I think we should treat this as if it was the CL and go out to win it but rotate until we get to the KOs.

If we finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL we'll end up, more likely than not in Pot 2, I cant see us going into Pot 3 but its possible as we're ranked 20th in UEFAs club rankings.

The CL and EL winners go into Pot 1 along with the the Top 6 Leagues winners, if a league winner is also a winner of the CL/EL, another country will get a Pot 1 spot so we could be pushed out to Pot 3.

Thats why I'd be looking to win the EL as it guarantees us a Pot 1 draw which we wont get unless we win the PL.

30 minutes ago, Delnino said:

If we finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL we'll end up, more likely than not in Pot 2 ...

Pots are an interesting consideration. But Pot 2 - unless you are really unlucky - should land you in a group where at least 2nd place is fairly straight-forward.

It all kinda depends on how confident one feels about the state of the team in a year's time. If optimistic (Sarri will have had a year to implement his methods; we'll have a couple of windows to fill in the gaps - e.g. to buy a striker; so next year we should be back as a major power home and in Europe) - then it really shouldn't matter that much. We should - at least at group stage of CL  - be able to kick ass whatever pot we get in from.

If pessimistic (Hazard goes to Real, we don't adequately replace him, a couple of other players deteriorate due to age, Sarri's methods will be OK, but will not quite make us invincible, etc) - then yeah. These subtle differences could seriously affect chances of getting out of the group.

I mean we could, of course, not finish top 4 and not win EL. Also a possibility. :)

For the initial stages against sh*t teams, we should definitely go with the squad players. They should be good enough to progress. Depending on our standing in the league, we will choose our strategy at the latter stages if we're still in it. If we are in with a good chance of winning the league, we should prioritize the league and continue using squad players. 

Hazard, Luiz and Kovacic being rested and so are a couple of others, good news for RLC, CHO and Christensen? I hope so

Edited September 19, 20187 yr by JJP

Sarri expected to make up to five changes tomorrow, so not wholesale changes.

Maybe starts for Willian, Pedro, Christensen, Ampadu and Fabregas then? 

On 18/09/2018 at 20:01, coco said:

As it stands i would say

EL 20% chance of getting a CL place next season.

EPL 80% chance of CL place next season.

We should'nt gamble the fitness of key players on the least favourable option.

But you have to win less games to win the Europa League... 

 

There are a few ways to look at it.

Edited September 19, 20187 yr by rtwelch

UEL is full of dross tbh. There's a high chance we don't play any real serious team till the QF. Up to that point, squad players must be playing.

Early rounds should be treated as a chance to bring in some fringe players, without complete wholesale changes to the first team.  Bench should have a mix of experience that can be used if we are behind or at a stalemate; or, fringe players that can get more experience if needed assuming we have the game under control/ a healthy lead.

IT certainly gets interesting once the CL teams drop into the mix, and and that time I think we play a team best suited to the team we are drawn against.  Winning is contagious, and we should want to win every competition we are in.

15 hours ago, Londonisblue said:

UEL is full of dross tbh. There's a high chance we don't play any real serious team till the QF. Up to that point, squad players must be playing.

Tbh the same could be said of the champions league, they have just made the competitions too big now.

3 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

Tbh the same could be said of the champions league, they have just made the competitions too big now.

true. Especially true when you look at spurs or city

It is depressing being being in The Thursday Tottenham Trophy, but hopefully next season Spurs will back in their own competition and we will be back in the CL.

I would like us to give the ressies and yoofs a run out in this cup.

And David Luiz.

We need to try and win it.

I would be disappointed if we didn't take it seriously.

Another thing people forget about the europa league is the time we get to play games compared to our main rivals. We play on Thursdays and sundays which is 3 days whilst Liverpool and City play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and play either on Saturdays, sundays and sometimes Mondays.  So sometimes they get a full 4 or 5 days between games. 

There’s no way we can compete for the league title whilst still being in this competition. I think Sarri should think about leaving the big name players at home and not even flying them. 

I reckon for the next game against Vidi we could rack up a 5+ score line, even if we play some youths.

I do hope that Ampadu and Odoi play that game as its at the Bridge and the "hostile" Greek atmosphere cant be used as an excuse as to why Sarri didnt even bring either to the bench.

I wasn't happy with the team selection on Thursday for a variety of reasons, even less so now that Pedro and Rudiger have gone out with injuries. Hopefully nothing serious for Rudiger. Hopefully more changes the next time we have 3 games in 8 days. Guess we'll find out on Wednesday. 

PAOK away is probably the toughest group game, think Sarri got it right with that team. We win the next home game, then we could take more chances with remaining games. Let's face it, the people who say don't care about Europa league will be the same people scream Sarri out if we get knocked out in the group stage.

Yeah, worth remembering that despite playing a strong lineup we still only won 1-0.

I hate saying we should "throw it" but that's what I think we should do. If not, then only play the young and fringe players.

I really cannot understand ANY Chelsea fan saying that they want us to lose anything.  Not just you but other muppets in here as well.

Just doesn't sit right with me.

35 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

I really cannot understand ANY Chelsea fan saying that they want us to lose anything.  Not just you but other muppets in here as well.

Just doesn't sit right with me.

I want us to beat the local combined church/synagogue team in a pre-season friendly on Samoa ffs. And I'll be nervous and pessimistic about it.

Edited September 25, 20187 yr by Valerie

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

I really cannot understand ANY Chelsea fan saying that they want us to lose anything.  Not just you but other muppets in here as well.

Just doesn't sit right with me.

I can fully understand why it doesn't!

It doesn's sit well with me either, but sometimes you have to do something bad for the greater good. Do I think going out of the EL in the group stages will improve our chances of the top four? Yes I do! 

2 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

I really cannot understand ANY Chelsea fan saying that they want us to lose anything.  Not just you but other muppets in here as well.

Just doesn't sit right with me.

I wanted our backups to start... and win. 

* I think we have the quality to get through the group stages with our reserves
* I think the reserves need more playing time to show what they can do
* I think the first team needs resting during a spell like we're having right now
* I think the kids with something to prove may take the competition a little more seriously and be hungrier for a win

all reasons why I was disappointed with the team selection on Thursday. Then as Pedro and Rudiger go out, I've gone from disappointed to agitated. If we see another 1st XI on Wednesday, I'm going to move on to pissed off... lol

 

2 hours ago, Dixon said:

I can fully understand why it doesn't!

It doesn's sit well with me either, but sometimes you have to do something bad for the greater good. Do I think going out of the EL in the group stages will improve our chances of the top four? Yes I do! 

 

56 minutes ago, Skinnedy said:

I wanted our backups to start... and win. 

* I think we have the quality to get through the group stages with our reserves
* I think the reserves need more playing time to show what they can do
* I think the first team needs resting during a spell like we're having right now
* I think the kids with something to prove may take the competition a little more seriously and be hungrier for a win

all reasons why I was disappointed with the team selection on Thursday. Then as Pedro and Rudiger go out, I've gone from disappointed to agitated. If we see another 1st XI on Wednesday, I'm going to move on to pissed off... lol

 

That's all well and good, and I think you @Skinnedy have some valid points.  Still never ever want to see us lose in any match,even the high-profile ones like that mentioned by @Valerie above.

Try to win it obviously, it is a European trophy after all...

Our priorities have to be top four and Europa League, both carry the same reward. Taking into account most people would agree City and Liverpool will occupy two of the places our chances of top four are around 50% ,slightly higher or lower depending on whether your glass is half full of empty. The Europa League is a competition we should be winning, we're favourites for a reason. Win three home games now and we're through to the knockout stages. As it stands we are the team to avoid, we have no team to be afraid of, eight games and it's a final. Why wouldn't you go for that? Let the reserves and youth team squad play in the domestic cups and remaining away group games.