Fair Play League

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2317918/Liverpool-reject-Fair-Play-route-Europa-League.html


Should we reject it or not. Not saying Rodgers said he would but he is obv implying he would rather not play because we didn't earn the spot. Obv it also clashes with a pre-season tour of Australia as well. A lot of fans here don't care if we rejected it as they will get the opportunity to see the team, on the flip side i think it's a load of bull. Why would we ever reject europe, so that we can focus on getting a 4th position. If we can't build a team that can handle top 4 and EL, whats the point of making the CL, well just get knocked out.

It would be a stupid idea to reject. I'm pretty sure our kids and reserves can defeat regular teams in the early qualifying rounds like Vilnius, Aktobe, etc. So just go ahead with the preseason for the first team and get guys like Carroll, Spearing, Pacheco, and Academy players to play in these qualifying round to help their stock a little since we're most likely getting rid of them.

I don't care how we make it to EL, having Europe is always a bonus.

I don't like the idea of sending our kids and reserves to play in July's quali round, it would be embarassing, imo, double so if we got eliminated thanks to that.

It seems problematic, I didn't realize earlier that our pre-season tour overlaps with the second quali round to which we should take part in. I don't see how it's possible for LFC to be in two places at the same time and based on the article and quotes you get a feeling it's clear that we won't cancel on our pre-season commitments.

Disappointing, but can't be helped. Gotta say it would feel more right to me to participate in the Europa League even if it meant cutting our friendlies short.

Although it could very well be that England doesn't get in top-3 of the Fair Play rankings and then this doesn't matter anyway. I guess we'll find out next week.

As it stands, we look set to be the 2nd place team in the Premier League Fair Play Table. As Arsenal (the team ahead of us) look set to finish in a European place in the league, that means we would be the recipient of a Europa league place, should England finish in the top three leagues (currently sitting 4th). Therefore, there is a chance (though not nearly as certain as some of the rags are making it our to be) that Liverpool could be offered a place in Europe. Moreover, Rodgers has recently said that we would have to accept the place, though we would prefer to qualify through competitive means. http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/205461.html

The question is simple: as supporters, should we get into Europe this way, do we think this will be a positive influence on the campaign.

Negatives:
- (Europa League as a whole) adds extra strain on an already thin squad... could prevent the loaning and development of fringe first-team players
- Distracts from the main focus, which we all will agree should be the league next season
- Competitive matches would start in mid-July
- Curtail or force the cancellation of our preseason tour/training

Positives:
- It's European Football... There's a certain prestige that comes with it, and I wouldn't write off the draw on attracting new talent
- Allows for a another competition to fringe fringe first-team players like Suso, Shelvey, Wisdom, etc.
- Suarez could play (someone let me know if I've misinterpreted a rule here)
- It's another competition that Liverpool could win (note: not should, nor likely, but could)
- Financial benefits of European competition

I am admittedly a little torn on this issue. While I want to see the club in Europe and competing for as many honors as possible, I'm realistic about the squad we currently have and the finite resources (financial, squad, coaching, etc.) we have at our disposal. We can only invest so much effort over the course of a season, and I question whether we should make the extra exertion on a competition that will ultimately be seen as secondary, even potentially behind the FA Cup.

A recent example against European competition is Juventus in 2011-12. In 2010-11, they finished 7th, out of the European places. (Now, they did make serious personnel and managerial changes prior to 2011-12.) In 2011-12, they went undefeated in Serie A and won the Scudetto for the first time since Calciopoli. Obviously, this is not meant for direct comparrison. However, their situation does illustrate the potential benefits of sole focus on league competition.

As I said, I'm rather torn on the issue. I'm interested in seeing other people's opinions on the matter.

Well, there's kinda a thread for this already.

I'd rather take part in the EL than not. But it appears that we will decline the possible Fair Play qualification spot so that our pre-season tour doesn't get distracted.

Absolutely.

Liverpool is all about European football. We coped with it this season, and our squad next season should be better than this. so why not.

Plus, EL was the making of Sterling/Suso/Wisdom etc.

If we don't have EL, we have to loan all EVERY single of our youth basically. I rather they stayed here and played in Europe.

p.s. we need those coefficients. if we don't get EL this year, by the time we go back to CL we'll get pot 4, and group of death.

So whats the % that we/England could get Fair play.

Well If England go into top 3 in the table. We're definitely getting the spot.

The PL fairplay table is as follows.

1. Arsenal (Will get Europe through League)
2. Liverpool
3. Spurs (Will get Europe through League)
4. United (Will get Europe through League)


now the only thing that's holding it back is that England is 4th, and I have no clue how close it is.

Alright so the table is as follows. I don't know how steep that little gap is to catch up to Finland.

1 NOR 8.252
2 SWE 8.243
3 FIN 8.205
4 ENG 8.166
5 NED 8.127

P.S. Art should go sabotage the Finnish league so that more red cards are handed out.

Also this was back in December, no one knows the current ordeal.

Here's the link to the full table that was back in December

http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/news-template.html?130114

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/rodgers-we-won-t-be-looking-at-table

There you have it guys. Rodgers confirms that we'll take the European football if we get it.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premier-league/news/article/312/8684921/fair-play-places-to-be-confirmed

And finally it looks like PL will find out in the next 3/4 days if they got 3rd in the Fair Play League. So we'll find out soon.

Scandinavia leadings 1-3 in fair play.

those humble and respectful people

Harry Redknapp wrote:Scandinavia leadings 1-3 in fair play.

those humble and respectful people

Yeah and the craziest part is that they dominate the Fair Play Leagues every year.

However that was in December, let's hope England have nicked the third spot.

Its all fixed, No offense art but the refs can be paid money so that they dont hand out cards much, Not many people are watching the league

/troll

It's difficult to tackle when there's snow up to your knees on the pitch, hence the Scandinavian Fair Play domination.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2317918/Liverpool-reject-Fair-Play-route-Europa-League.html

Rejecting to play in Europe because of pre-season commitments? What the hell did I just read?

Well the pre-season tour is pretty important (financially) for us. Not only there are pretty lucrative tour money, there will also be some rippling effect on our commercial earnings too.

However, I'm all for ANY European competition. Yes, starting the season in mid-July (as opposed to mid-August) will be pretty draining. Besides the financial windfall is pretty dim.

ExtremistEnigma wrote:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2317918/Liverpool-reject-Fair-Play-route-Europa-League.html

Rejecting to play in Europe because of pre-season commitments? What the hell did I just read?

This is sort of old news. Rodgers came out saying again yesterday or so that we'll accept Europe if we make it through the Fair Play League.

Art Morte wrote:Well, there's kinda a thread for this already.

I'd rather take part in the EL than not. But it appears that we will decline the possible Fair Play qualification spot so that our pre-season tour doesn't get distracted.

Yeah... my bad. Looks like Red merged them, anyway.

As for that Mail article, it was the media's knee-jerk reaction to Rodgers's initial comments about not wanting Europe through fair play, which I can understand. However, Europe is Europe... We can't say no. We would just prefer to earn it the normal way, which Rodgers has since come out and said.

I dont think England will get it, England will probably go down the ranking considering the intensity of matches now.

Well they will close the Fair Play League this week, so the last 2 matchdays won't count. Hopefully England has already made it.

AND THE DREAM IS OFFICIALLY OVER

http://www.fotball.no/nff/NFF-nyheter/2013/Norge-far-Europa-League-plass/

Sweden
Norway
Finland

take the three spots.

Oh well.