want to 'play the kids'? And lose. And half our squad may not get a game for a fortnight or more? Brilliant.

And we've won one pot in 30-odd years and some people just want to chuck it in? Ridiculous. We lose in the Carling and get knocked out the FA and what have we got? Fuck all except the league.

Mancini has subtley prioritised the League over the CL, where our teams have been slightly weaker. No reason why he cant continue to do that into the Europa AND pick up a trophy.

The club will be going for it, no mistake. What's more the presence of media-genic City will raise the profile of the cup itself. We must be the most publicised club in the world these last 12 months.

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

Definitely not.

I can understand the reasoning if it was the Sherpa van trophy......

 

[Dubai Blue]

If we end up losing the league by a point, as a tired team dropped points following a Thursday night trip to Ukraine, you might look at things more sensibly.

Doing well in this competition is important for several reasons; it gives us some much-needed help with our coefficient ranking, gives us more experience of playing against different styles of teams and enables the club to become even more accustomed to dealing with playing 2 games every week.

But, there is definitely a balance that needs to be struck, as this can't be allowed to detract from our major objective of winning the Premier League.

We keep being told that we have enough players to make two decent teams, so that is exactly how I would approach this situation. Anyone who plays on the Thursday doesn't feature on the following Sunday. There's no need to completely disrepect the competition by throwing a bunch of kids at it; we have enough senior players to enable us to give it a good go without it hurting our league form.

My biggest concern is the psychological impact of playing catch-up on Sundays when it comes to securing points in the league.

 

[Anonymous]

No, if were in it lets try and win the thing !!!

 

[Pam]

It is a trophy in what will essentially be a knock out competition by the time we enter it. I don't like Thursday games but it's still worth being in it. Only one of the last 16 in the Chimps League will win the thing so it would be a consolation to get something out of the Chimps League experience this season. And hopefully next season, we will do far better.

 

[lee-mcfc]

If we drop down into the Europa League, can we opt out of it all together? Dont get me wrong, it would be great to win it, but its a nothing cup and will seriously hamper our league chances which i feel is much more important. If we can, i say get out asap. If we cant do that, is there any rule which states we must play a certain % of players who were in the Champions League Squad? If there isnt, i would put out the EDS squad and have the first team focus on the league. Thoughts?

if you are being serious you are an idiot

the arrogance of some city fans today is shocking.

 

[Plaything of the gods]

If we drop down into the Europa League, can we opt out of it all together? Dont get me wrong, it would be great to win it, but its a nothing cup and will seriously hamper our league chances which i feel is much more important. If we can, i say get out asap. If we cant do that, is there any rule which states we must play a certain % of players who were in the Champions League Squad? If there isnt, i would put out the EDS squad and have the first team focus on the league. Thoughts?

European Cup Winners' Cup
1970

Football League Champions
1936-37, 1967-68

Football League Runners-up
1903-04, 1920-21, 1976-77

Division One Champions
2001-02

Division One Runners-up
1999-2000

Division Two Champions (original)
1898-99, 1902-03, 1909-10, 1927-28, 1946-47, 1965-66

Division Two Runners-up (original)
1895-96, 1950-51, 1988-89

Division Two Play Off Winners
1998-99

FA Cup Winners
1904, 1934, 1956, 1969, 2011

FA Cup Runners-up
1926, 1933, 1955, 1981

League Cup Winners
1970, 1976

League Cup Runners-up
1974

FA Charity Shield Winners
1937-38, 1968-69, 1972-73

The club don't seem to think its forerunner was a "nothing cup".

With Spurs, and possibly United or more, in the Europa League, what sort of supporter are you?

 

[TFC]

Said it before and I'll say it again - while we have all the money in the world I would fucking hate it if the club were as arrogant as to disregard a good shot at a European trophy.

Its what big squads are for.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

fully agree with the sentiments of most posts. Of course we should seek to win it and to increase our European experience and coefficient.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Would love to win it but we couldn't do that without it seriously hurting our league form. League is infinitely more important than the Europa league so i'd rather see us put out a combination of eds lads and fringe players like the Carling cup. Would be great experience for some of the youngsters.