I know I should be happy but…

[Richard E]

We have two years left within which to leave our mark before Small Heath permanently overtake us. It is vital we seize the moment.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

It's just frustrating that we are in touching distance of winning a trophy, but just falling short when presented with the opportunities; and being unable to properly build on the previous season because we have to constantly sell key players.

[Toronto Villa]

What’s pissing me off (and yes I know it applies to any club threatening the established few) is that every time we want to two steps forward we are forced to take a step back. I absolutely get that Emery is making us strong in the league because competing at the top of the PL all the time pretty much guarantees Europe and we know how much he covets that level of competition. We are edging closer to a level of competency and consistency none of us imagined 5 years ago. The question is having to always sell influential or key players in some cases to those we want to catch means we might not catch them. We will need this window to be outstanding because last summer fell short. January helped us mainly with players we don’t own. That’s not sustainable and papered over cracks. We cannot afford to be languishing mid table next season and especially if we are not playing CL football. We can continue to feel happy with our progress and be grateful for what we have but in the end our success won’t be measured by that. It will be winning trophies and getting close isn’t enough.

[wince]

I still stand by my positivity earlier. We were also crooked by injuries for a lot of this season. It will click and be the sweeter for it when it does. I will keep the faith and be happy for where we are, how far we have come and lament what just was not meant to be.

[Villan82]

I’m happy to be disappointed. 2016 we were in dire straits, relegated and getting schooled in the championship as a big scalp. 2018 we almost never existed as a club. I can cope with being disappointed if we are a top six club getting into Europe. We do need some silverware but be happy it’s the top 5 not bottom we are looking at. But it is nice to be disappointed for positive reasons

We can't keep saying look where we were 5/7/10 years ago. It's infuriating that the worst Manchester United team for fifty years are on course for another trophy while we, yet again, have got nothing. Several managers have commented in the past about our defeatist mentality; I still say that this is the biggest problem we face.

Me too unfortunately. We have a better squad and manager than Crystal Palace. We are at least as good as Newcastle. The difference is those clubs stepped up against one of the top sides and siezed the opportunity to win something, while we're looking like 'we shouldn't really be here'.

The difference with Villa now compared to the 90s is we seem happy to be there or thereabouts rather than grabbing it by the scruff of the neck and taking the prize home.

I hope that Emery can crack that

[Mister E]

At the beginning of this season, we seemed to be slightly underprepared, with an only-average transfer window. We have gradually wound things up and ended brilliantly (FAC / Citeh game aside); learning - en route - that the depth of squad talent is pretty crucial to maintaining the season's high-level performance.
Despite the upward trajectory it does look like we'll go through another metamorphosis this close-season: I'm hoping that it looks and feels more coherent than last summer and that the changes occur early, so that we can bed in the newbies.
I'm optimistic that Emery has another 4-5 seasons in him for us. If that's the case, we will have won something before he leaves! I'm sure.

[ChicagoLion]

I still stand by my positivity earlier. We were also crooked by injuries for a lot of this season. It will click and be the sweeter for it when it does. I will keep the faith and be happy for where we are, how far we have come and lament what just was not meant to be.

Teams that have done well have had relatively small injury problems like Liverpool, Forest and Newcastle and teams like us Citeh and Arse can point to much bigger issues.

[SoccerHQ]

I think we'll win the Conference league next season if we're in it. I know we ballsed it up v Olympiakos but them following Lille was a million times harder than anything Chelsea had come up against this season.

Fair chance in the Europa league given Rangers potentially being pot 1 seeds dosen't suggest a huge amount of quality. Spurs's knock out run was Alkmaar-Frankfurt-Bodo Glimt so that is comparable to our Conference opponents.

One disappointment on playing in Europe is we see the league cup as a inconvenience and just want to get knocked out of it as soon as possible which is a shame.

If we're in the Conference league I'd like to see us cut a couple of players from the squad as Chelsea did and they can play in league cup instead.

We won't get a better chance of reaching an FA Cup final for a while. Three home draws, the only championship side left in the QFs and then the lowest ranked prem side in the SFs. Messing that one up spectacularly will be something to rue for many years I fear.

In August I predicted we'd finish 7th so can't complain too much and we are ending very strongly again which bodes well for the start of next season.

[ez]

I really hope in the future we're not looking back on these times and saying, how come we didn't win anything?

[dave.woodhall]

I’m happy to be disappointed. 2016 we were in dire straits, relegated and getting schooled in the championship as a big scalp. 2018 we almost never existed as a club. I can cope with being disappointed if we are a top six club getting into Europe. We do need some silverware but be happy it’s the top 5 not bottom we are looking at. But it is nice to be disappointed for positive reasons

We can't keep saying look where we were 5/7/10 years ago. It's infuriating that the worst Manchester United team for fifty years are on course for another trophy while we, yet again, have got nothing. Several managers have commented in the past about our defeatist mentality; I still say that this is the biggest problem we face.

Me too unfortunately. We have a better squad and manager than Crystal Palace. We are at least as good as Newcastle. The difference is those clubs stepped up against one of the top sides and siezed the opportunity to win something, while we're looking like 'we shouldn't really be here'.

The difference with Villa now compared to the 90s is we seem happy to be there or thereabouts rather than grabbing it by the scruff of the neck and taking the prize home.

I hope that Emery can crack that

Villa in the nineties were the absolute epitome of being happy to be in the top six and generally act like we didn't belong instead of constantly striving to improve.

[LeonW]

As well as we’ve done, right now it has the feel of the O’Neill era for me. Coming close but ultimately not quite good enough to crack it. Selling our best players who we’d rather not. At least under Emery we qualified for the champions league.

I think what Toronto may be getting at is the feeling that this is era is going to be the same whilst others have their day in the sun, this is our best.

[OzVilla]

Would you accept being in the Conference League next season if that meant we won it?

[LeonW]

Would you accept being in the Conference League next season if that meant we won it?

I would be delighted to win the conference league or league cup.

[PhilVill]

It's been a great season, with some fantastic memories and proves we are on an upward trajectory. I just hope we can go out against the Mancs on Sunday and put them to the sword and if it's not to he with Champions League, hey ho but at least they gave it a hell of a run.

[DeKuip]

Would you accept being in the Conference League next season if that meant we won it?

Yes but I fear I won’t discover the true meaning of life until we have two successive seasons of winning both the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup.