Will we qualify for the CL?

[Brazilian Villain]

The Conference is hard to take seriously as a competition. Some nice memories of it but I'd rather not be in it next season, it feels like it should be for non-powerful clubs ie no one from England.

This season it feels like the European equivalent of the EFL Trophy.

*I reserve the right to change my mind should we qualify for it.

[Percy McCarthy]

The Conference is much worse this season, and it will be next season, both largely as a result of no-one dropping down from the Europa League. We’d win it easily I reckon, and I’d be very happy about that. God knows West Ham were.

I think we’d have a good chance in the Europa League too mind.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'll be happy with any European competition. We spent a decade stinking out the leagues so i'm not going all BBB after a couple of good seasons.

[cdbearsfan]

If we don't win a trophy this season, I think the Conference League would be a good chance to get rid of that dreadful record, if we qualified. We can start turning our nose up at it after we've won a bloody trophy again.

[ChicagoLion]

April is shaping up to be a tough month if we do make it through to the QFs of the Champions League and beat Preston in the FA Cup.  Will look like:

Sun 30th March - Preston (A)
Wed 2nd April - Brighton (A)
Sat 5th April - Forest (H)
Tue 8th or Wed 9th April - Liverpool / PSG?
Sat 12th April - Southampton (A)
Tue 15th or Wed 16th April - Liverpool / PSG?
Sat 19th April - Newcastle (H)
Mon 28th April - Manchester City (A) (could be Semi-Final weekend)

So that's 8 fixtures in just under a month.  They could possibly be FA Cup quarter and semi finals, two legs of a Champions League quarter final and 3 or possibly even four league games (if us and Manchester City don't make the FA Cup semi-finals) against teans who we are competing for Champions League spots with.

Having seen this I think it is even more unlikely we will qualify. But I have been envious in the past of clubs with that sort of fixture pile up at the business end of the season.
Expect an exiting ride with a few dissapointments, not too many hopefully.

[VillaTim]

The Conference is hard to take seriously as a competition. Some nice memories of it but I'd rather not be in it next season, it feels like it should be for non-powerful clubs ie no one from England.

That's what it was designed for in essence , smaller nations clubs etc. A European Papa Johns . Rather not be in it and focus on the league and domestic cups.

[ventnorVillain]

April is shaping up to be a tough month if we do make it through to the QFs of the Champions League and beat Preston in the FA Cup.  Will look like:

Sun 30th March - Preston (A)
Wed 2nd April - Brighton (A)
Sat 5th April - Forest (H)
Tue 8th or Wed 9th April - Liverpool / PSG?
Sat 12th April - Southampton (A)
Tue 15th or Wed 16th April - Liverpool / PSG?












Sat 19th April - Newcastle (H)
Mon 28th April - Manchester City (A) (could be Semi-Final weekend)

So that's 8 fixtures in just under a month.  They could possibly be FA Cup quarter and semi finals, two legs of a Champions League quarter final and 3 or possibly even four league games (if us and Manchester City don't make the FA Cup semi-finals) against teans who we are competing for Champions League spots with.

Having seen this I think it is even more unlikely we will qualify. But I have been envious in the past of clubs with that sort of fixture pile up at the business end of the season.
Expect an exiting ride with a few dissapointments, not too many hopefully.

I hope it's exciting ride rather than exiting one as this implies some major disappointments.

[Pat Mustard]

April is shaping up to be a tough month if we do make it through to the QFs of the Champions League and beat Preston in the FA Cup.  Will look like:

Sun 30th March - Preston (A)
Wed 2nd April - Brighton (A)
Sat 5th April - Forest (H)
Tue 8th or Wed 9th April - Liverpool / PSG?
Sat 12th April - Southampton (A)
Tue 15th or Wed 16th April - Liverpool / PSG?
Sat 19th April - Newcastle (H)
Mon 28th April - Manchester City (A) (could be Semi-Final weekend)

So that's 8 fixtures in just under a month.  They could possibly be FA Cup quarter and semi finals, two legs of a Champions League quarter final and 3 or possibly even four league games (if us and Manchester City don't make the FA Cup semi-finals) against teans who we are competing for Champions League spots with.

Glass half-full view - we have close to a 3 week break going into this period, the squad will be fully fit, and no player is going to want to miss out.  Assuming there is a bit of rotation in certain matches, every player will be at full pelt to try and get into the team for all of the big games.

These are the kinds of months that can define a team for an era.  We haven't hit our stride over a prolonged period at any point this season, but this would be the perfect time to do it.  We also seem to have just about rediscovered out ability to grind out a result as well.

Honestly, I don't think I've been as excited about a month of fixtures since 1996.

[London Villan]

I'm hoping Unai's tactics of us playing within ourselves, at a low tempo, is all part of his master plan to come charging round (the metaphorical) last bend and over the final flight of fences and win a trophy, and qualify for the CL next season...

[Sexual Ealing]

I'm hoping Unai's tactics of us playing within ourselves, at a low tempo, is all part of his master plan to come charging round (the metaphorical) last bend and over the final flight of fences and win a trophy, and qualify for the CL next season...

I suspect that's the plan. He does tend to know what he's doing...

[Luffbralion]

If, repeat if, we go through on Wednesday night, how will the home tie against Liverpool or PSG be first or second? Not sure how it works.

[cdbearsfan]

We would be at home in the second leg. Same if we made it to the semis.

[Luffbralion]

Cheers....but, unfortunately. I'll be abroad for that one!

[Demitri_C]

Think i would rather be in conference  than europa as the games will be less demanding and we can also focus on the league. Europa blt so much

Looking at the level of teams in the conference  compared to last season its alot poorer standard

Huh? You’d rather play in the 3rd tier competition rather than the one spurs and Man Utd are STILL in?

Yes as i said, as it would allow us to focus on league as well. Look at the impact its having on manure and spurs  in the league compared to chelsea.

If there  was a massive financial difference in the competitions or europa wasnt on thursday would be more appealing.

Also  more chance of winning it

I agree with percy and CDs points  above also

[Footy-Vill]

4th and 5th place still in with a chance given fixtures.

If exclude top 2 then our competitors are 3rd to 10th
Forest Chelsea, Man City, Newcastle, Brighton are currently above us and Bournemouth and Fulham just behind with a game in hand.

Villa have to play all these teams apart from Chelsea. And a chance to gain 3pts each time

And I do think the next matches away to brighton has to be won for a start.

This weekend:
Man City v Brighton
Fulham v Spurs
Bournemouth v Brentford
Arsenal v Chelsea