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

[peterward]

Sod that. Conference would be absolutely great. Some interesting trips, more experience for the young squad and a reasonable chance of a trophy. Club will bolster the squad in the summer

Totally agree.

As a fan I'd love some some more European adventures and if to some obscure european backwaters in the conference league

That may not be ideal for the club though? With pressures on squad and not being as financially lucrative.

But that TBs department, ours is finding flights, finding bars, getting on the beers, getting behind the lads, getting home in 1 piece!

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Don't understand this mentality at all.

The idea that we won't have squad depth to cope is bollocks.
The club are much better prepared for the extra demands of a European season than we were in 23/24.
If we have to sell some stars, then we get to retain more of our talent (Enciso/Buonanotte/Adingra) and reinvest in the squad as we always have done.

We don't currently have the squad depth to cope with another 5 Prem matches!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

For me, progression is important. If Europe means we can sign some defenders, I'm in.

 

[Zeus]

Because our squad isn't good enough to fight both PL and Europe.

Can I borrow your crystal ball, because you seem to know our summer transfer business already?

 

[Albion 4ever]

The only downside to qualifying for the Europa Conference League is that some of the allocations for away games would be tiny!

 

[All Four Grounds]

For me, progression is important. If Europe means we can sign some defenders, I'm in.

That’s the question under dispute. The ECL doesn’t bring in any significant revenue so why would it mean we sign any defenders we wouldn’t have otherwise? The next Van Hecke isn’t dying to play against Astana but he is to play against Liverpool, Man United and etc.

 

[dazzer6666]

The only downside to qualifying for the Europa Conference League is that some of the allocations for away games would be tiny!

Closed shop blah blah

 

[Barnet Seagull]

That’s the question under dispute. The ECL doesn’t bring in any significant revenue so why would it mean we sign any defenders we wouldn’t have otherwise? The next Van Hecke isn’t dying to play against Astana but he is to play against Liverpool, Man United and etc.

Bigger squad needed. Got to be more chance of defensive signings given Barco and Lamptey situations

 

[All Four Grounds]

Bigger squad needed. Got to be more chance of defensive signings given Barco and Lamptey situations

We desperately need more defenders full stop. Hang on to most of the players currently being sold off by transfer rumour websites to our rivals, see the benefit of last year’s intake having a season under their belt and buy a couple or so good defenders and who knows how high we can finish next season?

 

[Machiavelli]

I think they're mad/wrong.

Why Wouldn’t Brighton Want Europe? Seriously. Why?

There’s a strange take doing the rounds in Albion-centric corners of the internet right now. It goes a bit like this: “Maybe it’s better if we don’t qualify for Europe this season… it’ll help us next year.” Sorry, what was that? Brighton & Hove Albion have been to Europe once in our 124-year...

www.northstandchat.com

You know this bit, the bit you've bolded up: You don’t say no to Europe! Well, without wanting to get into other threads, 52% did. They were wrong then, and they'd be wrong now because, to refer to your other bolded up bit: Europe was the most fun we’ve ever had.
And then the Nigel came along.

 

[TottonSeagull]

It seems the old Happy Clappers are mainly against Europe!! Must be the Brexiteers!!

 

[dangull]

There is plenty of running water available to watch the games if you're not able to travel thousands of miles to Eastern Europe as well.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

This mentality reminds me of being told by the Man Utd and Arsenal fans in my class at school that their dads remembered all Brighton fans wanted Brighton to get relegated from division back in the early 80’s so that they could see some wins.

 

[ROSM]

I think we would struggle in europe without significant investment.

But that doesn't mean I don't want us to qualify.

 

[BadFish]

Some of our fans have some weird ideas.

Each to their own though.

The best thing about it is that none of our opinions really make much difference.

 

[peterward]

I think we would struggle in europe without significant investment.

But that doesn't mean I don't want us to qualify.

I'm not sure we'd struggle in the conference league without significant investment, but we may struggle in the PL if we have Europe too.

 

[Barham's tash]

No. I don't want us to qualify for a third rate European competition and end up finishing 12th next year because of it...

... so we can finish 5th next year and qualify for the Champions League and win the league cup.

The counter argument to this is we could practically name a half different squad for the Conference league, not loan out promising players that otherwise struggle with making the match day Prem squad or get playing time and rotate let's say for argument's sake 5/6 regular first team starters and keep them ALL happy and us competitive on all fronts.

Much rather that than see other clubs not playing our talented youngsters or not being competitive enough to benefit them.

Also, think of the loyalty points for a trip to Azerbaijan or equivalent plus the sheer GLORY of being able to point a finger and say I didn't see you at FC Ljubajan away or equivalent to score UBER fan points against fellow NSCers.

 

[Barham's tash]

And success in the league leads to...

This is hilarious @Bozza. The tone in your replies is currently very much being enjoyed in my head in the voice of the centurion from the Life of Brian educating the protagonist about Latin grammar. Superb.

 

[nickjhs]

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.

The logic is the same as when people were yelling for us to go straight from the Championship into the Prem. I, along with many others, was saying, nope, we need to consolidate here first to get consistently good, then go up when we are ready. Which is what happened, had we gone straight up we would have come straight down ( lets face it we hung on by our fingernails as it was). Right now, I don't give two hoots about Europe, let's cement our place in the PL, making the top ten easily, then start looking at what more we can achieve, the only downside to this approach is giving the young players the success they are dreaming of and keeping them at the club. I absolutely do not want to sacrifice our spot in the PL by pushing for Europe when we are not ready for the extra challenges that it puts on the squad. We have a very young and relatively inexperienced squad, let them grow, when they are ready Europe will come easily.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

We don't currently have the squad depth to cope with another 5 Prem matches!

Are you De Zerbi?

Assuming that JPVH is out and during our worst injury challenge ever, our matchday squad to take on the mighty west ham could look something like this:

Bart
Hinshelwood Dunk Cashin Estupinan
Baleba Ayari
Minteh O'Riley Mitoma
Welbeck​

Bench
Steele, Tasker, Slater, Knight, Weiffer, Gomez, Adingra, March, Gruda

One player playing out of position (but in a position he has played more regularly than his preferred position)
JPVH likely to return for Newcastle (if not before).
Veltman, Igor, Lamptey all back in training and presumably options for the bench for the last 2 or 3 games.
Not exactly bare bones.

We have a squad plenty good enough to meet the challenge.