Europa Conference League

[Nymzee]

I don't think your grasping what sort of teams will qualify for this cup.

If we were to get in it similar ranked teams from similar quality leagues would be in it as well, NOT JUST crabs from Romania so the likes of Valencia, fiorentina, Wolfsburg, Lille etc could potentially be in it as well.

You are right about not having the squad for the champions League maybe even the Europa cup, so why not have the squad ready and used to playing twice a week because if/when we did qualify for the champions League our excuse would be oh were not used to playing twice a week.

I'm with you on not wanting to travel to all these mad countries for a first qualifying round or whatever, but as the competition goes on the teams get stronger and we could have night games back at goodison against decent European teams and I'm all for that

There might be some decent sides but the way the graphic depicts hints at maybe not. I mean right before knock out stage we get teams that finished 3rd in the EL group stages drop in as the "big boys".

Here is this seasons EL group stage. The biggest teams that would have dropped out: Feyenoord (crap), Sparta Prague (crap), AZ (crap).

 

[charlie atkins]

I assume if we won the thing the cool kids wouldn't want to attend the trophy parade around town what with being so hip and all.

I barely remember the cup win in 95 due to age and would love to take my young lad in his Everton clobber to a victory parade in town full of blues for once instead of trying to dodge the RS ones.

Obviously EL would be preferred but this is still a very good chance at a trophy and automatic qualification for EL the following season taking pressure off a top 6 league finish.

Its redundant anyway as I've resigned myself to Lego hair Mikel fluking another pot with a bang average Arsenal side + Lacazette/Aubameyang.

agreed, and lets face it we have to start somewhere, would be great to go in the CL, but is it to early, one season in one of the others will be us in the starting blocks, i can just see a few thousand blues filling up a square anywhere in europe, just getting into the swing of it then hopefully for a few years as a european regular

 

[Carloblues]

There might be some decent sides but the way the graphic depicts hints at maybe not. I mean right before knock out stage we get teams that finished 3rd in the EL group stages drop in as the "big boys".

Here is this seasons EL group stage. The biggest teams that would have dropped out: Feyenoord (crap), Sparta Prague (crap), AZ (crap).

They are all crap and we should be beating them but they are still good away days, good experience and potential chance for a good cup run. Don't see the problem

 

[Nymzee]

They are all crap and we should be beating them but they are still good away days, good experience and potential chance for a good cup run. Don't see the problem

You're for it, I'm not. Let's leave it at that.

 

[wandyr79]

There might be some decent sides but the way the graphic depicts hints at maybe not. I mean right before knock out stage we get teams that finished 3rd in the EL group stages drop in as the "big boys".

Here is this seasons EL group stage. The biggest teams that would have dropped out: Feyenoord (crap), Sparta Prague (crap), AZ (crap).

Early rounds in most competitions can generally be 'easier' teams. Not all competitions can have Real, Barcelona, Juventus in them and none of them really have that quality in at the first few rounds.

It is a poor argument to say it is a non event because there a few poorer teams in it.

I would also say your examples are still decent names regardless of what their playing personnel is at the current times.

I am sure you would like to see European semi final against Roma, regardless of what they call. It would be amazing if it was the CL but there has to be realism I where are compared to where we want to be.

 

[granter79]

waiti

iYou ready for a European Tour this summer Granter lad? ♡

waiting years in some progress mate. Onwards & upwards with Carlo

 

[Brennan]

What stature is that? If we finish 8th and don't qualify it just means our stature is actually below the competition, you do realise that, right?

Being a top half premier league side for most of the past decade. Which is a better achievement in footballing terms than winning the Europa conference league.

What stature? We have near enough no history in European competitions.

As above. Said nothing about Europe. This competition cannot be compared to the Europa League proper or Champions League.

We been in Europe 7 times since we won it. We havnt won a trophy for 25 years, we havnt qualified for Europe for 4/5 years. We may. E in the PL but we arnt above this

Disagree. Otherwise where does it end. Keep adding European competitions until every Prem team gets in one just so you can say you 'won something' ? Its a nonsense.

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.

We could do, but we wouldn't play a complete youth side as there would be inevitable pressure from the fans. I'm pretty sure UEFA would take a dim view if teams played reserve sides.

Maybe not and I apologise for any offence but it really angers me how cups can be devalued because of the risk.

Sport is a risk and reward world. Yes, you can go the safe route and still be successful but if you don't reach the stars then the clouds can still be a viable route to success.

You say the Europa is worthwhile and obviously I agree but the main reason I said idiots is because the same arguments were made about the Europa when Moyes was actually finishing high in the league and playing European football. It can be done, if this means a lesser competition (by the sounds of it it won't be much lesser) then we should embrace it not deride it.

We, as a club and fans, need to look at the bigger picture and not just the here and now. If we do not reach the promised land of the CL, and if we don't reach the not as promised of the Europa then we will hopefully reach the next not so promised land or, as some fans on here, seemingly want, we fail completely and not bother if we don't achieve option 1 or 2.

The difference is the quality of the opposition.

Even in the Europa League you have a whole host of top sides from the European top 5 leagues competing. Just look at the most recent knockout round. Milan, United, Roma, Spurs, Villareal etc. This will not be the case in the conference league.

This to me is 'Europe' in the same way that winning the FA Vase would be 'winning a cup'. It has very little value in my view, and will do nothing to attract players of a higher calibre or improve our reputation in the game.

 

[brieverton]

Surely there must be the equivalent teams in terms of league-placing from the other major European leagues as well?

I'm not keen on it and it sounds like the early stages of this are more hassle than appealing, but surely if we got to the QF at least there would be some potentially decent opposition in store?

With our record, I wouldn't take any opposition for granted but I do think the only way to justify entry to this is by winning it, but I think that for the Europa League as well.

We should be strong enough to rotate and still get in the latter stages. It would be nice to have something to look forward to at this time of year, where we stood a decent change of winning.

I'd imagine though that as far as TV coverage goes, this is all set for either 5 / ITV 4 with a highlights show on QUEST.

 

[Nymzee]

Early rounds in most competitions can generally be 'easier' teams. Not all competitions can have Real, Barcelona, Juventus in them and none of them really have that quality in at the first few rounds.

It is a poor argument to say it is a non event because there a few poorer teams in it.

I would also say your examples are still decent names regardless of what their playing personnel is at the current times.

I am sure you would like to see European semi final against Roma, regardless of what they call. It would be amazing if it was the CL but there has to be realism I where are compared to where we want to be.

I just don't care for a 3rd European competition.

 

[Brennan]

Here are some of the best teams who would be involved based on current league positions:

- Real Betis
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lazio
- Lens
- Pacos de Ferreira
- AZ Alkmaar
- Genk
- Lokomotiv Moscow
- Rosenborg
- Copenhagen

Come on.

 

[Lee Smith]

Personally, I’d take this if we missed out on the CL / EL.

To me, after my wife and kids, there’s nothing better in life than following the Blues on an away day. That away day being in some totally random part of Europe you’d never even contemplate visiting otherwise would make it even better.

In fact I’m already looking forward to beating a team like ATV Irdning 22-0 again in the qualifying round, and reliving the glory days of the start of Silva’s tenure.

WE’RE ALL ON THE MARCH WITH CARLO’S ARRRRRRMY!!!! etc etc.

 

[Lee Smith]

I just don't care for a 3rd European competition.

You didn’t celebrate our CWC win then mate?

 

[Papa Shango]

Remind me again how teams qualified for the CWC?

The same way they qualify for a Europa League today.

We were boss back then of course but the CWC, especially back then when they playing field was a bit more even was always prone to throwing up a few random clubs.

 

[Jimishorts]

Not all competitions can have Real, Barcelona, Juventus in them

The Super League would’ve until the Captains Captain got involved.

 

[Nymzee]

The same way they qualify for a Europa League today.

We were boss back then of course but the CWC, especially back then when they playing field was a bit more even was always prone to throwing up a few random clubs.

Erm no, we won a cup to qualify. We earned it.