Don’t Say It Out Loud – But Europa Cup Place Within Reach For Magpies

10:21 am, Saturday, January 21st, 2012 by Ed Harrison · 65 Comments

Ryan Taylor has been little short of a revelation this season for Newcastle.

A good action shot of Ryan Taylor

The Liverpudlian has so far played in both full-back positions, out on the right wing and last Sunday he filled in for Yohan Cabaye in central midfield, when the French International had to leave the field with an injured ankle.

Yohan will not make the game this afternoon at Fulham, and we have a sneaking suspicion that Alan may start the same side that played the last 65 minutes of the game last week against QPR, with Ben Arfa starting on the right wing.

There has been a lot of talk about Europe in the last week or so, following Newcatsle’s three wins in a row against Manchester United, Blackburn in the FA Cup, and QPR last Sunday.

But Ryan Taylor is not getting carried away and he’ll be happy to reach 40 points, which has been the points needed to stay in the Premier League for all but one season.

That’s when West Ham got 42 points under manager Glen Roeder in 2003, and were still relegated, being 2 points behind Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers in 4th bottom place.

Ryan says he’s looking for survival first and foremost:

“We are looking for survival first. Who knows what else we can achieve? In the FA Cup we are in a great position, and hopefully we can get European football for next season.”

“We are not a bunch of lads who are going to start saying, ‘we are going to get into Europe’ but who knows, a cup final could be in the offing.”

“It is not a case of looking down the table but it is nice to get to that 40-point mark which will leave you safe.”

“When you get to that mark you can concentrate on looking up the table and kick on from there.”

For the record Ryan has played 22 times this season with 3 great goals, and he has 76 total appearances for Newcastle with 9 great goals, since signing on a four and half year contract back in January of 2009.

It’s not all that clear as to who qualifies for the Europa Cup these days.

The top four go into the European Champions League and fifth place gets an automatic Europa League spot.

But then it gets a bit murky and it depends on who wins the Carling Cup and FA Cup as to whether 6th and 7th place in the league get a Europa Cup position.

If the Cup winners have already qualified for Europe then lower placed teams then gain entry into the Europa Cup.

We suppose finishing in 5th place will take away any doubts at all, and if the lads can finish in that high position we’ll be in the Europa Cup next season.

But there’s also the FA Cup, and if Newcastle can win that for the first time since we thrashed Manchester City 3-1 back in 1955, we’ll also automatically qualify for the Europa Cup.

If Newcastle do qualify for Europe next season, then look for even more players coming in during the summer, because we’ll need a bigger squad for all the extra games the team will be playing.

Howay The Lads!!

Tags: Europa League · European Competition · Newcastle News · Ryan Taylor

65 responses so far ↓

1 pardew no 1 // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:24 AM

think we need to win today it is important
2 pardew no 1 // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:37 AM

pardew interview on soccer am classic
3 Rosted Pork // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:40 AM

gona b a tough game. il b happy with a point m afraid of Dempsey . is he injured?
4 roshan MAGPIE // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:44 AM

FGB i play DOTA not world of WARCRAft
5 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Hi folks .. can some let me know wt happens to the runners of the FA cup .. if the top 4 teams win the cups .. then the 5th team qualifies for europa.. ok .. now does the next spot go the Runner of FA cup or the 6th plasce team in the prem .. i understand one Spot is also reserved for fairplay team .. so how does it work out ???
6 zaktoon_swede // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:48 AM

a win today would do my hangover a world of good, i really cant see us getting the though…fulham have some classy players, hope they prove me wrong.
7 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:49 AM

Lets just take it one game at a time & not get deluded because we’ve sign some great players… we’ve still got 18 games to play & if after that we’re in a position to play in Europe, then all well & good… if not, then there’s always next season or the one after that.. don’t expect the club to run before we learn to walk..
8 nufcfoxy // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:54 AM

hello dudes. Predictions for todays game?
9 2_goal_tino // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:54 AM

I’m not thinking about Europe – but is it really worth it? I genuinely don’t think getting in the europa league means you can get better players. If we get in we’ll inevitably focus on the league and the club will complain about too many matches with a small squad. I’d love a few europrean away days, but don’t know if qualifying is worth much other than being able to say you’re in europe.
10 Rosted Pork // Jan 21, 2012 at 10:57 AM

any 1 has fifa 12 save file with everytng unlocked?
11 Crawfordladd17 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM

@Lachu I this is how it works. As u asked what happens if the runners up of the FA Cup isn’t in the top 7 and the champions r in the top 4 then the runners up get into Europa League, that’s how Stoke qualited losing 1-0 against Man City who finished 3rd. Then for example if it is like that 7th place doesn’t get into Europa league, and if Palace/Cardiff win the Carling Cup 6th don’t either but if City do then 6th get into Europe but if Liverpool win it and come 1st-7th there is no change but if they r 8th then only themselves 5th and FA Cup(not in the top 7) runners up and maybe if england get a fair play league which i dont understand really
12 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:03 AM

Some to say Europa is a distraction is totally off the mark.. Europa is the next level for a club like ours .. we should again be a european elite , that increases our clubs prestige , finance and pulling powers on players and you are going to mix it with the likes of Valencia, Benfica, leverkusen,Napoli ,Juventus PSG, Eindhoven to name a few
13 Toonboy_84 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:04 AM

1-2 the TOON today. Shola and raylor to score. HWTL
14 roblee7 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Does anyone know how it would be possible to write to Alan Pardew, i.e. an address? My wife Jane is a biro artist and is thinking of drawing an NUFC themed drawing to donate all proceeds to charity, anyone any ideas? She has an exhibition next year and thought Mr Pardew might like to see her work
15 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM

thnx Crawfordladd17 .. i guess i understood that .. lol
16 NottsGeordie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM

So if Man City win the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, then we finish 7th would we get into Europe?
17 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Would be nice to qualify for europe,But I think we would struggle in the league next season.

Thursday,Sunday,Thursday,Sunday etc etc.

Squad aint big enough…
18 roblee7 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM

toonboy_84 – yes, iv got a feeling shola will score today. it would be typical him, just when everyones excited bout cisse n ba, he’ll remind us that he does offer something after all. i know he doesnt have best goals-games ratio, but he has scored important goals for us in the past, n a couple in the champions league when he was young under sir bobby if i remember rightly!
19 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:08 AM

notts mancity cant win the FA cup until next year
20 NottsGeordie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:10 AM

Oh yeah aha

Fine if Man U win the FA Cup…
21 ross armstrong // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:10 AM

36 points already and 17 games to go , hmmm i say if we can get another 6 wins and a few draws that will take us to close to 60 pts which will defo see us in contention with a european place!!! i think it will be a big lift when demba and tiote come back so lets scrape a few more points till the boys come back!! if we have got 40 points by the time we play spurs on the 11th february then i will be delighted!! a sneaky draw or win today please – my prediction fulham 1 – 1 newcastle , best for us
22 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM

Im gonna go for a draw today. 0 – 0 boring match…
23 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM

but i guess if both the mancheste clubs pick up the cups and we dont and finish n 7th we do qualify .. still have a doubt if palace or cardiff will get it or us ?? Crawfordladd17 wt say ??
24 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:13 AM

I think this is how the Europe places are decided:

PL 1st – CL
PL 2nd – CL
PL 3rd – CL
PL 4th – CL Qualifiers/Europa League
PL 5th – Europa League
PL 6 th – Europa League if any top 5 win FA or League Cup, also by winning FA or League Cup, also by FA Cup Runners up slot.
PL 7th – Same as 6th
25 check the toastie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:14 AM

Shola should come on as impact sub after 60 mins, hes pretty good at that.
26 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:16 AM

Does Carling cup runner up also Count ???
27 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:18 AM

Fulham is a very organised and tough to break down side and good link up between mid and forward .. only benny can surprise them and get us 3 point .Pards please start him ..dont leave on the bench and take the Papiss outta me ..lol
28 jimmymagpie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM

Sitting in my daughter’s house in Chiswick, and we’ll be off for lunch and then the game in a few minutes. I do wish Pardew would keep quiet about player’s injuries until he bloody well knows how bad they are. He talked garbage about Cabaye all week, because Cabaye was never going to play at Fulham, and is already rated doubtful for the next two games at Brighton and Blackburn. Guthrie is also carrying a knock, but should play today. He’s very injury prone that lad. Hope Pardew sticks to the formation and personnel that improved things last week after Cabaye went off. By the way, the southern press are reporting that we are about to put in an offer for a young Watford centre half, whose name escapes me for the moment.
29 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM

Carliing Cup runners up don’t qualify for Europe, even if its won by a top 5 team, onlythe winners!!
30 Lachu // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:23 AM

oh , cool, then we dont hav 2 worry abt palace or cardiff
31 Ponderous Pardew // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:25 AM

Shouldn’t be awkward when Joey Barton walks into the QPR changing room today…… what a pillock.

A win today for us and we’ll be really worrying the teams around us!
32 jimmymagpie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM

The Watford defender’s name is Adrian Mariappa – 25 years old. £2m.
33 toonarmydownsouth // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:34 AM

@jimmy hope not really dont rate that lad
34 NottsGeordie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM

Yeah thats right. 3 teams get in the Europa League every year from the PL. 4 if we get the fair play league.

Last year Tottenham came 5th, Birmingham won the league cup and Stoke were runners up in the FA Cup.

So if if we come 7th, a top 6 team wins the League Cup and a top 6 team wins the FA Cup playing another top 6 team in the final, we will be in Europe! Lets hope this happens. European matches are so fun!
35 JackButler // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM

If the two clubs that reach the League cup final or the FA cup final have already qualified for Europe then an extra Europa league spot is added, also there is a fair play spot offered as well, but the team that gets this spot has to qualify like Fulham had to this season, which mean their first game is played at the end of july
36 JackButler // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:36 AM

Anyway we’ll make Europe when we lift the FA Cup
37 jimmymagpie // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Toonarmy – don’t know anything about him to be honest. In the southern edition of the Independent, so God knows’. Been told to log out, as we’re off to lunch and then Craven Cottage. Here’s hoping – HTL.
38 Dannyo // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:40 AM

@JB
The best way to enter Europe would be to win the FA Cup, atlast some proper silveware in the cabinet
Would also be a great way to end a good season, a high point for AP, and a marking of us entering this new era.
39 Marty-Toon // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:44 AM

Looking forward to Ben Arfa against Riise,he should have the beating of him.
Danny Murphy is a great player so our midfield will have to keep a good eye on him.
Hope Guthrie is fit,he has a great motor and passing ability and knows how to push the team forward.
Howay the lads
40 Marty-Toon // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:45 AM

Most pundits saying were gonna lose today,time to prove em wrong.
Eurosport in Norway is showing the Senegal game at 11:30 this evening.
Recording it so I can see it as me n the mrs are out,looking forward to seeing the new toon partnership
41 JackButler // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:46 AM

Dannyo – Totally agree mate, Pardew has worked wonders in the past 12 months, and now with Cisse coming in, we have a team that can beat anyone. We are slowly building a squad that we can be proud of and with an attitude that we can be proud of.

I for one am glad that he days of signing so called ‘Super Stars’ on massive wages and for massive transfer fee’s are over. The togetherness and attitude of our current squad is something we haven’t seen in a very long time
42 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:48 AM

Is the Senegal match not on eurosport at 9 pm??

Says that in the my tv guide.lol
43 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:48 AM

NottsGeordie – thats not true mate [quote]As of the 2009–10 season qualification for the UEFA Champions League changes, the top four teams in the Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with the top three teams directly entering the group stage. Previously only the top two teams qualified automatically. The fourth-placed team enters the Champions League at the play-off round for non-champions and must win a two-legged knockout tie in order to enter the group stage. The team placed fifth in the Premier League automatically qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, and the sixth and seventh-placed teams can also qualify, depending on the winners and runners-up of the two domestic cup competitions. If one of the cup winners qualifies for Europe through their league position, the sixth-placed team in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League unless a runner-up qualifies instead. If both of the cup winners qualify for the Champions League through their league position, the sixth and seventh-placed teams in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League if neither runner-up takes a spot. If either domestic cup competition is contested between teams outside the top four league positions, the winner will automatically qualify for the UEFA Europa League regardless of their final league position, and the runner-up will not qualify. A further place in the UEFA Europa League is also available via the Fair Play initiative. If the Premier League has one of the three highest Fair Play rankings in Europe, the highest ranked team in the Premier League Fair Play standings which has not already qualified for Europe will automatically qualify for the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.

An exception to the usual European qualification system happened in 2005, after Liverpool won the Champions League the year before, but did not finish in a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League that season. UEFA gave special dispensation for Liverpool to enter the Champions League, giving England five qualifiers. UEFA subsequently ruled that the defending champions qualify for the competition the following year regardless of their domestic league placing. However, for those leagues with four entrants in the Champions League, this means that if the Champions League winner falls outside of its domestic league’s top four, it will qualify at the expense of the fourth-placed team in the league. No association can have more than four entrants in the Champions League.

In 2007, the Premier League became the highest ranking European League based on the performances of English teams in European competitions over a five-year period. This broke the eight-year dominance of the Spanish league, La Liga. The top three leagues in Europe are currently allowed to enter four teams into the Champions League. Michel Platini, the UEFA president, had proposed taking one place from the top three leagues and allocating it to that nation’s cup winners. This proposal was rejected in a vote at a UEFA Strategy Council meeting. In the same meeting, however, it was agreed that the third-placed team in the top four leagues would receive automatic qualification for the group stage, rather than entry into the third qualifying round, while the fourth-placed team would enter the play-off round for non-champions, guaranteeing an opponent from one of the top 15 leagues in Europe. This was part of Platini’s plan to increase the number of teams qualifying directly into the group stage, while simultaneously increasing the number of teams from lower-ranked nations in the group stage.[/quote] – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League#Qualification_for_European_competitions
44 JackButler // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Senegal v Zambia is on Eurosport at 8:55 p.m.
45 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:50 AM

I meant my tv guide..
46 GeordieGesus // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:51 AM

Marty-Toon, here in Germany it says 23:00 till 00:30. Can only be a recording.
47 HowayTheLads // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Hi guys, sorry if someone has already asked this question but does anyone know if the game is on TV toady? Ed said, in a previous post, the game was on ESPN… I’ve looked at the English and American ESPN but can’t find it Ahhhh
48 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Good football on the tv this weekend like.
Norwich v Chelsea
Bolton v Liverpool

Then Sunday.
Man city V Tottenham (hope city chin them 5 – 0)
Arsenal v Man Utd

Looking forward too it.lol
49 JackButler // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Either Crystal Palace or Cardiff will take a Europa League spot as long as Liverpool or Man City automatically qualify
50 Dannyo // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:54 AM

@JB
Aye, i’m happy with the “not-so superstarts” atm. We’re making our own, and that makes me a happy man.
We’ve got a team that works for eachother, from front to back and vice versa.
If we could get the RW sorted 100%, then we’d be high rollers next season.
Sometimes more important than the players, Pardew has the ability to put it all together and make it work.
He has a goal with his play, and he’s slowly but surely reaching it
51 GeordieGesus // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:55 AM

HowayTheLads, from NUFC.com

UK TV: None

Overseas TV:

Abu Dhabi Sports LIG TV3 +HD
AD Sports HD3 Nova Sports 1 (Hellas) +HD
C+ Deportes HD Sky Calcio 2 +HD
C+ France +HD Sky Sport 1 (Italy) +HD
C+ Multideporte 4 Sportsnet (Canada)
C+ Urheilu (Finland) SportKlub+ (SE Europe)
Digi Sport (Cze/Svk) SuperSport 5 (Za)
Digi Sport (Hungary) Tring Sport 1
Digi Sport 1 (Romania) TRK Futbol
ESPN Brazil TV2 PL HD2 (Norway)
ESPN India/Sri Lanka Viasat Football (Swe)
Fox Soccer Plus (USA) Viasat Xtra PL1
52 Crawfordladd17 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:55 AM

Solaidback thats a good thing that only the winners do because we would have 2 finish 6th which i dont think well beat liverpool tbh and the championship team palace or cardiff would get in
53 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:56 AM

Anybody on twatter read peter harrisons page.

Here’s a taster lol

agentH058 peter harrison
Lets get Sam, Harry, and Phil, out of football. Bent!!
10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
Retweeted by RobertNufc25

agentH058 peter harrison
I will get them all out, and their mate Willy Mackay, wank@
10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
Retweeted by RobertNufc25

agentH058 peter harrison
Sam Allardyce is bent, his son is, and his wife Lynn is a fat f*****g cow. Good night. Ps. Plenty to come tomorrow night
10 hours ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
Retweeted by RobertNufc25

Haha legend…
54 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:56 AM

JackButler – Thats wrong fella… runner up in the Carling cup doesn’t get a European place… only in the FA Cup
55 ToonIcon // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:56 AM

i think we’ll win today but will win ugly like last week against qpr just think it’s our season were ganna either win fa cup or finnish 5th
56 RobertNufc25 // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:58 AM

They done away with the runner up off the Carling cup getting into Europe a think..
57 ITUNDERASHELL // Jan 21, 2012 at 11:59 AM

Lets hope we beat Brighton in the FA cup and then we can have a real go when the ACON is over. We will be a real threat to any team then.
58 HowayTheLads // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:04 PM

@GeordieGesus

Do they actually show the game on NUFC.com or just commentry?
59 Solaidback // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:08 PM

This is something I found interesting:

Similarly to the UEFA Champions League, the prize money received by the clubs is divided into fixed payments based on participation and results, and variable amounts that depend of the value of their TV market.[14]

A group stage participation in the Europa League nets €640,000, with a €60,000 bonus per group match played. A victory in the group pays €140,000 and a draw €70,000. Reaching the knock-out matches triggers additional bonuses: €200,000 for the round of 32, €300,000 for the round of 16, €400,000 for the quarterfinals and €700,000 for the semifinals. The losing finalists receive €2 million and the champions get €3 million.[15] In comparison, any team that reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage will be paid €3.9 million.[16]

According to UEFA the fixed payments for the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League season were as follows:[17]

1st qualifying round: €90,000
2nd qualifying round: €90,000
3rd qualifying round: €90,000
Playoffs: €90,000
Group stage: €640,000
For each match in group stage: €60,000
Group match victory: €140,000
Group match draw: €70,000
Round of 32: €200,000
Round of 16: €300,000
Quarter-finals: €400,000
Semi-finals: €700,000
Losing Finalist: €2,000,000
Winning the Final: €3,000,000

Not a lot of money involved at all…
60 Ponderous Pardew // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:17 PM

TV revenue is where the real money is, Solaidback. The you have extra matchday takings. Although broadly speaking, the Europa League isn’t anywhere near the CL in lucrativeness.
61 stuart no9 // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:17 PM

howay the lads @47 – having same problem . think ED got it wrong. ive looked but cant seem to find the game on live.
62 Tombox // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Does anyone have any links for the Senegal match?
63 Marty-Toon // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:28 PM

Geordiegesus
Ok,yeah it’s probably a recording.
I just can’t remember if it was 11 or 11:30 here but I set it to record.
Eurosport usually have boring commentators but it’s the footy that important really
64 geordiegav1987 // Jan 21, 2012 at 12:34 PM

I’ve supported newcastle my whole life and I’ve never been more excited about the direction of our club. I know we had some great years back in the 90′s but this new generation at nufc really looks like it could be going places.
I hope we do get european football next season because it will mean that we have to bring in some more quality and it will be more likely that we hold on to the talented players we have at the moment, but if we don’t get european football then at least our club is moveing in the right direction and there’s allways next season.
as for the match today newcastle 2-0 ben arfa and captain collo to score HWTL
65 Jimay // Jan 21, 2012 at 4:49 PM

Europe…really? Is it?