Champions League Contention

[AV84]

It's never too early for success. There was talk last season about how we weren't ready for Europe and our league form would suffer. That hasn't exactly happened.

It hasn't happened to us but arguably it has happened to Brighton and Newcastle, maybe even West Ham. Have we managed better than them, or have we just got "lucky" that our injuries came very early? Or are all 4 teams the same and it's only the level they're playing in Europe that's different?

I suppose you could look at this season in the Conference as the learning curve. Obviously Emery has experience managing in Europe, but it's new for this team on the whole. The first game against Legia was probably the most changed side we put out. People on here were convinced he wasn't bothered about the competition at all. It seems clear now that he was experimenting with the whole squad, some of which we haven't seen much of since. I think most players, bar the ones we have no replacements for, have had their minutes managed as well as possible.

So on reflection it's maybe a good thing we didn't quite reach the highest height last season, but no reason to think we couldn't make that leap next season.

[Risso]

West Ham's form actually improved as the season went on and they got further into the Conference League. They finished the season with 5 wins out of 7, including winning the final.

[AV84]

West Ham's form actually improved as the season went on and they got further into the Conference League. They finished the season with 5 wins out of 7, including winning the final.

I meant more this season, making the step up to Europa. They're not doing great in the league and don't look like competing for European places again. But of course that might just be because they've got Moyes in charge.

[IFWaters]

I'd be happy for us to get into the Europa League as it's progress and it's a great competition but I'd be over the moon to get champions league. It is the promised land and I think it would help us keep the like of Luiz and Emi and add more quality.

The manager is clearly a genius and the squad are as together as I can remember but my main concern is injuries that haven't happened yet especially with the number of games to go. I'd feel a lot happier if we had better quality cover for Emi, Cash and Ollie. If that's sorted in January then I'd be really optimistic.

[Risso]

West Ham's form actually improved as the season went on and they got further into the Conference League. They finished the season with 5 wins out of 7, including winning the final.

I meant more this season, making the step up to Europa. They're not doing great in the league and don't look like competing for European places again. But of course that might just be because they've got Moyes in charge.

They're 9th in the league, which is pretty decent for them? Comfortably top half, and behind all the teams you'd expect them to be behind. They were 16th this time last year.

[AV84]

They've obviously had a few wins since I last checked. Not that long ago they were, mid match, possibly finishing the weekend just above relegation. But that's early season tables I suppose.

West Ham might actually be a good example of the idea of taking the European competitions step by step. It seems unlikely they'll make the next step up, but are they benefiting this season from the experience of last season? As you say, they're actually doing better this time around in the league, and looking alright in Europe too.

[PeterWithesShin]

West Ham have taken 4 points from the 4 games after Europe so far this season. So they may be finding it tough. Admittedly it's a small sample and does depend on fixtures as one was Liverpool away.

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

We’re 3rd in the ‘table’ in the 38 league game SUE has managed us.

This is no blip, I think UCL football is more likely than not at Villa Park next season.

[Footy-Vill]

Lot of talk by non Villa people saying win tonight and have to take Villa seriously. In terms of top 4. Jim White has made a lot of positive noises about Villa in recent times.
On Talk Sport Today
Heard Danny Murphy say "if Villa get top 4 Emery is manager of the season"
Simon Jordan said Villa wouldn't make it despite having a lot of affection for Villa.
 

[Footy-Vill]

Villas best start a season since 1980/1981!
Fantastic!
Let's Go Villa!

[Footy-Vill]

Unai Emery insisted it was too soon to call his Aston Villa side Premier League title contenders

"There are seven teams who are contenders more than us. Now we are on game 15. We are going to play game 16 on Saturday against Arsenal and we are going to focus on it. We are happy to be third but to keep it is going to be very, very difficult.

While we are there we are going to try to keep it. If we keep progressing during the season, playing matches and winning like we are doing maybe we can be a contender but I think we need more time.

We can believe but we are not contenders. There are another seven teams and that didn’t change. It is game 15. Maybe by game 30 or 32, but not yet.”

[Risso]

Unai, Unai, Unai. Chelsea are NOT, under any circumstances, more likely contenders than us. Absolute shite is what they are. Now Pochettino is a good manager and chuck enough money around and they might get it right eventually, but it's not going to be this season. They're 13 points behind us and 17 behind Arsenal at nearly the half way stage.

[OCD]

I'm not going to begrudge Emery playing things down and trying to take pressure off the players.

[DrGonzo]

Tonight’s results doing nothing to harm our chances. If we don’t get a run of horrible injuries there’s no reason why we can’t finish top 4. There’s nobody in the league we should be scared of playing, away at the big boss will always be difficult, but not daunting anymore.

[Footy-Vill]

After 15 games
1: Arsenal 36pts
2:Liverpool 34pts
3:Aston Villa 32pts
4:Man City 30pts
--------------------------------
5: Spurs 27pts   
6: Man Utd 27pts   
7: Newcastle 26pts


Weekend Matches Include 5th v 7th  Spurs v Newcastle