Aston Villa v Olympiacos - UECL Semi Final First Leg Pre Match

[Brazilian Villain]

Never inviting you lot to a party I swear

Just need to invite Risso, lovejoy and me. You can never have too many accountants at a party.

[AV82EC]

It’s one below the old UEFA Cup which used to be the Intertoto.

Interesting matches and travel experiences but that’s what it is !

It really isn't.

I agree with Sexual Ealing.

[Somniloquism]

It’s one below the old UEFA Cup which used to be the Intertoto.

Interesting matches and travel experiences but that’s what it is !

Traditionally the setup was European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup Winners Cup with the winners of the European and Cup Winners having a competition then for overall European Champions.

The Intertoto was an early season qualifying tournament for people who didn't get into Europe via league or winning something. It actually existed alongside the CWC for several years of UEFA involvement.

[jon collett]

Yes but for sides who finished lower on the league and principally as a competition to qualify for UEFA Cup,

The cup winners cup actually used to take precedence over UEFA Cup if sides qualified for both.

I’m not being a party pooper just being realistic, if we win it great but then what have we won? West Ham have experienced this.

[Brazilian Villain]

I’m not being a party pooper just being realistic, if we win it great but then what have we won? West Ham have experienced this.

It's a season long European trophy, I'd rather win it than the League Cup.

[coreyfeldman]

Yes but for sides who finished lower on the league and principally as a competition to qualify for UEFA Cup,

The cup winners cup actually used to take precedence over UEFA Cup if sides qualified for both.

I’m not being a party pooper just being realistic, if we win it great but then what have we won? West Ham have experienced this.

Is this deliberate nihilism?

[Ads]

Yes but for sides who finished lower on the league and principally as a competition to qualify for UEFA Cup,

The cup winners cup actually used to take precedence over UEFA Cup if sides qualified for both.

I’m not being a party pooper just being realistic, if we win it great but then what have we won? West Ham have experienced this.

We will have won our 2nd major European trophy, when not many clubs in England have a single trophy in Europe to their name. Its not the Inter-Toto, what a bizarre  reductionist comment. Some weird opinions being splurged on this thread.

Not hungry for success is another because 30 years ago we won our penultimate trophy.

Fucking Brummies for you.

[Risso]

We'll just see how everybody making light of the competition feels when we're victorious in Athens!

[PeterWithesShin]

In fairness after 1 bad result you thought we'd finish 8th and be out of Europe 

I don't get why anyone would knock the competition, just about every club in the country would give their left nut to be playing the semi final on Thursday. It's a world apart from the Intertoto.

[Risso]

In fairness after 1 bad result you thought we'd finish 8th and be out of Europe 

I don't get why anyone would knock the competition, just about every club in the country would give their left nut to be playing the semi final on Thursday. It's a world apart from the Intertoto.

So did uber-optimist Ads to be fair!

There's a difference though between thinking we've blown something, which to be fair is a finely honed skill over many years of lived experience, and feeling blasé about our first possible trophy in three decades. I want us to win everything, and I get annoyed when I think we won't. That's very different I reckon to not wanting to win the Conference League.

[PeterWithesShin]

I was pulling Ads' leg, you snuck in a post while I was writing my words of wisdom.

[Somniloquism]

The stupid thing is that it is the rebranded CWC, but allows league placements as well. Yes UEFA dropped it down the pecking order from second best Euro Competition because at the time, it didn't attract the big teams anymore due to the expanded entry into the EC and the UC. So to decide it is the not-at-all-similar Intertoto where you could get entry for not being a big fouling team and there were multiple winners does the Conference Cup a disservice.

[DrGonzo]

I'd take winning anything.  This is a step up in terms of prestige from the League Cup, it will raise our profile across Europe and the wider region.  Let's go to a final and have some fun.  Greece is great to visit.

[Ads]

Yeah I was being mentally weak in the moment and had a wobble. Doesn't happen often, as its a waste of time and energy feeling mopey or down, maybe why it stands out.

There's no way this trophy should be talked down. Comparing the absolute gut wrenching bricks everybody was collectively shitting the other week in the penalty shootout, to a pre-season qualifying tournament for tennis players, is that sort of bollocks you'd read on SHA. Along with Villa aren't a Birmingham club coincidentally.

[PeterWithesShin]

All the European competitions are devalued these days compared to what they once were, for me at least. I still really want to win them though and will love it if we win the Conference this season.