The Europa League - who cares?

[Bpatel]

I don't think many people would be complaining if we did end up winning it because it is another trophy to add to our collection.

We've got to try and win it.

[CurlyRed]

I think players need to stop talking now ad proving it on the pitch.  We don't look like a trophy winning side right (painful though it is to say) now so there's loads of work to do on the training pitch.  Come on Reds do what you are paid to do and (in theory) love doing.

We need results from them and Rafa making a few changes to his team selections or check more with Sammy/Kenny  

[Junior_Red]

Lets make history, first team to win the Europa League!

[Mohammad Abdullah]

To "some" pathetic fans: Do you really think the Europa League is a walk in the park? Do you think Liverpool will win each game with 5 goals difference? I am looking at this competition as another hard battle to fight for and we'll need to work hard to survive each game..

[LFCBAFC]

I care...It's a trophy that we an win and a trophy which we can improve are record on.

[jamo174]

im a member of the trophy is a trophy school. however if our injury situation doesnt clear up by the time we start the uefa cup then I can see it being a hinderance due to the amount of games.

[hardcoresoldier]

Who cares? I f**king care! Big time.

[macca8]

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith slams American owners for cutting Rafa Benitez adrift in Europe

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith has put the blame on the club's American owners for the failure to make the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Last night's 1-0 win at Debrecen was not enough because Fiorentina beat Lyon by the same score to ensure Rafael Benitez's side will be contesting the Europa League after Christmas.

And Smith, who won two European Cups with Liverpool during a 16-year career at Anfield, is pointing the finger not at Benitez but George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Tough-tackling defender Smith scored when Liverpool 3-1 to beat Borussia Monchengladbach in 1977, and admits he is heartbroken at their not reaching the last 16.

He said: 'Europe’s upper echelons is where Liverpool Football Club belongs. So being dumped out of a Champions League group which any Liverpool side should ordinarily have been able to conquer, is not good enough.

'Liverpool supporters are magnificent and unique - and the reason why Rafael Benitez and everyone at Anfield knows they deserve far better than they’re suddenly getting this season.

'And the question is, will the owners, who hardly ever turn up to watch a game, either sell up or somehow give him the money he needs to ensure this stuttering and deeply frustrating season is not repeated?'

Smith added it was 'bitterly disappointing' to slip into Europe's second-tier trophy and paid tribute to the Anfield fans.

He added: 'My thoughts last night went out to those magnificent Liverpool fans who stood in the rain in Hungary at the end on a cold November night singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

'They weren’t booing, screaming at players or calling for the manager’s head. No. They stuck with the team and shared the deep disappointment, singing their hearts out to try and lift everyone’s spirits.

'Certainly those fans will give the manger time to sort it out.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1230821/Liverpool-legend-Tommy-Smith-slams-American-owners-cutting-Rafa-Benitez-adrift-Europe.html#comments

[RedWilly]

Well up for winning this, on paper we're the strongest team in it.

I won't lie I expect us to win it, and am desperate for us to do it. A trophy is a trophy, and if it's a European trophy then all the better. Success breeds success and this will only help with that.

Go for Europa League and FA Cup and next season we will qualify for the Super Cup and Charity Shield. Would really add a massive gloss on what is going to end an unsuccessful season (in terms of league performance)

So lets go out there and treat it just like we would for CL, because I want to see this club winning trophies again.

[flafson]

How does it work in terms of earning money from this competition?

[Volle]

I am actually hoping they get knocked out by Lyon or Fiorentina.   

Spot on

[andylfcynwa]

Oh we care alright its a trophy not the biggest but a trophy none the less ,fcking gutted last night but its gone now no point dwelling on it .
 Made my point last night about what I think is wrong but hey there is no time like the present to put it right ,lets try and win this one and see what else comes our way,remember nobody has won anything yet, our time will come,  there will be plenty for us to dish out come may YNWA. 

[bgwdivemaster]

I definitely care.  Winning this would be a great stepping stone to getting our confidence back.   Lets take it!

[macca8]

Let this be a wake up call for our lads to buck up and show their true characters!

[JD]

Was reading today that we share the record for most UEFA Cup wins with Juventus and Inter Milan.

Would be nice to set a new record in it.

[Shabs]

Well rafa has never had the chance to defend his uefa cup victory since he has joined us so I want us to win rafa to win it and maybe history repeats itself when rafa won the uefa cup last time the next season he won the champions leauge with us so here is to lightning striking twice.

[Volle]

Can't wait to see who we'll meet

[Passportboy]

Care - to be honest I do...

There is life outside the CL - and as stated it could have been 2 games after group stage then out, nothing for another year. I would love us to win this trophey, but its no walk in the park, not even for us... As long as we dont get knocked out by an English team it will be all good. Loads of people are now saying dont worry we will win the FA cup and this - im not so sure we will win both - thats very optimistic. We should be winning everything, but I cant remeber the last time a team won the league, league cup, fa cup and champs league in the same season! I want us to win both, I beleive we can beat any team in the world - but this season we arent playing as well as we should be.

The cash is the problem, especially with our massive debt.

Whats more imprortant is what do the players think? We all know Stevie would play his heart out even if we were in the Johnsons Paint Trophey - but these international players who joined for champs league glory? Lets say Stevie is lifting the cup, will he have that same look like he had after winning the champs league? Will Torres be happy with playing in this competition?

Now to people who are saying this is ruining us and our prospect of signing players - not true. Players went to Man City when they had nothing but a massive cheque book - its still a international competition! Its a world cup year and players looking to get in their national team will want to move, and they will go cheap.

If we win this I will be chuffed - no question!

[Bpatel]

Does anyone roughly know when the draw for this will be?

[Brian78]

Was reading today that we share the record for most UEFA Cup wins with Juventus and Inter Milan.

Would be nice to set a new record in it.

Thata the spirit. Another possible record for Liverpool to hold

[bigvYNWA]

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith slams American owners for cutting Rafa Benitez adrift in Europe

Liverpool legend Tommy Smith has put the blame on the club's American owners for the failure to make the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Last night's 1-0 win at Debrecen was not enough because Fiorentina beat Lyon by the same score to ensure Rafael Benitez's side will be contesting the Europa League after Christmas.

And Smith, who won two European Cups with Liverpool during a 16-year career at Anfield, is pointing the finger not at Benitez but George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Tough-tackling defender Smith scored when Liverpool 3-1 to beat Borussia Monchengladbach in 1977, and admits he is heartbroken at their not reaching the last 16.

He said: 'Europe’s upper echelons is where Liverpool Football Club belongs. So being dumped out of a Champions League group which any Liverpool side should ordinarily have been able to conquer, is not good enough.

'Liverpool supporters are magnificent and unique - and the reason why Rafael Benitez and everyone at Anfield knows they deserve far better than they’re suddenly getting this season.

'And the question is, will the owners, who hardly ever turn up to watch a game, either sell up or somehow give him the money he needs to ensure this stuttering and deeply frustrating season is not repeated?'

Smith added it was 'bitterly disappointing' to slip into Europe's second-tier trophy and paid tribute to the Anfield fans.

He added: 'My thoughts last night went out to those magnificent Liverpool fans who stood in the rain in Hungary at the end on a cold November night singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

'They weren’t booing, screaming at players or calling for the manager’s head. No. They stuck with the team and shared the deep disappointment, singing their hearts out to try and lift everyone’s spirits.

'Certainly those fans will give the manger time to sort it out.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1230821/Liverpool-legend-Tommy-Smith-slams-American-owners-cutting-Rafa-Benitez-adrift-Europe.html#comments

F***ing A Tommy! He knows the deal, now give ol Jaime 'Knapp a slap around!

[HUYTON RED]

Does anyone roughly know when the draw for this will be?

December 18th

[aw1]

The draw is on the 18th December.

More info:

Round of 32, first leg 18.02.2010
Round of 32, second leg 25.02.2010
Round of 16, first leg 11.03.2010
Round of 16, second leg 18.03.2010
Quarter-finals, first leg 01.04.2010
Quarter-finals, second leg 08.04.2010
Semi-finals, first leg 22.04.2010
Semi-finals, second leg 29.04.2010
Final (Arena Hamburg, Germany) 12.05.2010

[Bpatel]

December 18th

The draw is on the 18th December.

More info:

Round of 32, first leg 18.02.2010
Round of 32, second leg 25.02.2010
Round of 16, first leg 11.03.2010
Round of 16, second leg 18.03.2010
Quarter-finals, first leg 01.04.2010
Quarter-finals, second leg 08.04.2010
Semi-finals, first leg 22.04.2010
Semi-finals, second leg 29.04.2010
Final (Arena Hamburg, Germany) 12.05.2010

My brother's birthday so I definitely won't forget this now.

Thanks Huyton and aw1.

[tezmac]

Well we are in it so the ain't much left to win bar the F.A. cup so let's give it our best shot

[HampshireRed]

We should give it respect and our best efforts. Its in our blood to win trophies. YNWA

[HUYTON RED]

How does it work in terms of earning money from this competition?

From the Uefa Website:

Fixed Amounts are compared below.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Participation Bonus: 600,000 Euros
Group Stage Match Bonus: 50,000 x 6 = 300,000 Euros
Win Bonus: 120,000 Euros
Draw Bonus: 50,000 Euros
Last 32 : 180,000
Last 16: 270,000
Last 8 : 360,000
Last 4: 630,000
Finalist: 2m Euros
Winner: 4m Euros

TOTAL FIXED PRIZE MONEY AVAILABLE = 81m EUR

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Participation Bonus: 3.8m Euros
Group Stage Match Bonus: 550,000 x 6 = 3.3 Million Euros
Win Bonus: 800,000 EUR
Draw Bonus: 400,000 EUR
Last 16: 3m EUR
Last 8: 3.3m EUR
Last 4: 4m EUR
Finalist: 5.2m EUR
Winner: 9m EUR

TOTAL FIXED PRIZE MONEY AVAILABLE = 413m EUR

TV Market Pool is based on the proportional value of each TV Market for participating clubs, for example England, Spain etc[Total Value 337.8 EUR]

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 50% of the TV Market Pool is distributed based on performance in the previous domestic championship: For example finishing positions in the Premier League will see 50% of the TV Pool for England would be distributed as follows:

1st: 40%
2nd: 30%
3rd: 15%
4th : 15%

The other 50% of a country's TV market pool is divided up based on the number of games you play in the competition for example

Group Stage 50% / Number of teams from your country in Group Stage
Last 16 20% / Number of teams from your country in Last 16
Quarter-Final 15% / Number of teams from your country in Quarter Final
Semi-Final 10% / Number of teams from your country in Semi-Final
Final 5% / Number of teams your country in the Final

For the Europa League the TV market pool [worth a TOTAL 54m] is distributed as follows:

50% of the TV market pool for each country is distributed to group stage participants only based on the number of participants who qualify for the Europa League from each country, and a higher percentage is awarded if a Europa League participant has won a cup. If none of the participants have won a cup then the revenue is split equally.

The other 50% of each countrys TV market pool is distributed to participants playing in the knockout rounds, and split equally between the number of participants from a given domestic league participating in each round, as illustrated below:

Group Stage [40%]
Round of 32 [20%]
Round of 16 [16%]
Quarter-Finals [12%]
Semi Finals [8%]
Final [4%]

[flafson]

Thanks, kinda confusing.

Didn't know we are getting paid by wins and draws too.

[Singh_YNWA]

FFS... I care.. Liverpool FC care.. and we shall go on and win that

[Volle]

Thanks for the info Huyton Red.