Will we qualify for the CL?

[PeterWithesShin]

7th, FAC SF, EC QF, is a good season. Our best since 1996 or maybe 2000 at a push. While we could feel disappointed that it 'fizzled out' it doesn't diminsh what we've done.

[Chip Butty 111]

For us to qualify for the CL a lot of things would need to go in our favour, and we'd need to get the monkey off our back regards the annual no show at Old Trafford. If it's the Europa league so be it, decent teams visiting Villa Park and cheaper tickets than CL games...you would hope. We need 5 or 6 seasons in the top 6 of the PL to establish ourselves properly as a European outfit IMO..

[Ads]

I'd fancy us strongly this time at Old Trafford for a whole host of reasons.

[Dave]

It's not a case of us being 'too good' for the Conference, or that some of us have developed a sense of entitlement, it's simply that the Conference is a rubbish competition, and a drain on team resources, Thursday games mean fewer Saturday games, and ending up in it next season would be a decent indication that this season has not been a particularly good one.

I would argue that if you see (having qualified for the rebranded version once in our history) any outcome worse than Champions League qualification from now on as "not a particularly good" season, you're likely to find youself disappointed in the club more often than you're happy with it.

[LeeB]

It's not a case of us being 'too good' for the Conference, or that some of us have developed a sense of entitlement, it's simply that the Conference is a rubbish competition, and a drain on team resources, Thursday games mean fewer Saturday games, and ending up in it next season would be a decent indication that this season has not been a particularly good one.

I would argue that if you see (having qualified for the rebranded version once in our history) any outcome worse than Champions League qualification from now on as "not a particularly good" season, you're likely to find youself disappointed in the club more often than you're happy with it.

We finished 5th in 96-97, one of our best seasons in the modern era, but it still felt a bit shit after the year before.

[Drummond]

When we look back on this season, I hope it's viewed as being disappointing, because that'll mean we're winning stuff and finishing higher in the table in future.

Right now, I'm still thoroughly disappointed in Saturday's result. I'm still gutted about PSG. I'm pissed off we didn't try harder in the League Cup. And I'm rueing the fact that we could be higher in the league, but ultimately, when we look back at where we've been since 1983, this ranks up there as one of the better seasons. We just need to bloody win something again.

[AV82EC]

We've won 1 European trophy. We've reached the quarter finals of the European cup twice since then, the quarter finals of the now Europa League once and the semi finals of the Conference League. The idea that we're too good for Europe is utter bullshit.

Hear hear.

[eamonn]

Rubbish how? Last year it was brilliant following the team, with the bigger squad we have now we'd cope with it and actually have a good chance of winning it. It won't be possible to qualify for it in any event, even if we miss out on CL football.

Rubbish in that Chelsea play their second-string, broadcasters aren't arsed with it and you're up against third-rate teams from second-rate leagues. It's always on Thursdays, neutrals forget who's in it and your team is fucked on the Sunday (unless you have 40 players like Chelsea). Europa League, sure, let's do it and win it. Conference, been there, nearly did it and it nearly stopped-us from qualifying for the Champions League. Best avoided.

[Ads]

It's not a case of us being 'too good' for the Conference, or that some of us have developed a sense of entitlement, it's simply that the Conference is a rubbish competition, and a drain on team resources, Thursday games mean fewer Saturday games, and ending up in it next season would be a decent indication that this season has not been a particularly good one.

I would argue that if you see (having qualified for the rebranded version once in our history) any outcome worse than Champions League qualification from now on as "not a particularly good" season, you're likely to find youself disappointed in the club more often than you're happy with it.

We finished 5th in 96-97, one of our best seasons in the modern era, but it still felt a bit shit after the year before.

And it took 27 years to finish as high as that again. Saturday was a disaster, but we've had absolutely plenty. Anybody turning their nose up at Europe, thinking this is a poor season has a memory as small as Small Heath's trophy cabinet.

And to those turning their nose up at the Conference League (not that we'll be in it) I quote Konsa; "shut up JJ you twat".

[TheToffnar]

I'll start believing if the results this weekend favor us. Either way I think it all comes down to the final day, really not looking forward to that...

[eamonn]

JJ is a bit dumb (see his recent SkySports vid with Rogers) but I don't think he'll want to play in the European Vauxhall again.

[Rigadon]

It's not a case of us being 'too good' for the Conference, or that some of us have developed a sense of entitlement, it's simply that the Conference is a rubbish competition, and a drain on team resources, Thursday games mean fewer Saturday games, and ending up in it next season would be a decent indication that this season has not been a particularly good one.

I would argue that if you see (having qualified for the rebranded version once in our history) any outcome worse than Champions League qualification from now on as "not a particularly good" season, you're likely to find youself disappointed in the club more often than you're happy with it.

We finished 5th in 96-97, one of our best seasons in the modern era, but it still felt a bit shit after the year before.

Yup.  If we end up in the Conference League, with the cup runs we've had, it will have been a good season with some amazing moments.  But it won't have been as good an outcome as last season, so will be tinged with feelings of 'nearly but not quite', which is consistent with a good few other seasons I can remember (MON I'm looking at you mate!).  I don't know why anybody would be indignant about fans feeling potential mild disappointment, in the context of what we could've achieved, in the event of a 7th place finish and Conference League? 

Anyway, my disappointment from the weekend is fading and confidence (blind optimism) is returning.  5th IS ON (hopefully)!

[AV82EC]

JJ is a bit dumb (see his recent SkySports vid with Rogers) but I don't think he'll want to play in the European Vauxhall again.

He's under contract, he doesn't have a choice.

[Drummond]

Anyone who thinks the Conference league is shit and not worth it, can give me their ticket when we reach the Final, I'll even pay face value.

[Brend'Watkins]

It's not a case of us being 'too good' for the Conference, or that some of us have developed a sense of entitlement, it's simply that the Conference is a rubbish competition, and a drain on team resources, Thursday games mean fewer Saturday games, and ending up in it next season would be a decent indication that this season has not been a particularly good one.

I would argue that if you see (having qualified for the rebranded version once in our history) any outcome worse than Champions League qualification from now on as "not a particularly good" season, you're likely to find youself disappointed in the club more often than you're happy with it.

We finished 5th in 96-97, one of our best seasons in the modern era, but it still felt a bit shit after the year before.

And it took 27 years to finish as high as that again. Saturday was a disaster, but we've had absolutely plenty. Anybody turning their nose up at Europe, thinking this is a poor season has a memory as small as Small Heath's trophy cabinet.

And to those turning their nose up at the Conference League (not that we'll be in it) I quote Konsa; "shut up JJ you twat".

European nights under the lights at VP does not conjure up images of Lincoln Imps of Gibraltar or TNS of Oswestry. Personally, I'd rather not be in it.