[X-Offender]

So, we're only 6 points shy from 5th place, which is currently occupied by Verona. The teams ahead of us aren't particularly threatening. With 16 weeks left, and with our form and game improving under Seedorf, I'd say it is possible to make the Europa League for next season. The question is: is it worth it?

Personally, I say no. Why? First of all, the monetary value of going through the group stages is very low. In order for us to gain something financially from the competition would be to make it to the final and win the goddamn thing. And let's be honest, we've never won the thing in our history and we sure as hell aren't going to win it now. So, bottom line: too much hassle for nothing.

I'd prefer if we could concentrate just on the league next season, like Roma are doing now, and try to make second place. Clearly Seedorf is using the rest of this season to develop the ideal system and game plan that he's going to be using for next season onwards, getting players acquainted with his gaming philosophy, their new duties and positions, analysing which players are worth it and which aren't etc.

This season is wasted after all, since we can't make CL, and that's what really counts.

[han2503]

^^ Why?

You know that if we do by some miracle make the EL we'll still half @ss it and get KO'd in the last 32. We just can't help ourselves

EL is nothing but a distraction. It doesn't bring any financial benefits with it (Chelsea got 10m for winning the thing!!) and all it will do is create more physical strain on the players that is unnecessary

I'd personally prefer if we had a season completely out of Europe and we can concentrate fully on the league

[Danny]

^^ Why?

You know that if we do by some miracle make the EL we'll still half @ss it and get KO'd in the last 32. We just can't help ourselves

EL is nothing but a distraction. It doesn't bring any financial benefits with it (Chelsea got 10m for winning the thing!!) and all it will do is create more physical strain on the players that is unnecessary

I'd personally prefer if we had a season completely out of Europe and we can concentrate fully on the league

As an aside, I dreamt you posted a video of us from the late 80s. And we were all in tears over how good we were and how abject we are now.

When even Paolo Maldini attacks us, you know we're in bother.

And I saw someone on BT Sport agree with my point that the resting on our laurels after 2011 was one of the biggest causes.

This club was either going in one of two directions at that point - straight back to where it belonged at the top, with a few good additions, or straight to the bottom if it did nothing.

Rest speaks for itself.

[han2503]

As an aside, I dreamt you posted a video of us from the late 80s. And we were all in tears over how good we were and how abject we are now.

When even Paolo Maldini attacks us, you know we're in bother.

And I saw someone on BT Sport agree with my point that the resting on our laurels after 2011 was one of the biggest causes.

This club was either going in one of two directions at that point - straight back to where it belonged at the top, with a few good additions, or straight to the bottom if it did nothing.

Rest speaks for itself.

I think we've been resting on those laurels since that CL win in 07 and we've been going downhill from there. Sometimes I feel like that CL is more of a curse on us as it gave the management even further excuses not to re-invest and re-build when at that point the squad was already going through a rapid decline.

Instead he gave huge contracts to the veterans who had already accomplished everything and had nothing left to give to the side and kept trying to sell the notion that Milan was still the best around, when even then it was very clear how far back we were

[Forza Milan!]

I think we've been resting on those laurels since that CL win in 07 and we've been going downhill from there. Sometimes I feel like that CL is more of a curse on us as it gave the management even further excuses not to re-invest and re-build when at that point the squad was already going through a rapid decline.

Instead he gave huge contracts to the veterans who had already accomplished everything and had nothing left to give to the side and kept trying to sell the notion that Milan was still the best around, when even then it was very clear how far back we were

Yup, in hindsight that was a huge mistake, which falls squarely on Berlu and Galliani. You can argue that Inter made the same mistake after they won "il triplete", but that is not really an excuse.

FWIW, I remember listening to Berlu on a TV show right after we won the WC in '07, when the signs of decline were already evident. When asked about his plans to renovate the team, he replied something to the effect of "why? we just won the CL and the WC, it's the other teams that need to get better". It has been downhill ever since, except maybe for the Ibra days. But even then we were horrible in Europe, and the clown managed to lose a scudetto we really should have won.

But back to the original question, at this stage we need to rebuild, and IMHO our new coach (Seedorf or whomever may replace him) could use one season where we can focus on fewer competitions. Revenue from EL is not that great, and is not as if we have world-class stars that well leave if we are out of Europe for one year (ok, maybe Balotelli, but at this point I am happy to see him leave - if we get some cash). Also, I believe that making CL last year gave management an excuse to keep ignoring our problems ("after all, 3rd place is not thaaaat bad, is it? we still get the CL revenue, don't we?" - easy enough to think in those terms). I am hoping that not making EL will be a wake-up call.

[X-Offender]

Also, I believe that making CL last year gave management an excuse to keep ignoring our problems ("after all, 3rd place is not thaaaat bad, is it? we still get the CL revenue, don't we?" - easy enough to think in those terms). I am hoping that not making EL will be a wake-up call.

Exactly. There are no more excuses anymore.