Loaning our way to the Champions League

"January is an important time not for major change but to try and highlight one or two new faces who could bring something different to the squad and who can help the players we have already at the Club. It is a period like now that helps give a clear idea of what could help us in January.

"It is not a time to weaken the side – it's the opposite. It is a time to give the squad an extra boost. And that is what we are going to do. The work is always done in the previous months, identifying players. We are happy and clear in what we want to do.

"You look at the amount of games we have in this period and I do feel it is a little bit unfair. It is putting the players into a position where I don't think they can perform at the same level physically and so the quality of the product is not going to be the same.

"It is the fans who suffer because they expect a certain level of quality and stylish football. But it is what it is and we have to adapt. In football. you get nothing from moaning. You just have to get on with it and use the situation to stretch the squad and test and use other players who have been working well to see how far we can go.

"It is up to the authorities to look into the amount of games we have at this time of year and to decide if that is productive for the product of the Barclays Premier League in general."

It all depends whether or not Martinez is here for the long term or not, and wants to build from youth. Up to now, he seems more focused on 'ready made' players like McCarthy, Alcatraz and Kone. But perhaps he saw this as immediate needs, and will launch his long term plans next year. It's hard to understand his vision at the moment, he will need a few years in place before his plans become more obvious.

No idea why people can't get hold of this.

If we finish 3rd, then that's a different story.

So, unless we make Gareth Barry a permanent transfer next month, there will be no more loans this season from EPL teams and we are reliant on what we can attract from abroad.

Focus on achieving

And TBH, I'm IN for the journey. He hasn't even been our Boss a HALF season yet and already he's "done the bizz", he put the F = FOOTBALL back in EFC.

Loans in, purchases, loans out? Who cares? We have young players out gaining valuable experience don't we? Players these days are as loyal as the next payday and like a mate described my ex "a wheelbarrow: awkward, difficult to ever get to go where you want, very easily upset".

IF we were to win some silver, TBH I really would NOT care if we had loanees in the side/squad.

Would "prostitute money" from some criminal sugar daddy make our squad more legitimate because we "owned" their bottom line contract?

Or

Would the plain simple fact that the players pulled on The Royal Blue Jersey when we achieved our success be sufficient?

For me, whatever we achieve whilst Roberto is Everton's manager (ours, NOT on loan BTW) would make any success belong to Everton and no-one else.

But it does assure us of the Europa League, correct? As does 5th?

And the key question... what's the difference in the money payoff between the CL and EL?

IMO while being good for night games at Goodison and piss ups around Europe unless you get to the final AND win. It is a dogs breakfast of a competition.

Derek #722, the Europa League isn't worth the money generated for the number of games played. I know UEFA are looking at this with their packaging of TV money rights with the CL, but until they move the prize pot money around, it won't change.

The fact is with lots of potential trips to the back of beyond, it actually costs clubs more to take part in than they recieve, especially during the group stages. As you allude to, when Fulham (I think) got to the final they played 19 games in the process - I remember that number as it was exactly half of the Premier League fixtures, and boy did their league and domestic cup form suffer.

The money on offer for CL is ridiculous. As well as prize money, TV money is split according to a formula which gives you a greater share if you are from a territory that generates more revenue - like the English market. When Utd lost to Barcelona a few years ago, even though Barca got the greater prize money, Man U got more overall - and that was more than they recieved for winning the Prem that season too.

A few years back when Tottenham qualified (and weren't screwed over by rules and actually competed in the tournament!) they managed to secure a separate shirt sponsor just for European games for an extra £10m. That's why it's CL or bust, literally, for a lot of clubs.

And it says:

"The top four teams in the Barclays Premier League qualify for the UEFA Champions League."

However:

"English winners of the UEFA Champions League finishing outside the top four places (but who qualify for the UEFA Europa League through their domestic Barclays Premier League position) go forward as Winners to the group stage along with domestic champions, runners-up and third place. No extra domestic place can be gained by winning the UEFA Champions League, therefore the team finishing fourth drops to the UEFA Europa League. English winners of the UEFA Champions League who do not qualify through their domestic position go forward as Winners to the group stage, with the team finishing fourth dropping to the UEFA Europa League. In this case, the national association of the title-holder is entitled to one additional place in the UEFA Europa League."

So as I read this, 4th means Champions League... UNLESS this year's CL champion is an English team finishing outside the top four. As things stand now, that means ManU.

But also as I read this, the insidious "qualifier" that screwed us last time appears to be extinct.

The top 3 Associations have 4 entries (England, Germany, Spain).
For these 3 Associations, the Champions, Runners Up and 3rd Place team automatically qualify for the Group stages.

The 3 fourth placed team form part of the 10 "non-champion" teams (5 of whom qualify from the previous round) who face off against 10 champion teams from minor leagues (who have qualified from the previous round).

It hasn't changed, there's still a "qualifier" albeit called play off for the 4th placed team. In the event that the 4th placed team are the CL title holder, they will replace the 3rd placed team in the Group as automatic qualifier, and the 3rd placed team goes into the play off.

Italy, Portugal and France only get 3 qualifiers, and are lobbying for the English, Germans and Spanish to fall into line. As long as the TV deals remain high (or until the others catch up) the status quo will prevail.

That's the current situation as best I can explain it.

I always learn something here on the late-night shift.

Are there some high quality 'bad boy' Riquelme types lurking at top European clubs seeking to resurrect their stalled career? Or will we have to make do with Clint Dempsey?