17 Sep 2021 14:27:25
Here’s a bit of a debating point for everyone. I’ll start by saying this is no way my opinion or what I want, just thought it’s an interesting situation overall. The question is, with the way the European competitions are set up this year, would it actually be better to finish 3rd in the group rather than 2nd? Let’s look at the reasons. Finish first and you’re into the last 16 (likely that’ll be Lyon) finish 2nd and you’re into a playoff game for the last 16 against a 3rd place team from the champs league. Now that’ll likely be a very good team if you look at some of those champs league groups. Fair chance of not winning that game and out of Europe. Now, finish 3rd and you’re into a playoff game against a 2nd place Euro conference team. Good chance of winning, into last 16 of Euro conference and fair chance of going further. Therefore more Euro games, more money and much better chance of possibly getting to a quarter or semi final? As I say, I’m not advocating we try finishing 3rd! Just wondered folks opinions?


1.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 14:43:24
Well though thru Ger and i agree with your observations.


2.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 15:12:39
I get it from a financial point of view, Ger1978.
But I would rather the team continued to test itself against "better" quality opposition to see how far away we are.


3.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 15:35:19
I think we can see were we are are against them MPH. Miles behind teams like Lyon.


4.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 15:48:12
I agree MrPH, just think that this year especially going by the champ league groups the majority of the teams that will finish 3rd are clearly superior to us just now (look at Liverpool’s group, Liverpool, A Madrid, Porto and Milan. The team finishing 4th in that group would likely be way too strong for us never mind 3rd) Where as end up in the later stages of the Europa Confrence, the best 4 teams in that competition (if everyone played their strongest teams) are probably Roma, Tottenham, Slavia Prague and maybe Basel or Feyenoord, other than that there really would be no one to fear. Play as we know we can and there’s no reason we couldn’t get to the quarter or even semi final (or who knows, even further) in that competition. And who wouldn’t want to see us in and around the finals of a European competition, no matter which one it was? Again I don’t know what would be best…. As long as we don’t finish 4th! ☹️.


5.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 15:49:00
Are 50000 fans going to pay the extra 35£ a game to watch a rangers play a Euro conference team tho.


6.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 16:04:24
I didn’t even know that the 3rd tear competition was getting played last night! As a club we want to be in highest competition available to us surely.


7.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 18:45:52
And yet we have proved we can compete with Benfica, Porto and others previously?
So is out poor start to the season hindering us? Or have we stagnated or worse than that went backwards?


8.) 17 Sep 2021
17 Sep 2021 19:01:49
MPH, unfortunately I think it's the latter. Some players in my opinion hit their peak last year. We didn't strengthen the squad when at the top, if anything those that have came in are weaker. A few 3 or 4 are either refusing to sign new deals or have made it clear they would like to be elsewhere.
I don't like where this is going.