Lesser Footy – The Battle FOAR Europe

No, this is not about which will be the next domino to fall to Putin’s “information war” fascism (thank fuck). Chelsea hosts 3rd position Arsenal to kick the weekend off (7:30, NBCSN), and with a win or draw would take its chances of winning the League from 99% to, like 99.9 or 99.99%.

Thus, it’s high time to talk about the real stakes – slots for the 2017-18 European competitions.

Places 2-4* will make the UEFA Champions League, which is considered the bare minimum accomplishment for the so-called “big” clubs. Lo and behold, 4 teams are currently bunched at 46-47 points (Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City), with Man United within striking distance at 42. All would consider dropping to the next competition a serious blow.

* One can also earn a Champions League slot by WINNING the previous season’s Europa League, which Premiership teams seemingly never do. I am not sure if this takes away a post-season slot elsewhere or not.

The NIT of sorts is the Europa League, though it is arguably more fun from a TV perspective (not being dominated by the same 4 or 5 clubs year in and year out, also with games on Thursday evening). This kinda sorta goes to places 5-7, but can be trumped by an “outsider” (ie, someone not in the Top 7 of the Table) winning the League Cup and/or FA Cup. The FA Cup bid also gets preferential “seeding” in Europa, which means even a 6th position side can end up stuck playing preliminary round fixtures in fucking July.

Right now, Europa is Everton’s sweet spot (with 37 points), though West Brom aren’t out of it (33). But Southampton are in the League Cup final, and a Saints win there over United would force the Toffees to catch said United squad in the Table, or someone else to drop off massively.

Unlike the others, making Europa would represent a huge stepping stone for Everton in Ronald Koeman’s first season. With plenty of young talent in the rotation, it would be an excellent learning experience, along with a marketing opportunity to add depth to the squad. No doubt that target will be on everyone’s mind in the 10:00 window hosting yeah right’s Bournemouth Cherries (Extra Time).

The “main games” are Hull vs. the Shite (NBCSN) and fucking Palace vs. Sunderland (CNBC) for reasons unknown. Christ, even if you don’t want to watch Everton, I vastly prefer Watford/Burnley or Saints/Hammers on Extra Time instead.

Spurs host Middlesbrough on NBC (12:30), in what should be a mismatch. However, Spurs’ recent form means nothing should be taken for granted.

NBCSN’s Sunday Funday doubleheader is rather meh, with City hosting Swans (8:30), then United at Formerly Foxy Footy (11:00). Swans have been playing much better of late, while Leicester are in absolute free fall.

Pretty harsh, given that nothing else of interest happens on 5 February.

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King Hippo
Reclusive, vulgar Broncos fan. Also a proud fookin' Evertonian. Likely dropped on my head repeatedly as a small child. [Insert George Carlin quote followed by thoughtful nod.]
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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

If you have moobs; maybe you should just go with it.

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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herodotus450

Well I like her skirt better, so there. Also, I wonder if she’ll let me borrow a marker from that set she’s carrying.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Well, the skirt is missing so…….. agreed.

Fronkenshteen

How hard do you think they’ll make it for regular people like me to leave? Sounds like we’re being steered towards outright war with Iran & at LEAST a Cold War with China. I have a five year old son. He will participate in US Military operations over my dead fucking body. I’m Irish. Can I get citizenship there? Is New Zealand a realistic choice? I had an uncle who sailed there from San Diego and never came back. I might have people there. I’m in the acceptance stage of the Death of America.

litre_cola

If you have Irish citizenship you are laughing. If you are under 35 you can get working visas still.

Fronkenshteen

My wife is under 35 and is a classroom teacher for Autistic & other Special Needs kids. Has a couple of masters degrees to boot.

ballsofsteelandfury

I’ve heard New Zealand is looking for that specific skill set. You guys might have real options there.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

A work associate who has been in the country as a citizen for 40 years from a South East Asian country and is a Second Amendment only republican is worried about his passport getting taken among other things.

The thought in my head was “Look at how you fucking voted in the last ten elections. Go home and hug your multiple AR-15s, pal.”

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

“Don’t worry.”

-Cormac McCarthy

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Sounds weird, but I’m glad my parents don’t have to see this bullshit.

Big Black Richard

Yeah, my best friend passed away four years ago. He would have been going freaking INSANE if he had to see this shit.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Had trouble upvoting that you lost a dear friend, but you know what I mean.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

I’m getting sentimental for the old days when the neocons (key word; cons) were in charge.

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/1232550815_bush%20doing%20the%20happy%20dance.gif

Fronkenshteen

Goddamn, Heung-min Son (#7 Tottenham) is a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

Fronkenshteen

Suddenly my wife is napping, my son has a friend over & they’re giggling away in his room, and I find myself ALONE, in complete control of the TV, in front of the Tottenham/Middlesborough match!
/switches from coffee to beer

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY!

laserguru

I just find it difficult to make jokes after the tragedy at Bowling Green.

Go Cherries!

laserguru

/checks score

Ah shit.

Horatio Cornblower

And Hull City bails out Arsenal.

There’s a sentence you don’t see that often.

litre_cola

Working on Champs group of 16 preview as we speak. Will run after Superb Owl before 1st matches. Am I biased? Ya damn straight I am biased. I can nae get the Toffees game up here. Fuck.

Don T

Looking forward to reading it, l_c.

Horatio Cornblower

The 13th.

Fire Wegner!

Seriously I barely follow lesser footy but even I knew that Arsenal was going to get blown out today and I wasn’t stunned when they lost to Watford. If there’s one thing I’ve learned while reading the paper and keeping one eye on the games it’s that when Arsenal puts themselves in a position to make a move to the top, or more realistically when someone else puts them in a position to do so, they will shoot themselves in both feet like it’s their job.

And this makes me sort of happy because while I am nominally an Arsenal fan, (and they’re generally entertaining to watch I’ll give them that), Kroenke owns the team and fuck that guy.

Horatio Cornblower

Chelsea are fucking ridiculous. I’d like them a lot more of Costa weren’t such a cunt.

litre_cola

Fuck Chelsea, Stamford Bridge isn’t actually in Chelsea it is in Fulham.