if we come 4th

[Molby]

let's say we come 4th

 

that doesn't guarantee anything, just a play-off, although we should be favourites

isn't the idea of coming 4th to get in the CL and stay in it, as we did under Rafa? or is it just to have a go and see what happens?

 

surely the logic is to use CL qualification as a springboard, seriously improve our squad so that we have a chance of getting to the knockout stages, stay competitive in the league and qualify again next year

 

it's hard enough to do if you're heavy spenders with a semblance of competence in the transfer market, let alone a club of our meagre resources and off-field structure

 

can you see FSG having a proper go at improving our squad without knowing we are in the group stages? they wont know until end of August and the transfer window closes 2 days later

2 days

 

meantime, if we do qualify, that makes 8 extra games in which we'll presumably need our first team, before Xmas

 

and if you're Suarez, you'll be thinking "ok we need to win the play off...but I have confidence. Now where are the new signings?" so we'll have that to deal with, it's not just a case of get 4th and he stays

 

 

 

and finally, if we don't qualify and he leaves, how are we going to re-invest £80m when it will be hard to attract new players and more importantly, our transfer committee and general transfer nous aren't worth a balloon?

Edited February 4, 2014 by Molby

[RP]

It's a leap of faith I know, but we have to strengthen if we make 4th, and I believe we will.

[Sion]

I think if we qualify they'll spend big. The problem might be if we're in the playoff round and our potential opponents are e.g. Napoli, Bilbao, Lyon, Dortmund because we'd be unseeded - they're not spending big until we're deffo in the groups.

 

Anyway, it'd be a nice problem to have.

[Molby]

I think if we qualify they'll spend big. The problem might be if we're in the playoff round and our potential opponents are e.g. Napoli, Bilbao, Lyon, Dortmund because we'd be unseeded - they're not spending big until we're deffo in the groups.

 

Anyway, it'd be a nice problem to have.

 

 

but this is what I'm talking about

 

there's only a 2 day gap

[Leo No.8]

As I said on the other thread Molby, I can't see any Roman Abramovic's on the horizon so I'm not sure what you want to do about the owners really. There are loads of paper rich people out there who would be looking to make a fast buck out of us, I'd be terrified if we went up for sale again. I think there would be a far, far greater chance of us getting shafted than finding a sugar daddy.

 

Think we'll just have to keep a bit of faith that they'll do what it takes. We've got some stability at last, even if its far from perfect.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Leo No.8

[RP]

but this is what I'm talking about

 

there's only a 2 day gap

 

 

Yeah, that'll never work.

 

Investment will have to be made prior to guaranteed qualification.

[Sion]

but this is what I'm talking about

 

there's only a 2 day gap

Its tricky though isnt it.

We probably would struggle against a CL team without investing 50-60m. But then again if we spend it and draw Dortmund and still lose we'd be in all sorts of bother financially.

 

Maybe that's why we've been holding off spending big recently?

[Flanders]

4th doesn't even guarantee a qualification play off if an English club finishes out of the top 4 and wins the CL. Unlikely I know.

 

We will be at a huge disadvantage next year due to our failure to strengthen the squad progressively. We will look to incorporate 4 or 5 good players which never makes for the best of starts to any campaign. Hopefully some of the loaned players will return stronger and our younger players will add depth but it will be tricky. Especially if we f*** about all the way to Aug 31st for the decent signings.

 

We should be looking to secure players like Konoplyanka now. Even if it means we have to sweeten the deal a bit more than the paperwork suggests. We won't and he'll go to someone who will.

[épieur]

The main worry for me now actually is how Ayre will f*** it up again. Too much money for him to be able to close the deals I am sure.

[Dan]

Would we definitely be unseeded?

[Tosh]

The business model has to rely on being in the CL for more than one season once we're in, which means - given the money on the pitch in Manchester last night - that we are likely in this position next year: competing for 3rd/4th.

No doubt the cost of achieving that can be part funded (via FFP) by one year of qualification but it'll take a lot more thereafter. Fingers crossed Brendan can get us to beyond the group stage...

[Benzo-13]

Would we definitely be unseeded?

Yeah, I'm not sure about that? We were in the Europa last year.

Our co-efficient should still be good albeit not as high as the Rafa years.

[Dan]

Yeah, I'm not sure about that? We were in the Europa last year.

Our co-efficient should still be good albeit not as high as the Rafa years.

 

 

That's what I thought.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Dan

[Gunga Din]

think if we come 4th, we would shift some of the dead wood and plough the CL money into the transfer kitty. We would be more attractive to potential players and be in a position to pay more. so it should in theory be easier to get deals over the line

[Maldini]

think if we come 4th, we would shift some of the dead wood and plough the CL money into the transfer kitty. We would be more attractive to potential players and be in a position to pay more. so it should in theory be easier to get deals over the line

 

The problem is we wouldn't be sure of being in the Champions League proper until August 27th. I could see FSG holding back the money until we're certain to be in it.

[David Hodgson]

let's say we come 4th

 

that doesn't guarantee anything, just a play-off, although we should be favourites

isn't the idea of coming 4th to get in the CL and stay in it, as we did under Rafa? or is it just to have a go and see what happens?

 

surely the logic is to use CL qualification as a springboard, seriously improve our squad so that we have a chance of getting to the knockout stages, stay competitive in the league and qualify again next year

 

it's hard enough to do if you're heavy spenders with a semblance of competence in the transfer market, let alone a club of our meagre resources and off-field structure

 

can you see FSG having a proper go at improving our squad without knowing we are in the group stages? they wont know until end of August and the transfer window closes 2 days later

2 days

 

meantime, if we do qualify, that makes 8 extra games in which we'll presumably need our first team, before Xmas

 

and if you're Suarez, you'll be thinking "ok we need to win the play off...but I have confidence. Now where are the new signings?" so we'll have that to deal with, it's not just a case of get 4th and he stays

 

 

 

and finally, if we don't qualify and he leaves, how are we going to re-invest £80m when it will be hard to attract new players and more importantly, our transfer committee and general transfer nous aren't worth a balloon?

 

 

Just f*** off with this s*** until it happens. Finishing 4th I mean. Jesus.

[Cobs]

let's hope we come 5th and save us from this hell

[RBM]

Or 3rd, 2nd, or 1st

[David Hodgson]

let's hope we come 5th and save us from this hell

 

Oh cos you're so relaxed and laid back about us getting 4th ? Ha ! My a***.

[Cobs]

Oh cos you're so relaxed and laid back about us getting 4th ? Ha ! My a***.

 

think you might have missed the old point there, Hodgey san.

[Cunny]

if we get 4th/qualify for CL and I'm far from convinced we will, then it's going to have to be immediate first XI buys and at least 3 or 4 of them.

[Sion]

This year the top unseeded play off team had a coefficient of 64.9 and the lowest seeded team had a coefficient of 70.7

 

Next season ours will be 58.4

[Logic]

Looking at the following links it looks like we'd be unseeded if we get 4th.

 

http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/data/method4/trank2014.html

 

http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedcl2013.html

 

At least there are a couple of teams in the unseeded group with higher rankings that us (at that time).

 

So... anyone that can take a better look at this?

 

(My 2 year old is sick and for some reason thinks I should be tending to him rather than digging up european ranking points and possible combinations in the qualifiers if we possibly qualify)

[Conrad]

The main worry for me now actually is how Ayre will f*** it up again. Too much money for him to be able to close the deals I am sure.

 

Its not just Ayre. Everyone has to do a lot better, including the manager in terms of who is targetted

 

I think we will spend a fair bit if we get 4th. Although we'll have to offload a few too, as usual.

[Molby]

Just f*** off with this s*** until it happens. Finishing 4th I mean. Jesus.

 

 

I'm deciding whether to stay in this country or not

 

the main driver is whether I will be watching a team that's being backed to succeed

I came back from Brazil 'cos I thought we'd be challenging for the title under Evans