Europa Conference League

[barneygumble]

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.

Whilst i agree, regardng the Europa League I just feel we give ourselves a better chance of doing well in Europe if we're used to the competing twice a week, and equally important, but often forgotten, is building up our coefficient. I think we sit at 19.990 at the moment, which means we're automatically placed in hard groups on both the Champions League and the Europa competitions at present.

There's nothing wrong with using the conference league for our own gain, before moving on to better things when we get the chance to do so. I want to compete at the top, but I guess my point may stick better next season, when Leicester are thrown into pot 4 for the Champions League, and stuck in a group with Bayern, Barca and Juventus.

Just lets get ourselves into a better position, and the Conference League knows its purpose.

 

[kenada_blue]

Whilst i agree, regardng the Europa League I just feel we give ourselves a better chance of doing well in Europe if we're used to the competing twice a week, and equally important, but often forgotten, is building up our coefficient. I think we sit at 19.990 at the moment, which means we're automatically placed in hard groups on both the Champions League and the Europa competitions at present.

There's nothing wrong with using the conference league for our own gain, before moving on to better things when we get the chance to do so. I want to compete at the top, but I guess my point may stick better next season, when Leicester are thrown into pot 4 for the Champions League, and stuck in a group with Bayern, Barca and Juventus.

Just lets get ourselves into a better position, and the Conference League knows its purpose.

I get you. But personally not worried about what draws we'd get. That's the whole point of that competition is to play the best and see how you fair.

Just think that conference will just be our under 23s running about for the most part, which is understandable, so it doesn't really excite me.

 

[barneygumble]

I get you. But personally not worried about what draws we'd get. That's the whole point of that competition is to play the best and see how you fair.

Just think that conference will just be our under 23s running about for the most part, which is understandable, so it doesn't really excite me.

I mean, when it’s a cup draw you can get your break, and have an easy run.

Villarreal this season have faced off the top of my head...

Qarabag, Maccabi Tel Aviv, some Turkish no marks, Dynamo Kiev, Dinamo Zagreb... so you can get an easy run.

I think you just do a Man Utd/Arsenal in that kids In group, full strength for remaining potential 7 games.

May not be exhilarating to begin win, but will be better long term for Everton, if we get this instead of no Europe.

 

[Lanolin]

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

I don't really understand your point here? Your results are effectively just a reflection of how good you are as a team. If we lose to teams you think we should beat, it's just an indication that we're not as good as you thought/hoped we were. It doesn't actually change anything apart from your perception. Honestly it's a bad sad (in a genuine way not a criticism) to take the view that you'd basically rather not try for fear of failure.

 

[brieverton]

I'd hope and expect we could manage the group stages with relative comfort in this, with rotation used to the maximum.

I wouldn't at all take for granted anything over a two-legged tie in a knockout round though. There would be plenty of sides that could test us over two games.

We have absolutely no pedigree in Europe. None. It's sobering when you talk to people in mainland Europe that are football fans, and they have a vague idea about us. We are a Premier League side that people see playing against the big six. Ancelotti and James have helped massively on that score but as far as European nights are concerned, we have almost bugger all to talk about over 30 years. This won't get us noticed either, but at least it would be experience against new teams for the players.

I'm not really in favour of this conference, and think its a step too far probably in terms of an attempt at reform but it is what it is. Who are we to say we are too good for it. When a last 16 EL defeat on penalties at home to Fiorentina 13 years ago still gets talked about with fondness and nostalgia, you see clearly how much we have been starved and deprived of not just European football, but decent results and performances in Europe. Our last campaign was a particular low-point for me, an embarrassment.

There is no point qualifying for it to dismiss it, our record at qualifying for the Europa League would be 2 in the last 11 attempts if we didn't make it this year I think, so we cant turn up our noses at this.

 

[atrottel]

I'd be happy about this one because a) it will help us get used to the extra European matches again, b) may offer some extra chances for some of the youth in the squad (as we did in previous Europa League experiences) and c) selfishly because I love the European nights and they are pretty much the only way some of us can guarantee we get to see a game home or away (without booking flights and accommodation and ticket as soon as it goes on sale and then having the match switched for TV). Not particularly bothered how we do in it, though.

Obviously, the Europa League would be preferable and does have worthwhile competition and a potential pot of gold at the end of it.

 

[kenada_blue]

I don't really understand your point here? Your results are effectively just a reflection of how good you are as a team. If we lose to teams you think we should beat, it's just an indication that we're not as good as you thought/hoped we were. It doesn't actually change anything apart from your perception. Honestly it's a bad sad (in a genuine way not a criticism) to take the view that you'd basically rather not try for fear of failure.

That's not my point at all. The point being made was - "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."

My view is that it's about the competition you play in rather than the teams, and that this conference thing doesn't excite me or means much in the grand scheme of things.

It's not about fear of losing to poor or good sides.

 

[Blue Neon]

Personally don't care about a Europa competition. Would rather wait maybe TWO summer windows to see if the club is serious regarding spending on quality signings so we are ready for a Champion's Lge run. { quality signings this summer, hopefully finish top four next season and then strengthen even more, prior to the start of the competition }

 

[Lanolin]

That's not my point at all. The point being made was - "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."

My view is that it's about the competition you play in rather than the teams, and that this conference thing doesn't excite me or means much in the grand scheme of things.

It's not about fear of losing to poor or good sides.

Right. I was obviously replying to your post, not the one you were replying to. When you say ‘there’s no shame losing to real but if you lose to vitesse you start to question it’, it sounds very much like you’re saying you would be ashamed to lose to vitesse and so would question us as a club. Fair enough obviously that’s not what you meant, but I’m sure you can see why I thought you did.

 

[TheNinja]

I want European competition and I want to win it.

 

[DaChunk]

Been trying to work this out for the past half hour and still haven’t a clue about the concept of this competition.

So if we finish 7th or win the League Cup we go into this which is effectively a “third tier” European club football competition?

Anyone care to enlighten me, is it something we should really look to avoid?

Apologizes if it’s been discussed before.

Is it decent money if we go in and do well?

 

[evo1878]

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.

Totally agree with you mate. What I’m saying is ECL is probably our level right now if we qualify for Europe next season. CL is obviously where we aspire to be but I’d taking visiting somewhere Luhansk right now just for a European trip. I went to Olomouc and Kharkiv- both were great trips.

 

[evo1878]

I think that's what European aways are all about for me.

Yes, the ideas of your Bayerns are fantastic, but going placed you'd never normally dream of going, like Hanover, Split, Minsk.... absolutely fantastic.

If we pull out trips to Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia then i'll be all for it.

100% agree with you mate.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Personally don't care about a Europa competition. Would rather wait maybe TWO summer windows to see if the club is serious regarding spending on quality signings so we are ready for a Champion's Lge run. { quality signings this summer, hopefully finish top four next season and then strengthen even more, prior to the start of the competition }

We been saying that for 5 years

 

[originalgreaserbob]

i'm sure some one in this thread has already explained, but do you get CL for winning this?