[Albion] Some people seem to think we could do with NOT qualifying for Europe this year.

[Falmer Flutter ©]

Europe all day long and twice on Sundays, with the most obscure away games possible please if in the Conference League. As the person in our group in charge of planning, being the spreadsheet nerd was half the fun. Random airports, seemingly impossible train connections, dodgy hotels - bring it the mfing on.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

When I went to Marseille, Athens and Rome I didn't do so because of kudos nor did I give consideration as to the finances of the club.

It was about watching the club I'd followed for c45 years on foreign soil with mates and a load of like-minded individuals.

It was an adventure.

The obscure nature of most of those in the Conference League would only add to that sense of adventure. Like going to Rotherham away on a Tuesday night in December, and not getting home until 3am.

Did you not enjoy AMSTERDAM?

 

[Bozza]

Did you not enjoy AMSTERDAM?

Yes!

And I didn't go to Athens (gggrrrrr!)

I clearly wrote that sentence far too quickly.

 

[tedebear]

A veiled Fab OUT post?

No? Not at all...I think the ambition is perfect, I'm just commenting that I don't think we are ready which is why it is an ambition and not a given.

 

[DJ NOBO]

A European campaign might well mean we struggle more in the league.
I’d take that hit every time, even conference league.

 

[The Fits]

C’mon. People say this nonsense now, no chance they’d feel the same when the games started.
In fact I’d almost argue it’s more entitled than those who expect us to be in the European places. To choose not to be in Europe. Insane.

 

[tedebear]

Nothing magical about Europe. Huge numbers of teams you never heard of rumbling around the Conference. In some countries it's almost harder not to qualify for Europe. Like @Flounce said further up the thread it's a small club mentality to not want to be in it to win it

I don't get the thinly veiled patronisation? Its not a small club mentality not to want a good showing in Europe?

 

[doogie004]

That logic seems to be:

I don't want us to qualify for Europe this season...

...so we have a better chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

Which is absolute bollox because we are still going to sell our best three players

 

[Perfidious Albion]

It is not that I don’t want Europe for the club , I just wonder how successful it would be given that we have lost players as good as Gross and Gilmour. Our injury list is bad enough now without the rigours of Europa League. Unlike some I think the home league is everything- our bread and butter. I would rather we shone there.
I understand that those who can go to these games miss having a foreign jaunt ,and some great memories, no doubt. But long term for the club , our league success is the thing.

 

[chaileyjem]

Villa fans and club were thrilled to qualify for the Con League when we rocked up just two years ago. And now look at em (with their top 6 wages mind).

 

[All Four Grounds]

No, I didn't skip through your post at all.

TBH, it wouldn't matter where or who we were playing, for me the more obscure the better.

Astana on a Thursday night - yes please.

So you’d be happy if we’re get relegated and we’re playing [insert unfashionable team name]? Maybe not but it‘s a bit perverse to be actively prefer playing Astana rather than AC Milan.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

It's a thought I've had, that we might be better off not qualifying.

The reasons are .....

Look at the injuries we've had this season. Chuck in another 8 to 20 games, we would barely be able to get a side out. We've been running with about 8 to 10 injured players all season with about 45 games. Project that up to 60 games, we're running with 12 to 15 injured. That's enough to threaten our PL existence. We need to get to grips with what is going on

The Conference league has been devalued beyond belief. So has the Europa League to some extent. Watching us play teams that we've never heard of might be sort of fun for a while, but I reckon that would very soon wear off.

Having said all that, I do agree with the viewpoint we should be aiming for the best league finishes we can get and to play in the best competitions we can play in. I think it would be a bit anticlimactic after last time though

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Qualifying for the Conference league would be absolute quality. Imagine being the only club on the entire continent that has won a major European honour but not a domestic one. That could be us in 2 years. Rather us than them up the road eh?

Villarreal have never won anything domestically in Spain (above a fourth tier league win) but won the 20-21 Europa League.

 

[Bozza]

But long term for the club , our league success is the thing.

And success in the league leads to...

 

[All Four Grounds]

When I went to Marseille, Athens and Rome I didn't do so because of kudos nor did I give consideration as to the finances of the club.

It was about watching the club I'd followed for c45 years on foreign soil with mates and a load of like-minded individuals.

It was an adventure.

The obscure nature of most of those in the Conference League would only add to that sense of adventure. Like going to Rotherham away on a Tuesday night in December, and not getting home until 3am.

So you want to take the trade-off of ‘adventure’ over a better season in the Premier League. (More games but with the same revenue suggests that’s more than a likely outcome.) We’ll have to agree to disagree on this!

 

[Bozza]

So you want to take the trade-off of ‘adventure’ over a better season in the Premier League. (More games but with the same revenue suggests that’s more than a likely outcome.) We’ll have to agree to disagree on this!

This is the same line as others have used.

"Better seasons in the Premier League" lead to European competition. You don't get to take a pass if and when that happens.

There are now eight wealthy clubs in the Premier League. Leeds are now coming on the scene again, this time with new, wealthy owners and who knows what impetus Everton may gain as they move into their sparkly new stadium?

We've qualified for Europe once - ever - and future opportunities may prove to be as rare as hen's teeth.

 

[Flounce]

Getting into Europe this season, even though our recent form has fallen off a cliff is still likely to be easier than doing it through league position or a cup win next season imo. Both look unlikely though, sadly

For whatever reason we have choked on making CL or Europa this season, the league will be stronger next season…imo

Bring on the Conference with a good finish to this season please.

 

[Brovion]

I'm looking forward to the time when we say "Tch! What a shit season! At this rate all we'll qualify for is the Mickey Mouse European competition. We should be in the Champions' League every season, not just now and again!"

 

[chaileyjem]

I'm looking forward to the time when we say "Tch! What a shit season! At this rate all we'll qualify for is the Mickey Mouse European competition. We should be in the Champions' League every season, not just now and again!"

I listen to the odd Chelsea podcast and they spend most of their time saying that a) Maresca should go and b) winning the Conference League is bare minimum. And won’t save him.

 

[All Four Grounds]

This is the same line as others have used.

"Better seasons in the Premier League" lead to European competition. You don't get to take a pass if and when that happens.

There are now eight wealthy clubs in the Premier League. Leeds are now coming on the scene again, this time with new, wealthy owners and who knows what impetus Everton may gain as they move into their sparkly new stadium?

We've qualified for Europe once - ever - and future opportunities may prove to be as rare as hen's teeth.

With or without European qualification I would prioritise league position over everything else. So not only don’t I want us to finish as high as possible just to get into Europe I would in theory sacrifice qualification for the ECL for a higher league position. Obviously football isn’t as straightforward as that. If Brighton fail to get into the top eight ever again my disappointment won’t be due to missing out on European qualification it will because despite our huge progress over the last few seasons we’re condemned to being just another also run. I genuinely believe there is a chance this might not be the case due to a combination of being one of the best run clubs in the world and profit and sustainability rules.