Champions League Contention

[PeterWithesShin]

Points for winning games will never catch on.

[Monty]

Any system designed for Juve having a bad year is not a force for good.

[Somniloquism]

So, maths-deficient here - have Liverpool fucked us?

Luckily they were not playing a German team, but as we believe they might have been the only side still left to stop Leverkusen, then having them still in it was worth being dazzled by Highbeams.

But if only Leverkusen progresses to the next round from the German teams, we should hopefully get enough points still. So wins for Arse and Atletico (and us) is the only thing needed cheering on next week.

And Man City.

Obviously the more through the better for the co-efficient. But if only one German team gets through to the semi finals, and two English ones do, with how close the coefficients are it should be enough. And the more important English sides for it is Arse and us.

As BV points out, the other English teams don't even need to progress to help us. But they need to win the tie on the night.

[TelfordVilla]

Are we still on about this. Ffs. Finish 4th and leave crappy old spurts in the europa in 5th. I will never support arse and Man City and wetspam. Seriously, if we don't finish 4th, we don't deserve champions league

[PaulWinch again]

Are we still on about this. Ffs. Finish 4th and leave crappy old spurts in the europa in 5th. I will never support arse and Man City and wetspam. Seriously, if we don't finish 4th, we don't deserve champions league

Very pure - I’ll be honest if we finish 5th I’d still quite like us to be in it.

[edgysatsuma89]

Yeah, it won't feel right, I reckon we should probably turn it down even if we get 4th, we won't be champions so it won't feel earnt.

[PeterWithesShin]

We should ask to relegated as let's be honest, promotion for finishing 5th feels cheap.

[PhilVill]

5th place but Euro league. Still excellent and experience gained for many in the squad to be ready try again next year

[TelfordVilla]

5th place but Euro league. Still excellent and experience gained for many in the squad to be ready try again next year

Is the correct response....rather than the childish offerings above this.

[Rigadon]

5th place but Euro league. Still excellent and experience gained for many in the squad to be ready try again next year

Europa… if we’d come from mid table in a late surge, I’d agree.  But now, after the season and calendar year would feel like a consolation prize.  We really need to stop waiting about for ‘next season’ and seize the moment.  The time is now. 

[Lastfootstamper]

Yes, can we please stop effing waiting for everything? I want to see us being successful and, you know, winning stuff, and I want it NOW!

Signed LFS, getting on a bit.

[jon collett]

Well said!

It’s time we finally moved up a gear.

The losers cups are a distraction in any case!

[mrfuse]

5th place but Euro league. Still excellent and experience gained for many in the squad to be ready try again next year

Europa… if we’d come from mid table in a late surge, I’d agree.  But now, after the season and calendar year would feel like a consolation prize.  We really need to stop waiting about for ‘next season’ and seize the moment.  The time is now. 

This would be the case if we didn't have 4 key players with season ending injuries. I would say out of all those injuries Kamara probably being the pivotal issue. This is hampering our ability to rotate players at the business end of the Season not allowing us keep a freshness and cover for suspensions.

[Lastfootstamper]

Well said!

It’s time we finally moved up a gear.

The losers cups are a distraction in any case!

I wouldn't use the term 'losers', they're still good competitions, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this season's continental exploits. 'Lesser lights', perhaps.

I'm not hell-bent on being in the CL, by any stretch. I've said before that I think it's an awful competition that embodies the worst in the modern game, competed for by the very ugliest clubs. And it's laughable that a full quarter of a division could qualify for something with the word "Champions" in its name.

Frankly, I just want to watch us batter every team we play and see Villa captains hoisting trophies aloft. But right now in my sometimes petty little world I'll settle for finishing above spurs. Again. And that loser's trophy.

[Smithy]

5th place but Euro league. Still excellent and experience gained for many in the squad to be ready try again next year

Indeed, it will be excellent experience for all the players who don't leave us for Champions League football.