Newcastle struggled mightily in the Europa League last season, simply because the squad was not big enough or good enough to play two games most weeks, and Alan Pardew has again talked about the league today.
Alan Pardew – not keen on Europa League
Alan says that it is unfair on clubs to be asked to play on a Thursday night and then on the following Sunday, but if ever make the Champions League again, as we did under both Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan, we’d have to play on Wednesday nights and then on Saturday or Sunday.
Alan talked about the Europa League, which is a lot of hard work for very little reward, at least in terms of money:
“I think it is a difficult competition for Premier League clubs, and I’ve always said that” “I do not think it is fair that in the modern game, with the physical demands there are, players are expected to be playing Thursday night and Sunday.”
“It is tough, and tough on Spurs, but the advantage they have over us last year is numbers, quality numbers and experience as well.” “As a squad, they have a lot more experience of Europe than we had, and that goes for the staff as well.”
“That gives them a slightly stronger hand. But hopefully it should help us, and I am not going to say that it doesn’t.” “They’ve got so many players to choose from, and they certainly have the depth of squad to make them serious contenders for Europe,”
It will be interesting to see what happens if Newcastle do qualify for the Europa League again, because to be successful in that competition there are a lot of games, and then some of the Champions League clubs who are unsuccessful in the top competition, drop down to the Europa League, which is a bit bizarre to say the least.
There’s not much money to be made in the Europa League, and we worked out last season the clubs get about 1/7 of what the Champions League teams get – and they can make over £30M for participating and having good runs in the top European league.
But if we do qualify for the Europa League again, we would need to fortify the squad to ensure we can ensure a decent run in Europe and not be also fighting relegation, like we were last season.
It gives Newcastle some prestige to play in the Europa League if not much money.
What do you think?
6 comments so far
Bucks mag
Nov 9, 2013 at 9:39 AM
Comment #1It might not be good for the players, but I will always remember walking down a high street in Bruges and only seeing black ‘n white shirts with Geordie accents accompanying them. European football gives fans some of the best memories in following their clubs, and in my opinion it definitely makes up for a bad domestic season.
bishopblaize
Nov 9, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Comment #2Why we being asked that
Should be aiming at Champions League
Love us playing in Europe .. BUT however it London tomorrow and expect nothing more than a win .. Gonna be magnificent game
Ericles
Nov 9, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Comment #3When oh when are we going to stop listening to the ill-conceived off the top of the head drivel that Pardew churns out week after week? We are talking about two games a week – not on a regular basis – played by supposedly fit and trained young men. If they are not up to the physical output of one time miners, shipyard workers etc then get some quality players in who are.
Lets face it Wor Jackie did it and so did Gordon Hughes in the 1950’s.
Geordie Matriarch
Nov 9, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Comment #4Here here, Ericles. Trouble with AP is he’s practically all talk.
toonluvva
Nov 9, 2013 at 3:44 PM
Comment #5Why would we want to play in the Europa league?
That would imply a level of ambition that our current owner does not possess.
I think that if we are any where near qualifying come the end of the season, AP will be instructed to play a weakened side.
Brutooon
Nov 9, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Comment #6this is bullsh*t, why wouldnt we play at europa league?
so AP target for the next 8 years is avoiding relegation and also avoiding europe????