NBC Pundits kind of stupid today

[Redslo]

I just wanted to point out that NBC's pundits, Robbie Earle and Kyle Martino, agreed today that Tottenham would be better off finishing 6th rather than 5th so they could avoid the Europa League next year--just like Liverpool did last year. I elected to post this because none of my local friends follow the Premier League and I felt compelled to do something more than shout "You are idiots" at the TV.

[Deano6]

Not sure if your complaint is that it's a stupid idea to try to avoid getting in to Europe, or because 6th is already guaranteed the place (7th may also, given likely FA Cup destination).

 

Either way I agree with you. However I'll stick up for NBC and say their coverage in general has been an unexpected delight over the last couple of years.

[Redslo]

Not sure if your complaint is that it's a stupid idea to try to avoid getting in to Europe, or because 6th is already guaranteed the place (7th may also, given likely FA Cup destination).

 

Either way I agree with you. However I'll stick up for NBC and say their coverage in general has been an unexpected delight over the last couple of years.

 

Both. And I agree about their coverage. That's why I was so shocked by the sudden display of ignorance about what 6th place meant.

 

And now Alejandro Moreno on ESPN FC predicted that Liverpool was going to finish in sixth place and out of Europe. I don't know whether he thinks Tottenham or us will be fifth and whether we can finish in seventh place and be in Europe.

Edited 6 April, 2015 by Redslo

[Gorgiesaint]

Not sure if your complaint is that it's a stupid idea to try to avoid getting in to Europe, or because 6th is already guaranteed the place (7th may also, given likely FA Cup destination).

 

Either way I agree with you. However I'll stick up for NBC and say their coverage in general has been an unexpected delight over the last couple of years.

 

That's what I thought, until I read the promotion/relegation piece on the BBC website which said the FA Cup runners-up would get the 3rd Europa League place. Now it wouldn't surprise me if the BBC had it wrong, but does anyone know for sure?

[Redslo]

That's what I thought, until I read the promotion/relegation piece on the BBC website which said the FA Cup runners-up would get the 3rd Europa League place. Now it wouldn't surprise me if the BBC had it wrong, but does anyone know for sure?

 

Here is the link to the BBC article you mentioned: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31990668

 

I believe they are wrong. I have discussed it in detail on my blog: http://redsloscf.blogspot.com/2015/01/european-qualification-rules-for.html

 

Here is a link to an official document which makes this clear: http://www.as.com/misc/circular_nuevo_formato_UCL.pdf

 

The beginning is in Spanish but the relevant part is in English. Unless someone has falsified the document and posted it on line to trick people, it is pretty clear.

 

By the way, as of the last posting (end of December ) England was third in the UEFA respect fair play table which, if it holds up, would qualify a English club for the first round of the Europa League--starting their seaon on July 2. The current Premier League fair play table is here: http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/fair-play.html

West Ham and Burnley are in first and second place. Burnley really doesn't need that.

Edited 6 April, 2015 by Redslo

[The9]

Here is the link to the BBC article you mentioned: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31990668

 

I believe they are wrong. I have discussed it in detail on my blog: http://redsloscf.blogspot.com/2015/01/european-qualification-rules-for.html

 

Here is a link to an official document which makes this clear: http://www.as.com/misc/circular_nuevo_formato_UCL.pdf

 

The beginning is in Spanish but the relevant part is in English. Unless someone has falsified the document and posted it on line to trick people, it is pretty clear.

 

By the way, as of the last posting (end of December ) England was third in the UEFA respect fair play table which, if it holds up, would qualify a English club for the first round of the Europa League--starting their seaon on July 2. The current Premier League fair play table is here: http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/fair-play.html

West Ham and Burnley are in first and second place. Burnley really doesn't need that.

 

I saw this and thought "that's wrong" so I went back to the link above http://www.as.com/misc/circular_nuevo_formato_UCL.pdf - and if you read it again, it actually only says that the place doesn't go to the League rather than the cup runners-up in the event that the FA Cup winners qualify for the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

 

Which is not the same as "if the cup winners qualify for Europe", as it means ONLY ARSENAL and not Liverpool have to win the FA Cup in order for 7th to be a Europa place. I'd really like this clarified...

[CB Fry]

I saw this and thought "that's wrong" so I went back to the link above http://www.as.com/misc/circular_nuevo_formato_UCL.pdf - and if you read it again, it actually only says that the place doesn't go to the League rather than the cup runners-up in the event that the FA Cup winners qualify for the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

 

Which is not the same as "if the cup winners qualify for Europe", as it means ONLY ARSENAL and not Liverpool have to win the FA Cup in order for 7th to be a Europa place. I'd really like this clarified...

I think this is a rule that hasn't changed. The FA Cup can only provide one Europa League qualifier, not two.

 

[Old rules] If the FA Cup winner gets in the CL then the cup runner up gets the domestic cup Europa slot.

 

[Old rules] If the FA Cup winner finishes (say) 5th, what they actually get is the domestic cup winners Europa slot, not the domestic league spot, which then goes to sixth. Liverpool winning the cup would be fine for us in this circumstance, they'd take the domestic cup spot, not the runner up.

 

[New rules] the runner up gets squat.

 

How I understood it anyway. Could easily be wrong.

Edited 6 April, 2015 by CB Fry

[Redslo]

I saw this and thought "that's wrong" so I went back to the link above http://www.as.com/misc/circular_nuevo_formato_UCL.pdf - and if you read it again, it actually only says that the place doesn't go to the League rather than the cup runners-up in the event that the FA Cup winners qualify for the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

 

Which is not the same as "if the cup winners qualify for Europe", as it means ONLY ARSENAL and not Liverpool have to win the FA Cup in order for 7th to be a Europa place. I'd really like this clarified...

 

You are right it does say that. But it would make no sense to have a different rule for the two situations. I will do some more googling and edit this post if I find anything.

 

I think this is a rule that hasn't changed. The FA Cup can only provide one Europa League qualifier, not two.

 

[Old rules] If the FA Cup winner gets in the CL then the cup runner up gets the domestic cup Europa slot.

 

[Old rules] If the FA Cup winner finishes (say) 5th, what they actually get is the domestic cup winners Europa slot, not the domestic league spot, which then goes to sixth. Liverpool winning the cup would be fine for us in this circumstance, they'd take the domestic cup spot, not the runner up.

 

[New rules] the runner up gets squat.

 

How I understood it anyway. Could easily be wrong.

 

I should have read all the way through the thread before responding. CB Fry is right. If Liverpool win the FA cup, they qualify for the Europa League by virtue of winning the FA cup not by virtue of the league position no matter what it is since the FA cup position is the higher one. The runner up would get nothing.

Edited 6 April, 2015 by Redslo