it would be highly amusing if Everton were to miss out on 5th place, possibly even 6th and not make europe what with all the talk earlier in the season

Everton

Though id love to see pompey come 5th

Same as, I think Everton will be good enough to clinch it - but it would be great to see Pompey squeeze in there and top off what would be a fantastic season for them.

But my money would be on the Toffee's.

Pretty tough run in they have got compared to Villa, and the form is in Villas favour too....

good point but cant see Everton throwing it away

Why not? Their last 6 league games have featured 3 losses, 2 draws and 1 victory, the latter coming at home against Derby County in which they were not convincing at all.

They're now immersed in their 'tough period' for the end of the season, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal and a resurgent Newcastle all representing very difficult games. 1 down, 1 defeat. How many points do they actually look like getting?

In my opinion they're "throwing it away" with each passing game, and will continue to do so.

If i cared about Everton to any great degree i'd be concerned for them. I'd put money on them not making 5th; although they do have some sort of a safety net with Portsmouth not applying for the Intertoto Cup, meaning if Villa achieved 5th then the place would instantly be handed to Everton, irrespective of the FA Cup final.

I personally would very much like to see Villa in the UEFA Cup, alongside Spurs and Portsmouth. But as i said in the opening post, i wouldn't begrudge Everton of entrance... Just hopefully through the Intertoto Cup.

Fair play to Martin O'Neill and his boys, they've sneaked in out of nowhere.

Everton vs Villa will be the decider. Winner takes it! No regrets for the loser of this game to miss out on Europe!

COYB!!!!!!!

The FA has confirmed that Cardiff City will be allowed to enter next season's Uefa Cup if they win the FA Cup final next month.

Under current FA regulations Cardiff would not automatically qualify for Europe by winning the FA Cup - as a Welsh side they would normally qualify via the Welsh Cup.

But the FA today approved the move. "The Board has given full approval for Cardiff City to participate in next season's Uefa Cup as one of England's representatives, should they win this season's FA Cup," read an FA statement. "It was decided that the Welsh national anthem would also be played ahead of the game."

Cardiff reached their first FA Cup final since they won the competition in 1927, by beating Barnsley 1-0 in the semi-final at Wembley last month.

Now Cardiff have the added incentive of a potentially lucrative run in Europe, when they meet Portsmouth at Wembley on May 17. In order to qualify for the Uefa Cup, they will first have to become the first team from out of the top division to win the Cup since West Ham in 1980.

This means that if Pompey don't win the FA cup or get 5th place, given that they currently sit in 7th place in the league, they would miss out on a UEFA cup place.

Portsmouth need to go hell-for-leather in the final 3 games to try and secure qualification by the league - a tough ask but they have to try. They play Blackburn (H), Middlesbrough (A) and Fulham (H) so 7 points should be a realistic target.

The Cardiff news doesn't really effect Everton or Villa, so long as one of them makes 5th, because Pompey haven't applied for the Intertoto Cup. As long as the two said teams get the automatic qualification spot the other will get to go through the Intertoto competition.

What if Portsmouth wins the cup and also qualify for europe (5th) via the league, will Cardiff also qualify as the runners up of the cup and take away a spot from the league? Thats been the usual case these years when the FA Cup winner (has qualified for CL), the UEFA spot goes to the runners up (if not qualified for europe). If both finalist have already qualified for Europe via the league, then the cup spot reverts to the 6th placed team.

This situation with Cardiff in the FA Cup final is causing alot of confusion!!!!!

I think it will work as usual. I wouldn't worry though - Portsmouth will not manage to attain fifth... you're basically playing for either automatic UEFA Cup qualification or Intertoto Cup qualification. I kind of hope it's the latter though, it can bugger up your following season having to start so early.

I know the team that finishes just outside of auto qualification from the premier league plays in it. But with what other teams???

Its different for Cardiff this year anyway, theyve only been given possible euro entry if they WIN the FA Cup, they cant qualify in any way by being runners up in the Cup.

Basically teams from the premier league will apply from it and the team that finishes hgihest will get it so technicaally if Derby were the only one to apply for it they would get it. Its a small competitive competition with other teams from around europe who do the same as the premier league teams has ( finished highest out of the teams who applied for it) and the winner gets a uefa cup spot. I think Newcastle and Blackburn have won it recently, actually i think it was the lsat 2 seasons.

Don't really get what you mean.... So isit played only amongst the premiership teams that have applied and the winner qualifies? Or do they still have to play with teams from the other euro leagues?

Only one team from the Premier League goes into it amd yes it is against other European teams. Say Everton finish 5th and get uefa cup football for next season, and Villa and Portsmouth apply to be in the Intertoto Cup then whoever out of the two finishes higher in the league they get to go to it, then its basically a Uefa Cup/Champions League for poorer teams. The winner of this competition gets a trophy and get a place in the Uefa Cup.

Champions League>UefaCup>IntertotoCup

Something like that anyway, may of got the arrows wrong way round, which isnt a good sign since i have my Maths AS level exam in 3 weeks

Everton will crush Arsenal and also beat the bar codes....

5th Everton
6th Villa
7th Pompey


btw
I can't believe Villa only got three votes!

Who else voted for them because i did, i know Jono thought theyd get it aswell but he may of voted someone else before and changed his mind, but im guessing me and him voted for them, who else did?

Well done m8! Guess your prediction is very much on track! All we need now is a draw from our last two games to secure 5th! Away to Arsenal and a home game with Newcastle. Let's get the point from the Emirates and it will take alot of pressure off our shoulders before our final game!

COYB!!!!!