Reflections on Conference League

[Paul.S]

Usual Talksh*te nonsene about last night, no mention of our depleted squad that's down to the bare bones with the last men standing running on fumes!

It's almost like they want you to get annoyed.

It’s not working. They’ll realise we don’t have the Sky fanbase that goes onto national radio and slates the club and cry like babies.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.

Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already...

[markeeeebeeee2005]

We actually played on over the two legs. We missed Martinez in the first and with a patched up defence and midfield.

Fair play to Olympiakos, they were the better team and played to their strengths and our weaknesses. Would have liked to have won it. But we gave it a good crack. Without league commitments that’s all you can ask for. Great experience and have loved having so many games to watch.

[Paul.S]

I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.

Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already...

Hilarious that the bait has been thrown back in his face.

[Villan82]

I don't know whether it's a stick or twist issue, really. Once we got to game 33 or whatever it was and we were in pole position to get Champions League, it would have been perfectly understandable for Emery to play a second string in the Conference League. But would we as a fan base have accepted that? As it is, we've done our best to do both, but in hindsight maybe we should have chucked this in.

I think you are right but he would have got pelters.

He would have got pelters.

Of course, if the other English teams hadn't under-performed, the day we secured 5th we would also have guaranteed Champions League and could have rested players in the league games.

[Monty]

Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.

[Dave]

Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.

Arsenal and Newcastle I'd say.

Newcastle taking Dortmund out in the groups rather than meekly surrendering twice and handing them six points, Dortmund wouldn't be in the final, Germany's coefficient would be in the toilet and we'd have had Champions League sewn up weeks ago.

[Monty]

Yeah, in the end it's Arsenal and Man Utd who fucked us.

Arsenal and Newcastle I'd say.

Newcastle taking Dortmund out in the groups rather than meekly surrendering twice and handing them six points, Dortmund wouldn't be in the final, Germany's coefficient would be in the toilet and we'd have had Champions League sewn up weeks ago.

I know what you mean, but I don't think in the end Newcastle stood a chance. Arsenal really did have a good shout, a gunfight quarterfinal against a wilt-happy Bayern, and they blew it.

[Ads]

Spurs getting Europa League is good, as they will have the extra games and hopefully be worse for it with their dog chasing a car style. Us getting Champions League is unequivocally brilliant. Man United being awful is always good value, tempered only by the manager likely getting potted.

[darren woolley]

It’s been great for us - some amazing away trips seeing the same faces in different locations, night time games at Villa Park, European experience for the squad and great opportunity for all of us to dream. The win at Lille was one of my best memories travelling with the Villa in years, and I’d probably never have gone to Mostar if it weren’t for us playing there.

That we’ve managed to stay around the top 4 in the same season has been an incredible achievement. Fingers crossed we hold on to 4th and then have more great European trips next season.

But tonight hurts.

I really need to sort my passport out ready for next season.

[Monty]

Spurs getting Europa League is good, as they will have the extra games and hopefully be worse for it with their dog chasing a car style. Us getting Champions League is unequivocally brilliant. Man United being awful is always good value, tempered only by the manager likely getting potted.

It's a risk-reward thing I guess - if we do scrape over the line, the four CL spots becomes the best case scenario.

[Ads]

"If". Pft.

[VillaTim]

Defence is a real issue . The goals A column tells its own story, Carlos / Lenglet need moving on . Konsa isn't a RB . Torres is good on the ball but a weak CB.
Next season we can hopefully go back to Konsa / Mings in the middle .

[Monty]

"If". Pft.

You're lucky I didn't italicise it!

[RamboandBruno]

I've been listening to the calls there just now. Very pragmatic and pointing out our injuries.

Jim White's moving onto Chelsea already...

Yea all the callers were good value. To be fair Martin Keown, did say we’re missing Mings, Beundia, Tielemans and Kamara and how important that was.