Three Home Wins.

[Slim]

Whereas the difference between 3rd and 4th is two extra early season games.

Not really; fail those games and you're back in the Europa League for a whole season; whereas if you end third you are guaranteed a place in the group stage of the CL; then you may fall back to the Europa if you end third in your group, sure, but for half the season you'll have still played in the real CL, not only the preliminary rounds.

I agree that ending fourth or fifth has a bigger difference, but I wouldn't snub the difference between third or fourth; it's coming second or third which really carries no difference if not the pride of having finished second.

If we can't beat Young Boys then we're better off finishing 5th and not getting embarrassed. To pull it in line with john's point, we should have the confidence and ambition to achieve rather than fear, and while he applies it to finishing 3rd, shouldn't it also apply to the playoff leg of the champions league?

[CityFanFromRome]

If we can't beat Young Boys then we're better off finishing 5th and not getting embarrassed. To pull it in line with john's point, we should have the confidence and ambition to achieve rather than fear, and while he applies it to finishing 3rd, shouldn't it also apply to the playoff leg of the champions league?

True, but there's always the possibility of a slip up; summer football is always strange, the team might not be fully fit yet as they prepare for a season which lasts longer than for many other countries (Young Boys, for example, don't have a 38 matches league to compete in, nor two domestic cups). I've seen many good teams who were touted to easily go through the preliminary round being knocked out by anonimous opposition because of these reasons.

[Slim]

If we can't beat Young Boys then we're better off finishing 5th and not getting embarrassed. To pull it in line with john's point, we should have the confidence and ambition to achieve rather than fear, and while he applies it to finishing 3rd, shouldn't it also apply to the playoff leg of the champions league?

True, but there's always the possibility of a slip up; summer football is always strange, the team might not be fully fit yet as they prepare for a season which lasts longer than for many other countries (Young Boys, for example, don't have a 38 matches league to compete in, nor two domestic cups). I've seen many good teams who were touted to easily go through the preliminary round being knocked out by anonimous opposition because of these reasons.

Yeah, but neither do we when we play those matches. I think we'll play one league match before the first leg and by that time they better be fucking fit or someone(Kidd, Twatt, etc) has dropped the ball in the pre-season.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I have a vague recollection of Everton getting a mare of a draw against Villareal in the qualifying round a few years ago.
We could certainly do without that.

[Ted Hughes]

Just let's finish 2nd or 3rd. I mean how hard can it be? Everyone is shit & they have to play each other. It's the worst top 5 since the Prem started. We've been totally average for most of the season & can still come 2nd because our competitors are all fucking dire. Now, almost everyone is fit & well rested. All we have to do is perform to a half decent standard & the results will come.

Even Bob is starting to say positive things & appears to believe in our chances, at last.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Just let's finish 2nd or 3rd. I mean how hard can it be? Everyone is shit & they have to play each other. It's the worst top 5 since the Prem started. We've been totally average for most of the season & can still come 2nd because our competitors are all fucking dire. Now, almost everyone is fit & well rested. All we have to do is perform to a half decent standard & the results will come.

Even Bob is starting to say positive things & appears to believe in our chances, at last.

In a nutshell.