Another Season In Europe?

[White Noise]

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/34983/Burnley_Fulham_and_Wigan_in_shock_battle_for_Europe.aspx

Burnley, Fulham and Wigan in shock battle for Europe


Author:  Nigel Brown


Posted on:03 March 2010 - 12:45




Premier League trio Burnley, Wigan Atheltic, and Fulham are ready to battle it out for a surprise Europa League spot. England are currently third in the UEFA Fair Play rankings and if they finish the campaign in the top three one of the Clarets, Cottagers, or Latics would be in pole position to claim a place in Europe next season.

At this point in time Burnley, Wigan Athetic, and Fulham are the highest placed sides who could claim the award. Despite this, Burnley are currently fighting a relegation battle in the Premier League under new manager Brian Laws, and even if the Clarets were relegated they would still be entitled to the European slot if they finish the highest in the Premier League Fair Play table.

Wigan Athletic are aiming for a top half finish in Roberto Martinez's first season, while Fulham are currently fighting it out in the last 16 of the Europa League after beating holders Shakhtar Donetsk to set up a glamour tie against Italian giants Juventus. If Fulham win the Europa League it would mean that the next best placed team in the Fair Play table would claim the slot in the Europa League for next season.

The current standings of the Premier League Fair Table are:

1 Fulham 32 1 34
2 Manchester City 34 2 38
3 Arsenal 41 0 41
4 Manchester United 34 4 42
5 Burnley 38 2 42
6 Aston Villa 41 2 45
7 Chelsea 38 4 46
8  Wigan Athletic 44 1 46
9 Blackburn Rovers 44 2 48
10 Everton 46 2 50
11 Tottenham Hotspur 48 1 50
12 Birmingham 49 1 51
13 Liverpool 43 5 53
14 West Ham United 47 3 53
15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 48 3 54
16 Bolton Wanderers 51 2 55
17 Hull City 49 4 57
18 Stoke City 50 4 58
19 Portsmouth 57 4 65
20 Sunderland 58 6 70

[Jimpav]

Looks like it could be ours for the taking - unless we turn into Stoke overnight.

Not sure if the UEFA ranking includes the recent Europa league fixtures - we have had a few cards in those matches which could lose England 3rd place.

[Lighthouse]

No the Europa is not included only the Prem League. So dirty Fulham can do what they like in Europe. Smile at the Ref and be sent off seems to be our biggest sin.

[leonffc]

Doesnt it depend on where the English lg are in the european standings? We won it last year but had to qualify through our own brilliance due to the Premier lg standing being low

[The Equalizer]

The last time we did it this way we had to start in the InterToto. And we won it one time...

[The Doctor]

Wasn't the Intertoto a competition you could actually apply to be in back then?  And there was some weird way they decided which clubs from certain countries went into it?

I seem to remember that Reading actually turned down the opportunity to enter it during 2007.

[Jimpav]

Wasn't the Intertoto a competition you could actually apply to be in back then?  And there was some weird way they decided which clubs from certain countries went into it?

I seem to remember that Reading actually turned down the opportunity to enter it during 2007.

I think you are right Doctor, I'm sure that Villa and Newcastle took this way in as well on occasion.

[FFCOutpostCommander]

Our current good standing in the Fair Play table certainly asks questions about all the poor comments and treatment we've had in Europa this campaign regarding our sportsmanship doesn't it! I sure hope we don't see more of the same in Turin like we got in Rome from the officials. As for the whining, who cares, we're moving on and they aren't :)

[BarneyTravers]

Really not sure whether the liver could take it.

[finnster01]

Really not sure whether the liver could take it.

Just do a George Best and buy another one

[HatterDon]

We're getting into Europe via the FA Cup