Gerard Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 They didn't qualify for the group stages, but I didn't say that they did. I said that they qualified for the Champions League and they most certainly did. Without being pedantic they never qualified for the Champions League. They qualified for a preliminary round for a chance to qualify for the Champions League but failed to get into the actual Champions League.
shen Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 To be fair to us, we've brought a lad through our academy to become our highest ever midfield goalscorer and joint 22nd in the overall appearance rankings on 319, not sure if Everton have done that recently... King is not the example that would sway Gray. Remember that King has hardly ever played at Premier League level and is currently a squad player at best. Everton have done that with Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman anyway, so still better than our record. Ross Barkley, John Stones and maybe even Brendan Galloway are top prospects with the former two arguably the two brightest English talents around. If anything could convince Gray it would be the rise of Schlupp, with him playing in the same position and being a first team regular. When you are a "safe" team it's a bit easier to chuck in youngsters. It's something we should be aiming for this year with us pretty much being secure for another season. If they are good enough they will get game time anyway I think. We don't have left back cover other than Schlupp, I think that will now become Chilwell with Schlupp just going back on the wing. As you say, if a player is "good enough" they will play, regardless of age or the team's "safe" status. A defense with Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori and Galloway hardly screams "safe" in your face. Everton should be praised for giving them a chance instead of being brushed away as team that has little to lose and lots to gain.
ImBlue Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 No. You qualify for the Champions League via League position or winning either the Europa League or Champions League. Dependant on your league position, you may have to play a group stage qualifier. Which Everton had to do having finished 4th the previous season. This is a worry. The New Saints, formerly TNS can offer champions league football whereas we can't. How are we going to keep hold of our players?
AKCJ Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Without being pedantic they never qualified for the Champions League. They qualified for a preliminary round for a chance to qualify for the Champions League but failed to get into the actual Champions League. While being explicitly pedantic, they did qualify for the Champions League. However, they did not qualify for the Champions League group stages.
Stadt Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Everton are undoubtedly bigger but currently we're better. Everton have been underachieving for years now, they've two players that could command a £40m fee, a "highly rated manager" and a load of other things going for them but despite shit loads of tv money the don't really invest money, concede too many, draw too many and just seem to have stagnated in the lower reaches of the top 10, Everton finished above Spurs two (?) seasons ago and look at the difference between them now.
ImBlue Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Everton are undoubtedly bigger but currently we're better. Everton have been underachieving for years now, they've two players that could command a £40m fee, a "highly rated manager" and a load of other things going for them but despite shit loads of tv money the don't really invest money, concede too many, draw too many and just seem to have stagnated in the lower reaches of the top 10, Everton finished above Spurs two (?) seasons ago and look at the difference between them now. Nail on the head. As with any Martinez side, they have a bit of a soft underbelly.
inckley fox Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 While being explicitly pedantic, they did qualify for the Champions League. However, they did not qualify for the Champions League group stages. I don't think you can call the 'qualifiers' of any competition a part of the competition itself. Or, at least, the word implies that you can't. But I understand your point, obviously. They finished in a position which gave them a chance of Champions League football, even if they didn't make the most of it, and Leicester never have.
Gerard Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 While being explicitly pedantic, they did qualify for the Champions League. However, they did not qualify for the Champions League group stages. The point is there mid term expectations are more similar to ours than one of the big clubs. They used to be a big club but aren't any more. No one would be shocked if they went through the next 30 years without picking up a trophy. I get it, they're a bigger club than us but they're NOT a big club.
Babylon Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 what is happening in here It's first day back at work after two weeks... so not much.
Carl the Llama Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 what is happening in here Our bigness has been questioned.
dylanlegend Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 While being explicitly pedantic, they did qualify for the Champions League. However, they did not qualify for the Champions League group stages. Since when was "Champions league 3rd Qualifying round"- the champions league? The clue is in the "qualifying" part. It's no more the Competition than World Cup Qualifying and the World Cup. Everton finishing 4th in 2005 will Also have absolutely no bearing on Gray deciding to join Everton over us.
Babylon Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Since when was "Champions league 3rd Qualifying round"- the champions league? The clue is in the "qualifying" part. It's no more the Competition than World Cup Qualifying and the World Cup. Everton finishing 4th in 2005 will Also have absolutely no bearing on Gray deciding to join Everton over us. This thread might...
AKCJ Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 The point is there mid term expectations are more similar to ours than one of the big clubs. They used to be a big club but aren't any more. No one would be shocked if they went through the next 30 years without picking up a trophy. I get it, they're a bigger club than us but they're NOT a big club. Have you been thinking that I call them a big club as in Man United or Arsenal or something this whole time? They're a side that have been top 8 or so for years and finishing outside of that is considered a huge underachievement. It's weird that you even feel the need to state the obvious when you say they're bigger than us but clearly they're way underneath the likes of United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
AKCJ Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Since when was "Champions league 3rd Qualifying round"- the champions league? The clue is in the "qualifying" part. It's no more the Competition than World Cup Qualifying and the World Cup. Everton finishing 4th in 2005 will Also have absolutely no bearing on Gray deciding to join Everton over us. You don't qualify for the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round for merely existing though. Regardless of what you want to believe, Everton qualified for the Champions League because they finished 4th. They did not qualify for the Champions League Group Stage because they lost a two-legged group stage qualifier against Villarreal (IIRC).
lgfualol Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 What time will this be announced then? Sooner this thread is locked the better.
Bettsj2 Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 What time will this be announced then? Sooner this thread is locked the better. Should lock it anyway. There must be a pissing contest thread somewhere?
dylanlegend Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 You don't qualify for the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round for merely existing though. Regardless of what you want to believe, Everton qualified for the Champions League because they finished 4th. They did not qualify for the Champions League Group Stage because they lost a two-legged group stage qualifier against Villarreal (IIRC). From Wikipedia so 100% accurate: A fourth-place finish in 2004–05, ensured Everton qualified for the Champions League qualifying round.
mozartfox Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Mores to the point, how much have Bayer04 offered Brum for Gray? 1m Euros? BTW - Forest were a big Club once upon a time.
Gerard Posted 4 January 2016 Posted 4 January 2016 Have you been thinking that I call them a big club as in Man United or Arsenal or something this whole time? They're a side that have been top 8 or so for years and finishing outside of that is considered a huge underachievement. It's weird that you even feel the need to state the obvious when you say they're bigger than us but clearly they're way underneath the likes of United, Liverpool and Arsenal. By your own admission now they're not a big club. There's the obvious five, probably Tottenham too and then there is the rest of us that make up the numbers. Everton are no bigger than West Ham who have a similar trophy haul to us.
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