Europa League 2025-26

[dave.woodhall]

Some of us just dont have the bravery to do all we can by posting virtously on the internet. Keep it up, you're making a difference.

What does virtously mean? Is it something to do with tanks?

Anyway, posting on the internet might not be all he’s doing. Maybe he will support a campaign to ban genocidal maniacs from the game? Protest at the stadium? Register his opposition with the club and police? Better than tacit approval anyway.

Its a typo, don't be boring Percy.

It might not be all he does, he might like to play dress up and and wear a kaffiyeh. He might sing songs. He might donate. He might clog up the Marlybone or Euston train to get to London regularly on a Saturday. He might do lots and lots of equally futile and pointless things with his or her time, that expend a tad more energy in the process than manipulating their thumbs on their phone.

But he can stick his criticism of my junkie level addiction of watching the Villa up his backside. This is the football side of the forum, this is specifically the Europa League thread where we're meant to get excited about playing in the competition and I am excited about the idea of flattening these wankers and want to be there to see it in person.

And you can do all that with a little vitriol to all concerned.

[Pat McMahon]

Fenerbache is the other side of the Bospherus it seems. Don't know where to start with Istanbul.

I go to Istanbul twice a year for work conferences and we generally stay close to the Besiktas stadium on the European side of the city. Staying around the Sultanahmet and Tamsin square areas makes most sense for the big tourist attractions. From Istanbul’s main airport this is a 45 minute journey on a good day.

The Fenerbahce stadium is on the Asian side so some people may want to stay over there to avoid the mad city traffic. There is an airport on that side too - don’t know the name but code is SAW - and obviously better if you want to stay nearer the stadium. Apparently a taxi can take an hour to get to the stadium from the European side unless you go mid afternoon. I’ve been past the stadium en route to a steel mill and there’s a big dual carriageway which goes past it but apparently clogs up on match days.

One option is simply to get a ferry from the European side to the Asian side ( I think it’s Karakoy to Kadakoy) as it s very cheap and takes 10 minutes. Apparently you can then walk to the ground in 20-30 minutes. I don’t know how late the ferries run for the return trip.

My guess is that the police will run shuttle buses from somewhere on the European side and it will be like Warsaw, meaning they leave 3 hours before kick off then keep you in for an hour after the game providing the full joyless European defeat experience 😉

I’m back over there on 15 October so will get more info while I’m there.

[kippaxvilla2]

Just a thought should we play Aviv in the Aviva stadium.

[Pat McMahon]

A poster on here many years ago wrote that he had been to Fenerbahce when we played them in 1977 and he ran out of money and it took him 6 weeks to get home. I think he was one of the Sutton Coldfield lions, user name maybe Sunny? If he still posts I’d love to hear more about that adventure.

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Cheers Pat.

[Brazilian Villain]

Fenerbache is the other side of the Bospherus it seems. Don't know where to start with Istanbul.

I go to Istanbul twice a year for work conferences and we generally stay close to the Besiktas stadium on the European side of the city. Staying around the Sultanahmet and Tamsin square areas makes most sense for the big tourist attractions. From Istanbul’s main airport this is a 45 minute journey on a good day.

I've never been so that's good to hear, as I've booked a hotel in Habiye for next May (if required). It's close enough to the Besiktas stadium, and on the right side of the city for IST.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

I can't help but feel that in certain quarters complaining about the quality of our Europe League trips might come across as a little bit entitled.

I would agree. Also the places are really interesting and historic and have great places to see.

Absolutely. Rotterdam has some great modern architecture and plenty of great places to eat and drink.