It's not an opinion it's an obvious fact. Finishing 3rd guarantees qualification, gives us higher prize money and means that we can plan our preseason as we want. You're talking bollocks.
No, it's an opinion. Like I (and you) have mentioned there are no doubt (factual) benefits to finishing 3rd over 4th - however whether someone perceives those benefits as a "big difference" or "fairly insignificant" is their opinion. I assume you & whoever posted the original feel there's a big difference (your opinions) whereas I see it as fairly insignificant when put in perspective (my opinion) - you can disagree with my opinion sure, but that doesn't make yours an "obvious fact" sorry.
My opinion is that
1) the qualification should be a fairly straight forward event for either City/Arsenal (if we're hoping Pep takes us to CL success I'd think most agree we shouldn't fear this),
2) that the higher prize money is pretty insignificant in football terms (£1.23M I believe is the difference between 3rd or 4th), and
3) I can't claim to have much knowledge on how qualifying affects pre-season, but is it not
after the start of the season? At least it was this year for United. If that's the case I don't see how it would have much impact.
But not here to argue that or start a debate about something I don't care about. My actual point was that come the 2nd last match of the season, given Arsenal's very favourable fixtures, that I'm expecting they'll be safely in 3rd-4th (should be safely 3rd) when we play them - giving them less to play for than teams fighting for a final European spot or the title or relegation.
And Southampton and Stoke trying to get in the Europa.
Stoke + Sot'on could both be 10+ points off 6th when they play us if results go badly for them (i.e. West Ham win their games in hand).
My post was a little presumptuous in terms of results going certain ways - should have said we could face 4 out of 5 teams with little to play for rather than will definitely face.
How long before the season is the qualification round. Or is it perhaps after the start of the season?
This season it was after the start of the season (2 legs; one after 2nd PL match & other after 3rd PL match). I assume it's usually that way & will be that way next season.
I agree with you. With the Euros this summer, players will be needing a break and injury management and recuperation, not having to come in and prepare for an unnecessary qualification round
Unless I'm mistaken with regards to when the qualification round is, why would we have to come in & prepare for it? Surely we should be 100% prepared by the start of the premier league, and given that the qualification matches will be after the start of the season we should be prepared by that point whether we're qualifying or not (i.e. if we come 3rd or 4th).
