Champions League

[darren woolley]

Congratulations to you from this Fulham supporter, hope you remember our contribution to you getting there, beating Man Utd and Spurs so they couldn’t catch you, only joking you’re done brilliantly under Emery, I think you’re do really well in Europe, maybe not win it definitely quarter final at least. Emery has a good record in European  tournaments it also good to see  a new club in the champions league, instead of the same old teams

Cheers Franky.

[The Moose]

Frankly, when will you have that new stand fully open? I mean, if you're not going to use it, flog it to Newton Heath!

[Monty]

No joke, when Fulham beat Spurs I realised we could actually do it. A hugely well-timed result for us that. So cheers Franky!

[algy]

Not sure we're going to win on Sunday ...

https://x.com/KeslerSZN/status/1791212909848109159

[kippaxvilla2]

BBC.

Former boss Dean Smith believes Aston Villa are beginning a new era after reaching the Champions League.

The Charlotte FC head coach expects Unai Emery's side to consistently challenge for the top four now they have broken through.

Villa will play in the Champions League for the first time since it was rebranded from the European Cup after sealing fourth position in the Premier League earlier this week.

They most recently played in Europe's top club competition in 1982-83, having lifted the trophy in 1982, and Smith expects this to be a new dawn of challenging at the top.

"I believe it will because of the owners' (Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris) passion and drive to become one of those teams who can be a top-six team every year," said Smith, who was in charge of Villa between 2018 and 2021 and led the club to promotion from the Championship in 2019.

"I remember when I first went for talks with Suso, Christian Purslow and the owners and there was a five-year plan to get into the Champions League. This is the fifth year and their plan has come to fruition.

"The owners had a vision, had to spend for what they wanted to do and going from the Championship to the Champions League in five years is an incredible achievement.

"I believed it was achievable. I said when we were promoted the next step was to stay up, and once we did, we spent our money really well, we brought in Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash, Bertrand Traore and Ross Barkley on loan.

"I always felt after finishing 17th in that first year [back in the Premier League], climbing six or seven places would be really achievable, which is what we did [finishing 11th in 2020-21]. The next step of climbing two or three places was going to be hard because you were trying to pass established clubs.

"You were always going to have to overtake one of them to get to that elite level. Unai has done unbelievably well."

[OCD]

Fulham beating Spurs...wasn't that the week after they had beaten us? Great win that was, disappointing that the 4th goal was ruled out.

[Demitri_C]

Fulham we love you. You have done so much for us

Thank you 😘

[AV84]

Not sure we're going to win on Sunday ...

https://x.com/KeslerSZN/status/1791212909848109159

I'd assume that's from a few days ago, or Uni is going to do what some people want and play a load of kids and backup players. Perhaps McGinn already knows he's not playing.

Or he's just on the lash.

[kippaxvilla2]

That’s from Thursday night.

[Demitri_C]

Im delighted to be playing CL but whats does everyone make of the new CL format? Seems abit messy to me - a wastered down super league

[ChicagoLion]

Im delighted to be playing CL but whats does everyone make of the new CL format? Seems abit messy to me - a wastered down super league

Better than the group set up. Less dead rubbers and an interest in other games involving teams around us . From a Villa perspective the
Guarantee of 8 CL games and not a group of death scenario is to our benefit.

[Garyth]

Better than the group set up. Less dead rubbers and an interest in other games involving teams around us . From a Villa perspective the
Guarantee of 8 CL games and not a group of death scenario is to our benefit.

Agree. The downside is that there’s less chance of a shock exit by a big team due to a bad result in a group stage (the powers that be probably consider this a plus, I guess) … more likely that the top places consistently go to the biggest spenders.

[Meanwood Villa]

I think the new format favours lower seeds given you still play two from every pot. The schedule is pretty relentless though. Longest break is between mid December and end of Jan.

[olaftab]

Congratulations to you from this Fulham supporter, hope you remember our contribution to you getting there, beating Man Utd and Spurs so they couldn’t catch you, only joking you’re done brilliantly under Emery, I think you’re do really well in Europe, maybe not win it definitely quarter final at least. Emery has a good record in European  tournaments it also good to see  a new club in the champions league, instead of the same old teams

Thank you LF. Fulham are integral in our revival:
The Play-offs  defeat
The 3-0 and end of Gerrard
Nice 6 points this season (normally we never win at CC)
Beating Spurs

And just being a nice decent club and for me best away experience.

[ez]

Congratulations to you from this Fulham supporter, hope you remember our contribution to you getting there, beating Man Utd and Spurs so they couldn’t catch you, only joking you’re done brilliantly under Emery, I think you’re do really well in Europe, maybe not win it definitely quarter final at least. Emery has a good record in European  tournaments it also good to see  a new club in the champions league, instead of the same old teams

Cheers. Fulham are alright. Not pretentious like most of the London clubs.