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Post by Avinalaff on Aug 16, 2014 10:07:17 GMT
Will the Europa League prove a help or a hindrance? For those who say the Europa League is a distraction, tell that to the loyal Evertonians who have kept their passports in the top drawer throughout the summer. Football, lest we forget, is not only about the success on the pitch but the happiness of the fans off it. A brief look at potential trips the Blues could make will see a smile as wide as the Mersey on their faces. But boss Martinez will care about the impact on the pitch; he will also be confident that any impact will only be positive. The facts say the Spaniard has a struggle on his hands. Since the Premier League started in 1992, more than half of all qualifiers (57%) for the Europa League – and its predecesor, the Uefa Cup - finish lower than the previous year. For teams that reach the quarter finals or better this shoots up to 65% of teams. On average teams finish 6.4th in the league when qualifying, but 8.7th after competing in the Europa League. And only Arsenal (1.3) and Chelsea (1) have improved their league position with Europa League football. But for Everton, Europa League participation has not affected them as badly as most other sides and drop an average of 2.25 places from the previous season. Their drop is largely based on the drop from fourth to 11th between 2004/05 and 2005/06, and moving down three places – from fifth to eighth – between 2008/09 and 2009/10. They actually improved in 2007/08 from sixth to fifth, despite reaching the last 16; a season later, they finished fifth yet again for no change. This is all in the past and Martinez will look towards both the present and the future. The present gives Everton's young, exciting and relatively unknown squad a chance to surprise Europe. And while the flights overseas may be tiring, the momentum gained from positive results can be the perfect energiser. Nothing instils confidence ahead of a crunch league meeting more than beating some of Europe's top teams. Help or hindrance? Time will tell. But nothing suggests it will be the latter just yet.
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Post by Jeffers Jugs on Aug 16, 2014 11:01:15 GMT
I'm overjoyed to be playing in Europe again and if we win it we go into the Champions league, so win that and we are quids in.
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