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

[langleylions]

Anybody know how many tickets we have given them ? Have we got the upper tier

[Toronto Villa]

We are 7 points ahead of Tottenham. They have a miserable run in to try and bridge that gap. We should more than capable at this point of focusing on winning the Conf League and securing 4th. We’ve made it to the SF for a real trophy. Not a pre season accolade. It would be fucking pathetic not to do everything possible in what remains of the season to go all out to succeed in both objectives.

[PaulWinch again]

4th and Conference League is very achievable and it should be the target.

[Axl Rose]

We are 7 points ahead of Tottenham. They have a miserable run in to try and bridge that gap. We should more than capable at this point of focusing on winning the Conf League and securing 4th. We’ve made it to the SF for a real trophy. Not a pre season accolade. It would be fucking pathetic not to do everything possible in what remains of the season to go all out to succeed in both objectives.

We've got Unai.

He'll get us over that line.

[VillaTim]

We are 7 points ahead of Tottenham. They have a miserable run in to try and bridge that gap. We should more than capable at this point of focusing on winning the Conf League and securing 4th. We’ve made it to the SF for a real trophy. Not a pre season accolade. It would be fucking pathetic not to do everything possible in what remains of the season to go all out to succeed in both objectives.

Spurs last 2 games look like 6 points . We need another win at the least .

[Ads]

Spurs last two games include Man City likely winning the title against them.

[coreyfeldman]

I honestly think burnley is now not easy at all, they've only lost 1 in last 8 and very much be still fighting for their lives. Very tricky run in for them with us playing teams who are all playing for nothing now really

[Dave]

I honestly think burnley is now not easy at all, they've only lost 1 in last 8 and very much be still fighting for their lives. Very tricky run in for them with us playing teams who are all playing for nothing now really

Plus they're playing Forest last game of the season. I imagine they'll be going all out to give themselves a chance on the last day.

[VillaTim]

Spurs last two games include Man City likely winning the title against them.

Burnley & Sheff Utd games .

[Drummond]

Spurs last two games include Man City likely winning the title against them.

Burnley & Sheff Utd games .

Check again.

[john2710]

Spurs last two games include Man City likely winning the title against them.

Burnley & Sheff Utd games .

They play Man City at home in between those 2 games.

[algy]

I struggle to understand the mentality that the conference league somehow isn't important. As Risso says, regardless of what order you put it in*, I want us to try to win everything were in. And seeing as we've got 3 league games left I don't see any reason why we shouldn't go hell for leather at the 2 competitions we're still in.


* Personally - if it's still mathematically possible to win the league then it goes league, whatever European trophy we're in, FA Cup, League Cup. As soon as we can't win the league, it goes Europe, FA Cup, League Cup, League. But we should try to do our best in all of them regardless.

[Nelly]

That's how I see it too, Algy. For me it's a privilege to be in Europe again in a knockout tournament. Winning this would be the best thing I've seen Villa do.

[VillaTim]

Spurs last two games include Man City likely winning the title against them.

Burnley & Sheff Utd games .

They play Man City at home in between those 2 games.

Yeah it got rescheduled finally. My point remains they have 2 easier games in the last 3 and the last day is a certain 3 points so we need it done before then .

[Mister E]

Winning any of the three UEFA competitions would add to our profile / improve perceptions of us. Which in turn feeds into *does dry heave* our brand and allows us to look for money through sponsorship.
I was thinking the other day, and I don't know the answer to this, but what contributes more to the overall profile of a club like us - is it getting into the Champions League, earning lots more television money, but then having a run like Newcastle did (ie getting drawn into a group of death and not getting out of it, basically, getting to play six matches), or is it going much deeper in the Europa League?
I think it's the latter tbh, esp winning it. I also think getting into the top competition for the first time in decades is great, but you really need to do something once you're there as there's no guarantee you'll be in it the next season - almost certainly in a few seasons, nobody is going to remember Newcastle playing in it - you have to consistently qualify for it, ideally, or even the Europa or Conference League, to get seen as a club who are expected to compete in Europe.
Great example - Spurs, who we were talking about the other day, and saying they've got their high profile partly through that new stadium, but also via the fact they've played in Europe for over ten seasons in a row (or whatever it is). That's what we need to do.

In terms of profile, there are three factors that I think increase a team's global image (over and above what may have been developed previously, like with ManU, L'pool, Leeds):
1. winning some silverware, and being regular top 4 / top 6 finisher in the Premier League
2. having internationally-recognised players (like Son at Spuds, Salah at L'pool)
3. having internationally-recognised long-term shirt sponsors (UNICEF at Barca, for example).

The third factor may seem a little odd but I think it adds credibility to the club to be partnered with a 'proper' brand.