Sir Steve and Europe , spot on as usual

[seahawk10]

If that is to be the approach for the remainder of the season...i.e. not to qualify for europe....and the fact we are safe from relegation, surely the time has come to make wholesale changes and give a number of the new signings and young players a real run-out?

Great comment. Actions speak louder than words. Rest assured Sir Steve is going to put the best squad out there each game and try to win. When we see him experimenting with the lineups and not starting the strongest squad then well know that he is trying to avoid Europe.

Right now he is trying to win. And if we win enough Europe it shall be. He doesn't want Europe to be the goal, but I think he would be happy if we did qualify. Let the reserves play if we do to not burden the squad.

[Avon Royal]

Don't believe a word of it - Sir Steve is a master of this game, let's face it - this time last year he point blank refused to accept we were going up..... and we all know what happened next!

Enjoy the ride, kids!!

Spot on.

Steve knows how his players react to being "written off". This is just his way of challenging them to prove people wrong again.

[Seal]

I'm also not sure where this concern / myth comes from about the 'demands' of European football. We could quite easily get knocked in the first round, which means a grand total of......2 extra games in the season. Hardly season defining.

As has already mentioned, if we qualify for Europe we may well keep our better players (Sidwell) and be in a stronger position to sign others.

Therefore we could end up with a much stronger squad and only play 2 more games.

[Petercccccc]

Coppell = God

God doesn't think Europe is a good idea.

Europe = A burden

Coppell is the Daddy

=


Coppell is the best.

[Archie's penalty]

No europe = sidwell not staying!

Coppell either thinks if we don't get europe, find a replacement or its mind games and really he'll love to see us there and we know he would like sidwell to stay.

Only way he is thinking is europe i suspect! just not letting on to the national press.

Or, he might be thinking that our world doesn't revolve around Steve Sidwell and knows that europe would be a bridge too far for us next season.

We've already achieved everything any of us dared to hope for back in the summer and I really can't see Coppell wanting to take his team on a tour of some of the worst spots on the continent from which we would have little to gain and so much to lose.

How did I know you would say this?

[Archie's penalty]

I'm also not sure where this concern / myth comes from about the 'demands' of European football. We could quite easily get knocked in the first round, which means a grand total of......2 extra games in the season. Hardly season defining.

As has already mentioned, if we qualify for Europe we may well keep our better players (Sidwell) and be in a stronger position to sign others.

Therefore we could end up with a much stronger squad and only play 2 more games.

Think the point here is not the extra games but the expectation of people at the club if Europe is reached. West Ham, having qualified for the UEFA, went on to get belted in the first round - ruining their confidence and being the catalyst for a poor season. If you look at the season before Everton qualified for the champions league, lost their qualifying round, then lost the Uefa cup tie and had a poor season. I think that Coppell has a point about Europe. I would still like to qualify but I think a realistic view of the situation is essential. Next year will probably be very tough...

[Victor Meldrew]

I'm also not sure where this concern / myth comes from about the 'demands' of European football. We could quite easily get knocked in the first round, which means a grand total of......2 extra games in the season. Hardly season defining.

As has already mentioned, if we qualify for Europe we may well keep our better players (Sidwell) and be in a stronger position to sign others.

Therefore we could end up with a much stronger squad and only play 2 more games.

I agree with you Seal.
Why look at the negative in the performances of West Ham and Ipswich?
Playing in Europe would raise the club's profile and in turn lead to attracting players.
How on earth could we ever say to a potential new player that we are an ambitious club when we might be the only club to ever try to avoid playing in Europe?.
Also looking at the Spanish and German leagues both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are in danger of missing out on European Champions League qualification-a couple of fixtures against one of those isn't that shabby is it?

[papereyes]

I'm also not sure where this concern / myth comes from about the 'demands' of European football. We could quite easily get knocked in the first round, which means a grand total of......2 extra games in the season. Hardly season defining.

Ipswich
+
West Ham
+
lazy journalism/research
=
Europe is bad

Both those clubs failed to strengthen adequately after their first season, Ipswich bought poor players on big fees (Finidi George, Sereni et al) for example.

The European run was a distraction but they would have been poor without it.

That said, iirc, only three clubs that got promotion, survived the first season finished higher in the second season in the Premiership. It is 'tougher' second time around.

[papereyes]

West Ham, having qualified for the UEFA, went on to get belted in the first round - ruining their confidence and being the catalyst for a poor season.

I disagree.

They would have had a poor season anyway, imo, as players like Reo-Coker and Ferdinand had 'switched off' over the summer.

[Seal]

West Ham, having qualified for the UEFA, went on to get belted in the first round - ruining their confidence and being the catalyst for a poor season.

I disagree.

They would have had a poor season anyway, imo, as players like Reo-Coker and Ferdinand had 'switched off' over the summer.

Spot on. And you can add the Pardew to that list as well. He clearly lost the dressing room, something that you cannot imagine happening to Coppell.

[Peter Kay - Top of the To]

Understand his concerns but this is nonetheless dissapointing for fans. And who knows possibly even for players.

I dont see why he couldn't use squad players for FA and UEFA and then stick a youth team in the 1st League Cup game.

If you think of the various breaks for internationals - particularly this month, it doesent seem like our players have been getting enough games at certain times of the season. All the same I dare not question the great man, however much my heart says NO..my head will always go along with his infinite and unquestionable wisdom.

He is our Lord Jesus Christ after all...