28 Sep 2015 12:16:54
Just been reading the European Coefficient explanation. There is a good possibility that England may lose the fourth CL spot to Italy if the English teams perform as last season. Once it's gone it would take a remarkable change around for England to get the place back. It looks to me that the PL is being extremely shortsighted in the way PL clubs in Europa are treated.
We all know that CL qualifiers get a much bigger financial gain than EL but as the two tournaments are linked it would make sense for PL to help EL qualified teams as much as possible.
As most agree that being in the EL effects premier league form, some teams are at a distinct disadvantage being in the competition. As we have very little chance of a top 4 place and the gap is growing between the haves and have not's, I do think that it would be quite ironic if we lost a CL place due to the so called top 4 manipulating the transfer markets to their own ends.
29 Sep 2015 18:35:57
good points well made, mate.
30 Sep 2015 13:18:36
Offer more prize money for the el and stop 3rd placed teams from the cl from entering and it could be a completion worth taking serious.
{Ed007's Note - I'm interested in why people think playing in the EL puts teams at a disadvantage in the league?}
01 Oct 2015 10:02:01
Ed IMO the EL takes a significant toll on the players mentally and physically for teams with larger squads this is not such an issue but for those with smaller squads having to manager rest periods and injuries seems to affect PL form. I don't know why but stats seem to support this. You would expect the CL to have a similar effect but the travelling is not as much as the CL consists mainly of the major teams in Spain Germany Italy England France and Holland so although there will be countries that will be a fair distance you will be less likely to have more than one in a group.
{Ed007's Note - See that's what I can't understand, CL teams get the same amount of days between matches as EL teams, is it because it's not worth millions of £s that English teams treat the competition with such nonchalance? If the money was nearer CL levels would teams take it more seriously?
If you beat Liverpool on Sunday and their fans said it was because of their EL hangover would you accept that and say they're probably right?}
01 Oct 2015 17:08:43
CL teams usually have bigger squads so can rotate players more and still get results especially during the league and FA cups fixture periods. Agreed there is the same amount of days rest but usually the travel time is not as long for a CL fixture.I do think it is about the money PL money is greater than EL money so staying as high as you can in the PL is more beneficial.
And yes if we win on Saturday the EL hangover excuse may come out and yes I would accept that and say they are probably right. However,if they think the EL group match is more important than the derby that's up to them because if we win!!