As the season closes things at the head of the table are looking increasingly inevitable, yet one thing that remains to be resolved is the one and, should Cardiff be victors in the FA Cup final, only UEFA Cup place via the league.

Now, a month or so ago you wouldn't have thought it was up for discussion, as both Liverpool and Everton had seemingly broken away to form somewhat of a gap; fighting between themselves for two European places. However, a succession of below par results has prompted the Blues to face a stale finish to the season. For now though they have to continue.

With, of the three contenders, Portsmouth being the 'form team', them breathing down the Merseysiders necks is something Moyes would have hoped to avoid by now, given the tremendous first half they made to the campaign. Come the 11th of May, at 5pm, only one club (alongside Tottenham) will have guaranteed UEFA Cup football for 2008/2009, making these final few weeks crucial.

The situation as it stands:

Current Standings

-------............ Pld.- Pts...GD
5. Everton ...... 35 .. 61 - +21
6. Portsmouth . 34 -. 57 - +14
7. Aston Villa -.- 34 -. 55 - +18

Form from Last 10

- Everton

Win
Loss (UEFA Cup)
Win
Loss (UEFA Cup)
Loss
Draw
Loss
Win
Draw
Loss

- Portsmouth

Win
Loss
Win (FA Cup)
Win
Win
Loss
Win
Win (FA Cup)
Win
Draw

- Aston Villa

Loss
Win
Win
Draw
Draw
Loss
Loss
Loss
Win
Win

Remaining Fixtures

- Everton

Sun 27 Apr - Aston Villa (H)
Sun 04 May - Arsenal (A)
Sun 11 May - Newcastle United (H)

- Portsmouth

Sun 20 Apr – Manchester City (A)
Sun 27 Apr – Blackburn Rovers (H)
Sat 03 May – Middlesbrough (A)
Sun 11 May – Fulham (H)

- Aston Villa

Sun 20 Apr – Birmingham City (H)
Sun 27 Apr – Everton (A)
Sat 03 May – Wigan Athletic (H)
Sun 11 May – West Ham United (A)


I hadn't really believed that Everton could be caught, until i looked at the fixture lists for the other pair. It's difficult to ignore the difference in calibre of opposition, and then when you consider form from either side, Everton could realistically be forced into a mighty struggle for fifth place (if they're not already), were Portsmouth to go hell-for-leather to get their future sewn up regardless of the outcome against Cardiff City.

Even i myself couldn't really begrudge Everton of 5th, because they've undoubtedly earned it. I wouldn't go as far as to say i'll be cheering them on, but perhaps Aston Villa will be - if Everton get caught by Portsmouth, and the south-coast side fail to win the FA Cup, then Everton will claim the single Intertoto Cup place ahead of the Villains. To make the situation a little more complex, Pompey have also failed to apply for the soon-to-be-scrapped competition, meaning if Everton retained their current position, Villa would, if not caught, partake in the said inaugural tournament.

Who do you think will achieve 5th position and how will the final European places pan out?

Everton
Villa
Pompey

The short answer is.......I can't see Cardiff winning anything.....so I believe Everton will JUSTIFIABLY get their place in Europe.

Still think we will get 5th. Our better goal difference will help too. Btw, read somewhere that even if Cardiff wins the FA cup, they won't be allowed to qualify for the UEFA Cup as they are not exactly under the juristiction of the english FA. If thats the case, it should go to the runners up right? Does it mean Portsmouth have virtually secured euro football already??? Anyone care to fill me in on that?

Aston Villa have to win every remaining game to have any hope of 5th place . Portsmouth however only need to win their game against Man City to go one point behinf Everton ...then it is game on . Arsenal will want to finish the season well so Everton will do well to take any points of us , Newcastle will not be easy either .

Portsmouth have by far the easiest games in theory , but end of season games are never easy to predict and they could stumble in one of them .

I wil go with Portsmouth though to nick the 5th place from under Everton`s nose .

English clubs are offered three places in the Uefa Cup - for the FA Cup winners, the Carling Cup winners and the fifth-placed team in the Premier League.

Tottenham have qualified for the Uefa Cup by winning the Carling Cup.

Should a team finishing in the top four in the Premier League win the FA Cup (still technically possible in Portsmouth), the Uefa Cup place would go to the team finishing sixth in the league.

If Cardiff City win the FA Cup then, as it stands, they are not allowed to qualify for the Uefa Cup because they are registered with the Football Association of Wales and would not be put forward as one of England's representatives. In that instance, the FA Cup runners-up would take their place in the Uefa Cup - although the Football Association are reviewing their rules. Uefa have also said that they would consider handing Cardiff a wildcard into the competition if they win the FA Cup.

As mentioned aboved, if a team wins the Champions League but finishes outside the top four, then a Uefa Cup place will go to the fourth-placed team.

If Portsmouth win the FA Cup and finish fifth in the Premier League, the sixth-placed team in the league would enter the Uefa Cup, not the FA Cup runners-up.

So, whether Cardiff win or lose the FA cup.....they will not be handed a place in the UEFA cup by the FA, it will go to Portsmouth (guaranteed) as either winner or runner-up in the FA cup. Everton would qualify in either 5th or 6th place because of that, so would Villa.

Cardiff MIGHT be handed a wildcard place by UEFA IF they win the FA Cup but not at the expense of any English club.

thats how i see it aswel

and also Portsmouth players will want to impress the boss ahead of the FA CUP final so they will be up for the remaining games to play well and win .

I voted for pompey. I think they have the best material are in good shape and have only matched left that they should mange

Pompey 5th.

If think Everton will finish 6th, but if Villa beat Everton then they could easily finish ahead of them.

It's quite funny that not so long ago Everton thought they could finish in the top 4 - now they realistically face missing out on the UEFA cup.

It's all gone tits up!!

LMAO,i love it

Agree with all that Conner

this's a little bit tricky.. the toffees only have three matches while the other have four.. and also win the less.. lol..

but by the end of the season.. i think it's going to be something like..

Everton
pompey
villa

maybe just by one point difference between toffees and pompey..

As Roonanialdo said Cardiff won't be in the UEFA Cup as it stands, being Welsh and all, but UEFA seem intent on letting them in should they win it, and the FA have hinted that they'll abide to their decision. In short, i wouldn't leave your hopes of European football hinge on little technicalities yet to be resolved. By the sounds of it i think UEFA will be getting their way.

But I understand that it is the FA that nominates who they send for these competitions. I don't think the FA would risk the wrath of their local members by supporting Cardiff's participation. Uefa can give them a spot via a 'wild card', but it shouldn't be in place of a club from the english fa. As it stands, Portsmouth seem virtually guaranteed to qualify for the Uefa Cup either as winners or runners up of the FA Cup. Thus I guess even the 6th placed team would get to play in Europe.

Though am confident that Everton can hang on to 5th, having the 6th spot also qualifying for europe is like a safety net for us.

You are looking way too optimistic in the case of Portsmouth, they will have to beat Man City away before being 1 point behind us. That is not an easy task. Being in the FA Cup finals may mean that some players will be rested or having some players hold back in the league to avoid any injuries. I wouldn't switch positions with them in any case.

Everton for 5th! No questions abt it!

Havn't Uefa said that should Cardiff win the FA Cup, they would consider offering them a 'Wild-Card' entry, therefore not affecting anyone else's entry from the country

Which team will finish 5th?

Liverpool. You missed out Liverpool. To quote Ben "It's still mathematically possible."

But otherwise Everton should get it.

Everton vs. Aston Villa will be huge next weekend. I think it's going to be between them by the way Portsmouth are going - i think they've got their focus on the FA Cup final. Villa on the other hand are really hitting the top of their game at the right time.

Defeat for Everton would leave them 6th on goal difference, and facing an Intertoto Cup place with two games to go. Arsenal and Newcastle being the other matches compared to Villa's Wigan and West Ham.

This game is vital i think. A win would be enough for Everton to secure 5th but they haven't looked like winning for a while. A point would mean it'd probably go down to the final weekend.

Villa have banged in 15 goals in the last 3 games I think, and they are in excellent form going into the game against Everton... If Everton loses, I don't think they can regain the 5th spot from Villa...

So IMO villa will finish 5th at the end...

Villa
Everton
Pompey

So Villa will have european football along with Spurs and Cardiff.

is anyone goona do a topic on who will finish 6th ....

That would be an awesome topic conner why dont you start it

Havent voted to now but I think Villa have to be odds on favourite to finish 5th now.

you would think Villa would beat Birmingham so the Everton game is the crucial one for Villa ....a draw and Everton will still have the advantage althought then they would be up against us ...

They already did buddy, yesterday