UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Meanwood Villa]

The Conference League is the third tier European competition by design. I don't think its name makes any difference to how it is perceived. Understandably teams who have recently been in the Champions' League won't see qualifying for it as an achievement. Unlike us, who haven't had a sniff of Europe in 13 years. Hopefully it will be the first step on a journey of regular European competition over the coming years. I'm not massively confident we'll get 7th right now but I would be delighted if we did.

[LeeB]

I do think much of the snobbishness around the Conference League is the fact that we've had "the Conference" here in England for many years, and for many football fans it's a word associated with lower-level, non-league football.

The old third European competition (the Cup Winner's Cup) was always worth winning in my eyes, and I feel the same about the Conference League.

If it wasn't called 'conference' I imagine more English fans would feel positive about it.

I think you're on to something here. When we get in it I'm hoping it will be changed to the 'European Absolute Legends League'.

That sounds a bit pedestrian from here. How about the 'Confederacy of Cool Mad European Disco Dream Lads'?

I've already trademarked that for my stripper group

[Baldy]

Having read this thread, I've changed my mind. Initially thought Conference Cup was more of an obstacle than useful.

Weighing up the pros and cons on here, feck it, let's go full blast for qualification.

It's a bridge we need to cross sooner or later.

Sooner the better.

Come on the lads.

[tomd2103]

A season in which you win a trophy is always going to be more memorable.

I got round to thinking that as well.  If we do make it into one of the European tournaments next season, I would be fine with finishing lower in the league (maybe not as low as West Ham have) if it meant we had a proper tilt at winning it.

I agree about the above comments that the branding of ithe Conference League doesn't help it.  It was saying on the radio last night that the capacity of the ground where the final is going to be played is only 19,000 and West Ham are only getting an allocation of 5,000, which again doesn't exactly reflect well.

[Brazilian Villain]

A season in which you win a trophy is always going to be more memorable.

Who will ever forget 2009?

You're right though, I'd be all for giving the ECL our best shot.

[The Edge]

I'm still quietly seething about Kanes cheating for their pen. That goal I the only reason they currently sit above us in the league. To paraphrase Keegan "I'd love it, love it if we finish above them"

[eamonn]

A season in which you win a trophy is always going to be more memorable.

I got round to thinking that as well.  If we do make it into one of the European tournaments next season, I would be fine with finishing lower in the league (maybe not as low as West Ham have) if it meant we had a proper tilt at winning it.

I agree about the above comments that the branding of ithe Conference League doesn't help it.  It was saying on the radio last night that the capacity of the ground where the final is going to be played is only 19,000 and West Ham are only getting an allocation of 5,000, which again doesn't exactly reflect well.

My WHam colleague says the competition was designed for baby teams, not PL behemoths with ten times the budget (ie West Ham and Alkmaar).

[Richard]

I'm still quietly seething about Kanes cheating for their pen. That goal I the only reason they currently sit above us in the league. To paraphrase Keegan "I'd love it, love it if we finish above them"

They'd still be above us on goals scored.

[Lastfootstamper]

Here's a list of all the teams involved in this season's Conference competition, and the stage at when they went out. There's some decent-sized clubs in there.

[The Edge]

I'm still quietly seething about Kanes cheating for their pen. That goal I the only reason they currently sit above us in the league. To paraphrase Keegan "I'd love it, love it if we finish above them"

They'd still be above us on goals scored.

I heard someone on the radio say that without that penalty we would be level on points and level on goal difference so it would come down to a head to head of our games this season which we've won both. But I think you're right it would go to goals scored first.

[PeterWithesShin]

If we're in it then we're 2 cup runs away from the CL, with a manager that has a track record of those cup runs and we would have ended a near 30 year wait for trophies. I want us in it.

[Goldenballs]

I'd love to be in it too. Looking at that list the further down you go there are some proper random PES style teams. FC Magpies 😂

[Smirker]

I think that's our European dream all but over I'm afraid. Spurs have Brentford and Leeds with a slightly better GD. We have Liverpool away and Brighton at home.

Annoyingly I think we will miss out. It must have been some time since spurs didn't qualify for European Football

Brentford could easily beat them. So could Leeds actually. It's Spurs.

 

VOTE SMIRKER!!!

[eamonn]

It's on like Donkey Kong. Brentford have helped dent Spurs goal difference roo. But the Bees are on our tail now too!

[PeterWithesShin]

Imagine saying after Fulham away that 4 points from our last 2 games will see us qualify for Europe.