UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Risso]

I spent some time earlier looking at some Juventus forums (I know, it's a slow day) to see what they were saying about the Conference League next year.

Their general line of thought seems to be that if we got drawn against them, we would win, we're the strongest team in the competition, and with Emery, we've practically got it won before a ball is kicked.

I agree with that and there is nothing wrong with overconfidence. I am NOT cancelling my hotel in Athens.

I look forward to seeing you there!

[Drummond]

West Ham's form picked up quite noticeably from about March onwards, which would suggest that it wasn't tiredness or being in Europe that caused their shit first half of the season form.

It was the lack of Danny Ings in their squad..

[rooboy316]

Read this morning loads of West Ham fans flew to Dublin and got connection to Prague. Apparently much cheaper then flying direct from UK.

Might be worth checking if Athens becomes real.

For the eternally optimistic, you can do it by rail:
https://www.seat61.com/Greece.htm

It's worth checking against other options, but you can do it on a 5 day* interrail pass which covers rail & ferries for under 300€:
https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/global-pass
You'll need to get a seat reservation for the Eurostar, though, which costs an extra 20€ or something each way.  You can use it in your own country for the first/last journey of the trip, e.g. it covers you going from Witton station to London St Pancras, as long as you go a reasonably direct route - and will cover the journey home too.

Interrail passes cover a return journey in your own country, so e.g. you could use them to go Birmingham -> London St Pancras, then London St Pancras -> Birmingham on the way back.

* you actually need 6 days travel, but you're probably best off buying the last leg on the way there as a single which'll be like 9€ as opposed to spending an extra 60€ on a longer pass.  It may well be cheaper to buy individual advanced tickets for this, but it gives an upper limit as to what you'd pay to get there by land.

Great bit of research and a wonderful option. Now if you could figure out something similar from Melbourne…

[DeKuip]

This over confidence is going to bite us in the ass.

Yup.

Plus, if we did a WHAM! and won the bloody thing while showing everyone how shit we really are by dropping down the league table, all the good work we are doing to increase revenue and be attractive to a better class of players goes out the window.

The priority next season must be to show that we are serious about breaking into the top six, continue building our revenue and reputation, and use that to help build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.

I know we all want a trophy. But if that comes with a 14th place finish, it's too big a price to pay.

With respect, is it bollocks. The point of football is winning trophies.

Is it? I bet Arsenal fans enjoyed their season game by game far more than West Ham fans did. And are looking forward to next season more.

I’ll take runners-up in all four competitions over winning a cup and getting relegated!

[Risso]

Is it? I bet Arsenal fans enjoyed their season game by game far more than West Ham fans did. And are looking forward to next season more.

I’ll take runners-up in all four competitions over winning a cup and getting relegated!

I bet West Hams fans (especially those in Prague) enjoyed last night more than Arsenal enjoyed any one match this year. Also, the record books now list them as a European trophy winner, something Arsenal have only ever done once, and that was 30 years ago. (Ignoring the Fairs Cup)

[lovejoy]

This over confidence is going to bite us in the ass.

Yup.

Plus, if we did a WHAM! and won the bloody thing while showing everyone how shit we really are by dropping down the league table, all the good work we are doing to increase revenue and be attractive to a better class of players goes out the window.

The priority next season must be to show that we are serious about breaking into the top six, continue building our revenue and reputation, and use that to help build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts.

I know we all want a trophy. But if that comes with a 14th place finish, it's too big a price to pay.

With respect, is it bollocks. The point of football is winning trophies.

I disagree, who remembers the intertoto wins? League position and aspiring to the big boys cup is where it is at.

[PeterWithesShin]

The Inter-Toto was a qualifier which is why no one remembers it with any great excitement. I have little doubt that the vast majority of us enjoyed winning the League Cup more in 94 and 96 than we did finishing 2nd and 4th around the same.

[Dogtanian]

It's about more than just the short term. Yes, a cup now is better than league position. But league position is what is going to set us up to compete for the next decade, not a trophy.

I want a cup, of course I do. But I want sustained success, and in the current footballing world that means a consistent top six finish as a foundation. Then you give yourself the best chance of winning multiple trophies.

Spurs have won jack shit in the last 10 years, but their turnover is over £500m while we are struggling to hit £200m. They are a more attractive destination for players, and they can afford them, despite having won nothing!

Now, I'd be bloody ashamed to have all that and win nothing, it takes a very special level of incompetence. But give Emery that kind of foundation and we'd win loads!

That's what I want. And I'd trade a cup in the next 12 months for it any day of the week.

[Risso]

On the other hand, a cup win on top of finishing top 4 will feel very special.

[Nev]

"And we're gonna shake 'em up when the turnover goes up"

[Dogtanian]

"And we're gonna shake 'em up when the turnover goes up"

 

[PeterWithesShin]

I'd rather win trophies. I doubt anyone reminisces about seasons we made a tidy profit on the bank balance, they sure as fuck do about 75, 77, 81, 82, 94 and 96.

[lovejoy]

So league cup or top 4 and champions league ?

latter for me as the profile and money will enable us to improve. judging by the teams we put out pretty much all of our managers in recent years agree with that too.

[PeterWithesShin]

League Cup. You can finish 4th, get knocked out first qualifier you are in and so who cares. People will always remember the LC win. Anyone think many Everton fans fondly think back to losing to Villareal and Bucharest in 2005 or their trophy wins?

[Dogtanian]

I'd rather win trophies. I doubt anyone reminisces about seasons we made a tidy profit on the bank balance, they sure as fuck do about 75, 77, 81, 82, 94 and 96.

Again, completely missing the point...