League Cup Semi Final - Bradford City

[Surrey Villain]

The game is indeed 24th Feb but if it is Chelsea in the final they have the 2nd leg of their Europa League tie at home v Sparta Prague on the 21st.

Can't see the FA putting the League Cup Final back for Chelsea.  Its not as if they have far to travel.

[Percy McCarthy]

We beat Tranmere in '94, Norwich in '75, and Man City in '77 on the road to League Cup glory.

[greenwichvilla]

The game is indeed 24th Feb but if it is Chelsea in the final they have the 2nd leg of their Europa League tie at home v Sparta Prague on the 21st.

Can't see the FA putting the League Cup Final back for Chelsea.  Its not as if they have far to travel.

Why would they? It's on a Sunday anyway.

[Jon Crofts]

One of my Chelsea supporting mates pointed out the fact that Chelsea will almost certainly qualify for the Champions League again, so should they make the final along with Villa, win or lose we'll have European football again at Villa Park next season, unimaginable this time last year, unimaginable a month ago to be honest.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I dont think thats how it works mate, it goes to the next highest league placed team, not the runner up of the cup.

I would love to be wrong of course.

[hipkiss92]

One of my Chelsea supporting mates pointed out the fact that Chelsea will almost certainly qualify for the Champions League again, so should they make the final along with Villa, win or lose we'll have European football again at Villa Park next season, unimaginable this time last year, unimaginable a month ago to be honest.

Only applies to the FA Cup I think, only qualified in '10 as we finished 6th, not runners-up to Man U

[PeterWithesShin]

If Chelsea were to win it and qualify for Europe via the league then it means an extra European place in the league. League Cup losers don't qualify for Europe.

[eastie]

Yep to qualify for Europe we would have to win the league cup.

[peter w]

Lets win it then.

[silhillvilla]

I'm not sure what to make of Europa League football.
Lots of Thursday and Sunday games to navigate

[exiled on the wirral!]

I'm not sure what to make of Europa League football.
Lots of Thursday and Sunday games to navigate

I wouldnt worry to much about it, we will probably draw Rapid Vienna in the qualifying round and get knocked out on away goals!

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

League Cup runners up DO NOT qualify for Europe.

http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/fans/faqs/who-qualifies-to-play-in-europe.html

There are three places in the UEFA Europa League available: the FA Cup winners will enter at the Group Stage; the fifth place team in the Barclays Premier League will enter at the Play-Off stage; and the Football League Cup winners will enter at the Q3 stage.

In the event the FA Cup winners are qualified for the UEFA Champions League the FA Cup runners-up will qualify, but in the place reserved for the lowest ranking Barclays Premier League representative. The place with direct access to the Group Stage will be given to the club that finishes in the highest position in the Barclays Premier League of the clubs qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

English winners of the UEFA Europa League will enter at the Group Stage, gaining an extra domestic place only if they fail to qualify through other means for the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League. If the holders of the UEFA Europa League have already qualified for Europe, no extra domestic place will be gained.

Should the FA Cup winners, runners-up (if applicable) and the Football League Cup winners already have qualified for Europe, their place goes to the next best placed clubs in the Premier League.

[James]

prefer leeds to win tonight but don't care that much. Whatever happens though, i hope swansea get knocked out so they don't start bleating about having the welsh national anthem played before the game. Conveniently ignoring that ;a, it's a domestic cup final not an international, and b, the welsh national anthem is god save the queen.

Your point B is utter crap, fella, sorry!

Let's just agree on having Villa in the final against whoever else eh? And Villa winning of course!

[Ego Uhiogu]

I'm not sure what to make of Europa League football.
Lots of Thursday and Sunday games to navigate

I'd absolutely love to see Villa back in Europe.

[bertlambshank]

Both Andy & Stuart Gray both scored at Bradford in 87 in the 4-2 win, Bruno got one and possibly Lillis ?

That was one bonkers game and a great away day.Some great pubs just outside Bradford.

Stuart got 2, Bruno and Birch.

Andy Gray scored for sure. It was a daisy cutter from 25 yards