Europa Conference League

[barneygumble]

Are you planning on going on holiday in the next 6 months?

I am actually, yes.

And I'm full confident I'll be able to go to.

 

[Nymzee]

I am actually, yes.

And I'm full confident I'll be able to go to.

Fair enough, just curious. Being able to actually enjoy an away trip would be the deciding factor for me.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

I love the fact that some people are saying we should avoid this competition because we aren't ready for European football and fighting on two fronts but in the same breath also talking about finishing fourth and saying that should be the target. Lads, if we can't cope with games against random unknown teams from Luxembourg or Ukraine ect then what chance do you think we'd stand against the likes of Barcelona and Athletico Madrid?! If playing in the Europa Conference League won't do our profile any good then neither would getting hammered by something like 9-0 at the Nou Camp or the Allianz arena.

 

[MrGrumpy]

What’s the prize money?

 

[barneygumble]

Fair enough, just curious. Being able to actually enjoy an away trip would be the deciding factor for me.

I personally am looking more longer term, knockouts for away to get going again.

But I think that's why i'm so in support of it, because the likelihood is we will make it through the group, and the Euro aways will begin to flow.

 

[barneygumble]

As I have absolutely no life, I also did a quick run through a list of teams who are on course to qualify and it's not as much of a tin pot, as you'd expect.

Galatasaray
Trabzonspor
Villarreal
Marseille
Sturm Graz
Spartak Moscow
Sochi
Rubin Kazan
Aris Thessaloniki
PAOK Thessaloniki
AEK Athens
Vitesse
Feyenoord
Sporting Braga
Vitoria de Guimaraes
Basel
Servette Genevé
Borussia Monchengladbach
AS Roma
Anderlecht
Standard Liege

There's some decent teams in there

 

[Lanolin]

that’s not how I remember it mate. Yes, Bayern was the most incredible night ever at Goodison but I also remember we almost got dumped out in the first round by University College Dublin.

Went to all the home games and Fortuna Sittard away. Didn’t go to Bratislava away. I honestly don’t really remember any of those home games being forgone conclusions. More of a feeling phew we got through that, wonder what’s next.

true after Bayern remember thinking Rapid were going to be easier but they had a striker called Hans krankl who was a very good player at the time. It was only when Sheeds got the third did I think we’re gonna win this.

I think the same would be true in this though. I can't speak for the poster you were replying to, but I think the point is more that although these teams might not be Barcelona and Real Madrid, they wouldn't be the walks in the park some people are making out. Zorya Luhansk are a side i'd never heard of until this season, when they beat Leicester 1-0. They are currently on course to qualify for this competition. CSKA Sofia are another one who are due to be in the ECL, and in this season's EL they got a win and a draw against Roma who are now in the semis (and are also due to be in the ECL next year). The overall standard of the competition is hardly any different to the EL to be honest, and i'm really not sure where this idea that we'd be swatting everyone aside with ease has come from.

 

[barneygumble]

I Zorya Luhansk are a side i'd never heard of until this season, when they beat Leicester 1-0.

You've always got to beware of the red herrings anyway, the Ukrainian teams and some other nations like Poland see playing a Premier League team as their chance to impress and get a move. That Zorya played United a couple of seasons back and didn't do too badly, so for me, whilst you should expect to easily qualify from the group, it's not a guaranteed 18 points from 6 games.

 

[BlueStevie35]

As I have absolutely no life, I also did a quick run through a list of teams who are on course to qualify and it's not as much of a tin pot, as you'd expect.

Galatasaray
Trabzonspor
Villarreal
Marseille
Sturm Graz
Spartak Moscow
Sochi
Rubin Kazan
Aris Thessaloniki
PAOK Thessaloniki
AEK Athens
Vitesse
Feyenoord
Sporting Braga
Vitoria de Guimaraes
Basel
Servette Genevé
Borussia Monchengladbach
AS Roma
Anderlecht
Standard Liege

There's some decent teams in there

There’s 5 teams there that we have previous in Europe with

Villarreal - Collina, enough said
AEK Athens - Beat them home and away in the Europa in 2009/10
Monchengladbach - beat them on pens in the 1970/71 European Cup
Standard Liege - knocked us out of the UEFA Cup in 2008
Feyenoord - knocked us out of both the UEFA Cup in 1979 and the Cup Winners Cup in 1995 as well as hosted our 1985 Cup Winners Cup final triumph

 

[kenada_blue]

I love the fact that some people are saying we should avoid this competition because we aren't ready for European football and fighting on two fronts but in the same breath also talking about finishing fourth and saying that should be the target. Lads, if we can't cope with games against random unknown teams from Luxembourg or Ukraine ect then what chance do you think we'd stand against the likes of Barcelona and Athletico Madrid?! If playing in the Europa Conference League won't do our profile any good then neither would getting hammered by something like 9-0 at the Nou Camp or the Allianz arena.

Would rather get smashed by some elite glamour club than tumble out of some intertoto 3rd tier competition against teams you've never heard of, that no one cares about or will remember.

I think it's more down to what's worthwhile with the resources.

 

[barneygumble]

Would rather get smashed by some elite glamour club than tumble out of some intertoto 3rd tier competition against teams you've never heard of, that no one cares about or will remember.

I think it's more down to what's worthwhile with the resources.

Why are we going out to anyone we haven't heard of?

Part of the problem this, and it's not directed at you personally.... happy to take part, want to succeed but have absolutely no confidence.

Personally, I want a trophy, and this is the best way.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Would rather get smashed by some elite glamour club than tumble out of some intertoto 3rd tier competition against teams you've never heard of, that no one cares about or will remember.

I think it's more down to what's worthwhile with the resources.

Who says we'd tumble out though? Surely if the teams in this competition are as garbage as you claim (they aren't) then we should have nothing to fear from them. We should be able to go all the way and smash everyone easily, right? Unless of course the teams are actually half decent (in some cases just as good and even better then us) and the only thing preventing you and others from enjoying the competition is snobbery because we wouldn't be facing "glamour clubs".

Personally I think our resources are better spent seriously trying to win a cup and end our trophy drought then spending another season desperately scrambling and inevitably failing to get top four. It would be nice if we could do both but if its a choice between the two then I know what I'd prefer.

 

[diggerdestroyer]

As I have absolutely no life, I also did a quick run through a list of teams who are on course to qualify and it's not as much of a tin pot, as you'd expect.

Galatasaray
Trabzonspor
Villarreal
Marseille
Sturm Graz
Spartak Moscow
Sochi
Rubin Kazan
Aris Thessaloniki
PAOK Thessaloniki
AEK Athens
Vitesse
Feyenoord
Sporting Braga
Vitoria de Guimaraes
Basel
Servette Genevé
Borussia Monchengladbach
AS Roma
Anderlecht
Standard Liege

There's some decent teams in there

We would have our work cut out against the majority of those teams.

 

[kenada_blue]

Who says we'd tumble out though? Surely if the teams in this competition are as garbage as you claim (they aren't) then we should have nothing to fear from them. We should be able to go all the way and smash everyone easily, right? Unless of course the teams are actually half decent (in some cases just as good and even better then us) and the only thing preventing you and others from enjoying the competition is snobbery because we wouldn't be facing "glamour clubs".

Personally I think our resources are better spent seriously trying to win a cup and end our trophy drought then spending another season desperately scrambling and inevitably failing to get top four. It would be nice if we could do both but if its a choice between the two then I know what I'd prefer.

You pointed out that getting leathered by Real etc wouldn't do us any more favours than getting beat by Sochi for example. I disagree.

There's no shame in getting beat by top teams. But you'll start to question if you get beat by Vitesse

 

[kenada_blue]

Why are we going out to anyone we haven't heard of?

Part of the problem this, and it's not directed at you personally.... happy to take part, want to succeed but have absolutely no confidence.

Personally, I want a trophy, and this is the best way.

Personally I always defended the Europa/UeFa cup and want us to be in it even though it is the less glamorous competition. Add to the fact winning that now gets you champions league give it more of an incentive

A tournament which is below the Europa is basically the Johnsons Paint trophy of European competition where the winners get a Europa League spot, isn't something I can get excited about.