Champions Or Europa League For City?

Tudor

Tudor

Vital Football Legend
Following a string of poor Premier League results and performances what will in-coming manager Pep Guardiola inherit next season. Manchester City playing in the Champions or Europa League?

Remaining Premier League games

20 March - Manchester United (H)
2 April - Bournemouth (A)
9 April - West Brom (H)
16 April - Chelsea (A)
24 April - Stoke (H)
1 May - Southampton (A)
7 May - Arsenal (H)
15 May - Swansea (A)
TBA - Newcastle (A)

http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=563571

Champions League

My understanding is because English teams, over several seasons have failed to produce the goods in Europe's so-called prestige competition it is highly likely the Premier League may lose their fourth qualifying positon, unless..., an English team makes this year's semi-finals.

With Chelsea crashing out at the last 16 stage and Arsenal on the verge of doing something similar (lost 2-0 at home against Barcelona – 2nd leg to be played this Wednesday) the mantle firmly lies with Manchester City.

In other words, City has to reach the semi-finals or win the competition to stand any chance of qualifying next season.

On one hand City could win all nine Premier League games and in the other Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham, and Manchester United could all implode.

My monies on Europa League next season, what’s yours?
 
CL for me, the key games being Stretford and Arse, other teams will take points off each other, and Chelsea have nothing left play for.

But performances like yesterday are unacceptable whenever or whatever he circumstances are.

 
Bit of a conundrum. How do you motivate a bunch of overpaid millionaires who aren't sure if they'll be at the club next season or not?

I assume that they will take a big hit on their bonuses if we don't make the CL, but judging by their "Couldn't give a flying F" attitude at the moment, none of our players actually seems to be bothered about that.

Maybe the club should hold a meet the players type event so our supporters can tell the team what they think about the way things are going at the moment
 
Underperformance is a classic problem when you have a change of management no matter what world of work you live in. With e margins between success and failure so thin at the top of professional sport it is not a surprise when the impact is so visible - a pass not made here, a tracking run not made there, a forward run ignored....

That said it still grinds my gears when those doing so are wearing the shirt most of us would donate a body part for to put on a step out onto the pitch as a City player....

Changing the subject slightly......

Whilst the media and most everyone else are frothing at the mouth at the prospect of Leicester possibly winning the title and almost certainly qualifying for Champions League next season coupled with West Ham in the running for the competition......they perhaps need to be careful what they wish for.

As pointed out by Tudor the standing of the EPL coefficient is dependent upon the performances of English teams in the competition. Those performances have declined significantly in recent seasons - from having three teams in the semi finals a few years ago to rarely getting into the QFs in the past few years. Dangerous times and the product of past failures rather than anything Leicester or West Ham can affect. That said the prospect of reduced CL qualification spots seems an inevitability and is unlikely to be improved by the fresh blood introduced by leicester, Spurs or West Ham.

Bit of a conundrum.....
 
Aren't the various league allocations for next season already resolved ?

Wouldn't any qualification criteria be implemented for the season 2017/18 ?
 
^ I think you're right, and I'm sure I read that the league most likely to overtake is Serie A, but it's dependant on an Italian club also reaching the semi or final.

Seeing that Juventus need to get a result in Munich, that fourth place *may* be safe for a further season, seeing that there's also no Italian representation in the EL?
 
It would be nice if the other English teams put in a shift in the Europa League to help everyone's coefficient going forward. We put out a youth team in the FA Cup and get vilified for it, they put out a reserve group in Germany and get a pass because they might have a chance at the Premier League title.

Also, if Spurs go on to win the title, will anyone say that they bought it? They've spent quite a bit of cash the past 10 years trying to keep up with everyone else, and it's just now they are seeing it pay off.
 
Being City we'll probably wen the CL and finish 5th in the PL - which I presume would not be good since from what I can gather most people prioritise the domestic league over it's European equivalent?

As for Spurs being vilified for buying the title, then absolutely but I believe the Super Foxes paid cash for Vardy which hardly gives them the moral high ground.

But perhaps its not how much one spends but the ability to spend it wisely, anything other than top 2 based on our spending would suggest that we are as profligate with the cash as we were with our finishing at Carrow Road.

 
The general "Meh, so what?" response to the comprehensive 3-0 defeat for Spurs indicates both how little the media rate the Europa League in general and secondly the leeway that they are being afforded in their push for the PL. Unacceptable for City to field a weekend side in the FA BBC Disrespect Cup despite the two crunch games looming in the Champions League and a domestic cup final. Perfectly acceptable for Spurs to make seven changes in the Europa League.

There is no doubt in my mind that with a place in the 2016/17 Champion's League competition virtually assured Pochettino has decided that there is zero benefit in progressing in the Ropey League - avoidance of travelling, risks of injuries etc any of which could compromise his team's push for the PL title/top four slot. Contrast that if you will with the vilification Pellegrini and the club had to withstand after the defeat at Chelsea.

The expenditure point is also well made. Doubtless their success will be on the back of a core of home grown players all raised within a stones throw of White Hart Lane. Haven't spent a penny over the years....... :103:
 
BREAKING: Premier League secures four Champions League places for 2017-18. FULL STORY:

https://twitter.com/dalejohnsonESPN/status/710228196051046400
 
Colin Is The King - 16/3/2016 22:33

BREAKING: Premier League secures four Champions League places for 2017-18. FULL STORY:

https://twitter.com/dalejohnsonESPN/status/710228196051046400
Click to expand...

HAPPY DAYS :052: well chuffed.
 
Can't wait to see the press reports praising City for helping to ensure English clubs keep their four spots.
 
Bluedub - 17/3/2016 10:29

Can't wait to see the press reports praising City for helping to ensure English clubs keep their four spots.
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If no one else does VMC WILL :008:
 
Bluedub - 17/3/2016 10:29

Can't wait to see the press reports praising City for helping to ensure English clubs keep their four spots.
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That because it was Juventus responsible for keeping England with 4 places in their failure to get through to the next round.

If Juve had go through and we failed to get to the Semi's then we would be down to three.
 
Buzz Lightyear - 17/3/2016 12:13

Bluedub - 17/3/2016 10:29

Can't wait to see the press reports praising City for helping to ensure English clubs keep their four spots.
Click to expand...


That because it was Juventus responsible for keeping England with 4 places in their failure to get through to the next round.

If Juve had go through and we failed to get to the Semi's then we would be down to three.
Click to expand...

Speculation, or do you know the numbers Buzz?
 
Buzz is correct, CZ. Italy has one team left in the Europa League, and the most coefficient points they can pick up is 2.5, while England leads them by 3.7 points.
 
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