UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Sexual Ealing]

We need 3 to dip with Brighton. Brighton could get bogged down by fixtures, Spurs we know seem to be bonkers at present and Newcastle have just had a ropey 8 games run. It's unlikely we'll make top 4 or 5, but not impossible.

Brighton have to play Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle and us.
Spurs have to play Newcastle, Man Utd, Liverpool, us as well as derbys with Palace and Brentford.
Newcastle probably have the easiest run but they aren't all that.

Dey ain't derbies, bruv.

[algy]

I reckon to get 4th we would probably need to complete a 12 game winning run. Don't get me wrong I think we'll win quite a few more I just don't think it'll quite be enough. We're talking Man City levels of runs. We're bound to have an off day or get shafted by a shit handball. I reckon Brighton will get 5th, they're consistently creating a shit tonne against teams, and it'll be a 2 way battle for 6th with Liverpool. Spurs are genuinely shite and I have no idea how they have managed to stay this close to 4th for this long. I know we embarrassed Newcastle but they must have one of the best defences in the league for a reason, unfortunately I think they'll stick it. If anything I think Man United might be more catchable.

Nah, were talking Aston Villa levels of run. Unai Emery's going to go on a Dean Smith-esque run, and we're going to win our Champions League Playoff final against Brighton on the last day, 2-1. Goals from McGinn and El Ghazi.

[nigel]

It would be amazing to be playing in Europe, so I certainly wouldn’t say ‘no’ to the European Conference.
There are some decent team in this year’s competition, but we would stand a chance of progressing quite far, look at WHU.
We’ve certainly got the manager and we have the owners who will back him.
We have a team that can do the business, but not the squad to compete on all fronts, again, look at WHU

[algy]

It would be amazing to be playing in Europe, so I certainly wouldn’t say ‘no’ to the European Conference.
There are some decent team in this year’s competition, but we would stand a chance of progressing quite far, look at WHU.
We’ve certainly got the manager and we have the owners who will back him.
We have a team that can do the business, but not the squad to compete on all fronts, again, look at WHU

That's how I'm seeing it. The strength of the Premier League is such that you'd think whichever English side qualifies for it would fancy their chances of doing well.

For me, with the young players coming through - Ramsey A, Archer, maybe Iroegbunam - we need the extra games Europe offers.

That's the odd thing really. There's been all this call to reduce games - getting rid of FA Cup replays, 2 leg League Cup games etc, on the basis of it being too many games, and it's all been to accommodate half a dozen clubs who actually want more games (in Europe). It's less mysterious when you start thinking about money, of course, but still....

[OCD]

I would like us to win the Europa League before we start routinely qualifying for the Champions League every year.

[chrisw1]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.  BUT you would think if that's where we end up then playing in it would give us fantastic experience for our challenge to win Emery's favourite pot the following season.

I'm not sure how much use it will be for our youngsters though, I imagine we would be very cautious about playing significantly weakened teams, particularly after the Stevenag debacle.

[Dave]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.

While I don't want to second-guess your feelings, I bet you that the morning of the final next year if we're playing in it, you'll feel differently.

[chrisw1]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.

While I don't want to second-guess your feelings, I bet you that the morning of the final next year if we're playing in it, you'll feel differently.

I'd want to win it, but it wouldn't change my view that it's not a major trophy.  It would feel more like the Charity Shield.

[LeeB]

I wouldn't give a shit about how major a trophy it is, actually winning a trophy that is actually difficult just to qualify for would be a massive thing for us.

[eamonn]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.

While I don't want to second-guess your feelings, I bet you that the morning of the final next year if we're playing in it, you'll feel differently.

I'd want to win it, but it wouldn't change my view that it's not a major trophy.  It would feel more like the Charity Shield.

What? No way. We'll have had to travel round the continent to make it to the final, having beaten some decent sides en route. It would be satisfying. The Comms Shield is just something for the FA Cup to wipe its arse with.

In the words of Liam Gallagher, "Come on, y'know"?

[Risso]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.  BUT you would think if that's where we end up then playing in it would give us fantastic experience for our challenge to win Emery's favourite pot the following season.

I'm not sure how much use it will be for our youngsters though, I imagine we would be very cautious about playing significantly weakened teams, particularly after the Stevenag debacle.

I'd be hugely excited to win it, and it leads into the Europa League so that's another plus. What we need is a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the league, and for the domestic cups and in Europe. We won't be able to do that with the team like it is now, ie with the same 12 or 13 players week in, week out, it's not 1981 any more. What we can't have either though, are cup or European games where we just dump 3 or 4 kids in, plus 3 or 4 players who don't play much, and expect to get very far. It's very rarely worked out well for us. What you want is a squad where say, Aaron Ramsey can come in for JJ, or Iroegbunam for Luiz or Kamara, and still have a seamless playing style but maintain 90% plus playing ability.

And never, ever, Robin Olsen. Ever. Nuh uh.

[itbrvilla]

We need 3 to dip with Brighton. Brighton could get bogged down by fixtures, Spurs we know seem to be bonkers at present and Newcastle have just had a ropey 8 games run. It's unlikely we'll make top 4 or 5, but not impossible.

Brighton have to play Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Newcastle and us.
Spurs have to play Newcastle, Man Utd, Liverpool, us as well as derbys with Palace and Brentford.
Newcastle probably have the easiest run but they aren't all that.

Think you're right.  Newcastle and Man U run -ins are, on paper, more favourable than ours. but if we can get 9 points from our next 4 games including 3 vs Man U, I might change me mind. I just hope our win on Sat makes Newcastle Have a wobble.

[algy]

I would like us to win the Europa League before we start routinely qualifying for winning the Champions League every year.

FTFY

[Holte L2]

I'm not that excited about the European Conference and winning it would hardly feel like a major trophy.  BUT you would think if that's where we end up then playing in it would give us fantastic experience for our challenge to win Emery's favourite pot the following season.

I'm not sure how much use it will be for our youngsters though, I imagine we would be very cautious about playing significantly weakened teams, particularly after the Stevenag debacle.

I'd be hugely excited to win it, and it leads into the Europa League so that's another plus. What we need is a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the league, and for the domestic cups and in Europe. We won't be able to do that with the team like it is now, ie with the same 12 or 13 players week in, week out, it's not 1981 any more. What we can't have either though, are cup or European games where we just dump 3 or 4 kids in, plus 3 or 4 players who don't play much, and expect to get very far. It's very rarely worked out well for us. What you want is a squad where say, Aaron Ramsey can come in for JJ, or Iroegbunam for Luiz or Kamara, and still have a seamless playing style but maintain 90% plus playing ability.

And never, ever, Robin Olsen. Ever. Nuh uh.

I'd be hugely excited to win it too.  I heard that John Townley on the Claret and Blue podcast say that he wouldn't be excited to see us win it!!! What an idiot!!

[chrisw1]

Seems like I agree with John.  I think playing in it would be a very useful exercise in our development though and a bit of fun for the fans.