Premier League 2017/18

[FLiam]

There’s been a few stories, mainly from a Bosnian source, linking Zjelko Buvac with the Arsenal job. Sounds interesting.

[stokeriño]

Since Liverpool are now in the Champions League Final, obviously the only right and proper course of action for them now is to come to Stamford Bridge on Sunday and completely piss the match away, much like we did for them at Anfield back in 2012.

Do they have a goalkeeper as shit as Ross Turnbull that they could play?  

[DavidMarrio]

3 hours ago, stokerino said:

Since Liverpool are now in the Champions League Final, obviously the only right and proper course of action for them now is to come to Stamford Bridge on Sunday and completely piss the match away, much like we did for them at Anfield back in 2012.

Do they have a goalkeeper as shit as Ross Turnbull that they could play?  

Bogdan might still be hiding somewhere in Melwood. 

[FLiam]

Regarding European qualification next season, am I right in saying that if Liverpool and Arsenal both win the European trophies and Liverpool finish outside the top 4 and Spurs finish 4th, then Liverpool steal Tottenham’s CL spot? 

Unrealistic though as we’re about to get knocked out...

[Malenko]

37 minutes ago, Liam Mk2 said:

Regarding European qualification next season, am I right in saying that if Liverpool and Arsenal both win the European trophies and Liverpool finish outside the top 4 and Spurs finish 4th, then Liverpool steal Tottenham’s CL spot? 

Unrealistic though as we’re about to get knocked out...

Spurs would be demoted to the Europa League. Since the Liverpool-Everton situation over a decade ago, UEFA allows 5 teams from the same country in the CL in case a team outside of the top 4 wins the CL (at the moment, the EL is good enough for that), but you still can't* get a sixth.

* You couldn't get a fifth spot back then, so the same way they changed it back then, they could change it again.

[Matt]

You've made that sound more sinister than it is. If Spurs finished 4th and Liverpool finished 5th and Liverpool won the CL then yes, Liverpool would take Spurs' place. Arsenal winning the Europa league doesn't affect that at all.

[Malenko]

I didn't mean to. Sorry. I just meant 5 is the maximum number of teams at the moment but exceptions have been made before when the maximum number was 4. Nothing else.

[Baddar]

3 hours ago, Matt said:

You've made that sound more sinister than it is. If Spurs finished 4th and Liverpool finished 5th and Liverpool won the CL then yes, Liverpool would take Spurs' place. Arsenal winning the Europa league doesn't affect that at all.

England has 4 guaranteed spots via the league though nowadays, as well as three other countries. (Spain, Italy, Germany?) So surely the CL winners don't impact that? There were 5 English teams in the CL this season after United won the Europa.

[Malenko]

Rules change now and then, but currently Europa League winners don't affect the number of teams qualifying through the domestic league, which is why there were 5 teams this year.

However it still doesn't have "4 guaranteed spots via the league though nowadays". Just as an example I'll use the one given before. If Liverpool and Arsenal won the CL and EL and both ended up outside of the top 4, the 4th placed team wouldn't qualify.

[Baddar]

"UEFA has announced a significant change to the format of the Champions League, starting in 2018—from then onward, the top four sides in the top four UEFA associations will be guaranteed a place in the group stage of the competition."

Got it from there. But yeah, it didn't mention sides being bumped out if someone outside of the four wins the competition. 

[Malenko]

7 minutes ago, Baddar said:

"UEFA has announced a significant change to the format of the Champions League, starting in 2018—from then onward, the top four sides in the top four UEFA associations will be guaranteed a place in the group stage of the competition."

Got it from there. But yeah, it didn't mention sides being bumped out if someone outside of the four wins the competition. 

 

From the UEFA webpage:

For 2018/19 they will be ...
UEFA Champions League holders (1)
UEFA Europa League holders (1)
Top four from associations ranked 1st to 4th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy (16)

Also on their webpage:

• An association may have a maximum of five teams in the group stage

[Baddar]

23 minutes ago, Malenko said:

Also on their webpage:

• An association may have a maximum of five teams in the group stage

This is my point...

Surely if Liverpool win the CL but finish 5th, all four teams above them would also get CL football as you can have five from one country in the group stage. 

The only way sides could have been "bumped" out for finishing 4th would have been if Arsenal won the Europa as you pointed out originally.

[Colly]

That "group stage" line is interesting, had both English teams won the cups and finished 5th and 6th could 4th place have gone into the qualifying rounds for the bantz? 

[Adam]

From what I understand, Liverpool winning the CL but finishing 5th would not on its own stop the top 4 qualifying because the UCL winners have their own spot now if need be. The only way it'd knock Spurs (or Chelsea) out is if Arsenal also won the Europa League because they'd maximise the "5 spots per country" rule. Of course this is no longer possible so no need for Spurs to worry.

Of course it's all irrelevant once Liverpool lose to Real in three weeks anyway 😋.

[MDK]

Manchehester Lolnited

[FLiam]

How is this Manchester United team the second best in the country? 

The Premier League is so shit.

[Baddar]

Defeats at all 3 promoted sides. Ffs.

[MDK]

3 minutes ago, Baddar said:

Defeats at all 3 promoted sides. Ffs.

Woke up this morning feelin' fine 
I've got United on my mind 
Jose has us playing like United should, oh yeah

[FestiveJack]

Too soon to book the plane banner?

[Gazz]

27 minutes ago, Baddar said:

Defeats at all 3 promoted sides. Ffs.

Rafa > Hughton > Wagner >>>>>> Jose