Fulham with a chance to return to Europe

[ajt09]

Fulham could be in the Europa League again next season-via a surprise route-the Fair Play League. The Europa League runners-up, are currently the highest placed team in the Premier League's Fair Play table who have not otherwise qualified for Europe, and England are 2nd behind Norway in the top 3 countries UEFA Respect Fair Play League.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11095_6867794,00.html

I'm undecided about this to be honest. I love seeing British clubs playing in Europe, either in Europa or Champions League. But do they deserve to be playing in Europe on the back of this? I do think that clubs should have some sort of incentive, in recognition of fair play, but is European qualification the right thing?

Thoughts?

 

[Ride The Walrus]

Makes much more sense than the FA Cup/Carlin Cup places.

 

[Sid]

To be honest I think it's pretty stupid to give someone a EL spot for Fair Play as anyone in the league can get into Europe without deserving to - having said that, i sometimes think it's quite nice for the fans and club to get into Europe without expecting it :S

---------- Post added at 06:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:16 PM ----------

Also, i think you've put the wrong link in unless you were ment to put PL table in

 

[ajt09]

I can see both sides of the arguments to be honest. I don't dislike Fulham or anything, as I thoroughly enjoyed watching what they did in Europe last time, and was absolutely great to see them get where they did, I'm just (to coin a phrase) stuck on the fence right now.

Edit-**** that was the wrong link. On it right now lol. Done :$

 

[Calum]

If you play fairly during a season you should get rewarded for it

 

[Ride The Walrus]

I can see both sides of the arguments to be honest. I don't dislike Fulham or anything, as I thoroughly enjoyed watching what they did in Europe last time, and was absolutely great to see them get where they did, I'm just (to coin a phrase) stuck on the fence right now.

Edit-**** that was the wrong link. On it right now lol. Done :$

I didn't get to watch Fulham last season, because whenever we played, they did too. So it'll be fun next season!

 

[Jack Fulham]

This has been on the cards for a while now but considering the amount of red cards recently, England will most likely fall down the ranking when they're next released (The top two countries get one Europa League place).

Will probably hinder us if anything because we're facing a mass exodus this summer with Riise, Gera, Johnson (Eddie), Kamara, Kelly, Salcido, Gudjohnson (unless he gets a contract), Kakuta and Pantsil all leaving which will leave us very short for depth. Schwarzer and Murphy probably only have 1 or 2 seasons left in them although I expect Stockdale to take the #1 jersey next season.

However, it is Europe and it was ****** good fun last time so I am quite happy to embrace it again if we get a place.

 

[ajt09]

If you play fairly during a season you should get rewarded for it

True. Downside is though, qualification starts only 6 weeks after the end of the Premiership season. That could cause a headache

 

[Ride The Walrus]

True. Downside is though, qualification starts only 6 weeks after the end of the Premiership season. That could cause a headache

Also though gets your players fitter and ready earlier, for the pl.

 

[ajt09]

This has been on the cards for a while now but considering the amount of red cards recently, England will most likely fall down the ranking when they're next released (The top two countries get one Europa League place).

Will probably hinder us if anything because we're facing a mass exodus this summer with Riise, Gera, Johnson (Eddie), Kamara, Kelly, Salcido, Gudjohnson (unless he gets a contract), Kakuta and Pantsil all leaving which will leave us very short for depth. Schwarzer and Murphy probably only have 1 or 2 seasons left in them although I expect Stockdale to take the #1 jersey next season.

However, it is Europe and it was ****** good fun last time so I am quite happy to embrace it again if we get a place.

What Fulham did last time round was absolutely amazing it has to be said. They really were tremendous

 

[LFCMarshall]

Yes im a bitter LFC fan before you say it

But
Birmingham
Fulham
Tottenham
Bolton / Stoke

is one of the worst line ups for europe ive seen in some years from english clubs.. IMO only 1 team there will make it into the groups and deffinately only 1 team will go any further :

 

[Jack Fulham]

Yes im a bitter LFC fan before you say it

But
Birmingham
Fulham
Tottenham
Bolton / Stoke

is one of the worst line ups for europe ive seen in some years from english clubs.. IMO only 1 team there will make it into the groups and deffinately only 1 team will go any further :

Well seeing as Fulham made the final just last season and Tottenham made the knockout's of the Champions League this season, I beg to differ. Hopefully it won't be de valued by English clubs like it has been in previous years *cough* Villa *Cough*. I think the new format of it has made it a much better competition.

 

[ajt09]

Thats the thing though. No-one predicted how successful Fulham would be last time. Who's to say none of the above teams could do just as well? Be really interesting to see what happens.

 

[Mike.]

Yes im a bitter LFC fan before you say it

But
Birmingham
Fulham
Tottenham
Bolton / Stoke

is one of the worst line ups for europe ive seen in some years from english clubs.. IMO only 1 team there will make it into the groups and deffinately only 1 team will go any further :

you cant say that for sure, liverpool and city were tipped to go far, look how that went, all capable sides there

 

[LFCMarshall]

you cant say that for sure, liverpool and city were tipped to go far, look how that went, all capable sides there

very true, fulham did it but it happens once in a blue moon when a fairytale like that happens

 

[ajt09]

Another upside I guess, would be the additional revenue. With so many clubs in debt, I can see the money being very handy, regardless of the amount. I just hope that with only a 6 week break if Fulham got in, that their season won't suffer because of injuries due to fact that as Jack Fulham mentioned, there's danger of the club having lack of depth

 

[Donnelly1]

aren't blackpool up there with fulham in the fair play system. Imagine Holloway in the Europa League. Would be class to see how the spanish teams etc would deal with a team like stoke and there long throw

 

[Ride The Walrus]

aren't blackpool up there with fulham in the fair play system. Imagine Holloway in the Europa League. Would be class to see how the spanish teams etc would deal with a team like stoke and there long throw

Doubt Blackpool would bother if they qualified, they'll probably end up relegated this season, and wouldn't have the money to compete like that.

 

[ajt09]

aren't blackpool up there with fulham in the fair play system. Imagine Holloway in the Europa League. Would be class to see how the spanish teams etc would deal with a team like stoke and there long throw

Got hold of some more info

FAIR PLAY LEAGUE

Position Team Played R/Y P/P R/O R/R B/O Pts Score Avge
1 Chelsea 23 194 190 135 139 127 785 196.3 8.53
2 Fulham 24 212 180 146 148 125 811 202.8 8.45
3 Blackpool 23 198 192 137 140 106 773 193.3 8.4
4 Tottenham Hotspur 23 191 186 135 138 121 771 192.8 8.38
5 Manchester United 23 192 180 135 136 125 768 192 8.35
6 West Bromwich Albion 23 184 185 136 139 120 764 191 8.3
7 Arsenal 23 180 195 133 137 119 764 191 8.3
8 Everton 23 196 184 137 135 112 764 191 8.3
9 Aston Villa 24 186 190 137 142 131 786 196.5 8.19
10 West Ham United 24 198 171 141 144 129 783 195.8 8.16
11 Liverpool 24 196 182 141 140 123 782 195.5 8.15
12 Manchester City 24 179 188 137 142 136 782 195.5 8.15
13 Wolves 23 188 175 130 134 122 749 187.3 8.14
14 Blackburn Rovers 24 195 178 134 141 126 774 193.5 8.06
15 Wigan Athletic 24 187 173 138 145 129 772 193 8.04
16 Bolton Wanderers 24 188 184 134 141 118 765 191.3 7.97
17 Stoke City 23 184 173 127 133 114 731 182.8 7.95
18 Sunderland 24 194 180 131 142 112 759 189.8 7.91
19 Birmingham City 22 184 155 118 122 115 694 173.5 7.89
20 Newcastle United 23 179 172 122 125 126 724 181 7.87



Key:

R/Y = Red & Yellow Cards - Maximum 10 pts per Match (Red 3 pts, Yellow 1 pt)
P/P = Positive Play - Maximum 10 pts per Match
R/O = Respect Towards Opponent - Maximum 7 pts per Match
R/R = Respect Towards Referee - Maximum 7 pts per Match
B/O = Behaviour of Officials - Maximum 6 pts per Match
Matches up to and including Wednesday 26th January 2011

BEHAVIOUR OF THE PUBLIC FAIR PLAY LEAGUE

Position Team Played Pts Avge
1 Blackpool 23 198 8.61
2 Sunderland 24 201 8.38
3 Manchester United 23 189 8.22
4 Fulham 24 196 8.17
5 Everton 23 187 8.13
6 Newcastle United 23 185 8.04
7 Arsenal 23 185 8.04
8 Liverpool 24 193 8.04
9 Blackburn Rovers 24 193 8.04
10 Chelsea 23 184 8
11 West Ham United 24 192 8
12 Manchester City 24 189 7.88
13 Aston Villa 24 189 7.88
14 Tottenham Hotspur 23 181 7.87
15 West Bromwich Albion 23 181 7.87
16 Wolverhampton Wanderers 23 179 7.78
17 Wigan Athletic 24 185 7.71
18 Bolton Wanderers 24 179 7.46
19 Birmingham City 22 163 7.41
20 Stoke City 23 166 7.22

Granted it is from February, but all I could find I'm afraid

 

[Fonzie]

Fair Play Update

That should be up to date.