Saints fans could all become Arsenal Fans in May after the FA Cup semi finals on Saturday helped our bid for the Europa League but did not guarantee it.

After Swansea's defeat on Saturday even though Saints had lost at Stoke it meant that they still had a 9 point lead over the Welsh club in the battle for 7th spot and with 5 games left that is a big gap for any chasing team to make up.

So it was all eyes to Wembley for the FA Cup semi finals, wins for both Arsenal and Liverpool would have meant that 7th place in the Premier would guarantee a Europa League spot.

Of course as we know Arsenal did their bit but Liverpool failed to beat Aston Villa and its the Midlands club who will face Arsenal at Wembley.

Although on one hand it did prove satisfying for Saints fans to see Liverpool fail again, the fact is we were in some ways cutting off our noses to spite our faces and the fact is our chances of a Europa League spot were lessened by Villa in the final.

However Arsenal did do their bit and that means that the escape door of 7th could still be there on the 30th May when the FA Cup Final is contested at Wembley.

But in the meantime Saints have to strive to finish in the top 6, a task made harder after this weekend's games with Spurs now having a 1 point advantage over us after winning at Newcastle, that makes next Saturday's game a true 6 pointer and whereas a win for Saints at Stoke and defeat for Spurs at Newcastle would have seen Spurs the under pressure club the reality is that it is us who need to take the game to Tottenham and restore the 2 point advantage we held before the weekend.

So it is now going to be a nervy ending to the season for Saints and it could be that we end our League campaign and then have to wait a week and cheer on the Gunners at Wembley if we finsih 7th, however it could also work in our favour, if we do overtake either Spurs or Liverpool in the final run in and finish in the top 6 then our allegiances would change for the Cup Final and we would be rooting for Villa.

Photo: Action Images

Jesus_02 added 10:09 - Apr 20 I would love to finnish above Spurs and Liverpool this season regardless of wether it doesnt effect European qualification. Liverpool staying in the cup may well have made that a bit eaisier. I know that they wouldnt be effected in terms of games but psycologically teams that make the final and have nothing else to play for are always going to drop points. ATM they will feel that they have a fighting chance of 4th, ironically that might end up being ryant on us beating City at home. A win against Spurs would on saturday would and we might be on for 5th but It doesnt seem likely ATM. Things are shaping up nicely COYRS!

0

derbydog added 10:27 - Apr 20 We also have a +25 goal difference v Swansea, to all intents and purposes an extra point, so they would need ten points more than us to get to 7th place. The better goal difference means we only need the same points as Spurs and/or Liverpool to go above them too. We need to sort out our play in the final third to get above seventh though! I think it should be said that all of us would have settled for a better season than last season when we started out back in August and 7th and a record number of points and clean sheets gives us that with or without Europa League.

0

stmichael added 11:12 - Apr 20 Another reason to hate Liverpool. I love to see them lose but on the one day I want them to win they LOSE!!
0

saintsnutcase added 11:35 - Apr 20 Never been happier to see Brendan lose despite scoring a good goal, disallowed at the end. Lovren was crap!
1

A1079 added 13:01 - Apr 20 I am not sure some of our players share the vision of our manager and the supporters to qualify for Europe or strive for more points. As stated in another summary, there was a lack of spark on Saturday. There has been a lack of spark for ages and some players I don't think are remotely bothered and just looking at their summer holidays and next moves now. In our current mood, I cannot see where our next points will come from no matter who the opposition is.

1

ItchenNorth added 13:34 - Apr 20 Can we not opt out of the Europa League ! I suppose we could play our under 21s in the crappy league bit and then change it if they make the knock out stage.
1

SaintNick added 13:48 - Apr 20 why would we want to opt out of the Europa league, we are a football club and that means challenging for trophies both at home and in europe, On the continent the Europa League is seen as a positive, it is only here that it is not due to the precarious nature of the premier league and the financial meltdown that relegation brings If we get in the Europa league we will attract a better quality of player than we would if we didnt

0

BoondockSaint added 14:45 - Apr 20 Gotta disagree Nick. Europa League is just a way to milk more money out of the fans, and wear down the players. Ask Everton. Name me one player who, when moving to a club has said "It's always been my dream to play in the Europa League!" The players we want/need are the ones who want to play in Champions League. Like A1079 says, unfortunately by the looks of the last couple of months, the ones we have can't be bothered doing it with Saints.

0

ItchenNorth added 14:47 - Apr 20 The Europa League will not attract players. Can you honestly tell me players are attracted to the prospect of playing potentially 20 extra midweek games with any of the following teams (from this years Europa League) ?! Apollon Limassol Asteras Tripolos Astra Giurgiu Estoril Prais Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk FC Qarabag HNK Rijeka FK Krasnodar Slovan Bratislava Aabory BK Rio Ave Guingamp PAOK Salonika Dinamo Minsk KSC Lokeren Metalist Kharkiv Most of the 12 EL groups didn’t even have one moderately big ‘named’ club in it. Players are attracted to the Premier League or Champion League (or big fat wages !). Just take Spurs for example, they have pumped millions into their squad season in season out and only managed to qualify for the CL once. Without the EL in the way they and everyone else would have a far greater chance of being able to challenge the monopoly at the very top Prem in the chase for CL qualification. It’s the haves and the have not’s and the EL hinders anyone who dares breaking that mould.

1

DPeps added 15:17 - Apr 20 I know I should've been supporting Liverpool against Villa, but just couldn't do it. I think that makes me a very bitter person, but I don't care. Don't mind cheering on the gooners though
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Leeds United Polls