The ramifications of the Manchester United Carling Cup win for
the top half of the division should be much clearer after the weekend.
United will, obviously, not be taking up the Uefa Europa Cup slot (next
season's name for the Uefa Cup and a recall of a very old tournament name);
leaving the team that finishes sixth entry to the new competition because
the League Cup runner-up does not get the place if the winner doesn't need
it.
If Arsenal win the Champions' League it will be at the expense of the
fourth placed team if it is out of the top four itself but that won't affect
the overall allocation.
In essence the top six, which seems certain to be some ordering of Man
United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Everton will all play
in Europe next season.
This weekend the FA Cup games seem likely to increase the possibility of
a Europa Cup slot for seventh place. The draw for the last eight has kept
apart the four sides, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton, now
almost certain to also qualify through a league placing for either the
Champions' League or Europa Cup.
So if Chelsea sees off Coventry, Man United
beats Fulham, Arsenal prevails against Burnley and Everton is successful
against Middlesbrough then a place for the seventh placed team will be
certain.
Intriguingly for Fulham it is the only club in with a chance of both
finishing seventh and getting into the FA Cup final; either of which should
secure a Euro slot. Qualification would mean Fulham's second shot at Europe
to add to the 2002/3 season when Fulham went into Europe courtesy of the
Intertoto.
West Ham is currently two points ahead of Fulham in seventh place but is
fading after a post-Christmas surge, Wigan is a point below the Hammers but
was significantly weakened in the January transfer window.
Fulham is in an outstanding position to better the club record finish of
ninth that Chris Coleman achieved in 2004 and enter European competition
through the front door. Even more surprisingly Roy Hodgson may finally be
about to get some belated credit for a sterling career in football
management.