Europe Is But A Dream
Last updated : 03 April 2002 By Mike Reich
West Ham could, in theory, reach as high as a Champions' League place with 61 points, if they win all their remaining games. However, that would rely on a threefold catastrophic end of season run in for Leeds, Chelsea and Newcastle, to put the Hammers in fourth place come mid May.
Edging only slightly closer to reality, 6th place is a possibility if Leeds season continues to plummet, and ours continues on a great run with most of the points available gained. That however, is still a dream for this season, as we explain how many European places England has this year.
Champions League Qualification There are four places for English clubs, and this will not change - even if ManUre of Liverpool win the competition this season.
UEFA Cup
The three places for English clubs comes from the 5th place team in the Premiership, the winner of the Worthington Cup (Blackburn) and the FA Cup winners. If the FA Cup winner has already qualified through the league, then it goes to the runner up. If they have also qualified via the league, then the place goes to sixth in the Premiership.
The Intertoto Cup is another possible route, but West Ham haven't entered this season, only Aston Villa, Chelsea, Derby, Everton, Fulham, Ipswich, Leeds & Newcastle have entered.
The Fair Play League is another possible route, but West Ham certainly won't make it through that.
So 5th place guarantees a UEFA cup spot, 6th is a possibility, and 7th is a definite no-no. In theory West Ham could get into the UEFA cup, but in practice, it is a huge mountain to overcome.
