FA Cup Or Champions League? - Football (Soccer) News And Picks

FA Cup Or Champions League?
By Tim Robertson
Posted:11:00 am PDT 2007-02-07

Having seen his team move within two points of fourth place in the Premiership with a 1-0 win at Watford on Saturday, maybe boss Sam Allardyce was getting a little giddy.

There has to be some sort of explanation for his claim that he would rather see his team lift the FA Cup than qualify for the Champions League.

"For Bolton, getting into the Champions League would be like winning the league with 120 points," he said. "That's how big it would be for somebody with our spending power and squad. We couldn't really get any higher than that. It will be difficult for us, we know that, with the big boys all on a good run at the minute and when Chelsea slip up they don't lose, they draw.

"There was a time two years ago when Everton managed to sneak in there with 61 points but that was an abnormally low year, and I don't think 61 points is going to be enough this time. It's a big ask, but one we are capable of because we have had a couple of blips and come bouncing back.

"But I would prefer to win the FA Cup without a doubt. Everybody remembers 1923 and the white horse (referring to an iconic image of that first Wembley final), so to be the first to play at the new Wembley would be a dream come true for all Bolton fans, me personally and the players -- but that is a long haul as well."

Even if Allardyce is serious, few Bolton fans would agree with him.

In the last few seasons, Allardyce has made a habit of challenging for Europe with Bolton, the ultimate example of a small-town success story in the Premiership.

He has not always had the resources, but Allardyce has found a way of building winning teams. It?s not always pretty, but it?s usually effective.

Now, with the addition of real quality up front in Nicolas Anelka, Bolton are looking like serious candidates to break into the top four.

The money that the Champions League would give Bolton would allow them to add more players of Anelka?s quality and perhaps even establish themselves as one of the principal clubs in the league.

What is more, qualification for Europe is a minimum requirement if Bolton want to keep the nomadic Anelka for too long.

Long known as The Incredible Sulk, Anelka has fallen out with a string of clubs -- blowing his big chances at Arsenal and Real Madrid -- and he is unlikely to be happy competing in mid-table with Bolton.

"With Nicolas I would expect that if we don't get into the Champions League in the next two years, he will be dissatisfied. So if we sell him for a massive profit, then so be it!" Allardyce joked, but there will be a grimace behind the laugh. Every word is true.

Bolton can move to fourth -- temporarily, at least -- by beating Fulham on Sunday. Bolton is -150 with Fulham offered at +350 on WagerWeb.com.

There are challenges ahead for Allardyce. There are several aging players in the Trotters? squad who will soon need replacing, and the likes of Gary Speed and Ivan Campo are not easy to come by.

Doing it with Champions League money would certainly be easier, so maybe Sam will change his mind.

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