Qualifying for Europe - What Would We Need?

[mileend]

on the form table we are now just a point off Liverpool

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and well ahead of those ahead of us in the battle for 8th, so we have a good chance of making it

Though we have much tougher fixtures coming up those are quite often different at the end of the season compared to earlier. Pressure, weight of the fixture list or less to play for all contribute to 'shock' results.

But if we are going to make Europe I want it as a bi-product of winning the FA Cup.

Scraping into the conference league with our thin squad is not of huge interest in comparison to that

 

[Eagleman13]

In answer to the question posed in the thread title, valid passports would be a prerequisite.

Not then CF, we was in Europe innit

 

[Badger11]

In answer to the question posed in the thread title, valid passports would be a prerequisite.

Or a good song, actually as it's the UK not even a good song.

 

[HKOwen]

It was an official UEFA cup tho. As an aside I was there for both the games v Samsunspor, 0-2 both times. The away game was so scary, I have never been back to Turkey & never will.

When in Istanbul we are Besiktas fans, they are the Black Eagles and found their support friendly

 

[taylors lovechild]

Intertoto in July that we only got in through having a good discipline record still doesn’t count for me

Much as I don’t want to big up Millwall, at least they actually got into the UEFA Cup

In fairness we also lost to Man United in the cup final, but unlike Millwall we didn't get into Europe for the pleasure. I'm pretty sure that blaggers way into Europe doesn't exist anymore and only the winners get a Europe spot.

 

[grumpymort]

The only realistic way we would have a chance of Europa football is winning the cup.

I would rather win the cup anyway then getting it via the league I don't care about the extra money you get for per league place.

Unless the ambition of the club increases which I can't see happening we wont spend what is required to be able to compete in league & Europa.

 

[Nicholas91]

Ah come on, it's not a ludicrous ambition at this point, is it? Over the last decade Wigan, Swansea, Hull, Burnley, Wolves and Brighton have all played in Europe. Why can't we?

We're 2 games away from achieving it in the FA Cup or would potentially need 4 or 5 wins from our last 8 league games.

Given that we're already safe and among the form sides in Europe at the moment, I think we can allow ourselves to dream a little just for once...

Haha yes I do agree though.

I know there are pitfalls to 'Europe' which others have/will point out, duly noted on my behalf, but I would absolutely love it... so not setting myself up for potential heartbreak just yet!

 

[MrRobbo]

We're in with a chance.

And without that start, we'd already be in amongst it.

Its certainly a nice feeling finishing strong and looking upwards, certainly makes a change.

Also feels like the players (particularly JMP, Lacroix and Hendo) have real fire in their bellies.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

In fairness we also lost to Man United in the cup final, but unlike Millwall we didn't get into Europe for the pleasure. I'm pretty sure that blaggers way into Europe doesn't exist anymore and only the winners get a Europe spot.

That’s true, but I was just making the point that Millwall actually played in Europe where as far as I’m concerned we haven’t despite eagleman saying we have because of playing in the intertoto cup which could’ve qualified us for the uefa cup which Millwall did actually play in

 

[pssguy]

Beat Man City and we can take this a bit more seriously. They were pretty awful on Sunday and, without Haaland, are going to struggle to get a Champions League place
If we do win, we will be 6 points behind them with a game in hand. I'd have settled for that at the start of the season

 

[est1905]

We're mathematically safe and this is probably our best chance of Europe since we came up (ignoring that FA Cup final...). We have the semi as one route and also it is looking do-able within the league after today's game.

By default England gets four Champions League places (top 4 in the league), two Europa League places (fifth in league and FA Cup winners) and a Conference League place (EFL Cup winners).

However, we're likely to get a fifth Champions League spot through England being one of the best two performing nations across European competition this season. There is also a chance that Either Manchester United or Spurs could also get into the Champions League if they win the Europa League.

There's a really slim chance that every club down to 11th gets into Europe through a very specific set of circumstances.

However, it seems most likely that maybe 8th or 9th will be enough to get in. We're currently 11th and four points behind Brighton in 8th, two behind Bournemouth in 9th and two behind Fulham in 10th. We have a game in hand on both Brighton and Bournemouth.

Over the last season, the average points needed to finish eighth is 57 (60, 60 & 52), whilst the average for ninth is 54 (52, 59 & 61).

Based on their average points per games so far, Brighton are on course for 57 points, Bournemouth 55 points and Fulham 57 points. We're on course for 54 points but, of course if you factor in that awful start we are on a much better trajectory than that.

Given that all three of those clubs are now seeing stuttering form, they might not achieve those totals but I still reckon we're gonna need another 13/14 points from out last 8 games to get eigth and maybe 11/12 to stand a chance of ninth.

We have the hardest closing fixtures in the league but, on current form, is there anyone that we're really scared of?

Sorry for all the numbers but I'm excited. Going to have a beer and calm down now.

Good post and interesting points. I think form is massive at this stage of the season and we have it in spades. In the past we have reached safety, taken our foot off the pedal a bit and drifted towards the end. Glasner clearly will not tolerate that and (as shown at the end of last season when there was little to play for but a top half finish) will push this team all the way to the finish line.
I believe on current form (and that of teams around us) we will get 8th. Just my opinion but momentum is currently with us.
I remember the 1990/91 season when we won the Full Members Cup and finished 3rd in the old Div 1. During that time we went into every single game believing we were capable of winning. I have never felt that way about Palace at any time since....until now.

 

[pssguy]

I remember the 1990/91 season when we won the Full Members Cup and finished 3rd in the old Div 1. During that time we went into every single game believing we were capable of winning. I have never felt that way about Palace at any time since....until now.

Actually, I don't feel anything like as confident as winning games as at the tail-end of last season. It was a genuine shock to me that we nearly lost to Fulham.
Southampton well deserved their point and Brighton had better chances than us but, thankfully, Henderson was up to the task

 

[rikz]

The only realistic way we would have a chance of Europa football is winning the cup.

I would rather win the cup anyway then getting it via the league I don't care about the extra money you get for per league place.

Unless the ambition of the club increases which I can't see happening we wont spend what is required to be able to compete in league & Europa.

Plenty of teams across Europe manage it on far lower budgets than English teams have

 

[waterfordpal]

I think when it comes to Europe and the need for a bigger squad a lot of people under appreciate what we have already. Esse and Franca have hardly played this year but could benefit from the European experience. Add in some lads we have out on loan like Rak Saki plus lads coming back from injury and we can handle it.

 

[est1905]

I think when it comes to Europe and the need for a bigger squad a lot of people under appreciate what we have already. Esse and Franca have hardly played this year but could benefit from the European experience. Add in some lads we have out on loan like Rak Saki plus lads coming back from injury and we can handle it.

I agree on Esse and Franca. As for Rak-Saki? He hasn't pulled up any trees playing in the Championship for Sheffield United. I dont see a future for him in a Palace shirt. He just hasn't really kicked on since last season.
I agree with the Rikz guy above. If we made it into Europe we'd have a big enough budget to compete. Especially with Glasner at the helm who knows what it takes to be successful. We'd need a few more players in order to spread the extra workload but I think we could manage it.

Lets get there first though!