The final UEFA Fairplay rankings (PDF) were released, showing that England lost its Fairplay slot in the Europa League as it finished seventh. Only the top three countries in the list get the additional slots, which go to the highest ranked teams in the respective countries’ fairplay rankings that have not already qualified for European play.
In England, Fulham and Burnley are next on the list to not have qualified for European play. If England had won the Fairplay award, Fulham would have qualified for Europe regardless of the outcome of today’s Europa League final. The winner of the match automatically qualifies for next season’s Europa League group play.
Thus, if Fulham had won the relegated club would have been in Europe next season. That would not have been a bad deal for a club that limited the top play of players to 15,000 pounds a week last year. This almost happened two years ago when Fulham faced the drop on the last day of the season and was only hundredths of points behind Manchester City on Fairplay index at the end of the season. Alas, it did not happen then and it will not happen this year.
Do Portsmouth get into Europe for being in the FA cup final, because Chelsea’s already in the Champion’s League? Or do they have to win?
@LE
Nope.
Not only did they fail to submit their UEFA paperwork ahead of the deadline, but both the EPL and the English FA have said that even if they win,they’re not going to Europe.
Oh right. I totally forgot about that story.
All of which mean that Liverpool parachute in to Europe. Yaaaaaay!
/Have fun against Rafa in the 3rd QR
//No, I’m not going to let Villa finishing above Pool go
Keith: we were already in Europe, sir.
/douche
/had to happen eventually
/won’t happen again though
Not finishing 7th, you weren’t
/bite me
/yessir
/yes it will; especially after we buy Super Jew from you
I thought 7th was a Europa League spot regardless? At least that’s what the BBC table had me believe in the final 2-3 weeks of the season
Nice to see that Villa’s transfer aspirations have already begun, and talk about setting your sights high!
It was as soon as the FA ruled on Pompey. The Carling Cup going to United freed the 6th spot for European qualification, and then Chelsea advancing and Pompey in shambles made 7th a Euro spot.
And hey, if we can take a talented player that Rafa in all his wisdom doesn’t know how to use, MON’s the guy that can make him shine.
@JT I think 7th was EL regardless by the time 2-3 weeks were left in the season, but that’s because Pompey’s fate was already decided. At the beginning of the year, I think only 5th spot is guaranteed
Speaking about Europe… Does anybody bother making a prediction regarding the final this evening?
@Keith
is it difficult typing with MON’s nuts over your eyes?
@JT: Weeping for the one that got away?
I guess my question is, why would Yossi Benayoun go to Celtic?
@Keith
Not particularly. Like he’d come and dare to inhabit our Anfield nightmare at a club with big-time aspirations
@Ryan: Really? Lerner just announced O’Neill’s contract renewal.
JT: Northern Irish goggles?
@HL: I think Fulham do it. Fiver had a great write-up on it today.
@JT: Oh, so you lot are going to be the next Newcastle. That’ll be fun to watch, I guess.
@Keith Must have missed that. Glad to hear that we can count on the spring swoon again next year then.
@Ryan: Nah, I’m personally flying to Birmingham to add an S to the front of the March pages on all of MON’s calendars. Maybe if he believes it’s “Smarch” we won’t have a bad month.
Fulham can’t win away from Craven Cottage. Atletico can’t win anywhere. Should be riveting.
@LE: Like Liverpool-Hull?
Exactly!
@Keith
Close, but no. We’ll be back in the Top 4-5 next year!
@JT: You’re starting to sound like Norfolk Ned.
@EF
ouch. I take it as an Arsenal fan, you’re already prepped for finishing 3rd again next season?
JT: How do you possibly figure that? Spurs and City will both strengthen this summer. Who knows what Villa and Everton will do. All we know about Liverpool is they’ll either 1) have to get a new manager or 2) have to stay with the same manager. Neither prospect screams “immediate return to the top 4″ especially since they have no money to buy anyone good.
Well, JT, that is the place where pretenders like to be, so yeah, I’ve already TM’d my Arsenthird/Thirdsenal tee.
@LE
How do I figure that? Because I’m a die-hard fan whose optimism reserves are unusually high right now. But thanks for a noble effort to knock me back down into the cold wilderness of facts and logic.
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your fantasy world.
@LE: next thing you know, you’ll be kissing JT’s grandma while she’s wearing a Gene Simmons mask!!
/laughs at JT’s “Happy Place”
@LE
It’s ok. I can’t hear you lalalalalala
@Keith
Great reference! PS. F**k your team
@JT: Milner will contribute more to England’s efforts in the WC than Gerrard will.
/That is a facht.
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