UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Astnor]

I'm probably tempting fate I know.

The Europa Conference League 23/24 kicks off on 13th July with the first qualifying round. We would not be starting until the play off round for the group stage on 7th August.
If we want a local derby, then cheer on Connahs Quay Nomads, Penybont, and Haverfordwest County to perform heroics to reach our stage.
Notable teams already qualified include Club Brugge, Gent, Hadjuk Split, Legia Warsaw, and Dinamo Minsk.
Others will follow as domestic leagues conclude and there will also be teams who haven't quite done enough dropping down from the Champions League and Europa League.
Quite a few teams from Ireland including St Patricks Athletic. If we cross paths with them, I expect God to be guest of honour at both legs and if I had my way he would take the kick off too !

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_UEFA_Europa_Conference_League

I'm assuming this is why we haven't announced a pre-season friendly for w/e of 5 August.

I do find that IF we will enter it will be 24th Aug first leg and 31th Aug second leg - the draw for this play off will be 7th Aug (Wiki). Shouldnt speculate like this of course.

[Lastfootstamper]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but it’s looking like there will be 5 English teams playing in the Champions League from 2024/25 onwards.

I’ve seen a few people mention us trying to crack the top 4 next season but in reality top 5 should be enough, and obviously feels more achievable.

It's not going to work like that, it's the beginning of the implementation of a closed shop. The competition is expanding by 4 teams.

The extra four teams are going to be made up of a club that finishes third in UEFA's fifth-highest league, a smaller domestic champion, and two teams with the highest club coefficients. At present, this would be another team from England and Spain.

Here's the current list
https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/%23/yr/2023#/yr/2023

[Lsvilla]

I'm probably tempting fate I know.

The Europa Conference League 23/24 kicks off on 13th July with the first qualifying round. We would not be starting until the play off round for the group stage on 7th August.
If we want a local derby, then cheer on Connahs Quay Nomads, Penybont, and Haverfordwest County to perform heroics to reach our stage.
Notable teams already qualified include Club Brugge, Gent, Hadjuk Split, Legia Warsaw, and Dinamo Minsk.
Others will follow as domestic leagues conclude and there will also be teams who haven't quite done enough dropping down from the Champions League and Europa League.
Quite a few teams from Ireland including St Patricks Athletic. If we cross paths with them, I expect God to be guest of honour at both legs and if I had my way he would take the kick off too !

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_UEFA_Europa_Conference_League

I'm assuming this is why we haven't announced a pre-season friendly for w/e of 5 August.

I do find that IF we will enter it will be 24th Aug first leg and 31th Aug second leg - the draw for this play off will be 7th Aug (Wiki). Shouldnt speculate like this of course.

Thanks. 31/08 is the wife's birthday so sure she'd be up for spending a few days taking in Eston Villa or some such other. Although agree about getting ahead of ourselves

[Meanwood Villa]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but it’s looking like there will be 5 English teams playing in the Champions League from 2024/25 onwards.

I’ve seen a few people mention us trying to crack the top 4 next season but in reality top 5 should be enough, and obviously feels more achievable.

It's not going to work like that, it's the beginning of the implementation of a closed shop. The competition is expanding by 4 teams.

The extra four teams are going to be made up of a club that finishes third in UEFA's fifth-highest league, a smaller domestic champion, and two teams with the highest club coefficients. At present, this would be another team from England and Spain.

Here's the current list
https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/%23/yr/2023#/yr/2023

So Chelsea would have got CL this season under those rules. Fucking joke.

[tomd2103]

Brighton winning today has made it very clear what we now have to do.  A win next Sunday and we're in European football again next season.  The atmosphere is going to be crackling at Villa Park and I just hope we have one more Newcastle / Spurs at home level of performance left in the tank.  Think it could just be one game too far for Brighton and an early goal could see us run out comfortable winners.

Obviously want to see us in the highest level of competition possible, but I think the Conference League could be an ideal reintroduction into European competition for us.  It's a tournament we should have a decent chance of progressing into the latter stages of and winning it earns a place in the next level of competition standard wise.

[Duncan Shaw]

We can't now realistically finish higher than 7th - there would have to be a 16 goal swing in the two games, and I think they'll actually get a result against City's B team, so I'm all for beating them and embracing the conference!

[algy]

Going in to the last day of the season with a realistic shot at European football next season is more than most of us would've hoped for at the start of the season, let alone at the start of November. Hopefully we'll grab the opportunity with both hands.

Think having European football in any form will help both expand the quality of players on offer, and the number of them we can give a decent number games to. It's not the be all and end all, but it'll make the next step up a hell of a lot easier.

[wittonwarrior]

No matter what happens this coming week, I am so proud of the way the team have embraced Emery and fought like Lions even when it is not going their way.  If we get the 7th spot great, if not I will still end the season with a smile on my face and hunger for 2023/2024 when we go again.

[lovejoy]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

[Deano's Mullet]

Some Small Heathens are obsessed and terrified as to whether we will qualify . They have a Villa thread on there under the cleverly disguised title of Brighton in Europe.

[Paul.S]

We will beat Brighton on Sunday. We’ll need to as Leeds will get beat but I’m confident that this team has the confidence and a manager in charge to get the job done.

[LeeB]

Some Small Heathens are obsessed and terrified as to whether we will qualify . They have a Villa thread on there under the cleverly disguised title of Brighton in Europe.

I love how they do that now, like the 'other games' thread that mysteriously appears if we've gone behind in a game.

[Paul.S]

Some Small Heathens are obsessed and terrified as to whether we will qualify . They have a Villa thread on there under the cleverly disguised title of Brighton in Europe.

They’ve always been obsessed. I’ve got one at work who could name our squad, tell me about any injuries we’ve got and what we’ll need player wise if we qualify. I’m sure they’ll be showing our game on Sunday on a giant screen in Small Heath. They’ll get a better turnout than the few hundred that turn up to watch them from the 2 stands that are open on a match day.

[Villan82]

In our history, a 7th place finish has tended to herald quite a good season the following year: 1979-80, 91-92 and 97-98.

[Deano's Mullet]

Hopefully but 97-98 was actually a better season than the one that followed in my view. More wins, UEFA Cup qualification and more points I think. We may have finished a place higher but w actually did better in that 7th placed season.