Champions League Contention

[Oklahoma]

Please stop the post directly above thank you...Reported. sick of it.

Don't give up mate.
All the best to you and UTV.

[IFWaters]

Is this place an open forum for all villa fans or is it a private club? If it's the former then just leave him alone, if you don't like what he says ignore it. If it's the latter then make the forum private and lock the Hoi polloi out so we can't read your opinions.

[kippaxvilla2]

Ffs.  I was on about tempting fate at this stage therefore no to the thread this early.  Get off your high horses.  If he’s got a complaint instead of bumping up his threads take it up with the moderators by private message.

[AV84]

Since some people don't like the optimisim how about this, does anyone think we'd be better off in the Europa League next season and build towards Champions League?

Newcastle, although performing well in the CL, are feeling the strain of those extra games. Man Utd, who have a similar enough record to us this season in the league are struggling. Even Brighton are feeling the cost of Europa League on their squad now.

Obviously we're not going to turn it down if we get it, but I'd be happy enough with Europa next season.

[Nelly]

Since some people don't like the optimisim how about this, does anyone think we'd be better off in the Europa League next season and build towards Champions League?

Newcastle, although performing well in the CL, are feeling the strain of those extra games. Man Utd, who have a similar enough record to us this season in the league are struggling. Even Brighton are feeling the cost of Europa League on their squad now.

Obviously we're not going to turn it down if we get it, but I'd be happy enough with Europa next season.

If you ignore the Gerrard experiement, Villa have really overachieved, going back to Deano's time. We were promoted ahead of what could reasonably be expected by Smith, we stayed up, could have won a League Cup and now have qualified for a European competition and are pushing for Champions League contention - all of that in only a few years.

I think sack it, lets just be as good as we can be and see what happens.

[AV84]

If you ignore the Gerrard experiement, Villa have really overachieved, going back to Deano's time. We were promoted ahead of what could reasonably be expected by Smith, we stayed up, could have won a League Cup and now have qualified for a European competition and are pushing for Champions League contention - all of that in only a few years.

I think sack it, lets just be as good as we can be and see what happens.

Well yes, that's the thing isn't it. Nobody at the club is going to say "ease off on the wins a bit lads, we're only aiming for Europa". We'll end up where we end up.

I suppose if we had Mings and Buendia back, and 2 or 3 new faces in, we'd have a decent size squad to deal with 2 competitions, one being a big step up from this season's 2nd. I think before the injuries I listed on here 2 completely different starting 11s that were, at the time, decent looking sides. Obviously there's been some ins and outs since, and some fringe players are clearly not in Emery's plans. But there's 2 more transfer windows to enjoy before next season, and I'd trust them to get those right too.

[Risso]

Since some people don't like the optimisim how about this, does anyone think we'd be better off in the Europa League next season and build towards Champions League?

Newcastle, although performing well in the CL, are feeling the strain of those extra games. Man Utd, who have a similar enough record to us this season in the league are struggling. Even Brighton are feeling the cost of Europa League on their squad now.

Obviously we're not going to turn it down if we get it, but I'd be happy enough with Europa next season.

Erm, not really. In terms of extra games it doesn’t really matter what competition it is, surely? Champions League, please. As Champions, naturally.

[Brazilian Villain]

If you ignore the Gerrard experiement, Villa have really overachieved, going back to Deano's time. We were promoted ahead of what could reasonably be expected by Smith, we stayed up, could have won a League Cup

I don't think we over achieved in Deano's time, and if anything we were at times rather fortunate during his tenure.

[Clark W Griswold]

Mods please can you tell them ! Champions League discussion!
Like it's been said let's focus on that
Please stop tormenting me. I've said it twice tonight reported tand just can't take it anymore

if you were from Birmingham, you'd realise that pessimism is our default. Opening a thread about future success is just not going to fly.
Cultural awareness is important ...
... That's my insight on this.

I would also attribute some neurodiversity issues to Footy's communication style. I don't think he can communicate or read social signals the way most people do. If he did, he'd have stopped posting here a long time ago. So, as the father of a 'special' boy, I'd just say go easy on him, he means no harm. And he loves the Villa.

This is quite clearly what is going on here and has been obvious for years now. Treatment of him is quite distasteful to be honest.

How would you treat someone in person who struggles with societal norms? With a pile on?

Absolutely not, they'd be treated with some sympathy and a lot of respect.

The problem is, how are you supposed to tell that on an internet forum and not just see it as a wind up? Genuine question and i'm not trying to be an arse about such matters but you say that it's 'quite clearly what is going on here'. I'm very sure that all those that lose patience with him don't currently see it that way, because if they did they would treat him a lot differently.

[Risso]

If you ignore the Gerrard experiement, Villa have really overachieved, going back to Deano's time. We were promoted ahead of what could reasonably be expected by Smith, we stayed up, could have won a League Cup

I don't think we over achieved in Deano's time, and if anything we were at times rather fortunate during his tenure.

He did well in the promotion season by making up for Bruce's abysmal start, but you're right, a team with the likes of McGinn, Grealish, Abraham and Mings didn't overachieve by going up.

[paul_e]

Mods please can you tell them ! Champions League discussion!
Like it's been said let's focus on that
Please stop tormenting me. I've said it twice tonight reported tand just can't take it anymore

if you were from Birmingham, you'd realise that pessimism is our default. Opening a thread about future success is just not going to fly.
Cultural awareness is important ...
... That's my insight on this.

I would also attribute some neurodiversity issues to Footy's communication style. I don't think he can communicate or read social signals the way most people do. If he did, he'd have stopped posting here a long time ago. So, as the father of a 'special' boy, I'd just say go easy on him, he means no harm. And he loves the Villa.

This is quite clearly what is going on here and has been obvious for years now. Treatment of him is quite distasteful to be honest.

How would you treat someone in person who struggles with societal norms? With a pile on?

Absolutely not, they'd be treated with some sympathy and a lot of respect.

The problem is, how are you supposed to tell that on an internet forum and not just see it as a wind up? Genuine question and i'm not trying to be an arse about such matters but you say that it's 'quite clearly what is going on here'. I'm very sure that all those that lose patience with him don't currently see it that way, because if they did they would treat him a lot differently.

It's also worth remembering that plenty of people have tried to engage with him and give him advice on how to avoid annoying people and it never gets taken on board.

[Baldy]

Mods please can you tell them ! Champions League discussion!
Like it's been said let's focus on that
Please stop tormenting me. I've said it twice tonight reported tand just can't take it anymore

if you were from Birmingham, you'd realise that pessimism is our default. Opening a thread about future success is just not going to fly.
Cultural awareness is important ...
... That's my insight on this.

I would also attribute some neurodiversity issues to Footy's communication style. I don't think he can communicate or read social signals the way most people do. If he did, he'd have stopped posting here a long time ago. So, as the father of a 'special' boy, I'd just say go easy on him, he means no harm. And he loves the Villa.

This is quite clearly what is going on here and has been obvious for years now. Treatment of him is quite distasteful to be honest.

How would you treat someone in person who struggles with societal norms? With a pile on?

Absolutely not, they'd be treated with some sympathy and a lot of respect.

The problem is, how are you supposed to tell that on an internet forum and not just see it as a wind up? Genuine question and i'm not trying to be an arse about such matters but you say that it's 'quite clearly what is going on here'. I'm very sure that all those that lose patience with him don't currently see it that way, because if they did they would treat him a lot differently.

I, and guessing many others, truly appreciate Footy's dedication and passion for the Villa. He must spend ages browsing the net and other media outlets to compile a 'fountain of information' about our beloved Villa. A lot of which some of us would never see. I find his posts insightful, on occasion thought provoking and mostly interesting.

We should be grateful for his input, a top poster amongst many others and hope he keeps up the good work.

[Sexual Ealing]

Agreed.

[KevinGage]

Since some people don't like the optimisim how about this, does anyone think we'd be better off in the Europa League next season and build towards Champions League?

Will be harder to keep Martinez, Kamara, Luiz etc in that scenario. Esp if we have been in contention for most of the season and miss out.

Fifth this year potentially gets CL football. We have to go for it.

[AV84]

Erm, not really. In terms of extra games it doesn’t really matter what competition it is, surely? Champions League, please. As Champions, naturally.

The level of opposition would dictate how much rotation we can have between league and midweek games. Liverpool, for example, made 11 changes to their starting lineup for their first Europa game this season. They wouldn't have done that if they'd been in Newcastle's group in the CL.

Obviously we'd have to navigate the summer transfer window with the knowledge that that's where we're playing next season, and Emery has lots of experience in that respect, unlike Howe, for example. So I wouldn't be worried if we get CL, I'm just wondering how big a step it really is.