The excellent win against Arsenal has propelled Wolves back into 7th position in the league with only 3 games remaining for all teams.
Three teams can still stop us finishing 7th. Leicester have home games against Arsenal and Chelsea and an away game at Man City. They will do well too win more than one of those. Everton have away games at Palace and Spurs and a home game against Burnley. Cant see them winning all of those. After playing us at the weekend, Watford are away at Chelsea then at home to West Ham.
If Wolves win against Watford and Fulham, then 7th seems assured to me. Even a draw at Watford may be enough if we then beat Fulham. And the ideal would surely be to have clinched 7th before going to Liverpool on the last day. Not that we are no hopers in that game.
The other question is whether 7th and a place in the Europa League is what we want. More games, mostly on Thursday evenings, and unless we expand the squad to enable more rotation, then it could affect league form.
Personally I'm all for getting into Europe if we can. Great for the image of the club and to help attract new players, and some entertaining games along the way
7th in the table
posted on 25/4/19
Or maybe not................
posted on 25/4/19
comment by GeminMallorca (U18318)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 17 minutes ago
It is unless Watford win the Cup Final
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So not guaranteed...
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If Watford win the FA Cup and are in 7th place, the team in 8th would qualify I believe?
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I'm not up to date on the rules, but as far as I can tell,the PL gets 3 Europa slots to do with as they please.
By consensus, the current understanding gives the 3 slots to the 5th place team, the winners of the FA Cup, and the winners of the Carabao.
These openings only cascade down the league if one or more of these slots are taken up by a club in the Champions League.
posted on 25/4/19
Its an interesting scenario to be sure.
If the current table were to finish right now, then City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea would qualify for the Champions League. Should Arsenal (5th) win the Europa League this season, they too go into next seasons CL.
So, of Watford lose the FA Cup, England will still have to provide 3 teams for the Europa League.
Would that mean teams finishing 6th, 7th and even 8th qualify, as the losers of the FA Cup no longer do?
posted on 25/4/19
Back to the OP's point.
Any chance of European football must surely be welcomed, but we would have to increase our squad by at least 3 or 4 players. We've got past the hurdle of playing loads of midweek matches by getting out of the Championship and most sides play a few more fringe players in cup matches.
If (and that's a big if) we do manage it, then the first match in the 2nd qualifying round will be 25th July. Now most teams come back to training on 1st July, so any early games are likely to be against teams of the same quality as lower league friendlies.
It becomes more problematic the further you go in the competition, but both Arsenal and Chelsea have done well, seemingly because of larger squads.
We have shown this season that against top opposition, we have the players to hold our own, so I say, let's go for it.
posted on 25/4/19
comment by wolfieintheSunshineState (U16306)
posted 10 minutes ago
Its an interesting scenario to be sure.
If the current table were to finish right now, then City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea would qualify for the Champions League. Should Arsenal (5th) win the Europa League this season, they too go into next seasons CL.
So, of Watford lose the FA Cup, England will still have to provide 3 teams for the Europa League.
Would that mean teams finishing 6th, 7th and even 8th qualify, as the losers of the FA Cup no longer do?
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Only 2 English clubs in Europa in this case.
posted on 25/4/19
Gottcha
posted on 26/4/19
It is still very tight between 7th & 10th and we could well finish in any of those slots yet, but whatever happens ultimately its been a fantastic season and one that as a fan will live long in the memory.
I think there will be a strong challenge to the top 6 in coming years from one of the cluster below and I reckon it could come from either Everton or Wolves. Pretty sure that Chelsea will fade in to the pack once Hazard leaves and United are there for the taking as well. The next few years will be very exciting that's for sure.
posted on 26/4/19
The thing thats not clear to me is whether an 8th placed team can qualify for the Europa league.
Man City win FA Cup - 7th place then qualifies for Europa
Arsenal or Chelsea win Europa League & finish 5th - does third Europa league spot got to 8th? I think it probably does.
posted on 26/4/19
No. We would just have 2 Europa teams.
posted on 26/4/19
This probably explains it all:-
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=18&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjfrK601O3hAhVtplkKHb-XBI8QFjARegQIBBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2F47806720&usg=AOvVaw101wMlzfOqm1M-wMrMuSHY