UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Risso]

Sorry but it just feels like one of those tired cliches that people hide their poor form behind. We'd have more opportunities for players to play and the genious manager explicity wants it.

He also explicitly wins most European competitions he enters!

[kippaxvilla2]

We’re leaving together.

[LeeB]

Sorry but it just feels like one of those tired cliches that people hide their poor form behind. We'd have more opportunities for players to play and the genious manager explicity wants it.

He also explicitly wins most European competitions he enters!

True, but fuck me how have I posted 'genius' like that?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

No news yet on where the 2024 Conference League final will be held, although some in the Greek media think it will be in Athens (AEK's ground).

The 2025 Europa League final is in Bilbao should we need any additional incentive to give Europe our best shot.

It's written in the stars, a final in Emery's backyard where the Basque nation rise up with the Villa fans to see us lift the trophy, his trophy. Bring it on!

[eamonn]

Sorry but it just feels like one of those tired cliches that people hide their poor form behind. We'd have more opportunities for players to play and the genious manager explicity wants it.

He also explicitly wins most European competitions he enters!

True, but fuck me how have I posted 'genius' like that?

I did clock that and was hoping it was a rare aberration.

[Brazilian Villain]

True, but fuck me how have I posted 'genius' like that?

I did clock that and was hoping it was a rare aberration.

He was just being disingenious.

[Brazilian Villain]

No news yet on where the 2024 Conference League final will be held, although some in the Greek media think it will be in Athens (AEK's ground).

The 2025 Europa League final is in Bilbao should we need any additional incentive to give Europe our best shot.

It's written in the stars, a final in Emery's backyard where the Basque nation rise up with the Villa fans to see us lift the trophy, his trophy. Bring it on!

Would be a fun trip all right, especially with BE guiding us round the best bars and restaurants in town.

[Percy McCarthy]

Do we want the conference league thing, or is it more effort/trouble than it’s worth?

Yes

Which of the two questions is this your answer to?

[PaulWinch again]

For those happy to play in Europe I get the positives but are you happy for our league form to dip like it inevitably will (see West Ham this season).

West Ham are shit and have a shit manager though, and their form wasn't too bad last season when they got to the semis.

Sorry but it just feels like one of those tired cliches that people hide their poor form behind. We'd have more opportunities for players to play and the genious manager explicity wants it.

It’s also an incredibly depressing view to take - we want to avoid being better as it comes with some risk. What’s the point if you don’t want to compete in every possible competition you can?

[Axl Rose]

No news yet on where the 2024 Conference League final will be held, although some in the Greek media think it will be in Athens (AEK's ground).

The 2025 Europa League final is in Bilbao should we need any additional incentive to give Europe our best shot.

It's written in the stars, a final in Emery's backyard where the Basque nation rise up with the Villa fans to see us lift the trophy, his trophy. Bring it on!

Would be a fun trip all right, especially with BE guiding us round the best bars and restaurants in town.

Count me in!

[PeterWithesShin]

I've said before, it seems a strange logic that some don't want us to qualify for Europe in case it affects the main aim next season, which is to qualify for Europe.

[SoccerHQ]

For those happy to play in Europe I get the positives but are you happy for our league form to dip like it inevitably will (see West Ham this season).

West Ham are shit and have a shit manager though, and their form wasn't too bad last season when they got to the semis.

Sorry but it just feels like one of those tired cliches that people hide their poor form behind. We'd have more opportunities for players to play and the genious manager explicity wants it.

It’s also an incredibly depressing view to take - we want to avoid being better as it comes with some risk. What’s the point if you don’t want to compete in every possible competition you can?

I think it's more West Ham just signed poorly in last 12 months. Ings really hasn't made much impact at all and their other striker signings have flopped.

Pacqueta took under March to string a couple of decent games together so they're still relying on their core that was better 2-3 years ago with likes of Cresswell, Antonio, Soucek etc.

West Ham in 21/22 finished 7th in the league and made the europa league SFs so I'm not really sure playing in a less taxing tournament (when you look at the quality of opposition they've faced) has massively impacted on their league form.

[SoccerHQ]

I've said before, it seems a strange logic that some don't want us to qualify for Europe in case it affects the main aim next season, which is to qualify for Europe.

Reminds me of when people didn't want us to get promoted as they enjoyed the 10 match winning runs v likes of Rotherham and Bolton.

We were so poor for so long it didn't feel realistic for some that we could ever become a realistic force in top half of prem ever again.

Four years later we've won 9 of our last 13 and turned over Spurs and Chelsea pretty comfortably.

As standards raise on the pitch under Emery hopefully the same will happen in the stands.

[Toronto Villa]

With all due respect but anyone who wanted us to stay in the Championship because it was more fun winning games against the likes of Rotherham, than testing ourselves at the elite level of the PL is an idiot.

[SoccerHQ]

With all due respect but anyone who wanted us to stay in the Championship because it was more fun winning games against the likes of Rotherham, than testing ourselves at the elite level of the PL is an idiot.

There were loads on here and elsewhere. It wasn't some Footy style lone wolf opinion.

Perhaps it was more in 2018 given who was managing and running us at the time but plenty didn't really want to go up and just lose most weeks in the prem.

Of course that's what happened in 19/20 but I think because we were so rubbish between 2011-16 people just thought that would be us for eternity at the top level rather than slowly establishing and then kicking on under ambitious owners like has happened.

I don't want to be digging up old threads from 4 years ago but I bet you there was one saying "do we really want to go up" and they'd be plenty saying no and would rather be a big fish in the championship.