UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[LeeB]

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.

Not even against the teams from Gibraltar.

I don't see Emery doing the 'complete 11' change for 'lesser' games like some managers would either (especially since the Stevenage debacle), I think the youngsters would see more league game time too, the likes of McGinn and Mings are not going to want to have worked their bollocks off at their career stage only to sit on the bench for European games, and the aim really is to get those youngsters comfortable and dialled into playing in the first team when needed.

[AV82EC]

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.

Come on Chris, just live the dream a little bit you miserable sod. If you can’t get excited about a bit of European action no matter how minor you think it is, (I’d put it on at least par with the European cup Winners Cup as was) then really what’s the point?

[not3bad]

The Stevenage debacle came early in Emery's time as manager. Hopefully his methods are more ingrained in the whole squad now, and he will also have the chance to shape the squad this Summer.

[chrisw1]

Fair enough.  Well let's qualify for it first and if we do I'll certainly be at all the home games at least and delighted to see European nights back at Villa Park.  As things stand Juve would be in the conference and who wouldn't be excited about playing them?  This fixture I really want back at VP though is Inter.   

[FatSam]

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!!

I know. His argument was that it’s a made-up competition. They’re all made-up competitions. William McGregor made-up a competition FFS. Of course, it’s not as prestigious as the Europa League, or Champions League, but still.

[AV82EC]

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!!

I know. His argument was that it’s a made-up competition. They’re all made-up competitions. William McGregor made-up a competition FFS. Of course, it’s not as prestigious as the Europa League, or Champions League, but still.

As I said earlier it’s on a par with the European Cup Winners Cup at least and as most clubs who won that have it in their trophy records I’m not going to be picky about us including it in ours.

I get well fucked off when fans take the piss out of the League Cup as well, invariably twats from the so called big clubs that’s its Mickey Mouse etc etc. it’s funny how the League cup wins always get included in the trophy count?

[Dave]

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!!

I know. His argument was that it’s a made-up competition. They’re all made-up competitions. William McGregor made-up a competition FFS. Of course, it’s not as prestigious as the Europa League, or Champions League, but still.

We're also not really in a position to see any competition as not important enough for us. I reckon, what, twenty odd English teams have played in Europe since we last did? Including the likes of Birmingham, Hull, Wolves, Swansea, Burnley, Wigan, Newcastle, Southampton, Stoke etc.

It's not impossible that we qualify for this, win it, then circumstance means that the whole thing falls down and and our victory in the Conference League is what we get to point to as our success for the next twenty years.

You might as well enjoy the bits that are good while they are there. Frankly I'll be wetting myself with excitement at the next time we play in Europe, let alone thinking about winning one of the trophies.

[Toronto Villa]

It’s the context of how we would have qualified for it that matters if we end up in the Conference League. Given we were staring relegation in the face just 6 months ago, to be in the mix of any European competition conversation is beyond remarkable. So I would never stick my nose up at that. Hopefully though in the future we are disappointed if this is all we manage because we become accustomed to greater, shinier things. But for now, one step at a time. And any form of European competition after what we’ve had to endure since the last time, would be a massive step.

[Dave P]

Do the Conference winners qualify for next seasons Europa League?  Like Europa winners qualify for the CL?

[Risso]

Do the Conference winners qualify for next seasons Europa League?  Like Europa winners qualify for the CL?

They do indeed.

[Dave P]

So we could find ourselves in the CL in 2 season having won two major European trophies.

[chrisw1]

So we could find ourselves in the CL in 2 season having won two major European trophies.

Well, one major trophy but...

[PeterWithesShin]

We've spent over a decade being so shit that the closest we've come to European football are Cardiff and Swansea away. First few months of the season we looked likely candidates for a yet another relegation battle. I'll be absolutely delighted if we end it in Europe, whichever competition.

[Mister E]

Given the quality of our bench on Saturday, we're going to need 5 or 6 credible incomers and 3-4 youngsters that can properly step up to the mark, in order to manage a 4-competition season.

[eamonn]

Fair enough.  Well let's qualify for it first and if we do I'll certainly be at all the home games at least and delighted to see European nights back at Villa Park.  As things stand Juve would be in the conference and who wouldn't be excited about playing them?  This fixture I really want back at VP though is Inter.   

And after we win, all back to Phil King's pub if he still runs it (somewhere in deepest Wiltshire, wasn't it?).