Europa Conference League

[MikeH72]

No, that's why I didn't say 'below every side who qualified for it'. The idea that a team who hasn't won a trophy for 27 years, has only won one European trophy in its history (a competition which was so esteemed and worthy that they later binned it off completely), and who won one dead rubber last time we qualified for Europe, somehow has a stature in the game so lofty that we'd be embarrassed to enter this competition, is frankly delusional. All not qualifying would mean is that we weren't good enough to get in to a competition you think is rubbish. So exactly how rubbish must we be? It's the equivalent of the kid at school pretending being able to spell and count is for nerds and he's way too cool for all that stuff because he's thick as mince.

It means we weren’t good enough to finish in the top 7 of the Premier League, not that we aren’t good enough to compete in this joke of a competition?

 

[diggerdestroyer]

I just look at the injuries we had this season and wonder if this would be worth it.
Now I'm hinking no. It's not that I think everton are above this standard. We are not. But I doubt it will have big player pulling power in the transfer window. (All chips are on carlo for that) . I also think the risks( injuries fatigue) outweigh the benefits ( european football to a certain extent)

I would change my mind if the club, management, players genuinely think its progress.

 

[Lanolin]

It means we weren’t good enough to finish in the top 7 of the Premier League, not that we aren’t good enough to compete in this joke of a competition?

And a team that finishes 8th in it's domestic league - and hasn't finished any higher than 7th for 8 years, or any higher than 4th for about 30 - clearly has such a 'stature' in the European game that it couldn't possibly have it's name tarnished by being in this competition? Makes sense when you put it like that.

 

[MikeH72]

And a team that finishes 8th in it's domestic league - and hasn't finished any higher than 7th for 8 years, or any higher than 4th for about 30 - clearly has such a 'stature' in the European game that it couldn't possibly have it's name tarnished by being in this competition? Makes sense when you put it like that.

I don’t think we have stature in the European game, I just don’t want to be in a waste of time competition like this.

 

[Lennaldo]

I don't get all the negativity around this, sure it's the european version of the league cup, but i'd be delighted with a league cup win and I'd be delighted with wininng this if we qualify for it. For me this is about making steps forward, and even if the competition shouldn't really exist, it does and it's another thing to try an win and winning it gets you to the Europa, it's worth as much as a League cup win has been in that respect. Obviously we're all holding out hope of getting to the Champions League and failing that the Europa League, but if we qualify for this conference league, a cup is a cup and I want Everton to have another yet another first to talk about.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

That’s not the point I’m making though. Personally I think it’s a bit of a waste of time for us to be in this tournament and we wouldn’t get any benefit out of it, so if it’s a case of finishing 7th or 8th I’m really not arsed. Finishing in the top 6 has to be the aim this season.

We would benefit from it though. Following the blues around Europe to mental places, giving us boss away days and potentially winning a cup (even a Mickey mouse one) will do more good for our profile then finishing 5th or 6th would. Obviously we want to finish 6th this season and go into the proper Europa League but 7th and this Europa Conference League thing would still better then 8th and nothing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Caolam]

It’s a tough one. On the one hand, it is a “lesser” competition, and you’d have to be concerned about participating in it effecting our league season. However along with the financial issues raised by the European super league, one of the biggest arguments against it was that teams should never have a divine right to be in certain competitions. You get what you deserve, irrespective of your history or stature. Can we really turn our noses up at this? It’s not like we’re a perennial Europa league club- you can’t really argue that’s our level.

Whether this competition should even exist is probably up for debate. But I don’t think we can outright dismiss it.

I think you have summed the matter up very concisely, if we fail to qualify for anything but this competition then this is the competition that suits our current stature. We cannot be holding the moral high ground on the ESL and a short time later turning our back on a competition, one that other teams will be happy to play in, because it is beneath our opinion of ourselves.
We need progression, we are a team on the up, a foray into Europe is progression. We probably wouldn’t do ourselves justice with the current squad but I think we are all hopeful that the squad will be improved over the summer window.
At this moment in time I feel that if Carlo thinks it is a good idea then it is a good idea.

 

[number4.]

I just look at the injuries we had this season and wonder if this would be worth it.
Now I'm hinking no. It's not that I think everton are above this standard. We are not. But I doubt it will have big player pulling power in the transfer window. (All chips are on carlo for that) . I also think the risks( injuries fatigue) outweigh the benefits ( european football to a certain extent)

I would change my mind if the club, management, players genuinely think its progress.

If the ambition for the CA reign is CL football, we are better off out, I think the same rule applies to the Europa league itself this year, I know its a hard argument, but one more year out of it would suits is for the next three.

There is a lot of deadwood that needs to be shifted & we need quality, rather than quantity required for the Europa slog. Get three in, five or six out with the cadence of a new season & let CA have a cracking at coaching and improving players to the top 4. We have seen his one off game expertise & this needs to magnified next year

 

[Lanolin]

I don’t think we have stature in the European game, I just don’t want to be in a waste of time competition like this.

And that's fine. I totally understand that viewpoint. I don't agree personally, but it's a perfectly reasonable stance. It wasn't that I was taking issue with, it's the utterly embarrassing notion that we're 'better' than this competition. We really, really, aren't.

 

[MikeH72]

And that's fine. I totally understand that viewpoint. I don't agree personally, but it's a perfectly reasonable stance. It wasn't that I was taking issue with, it's the utterly embarrassing notion that we're 'better' than this competition. We really, really, aren't.

If we finish in the top 6 though would that have proven that we are better than it? Because to progress I think we need to establish ourselves as a Europa League team in the next two seasons at least. This is the best opportunity we’ve had in ages to qualify for it.

 

[diggerdestroyer]

If the ambition for the CA reign is CL football, we are better off out, I think the same rule applies to the Europa league itself this year, I know its a hard argument, but one more year out of it would suits is for the next three.

There is a lot of deadwood that needs to be shifted & we need quality, rather than quantity required for the Europa slog. Get three in, five or six out with the cadence of a new season & let CA have a cracking at coaching and improving players to the top 4. We have seen his one off game expertise & this needs to magnified next year

Ya I'd be happy with that as long as we bring in some quality players this window. Similar to last summer where we brought in 4 starters. If we can do the same this summer I'm happy to stay out of european division 3. I would take 6th place though as Europa league is nothing to be looked down on any year with the competition in the premier.

Arsenal, spurs will be back in contention next year. Leicester are already there. Utd, chelsea, city and koppites is 7 teams. (I'll leave west ham out for now)Add us that's a top 8 from now on. There is going to be some big teams really disappointed every year from now on.

 

[number4.]

Ya I'd be happy with that as long as we bring in some quality players this window. Similar to last summer where we brought in 4 starters. If we can do the same this summer I'm happy to stay out of european division 3. I would take 6th place though as Europa league is nothing to be looked down on any year with the competition in the premier.

Arsenal, spurs will be back in contention next year. Leicester are already there. Utd, chelsea, city and koppites is 7 teams. (I'll leave west ham out for now)Add us that's a top 8 from now on. There is going to be some big teams really disappointed every year from now on.

Agreed on your second paragraph - Chelsea and Man city will take up two spots, but everything else is up for grabs. Liverpool, Spurs, United and LCFC will all be in Europe and this is a handicap (albiet a small one) - add in the possibility of punishment for the 6 and there will be more than a small chance hopefully

 

[Papa Shango]

Calling other fans idiots is probably not the best way to construct an argument.

Personally I think this whole competition is a waste of time. The rewards are few and the risks are high. How will you feel when DCL or Allan picks up an injury playing a Bulgarian team in this comp that means we drop down Prem places ?

The Europa is worthwhile, this comp is a joke for a club of our stature. Might as well get excited for pre season friendlies at this point.

We could just played a team of fringe players and younger players. Would be a great way for some of them to get some experience and see if they are any good.

 

[Lanolin]

If we finish in the top 6 though would that have proven that we are better than it? Because to progress I think we need to establish ourselves as a Europa League team in the next two seasons at least. This is the best opportunity we’ve had in ages to qualify for it.

Well it wouldn't prove that we're better than it in terms of stature, which is what I was talking about, but yes it would prove that we were currently good enough to justify a place in a better tournament (that people also used to say was rubbish, but now evidently isn't). Obviously. I can understand Arsenal fans being a bit sniffy about it after 20 years or whatever of consistent CL qualification, but when you qualify for Europe about once every five years or something like we do then the idea that we're above a competition like this is just laughable. Like I say, I can understand the argument that just not being in Europe at all would be better, and of course I understand the idea that being in the higher ranked competition would be better, but I don't understand at all the idea that the ECL is beneath us. Reality check - the teams in Belarus or wherever that we're here laughing at are going to get us in the draw and go 'who?'.

 

[Nymzee]

So do you want the Europa League, where we’ll have an arguably more taxing season due to a higher quality?
Or European football, where fans will actually be able to attend in the knockout phases and give Everton an excellent chance of winning a trophy.
Genuinely curious, as sounds to me as if you’d be happier finishing 9th, attracting top players to play for mid table fodder and clutch to near impossible dream of Champions League.

Build on it, get used to two games a week, and rotate, and get some of the younger lads some exposure to first team.

For me, it’s a can’t lose scenario.

Not next season unless we can guarantee to have a really fleshed out squad.