Daily Bits and Bobs

Europa League should not be reward for clubs failure.

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Arsenal’s Europa League campaign is pretty much secured despite our most recent result. Anything but a five goal defeat tomorrow evening will guarantee our place in the knockout stages but to progress as group leaders and ensure an ‘easier’ tie in the next round, we need to win as I can’t see Frankfurt slipping up against Vitoria.

Just one point separates ourselves and Frankfurt is second place after we lost our last European fixture at home against the German side. Funny enough, that match was very similar to our victory over West Ham on Monday night only roles reversed. We too the lead just before the break through Aubameyang before a nine minute spell in the second-half saw two goals from Daichi Kamada inflict another defeat on Unai Emery’s team.

The following day, Unai Emery was sacked with Freddie Ljungberg given the thankless task of trying to turn our season around. Three matches later and we finally recorded our first victory since beating Vitoria in late October.

Details of the squad to travel to Belgium for our final group fixture tomorrow should be announced later today.

I’m not overly keen on this ‘two bites of the European football cherry’ process as I believe it’s unfair. The Champions League is the only competition in which coming third in the group reaps reward. If a club finishes third, it should be out of Europe full stop, not dumped into another competition. Especially when that competition offers the chance of securing Champions League football the following season to the winners. The two European competitions should remain separate in my opinion because the Europa Cup offers hope to ‘lesser clubs.’ The chance to play against the best clubs in Europe the following season and with it, take a bit financial boost which in some cases, many perhaps, is just what they need to improve.

I’m not saying this just because we’re in the Europa League and could do with winning it either as it’s always been my opinion.

Look at the clubs who will already be in the draw for the knockout fixtures and those who if results go against them tonight, will add to the list:

Ajax, Inter Milan, Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg – already confirmed.

Club Brugge or Galatasaray, Red Star or Olympiakos, Shakhtar Donetsk, Atlanta, or Dinamo Zagreb and Atlético Madrid.

All qualified for the Champions League by way of league position and are likely to do so again next season so why deprive another club of a chance to spring an upset in Europe by winning a big trophy, earning millions of Champions League pounds, or Euros for those pedantic ones out there, and a place in history?

A British club could be that very club with Wolves, Rangers, Celtic and ourselves still in the competition and looking at other groups, there are clubs I’ve never even heard of still in with a chance of going all the way to the final. Slim maybe, but by Champions Clubs dropping into the competition, those chances get a whole lot slimmer.

Is it really fair that the likes of Ajax, Inter Milan, Benfica, Atlético Madrid etc could win this competition, lift a big trophy and earn millions of pounds off the back of failure?

No, I don’t think it is.

 

 

See you in the comments guys…

 

 

rico

56 thoughts on “Europa League should not be reward for clubs failure.”

  1. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico, when did fairness ever compete with greed? Champions League drop-outs landing in the Europa League ensures more attractive games and bigger gates. The knock-on effect is more TV money, more advertising revenue and more opportunities to milk the mugs. Oops! sorry that should be “give the fans what they want”. 😉

  3. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all and thanks Rico.

    I agree Rico………..unless we were the one`s dropping into it ! hahaha

    Seems destined to be a good week, win at Wet Spam and we can lose 4-0 and still qulify for EL latter stages !

  4. Limey says:

    Morning Rico/everyone
    I agree it’s unfair but all down to money. UEFA is a corrupt organisation anyway.
    Didn’t see Ajax into Europa, I think they were top of their group going into last nights games. They are a bit Arsenalesque (with better players) they have a weak mentality sometimes. Still I make them joint favourites with Man Utd.
    I wouldn’t worry about tonight’s teams, anyway Arsenal have been so rubbish at times, most opposition will beat us. Hopefully Monday was a turning point
    The team for Liege will be interesting, I’d like to see the likes of Luiz, Lacazette, some kids, save most of Mondays team for Man City.

  8. ScottfromOz says:

    When the Champions League includes sides that finished 4th in their respective league, it’s obvious that the competition is all about money.
    It should be renamed, imo.
    Morning all.

  9. allezkev says:

    Morning All, there’s a few tasty teams dropping into the Europa from the CL, Internazionale are a good side this season and Ajax are always dangerous, let’s hope we avoid them and they knock out Man Utd because if we draw an English club we’re done…

    Morning Rico, morning Lee, thanks fellas 🙂

  19. allezkev says:

    Just read the post Rico, thanks for that and yeah, I tend to agree about the CL teams being parachuted into the Europa, to me it cheapens it.
    Work today I’m afraid, too close to Christmas.

    Thanks Digger, cheers Limey, appreciated… 👍🏼

  21. rico says:

    Actually Kev, by the time the fixtures come round next year, we could be in a very different place. Especially if we sign that much needed CDM next month.

    I imagine London is a busy busy place this time of year.

  23. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico and All If it is the same as the break away league from what I can recall this was discussed a few years ago by some businessmen who wanted to have a super league which had the top 4 clubs from the EPL and European leagues and Arsenal was one of the EPL clubs picked and there for home matches played in England away matches played in Spain, France, or Italy and all matches to be played on Saturday nights or some thing simular as I said it was a few years ago ( Wenger / Ferguson period )

  24. allezkev says:

    That’s true Rico, although I’ll be very surprised if we do any business in January, we certainly don’t need another Dennis Suarez. A couple of old heads on loan might help, but where’s the value in taking someone else’s cast offs?

    We might as well recall Elneny and Mkhitarayan…

    Yeah London is busy Rico, it’s always busy, everyone and his dog seems to be driving a Prius in London these days, usually 3 or 4 of them sharing one private hire licence.
    A lot of bus drivers do it on their rest days, hence an increase in accidents involving buses due to fatigue.

    TfL have done more damage to London that the Luftwaffe.

    Interesting that George Osborne via the Evening Standard has criticised TfL for its roads policy, yet when he was Chancellor he blocked Boris Johnson from alleviating the damaging congestion on the roads by limiting the number of private hire licences given out, all because of his connection to investment arm Blackrock, a major investor in Uber.

    Blackrock pay Osborne handsomely as an advisor, it’s so corrupt it stinks.

    End of rant 😉

  26. Aussie Geoff says:

    HI Rico I noticed the papers are claiming that Arsenal are ready to hold talks with Carlo Ancelotti about arsenal coaching job

  27. rico says:

    Hi Geoff.

    Kev, if we could get a defensive midfielder in January, even on loan it would help but as we know, next month is all about inflated prices unless a player is out of contract next summer.

  31. Rick says:

    Just read the post Rico one I completely agree with.
    Are you aware there is a move to increase the number
    of teams in the league and that we could lose the 4th spot.
    At the moment all the big clubs are against it.

    I gather that Bellerin, Tierney Holding, Pepe Xhaka and Ceballos
    all miss tomorrows game through injury and are doutfall for sunday

  33. Cicero says:

    Mustafi suspended, Xhaka with concussion will miss two games at least, Holding will only start full training in two weeks. Pepe will be assessed before City game, Tierney out for the for a while with dislocated shoulder. Bellerin has hamstring problem.

    Doesn’t look good, does it?

  34. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico apparently Kroenke wants Arteta or Vieira but the board want Ancelotti as he has EPL experience and was just sacked on Tuesday night after his team won the match I just wish they would make up their mind

  35. allezkev says:

    Thanks Rick, the sun is actually shining, it’s peeping out between the clouds. I’m not up to speed with the injury news, could be a bit of misinformation prior to the City game? Here’s hoping!

    Thanks Cicero, ah the rain, I’m always singing in the rain, there’s a song in my heart and I’m ready for a fare…

  36. rico says:

    I wasn’t Rick, I doubt they’ll get 5heir way if big clubs are against the move.

    Shame about all the doubts, hopefully Pepe will recover by the weekend. Bearing in mind we need to lose 5-0 to be knocked out, I wouldn’t play anyone Freddie has in mind for the City game..

  37. allezkev says:

    According to Physio.com, both Pepe and Bellerin have a 50% chance of playing against City.

    Holding out until the new year.

    Xhaka and Ceballos Out until late December.

    Tierney dislocation of shoulder, no return date.

  38. Joaquim Moreira says:

    I am not confident for tomorrow and hope that the combination of results will not put us outside Europe.
    Everything points to Ancelotti. Why did he leave Naples after winning 4-0 (how many games have we not won 4-0?)

  39. allezkev says:

    Charles Watts
    @charles_watts
    Expectation is that Tierney will be out for up to three months – Big blow to Arsenal, hammer blow to him as he attempts to establish himself at the club.

  40. allezkev says:

    Goal has been told that Arsenal’s priority is a younger coach, but that a figure like Ancelotti can’t be ruled out given his wealth of experience at the top level where he has managed clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

    The three-time Champions League winner is believed to be keen on returning to England, where he spent two years in charge of Chelsea a decade ago – winning the double in 2009-10.

    Official discussions with Arsenal are expected over the coming days as the Gunners continue to sound out potential candidates before drawing up a final shortlist.

    One man who has been heavily linked with the role is former Valencia coach Marcelino, with some reports suggesting he was interviewed in London this week.

    Goal has been told, however, that the 54-year-old is not being viewed as a leading contender to replace Emery. Neither is Paulo Sousa, despite claims that he has been targeted by the Gunners.

    The Portuguese coach is currently in charge of Bordeaux in France but his representatives have been quoted in the French press claiming Arsenal are interested in taking him to Emirates Stadium

    Charles Watts

  41. allezkev says:

    Mikel Arteta remains the leading candidate to replace Emery, but Manchester City would be reluctant to let Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach leave before the end of the season. Patrick Vieira is also being viewed favourably by the Arsenal hierarchy.

    But head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu will not be rushed into making a decision and they continue to fully support Freddie Ljungberg, who got his first win as interim boss on Monday night against West Ham.

    Importantly, the squad are happy with what the 42-year-old has done since being installed and the hierarchy back him to do the job for as long as is needed.

    Charles Watts

  42. Cicero says:

    Wasn’t it shoulder injuries that disrupted Theo’s career and Jenkinson was out for ages with a similar problem.

    Is Tierney injury prone or just very, very unlucky?

    Marceleno was sacked by Valencia a week or so ago and has very iffy CV. Ancelloti was sacked last night and has been round the block a few times he may have a presence but would he be in it for the long haul, or another short term fire fighter?

    If it comes down to either Arteta or Vierra, Paddy gets my vote.

    While I’m on the voting subject, don’t forget the old Northern Ireland slogan “Vote Early, Vote Often” 😉

  46. Cicero says:

    I’m watching the Bayern v S***s game, Bayern are playing the ball out from the back and are not much better at it than Arsenal. When they do get it right it’s with crisp accurate passing and movement. So unlike our own tortuous efforts.

    1 – 1 after 32 minutes.

  49. Aussie Geoff says:

    Happy Birthday Kev If I am not wrong I read some were Tierney had injured the same shoulder not long before he come to arsenal apparently around the same time he had his Hernia operation.

  50. allezkev says:

    Just got in 10 minutes ago…

    Thanks Cocker, non quis im vera mea aetas…

    Thank Geoff, he might need an operation, didn’t Walcott have ops on his shoulders and didn’t the ops solve his issues?

  51. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Kev hope Tierney does not need a operation but if he does hopefully all goes well remember Santi only a small op on his foot then all hell went wrong

  52. potter. says:

    Seems that Vieira , Arteta and Freddie have been joined by Ancelotti . It’s almost as boring as Johnson or Corbyn.
    Having to choose the least worst.

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