Newcastle have an outside chance of being able to qualify for the Europa League next season, but it will depend on who wins the FA Cup, and how well we do in our final 10 league games.
The way England chooses their clubs for the Europa League is different than most other countries – because other countries choose them based on where they finish up in the league table.
But not in England, and the three qualifiers are as follows:
- 5th place in Premier League
- Capital One (League) Cup winners
- FA Cup winners
That selection criteria has caused some weak sides to represent England in the Europa League recently, with Birmingham winning the League Cup in 2011 by beating Arsenal, and Wigan winning the FA Cup last year by beating Manchester City, but both were also relegated.
There are also some things that happen, should the winners of the cups already have qualified for European competition.
If the League Cup winners have already qualified for Europe – as it seems Manchester City have – then that place goes to the 6th place finishers in the league.
That will happen this season unless City have an enormous slump through the end of the season.
And if the FA Cup winners have already qualified for Europe, then that place goes to the FA Cup runners-up – and that’s how Stoke qualified for the Europa League, after losing the FA Cup Final in 2011 to Manchester City by a 1-0 scoreline.
And if the FA Cup runners-up have already qualified, then it goes to the 7th place finishers on the league.
There are three clubs left in the FA Cup who look like they will have qualified for Europe already – Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton, but unfortunately Arsenal and Everton are drawn against each other in the quarter finals this Saturday.
But if Manchester City and Arsenal or Everton make the final then 7th place would get us into the Europa League – it’s a little unlikely.
There would be more chance if Arsenal make the final with Everton, who are currently in 6th place, but only 3 points above Tottenham.
Newcastle are 5 points behind Everton with an inferior goals difference, so if we can get into 6th place we will make the Europa League and maybe even if we finish in 7th place.
So with a good haul of points in the last 10 games – say 20 – we could qualify for Europe.
These are our last 10 games of the season with the Everton game, due to be played this Saturday, now rearranged to March 25th:
Sat 15 15:00 A Fulham Sat 22 15:00 H Crystal Palace Wed 25 19:45 H Everton Sat 29 15:00 A Southampton April Sat 05 15:00 H Man United Sat 12 15:00 A Stoke City Sat 19 15:00 H Swansea City Sat 26 15:00 A Arsenal May Sat 03 15:00 H Cardiff City Sun 11 15:00 A Liverpool
Our best chance of wins in those games are probably against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Stake and Swansea – there’s 15 points.
Comments welcome.
Note: James Sands is a long time reader of the blog, and he is running the Bristol marathon on April 9th on behalf of the Stroke Association – James’ target is £750 in donations, which can be made here – please help if you can.
120 comments so far
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 2:56 PM
Comment #81Bring Mehdi Abeid into the fold as he’s obviously good enough. He’ll add some goals top the team and deserves his chance. I always had belief in him.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 2:57 PM
Comment #82Kets…Who is going to give us money for an out of contract Shola?
Actually, who is going to give us money for Shola at all?
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Comment #83As long as we get rid of him, I’m not to bothered. We could go for Konate. He’d be available on the cheap.
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Comment #84Give Luuk De Jong until the end of the season. He could start banging in some goals. Siem De Jong would be a cheap coup.
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:03 PM
Comment #85I think the only players that’s going to come through is Abeid. He’s playing at a good level and has excelled in both of his loan moves. Abeid can be better than Cabaye.
martoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:03 PM
Comment #86Very funny mag – just trying to give you some friendly advice – n noeed to take the p*ss 😉
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:04 PM
Comment #87@86 allegedly!
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:06 PM
Comment #88Kets…I’m pretty sure this is his last season with us, so you’ll get your wish.
After your prediction for Man U in the summer, i will take your word on Abeid…for now anyway. I’ve yet to see too much from him, but he seems to be doing the business in Greece, which bodes well.
Siem De Jong would be a decent buy from what I’ve seen of him.
Transfer Sage
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:17 PM
Comment #89ibiza
with Ket’s accurate prediction of man utd it leads me to think he may well be david moyes
Transfer Sage
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #90kets
No offence, you can’t be david moyes….would wouldn’t waste 27mil of fellaini
DokToon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:18 PM
Comment #91gooooooooooooooooooood morning nufc blog!
how goes the war vs ashley? 🙂
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #92TS… 🙂
Dok…War…huh…what is it good for?
DokToon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #93absolutely nothing, say it again… unless it rids us of the fat man, than its very very good 🙂
mindshaft
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Comment #94Kets – both Shola and Gosling are out of contract come summer.
Players contracts expiring on 06/2014
Shola Ameobi
Dan Gosling
Conor Newton
Remie Streete
Michael Richardson
Players contracts expiring on 06/2015 and need to be sold or offered new contract this summer
Hatem Ben Arfa
Ryan Taylor
Samuel Ameobi
James Tavernier
Jak Alnwick
Jonas Gutierrez
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Comment #95Dok…If we’re going to talk “War”, I suggest we go down the path of the group called War.
So I ask Ashley…
Why can’t we be friends?
Jeff from Benwell
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:29 PM
Comment #96http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ps-please-dont-bother-mike-6772951
The fact that she has gone public with this 5 months after the event but one day before AP’s hearing demonstrates that she is a typical conniving politician wth an agenda and MA was quite right to bodyswerve her.
DokToon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Comment #97ibiza,
with friends like JfK, who needs enemies?… or war… just be french and wave the white flag already…
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:37 PM
Comment #98Jeff, she is a Labour fruit cake trying to make capital out Newcastle United.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Comment #99Jeff….It says the letter was written in Autumn and then goes on to say
“With even this snub coming four months later, Ms Onwurah says it is difficult to see any way forward.”
Four months later, before now I assume there was no response, hence the timing of the article.
Whether she had an agenda or not, the way the club shut out everyone is doing the club no favours at all.
Dok…With friends like JK, who needs friends? 🙂
mindshaft
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Comment #100To be fair to M.A, who would want tea in the house of commons with a minger whinging about the toon / loan sharks / her time of the month etc
It’s well documented that Ashley has no time for MPs / The Toon, NUFC or generally anything else other than takeovers of failing businesses to make a quick buck
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:42 PM
Comment #101There’s no accounting for a mad woman.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:43 PM
Comment #102Mindshaft…I’m pretty sure the idea wasn’t to have a personal meeting, so items along the lines of “her time of the month” are a little silly and uncalled for.
The big point is, as you say, he has no time for the toon. That is the only thing that matters with regards to this topic, surely? I think people are right to put pressure on him regarding this point.
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:46 PM
Comment #103As if Ashley would meet with a leftwing fruit cake and confess all over a cuppa.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Comment #104mag…Confess to what?
Whether you believe her or not is clearly debatable, but the idea behind the letter was to open communication and try and mend the broken relationship between Ashley and well, pretty much everyone.
I don’t know anything about this woman and don’t exactly have much time for politicians, but surely not everyone can be wrong except Ashley?
Too much of a dictatorship at Newcastle these days. Yes he owns the club and no he doesn’t legally have to justify anything, but it has gotten ridiculous.
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:52 PM
Comment #105@104 are your piles playing up?
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:54 PM
Comment #106mag…Sorry, it’ll take a nice cuppa for me to divulge that information to you.
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:57 PM
Comment #107Maybe you should read her letter over your cuppa, instead of making a show of yourself.
Belfast
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #108She’s having womans trouble mag bless her
Mister Tuff
Mar 5, 2014 at 3:59 PM
Comment #109ASHLEY……………………………………………OUT
PERCY………………………………………………OUT
MAD WOMEN……………………………….OUT
HAEMORRHOID SUFFERERS………..OUT
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:01 PM
Comment #110£27m for Fellaini is ridiculous. They shoild’ve signed Remy for £8m, Grenier for £11m and Cabella for £10m last season. Van Persie has been shocking this season. Remy is miles ahead of him at the moment.
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:01 PM
Comment #111Anyone who is led by Ed Miliband and Harriet Harmon, should be avoided like the plague.
Belfast
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:04 PM
Comment #112If only you where in charge kets, life would be so much more entertaining.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:05 PM
Comment #113mag…Can you clear up the connection between someone having piles and not being able to read a letter?
My understanding of the brief letter, is that NUFC is important to the city, both to it’s businesses and residents. With this in mind, it’s clear that the city and Ashley wont agree on everything and that these points should be open to reasonable and constructive discussions.
That cannot be achieved if Ashley wont do his part. We’ve seen what the club can offer us as far as information goes…sweet f.a.
So, how is it I’m making a show of myself?
Belfast
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:07 PM
Comment #114Ibiza,
How would one treat piles if they’re sitting on a fence all day ?
Ketsbaia9
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:08 PM
Comment #115If I was in charge, we’d be challenging for the title and at least achieving a fourth place spot. We’re always a few players short of having a class squad.
Ibizatoon
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:10 PM
Comment #116Belfast….You may need to ask mag that one, I must say the piles aspect is not my area of expertise.
Although as it is in this instance related to fences, I probably should know.
jayphoto
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:17 PM
Comment #117Kets, i never thought id say this but i agree with you on something! remy has been miles ahead of van persie this season!
We probably would have won the title if wed have signed your suggestions though we’d have tripled our wage bill and spent 100m +
mag
Mar 5, 2014 at 4:19 PM
Comment #118@113 you’ve explained that one already.
Dingo†®
Mar 5, 2014 at 9:41 PM
Comment #119realistically the whole team can reach europe………………….. on the ferry from shields
microbar
Mar 6, 2014 at 12:18 AM
Comment #120Its pointless going into Europe when the owner isn’t interested, We would struggle again through the lack of players.