UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[chrisw1]

Ridiculous.
Villa are playing European football again and progressing from Tuesday nights in the Championship.
3rd tier or not I'd class it as a major achievement if we manage to win it.
Other clubs are at different levels and used to being in higher ranked competitions but we're not there yet and any side in the top 10 come April or May aren't giving games away just in case they finish 7th.
Anyways I couldn't give a toss what other clubs fans think.

I'm not sure what point you are making.  Has anybody said that progressing from Tuesday nights in the Championship to winning the ECL wouldn't be a major achievement?

[Meanwood Villa]

I think West Ham winning it last season raised the profile of the competition in the eyes of most fans. I know 84 other league clubs who'd love a crack at it.

[dave shelley]

All those that ain't in it.  Remember when the League Cup was introduced, all the 'big clubs' of the day looked down their noses at it and didn't enter?  Fast forward a few years and they all wanted to win it as it was a passport to Europe.

If they'd all entered in 1963 Blues wouldn't have won it.

[Nunkin1965]

I can't see Villa fans turning to each other after a super team goal goes in at the Holte End to win us a tight contest on a bonkers night under the lights and saying "That was awesome but it's only the 3rd tier of Europe".

[chrisw1]

I can't see Villa fans turning to each other after a super team goal goes in at the Holte End to win us a tight contest on a bonkers night under the lights and saying "That was awesome but it's only the 3rd tier of Europe".

Again, nobody is remotely suggesting that will happen.

[AV84]

I can't see Villa fans turning to each other after a super team goal goes in at the Holte End to win us a tight contest on a bonkers night under the lights and saying "That was awesome but it's only the 3rd tier of Europe".

Again, nobody is remotely suggesting that will happen.

Yeah, to be fair, most of the conversation in regards to "3rd tier" is about whether we should be prioritising the league over the conference when it comes to team selection. I disagree with that, but it doesn't meant that those who think it won't enjoy seeing us do well in Europe.

[chrisw1]

I definitely think we should be trying to win it, there's a Europa place up for grabs and a European tour is great fun.

[olaftab]

I don't consider it a major trophy.  Clearly it would be nice to win it and West Ham fans certainly enjoyed it, but there's no way I'd class a third-tier Euro competition as a major trophy.

It isn't a major trophy as the best clubs aren't in it

Get a grip people. Exactly how many trophies have we won since 1996?
It is a major trophy because you have to qualify for it by your League position in the toughest League in world football. Honestly some posts on here  take me back to MON era when some on here were dismissing our regular stints in the Europa League as insignificant. From where we have been since then this is absolutely great. It is massive progress and we need to keep on moving up by hard work.

[VillaTim]

I don't consider it a major trophy.  Clearly it would be nice to win it and West Ham fans certainly enjoyed it, but there's no way I'd class a third-tier Euro competition as a major trophy.

It isn't a major trophy as the best clubs aren't in it

Get a grip people. Exactly how many trophies have we won since 1996?

we won the past incarnation of this Conference in 2001 - Intertoto remember ? No you'd forgotten , just like in 10 years this will be forgotten. But here and now its a route to the Europa League so that is a good target. I still prioritise the League and FA Cup above it though

[Risso]

I don't consider it a major trophy.  Clearly it would be nice to win it and West Ham fans certainly enjoyed it, but there's no way I'd class a third-tier Euro competition as a major trophy. 

Whether you do or not, it is one. That's a simple fact.

Didn't realise there was a definition.  Even so, if the majority of people (outside of Villa and West Ham fans) don't think it is then it doesn't matter what you believe is fact or not.

Well, it just is. Lots of Man City fans don't think the FA Cup is a major trophy either.

[algy]

It’s a major trophy, but not as major as the more major ones, but it’s still major

As major trophies go it's pretty minor.  I think I'd argue it's a major minor trophy more than a minor major one though.

Who do you think you are too decide how important trophies are? Do you think it's some kind of army rank thing and you're a major minor trophy major? I think if that's the case you're a pretty minor major minor trophy major!

For what it's worth, I consider it to be the continental equivalent of the League Cup.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's nothing like the Intertoto. Why do people keep saying that?

The official entry spot for English clubs into the Conference is winning the League Cup. So from the very first step of the 2 competitions they are nothing alike.

[Monty]

It’s a major trophy, but not as major as the more major ones, but it’s still major

As major trophies go it's pretty minor.  I think I'd argue it's a major minor trophy more than a minor major one though.

Who do you think you are too decide how important trophies are? Do you think it's some kind of army rank thing and you're a major minor trophy major? I think if that's the case you're a pretty minor major minor trophy major!

For what it's worth, I consider it to be the continental equivalent of the League Cup.

Yes, Europa League is the FA Cup (sadly!) and the Champions League is, well, the league.

[Monty]

I don't consider it a major trophy.  Clearly it would be nice to win it and West Ham fans certainly enjoyed it, but there's no way I'd class a third-tier Euro competition as a major trophy. 

Whether you do or not, it is one. That's a simple fact.

Didn't realise there was a definition.  Even so, if the majority of people (outside of Villa and West Ham fans) don't think it is then it doesn't matter what you believe is fact or not.

Well, it just is. Lots of Man City fans don't think the FA Cup is a major trophy either.

Yeah but they're a bunch of feckless twats.

[Clampy]

I don't consider it a major trophy.  Clearly it would be nice to win it and West Ham fans certainly enjoyed it, but there's no way I'd class a third-tier Euro competition as a major trophy. 

Whether you do or not, it is one. That's a simple fact.

Didn't realise there was a definition.  Even so, if the majority of people (outside of Villa and West Ham fans) don't think it is then it doesn't matter what you believe is fact or not.

Well, it just is. Lots of Man City fans don't think the FA Cup is a major trophy either.

Look at how many Arsenal fans were on their way home whilst their team were lifting the FA Cup after beating us?