Revolution Number 9 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Shit band tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 For every Villa, there's a Fulham. And a Liverpool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Villa haven't even progressed to the group stage two years in the running. They aren't a valid example of European game congestion... I wasn't saying they suffered from fixture congestion, they didn't benefit from being in Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Don't think we can really be thinking of Europe at this stage. If were still where we are with 5 games to go its a possibility, and if we are then its been a great season anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnbull2000 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The Europa League is a complete turd. Certainly wouldn't want the distraction of that piece of sh*t tournament in the unlikely even we qualify. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The Europa Cup is a complete turd. Certainly wouldn't want the distraction of that piece of sh*t tournament in the unlikely even we qualify. Inter, Juve, Hamburg, Atletico, Espanyol, Spurs, Lyon amongst the teams that would qualify for the Europa League if the leagues ended now. Hardly turd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Villa haven't even progressed to the group stage two years in the running. They aren't a valid example of European game congestion... I wasn't saying they suffered from fixture congestion, they didn't benefit from being in Europe. It was of no benefit at all to us. The first year was nice, did ok, had a decent run, but I think it was the novelty. Watching us play MSK Zilina on a Wednesday night in November isn't that much fun, mind. O'Neill then showed what he thought of it when we played CSKA. The problem is that the EL lasts FOREVER. That season, we started in the Intertoto, so it went on even longer, and nobody really cares about it. Incidentally, there are currently 6 points between 16th and 17th in the league, which is insane. I haven't even entirely discounted our chances of finishing 6th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The Europa Cup is a complete turd. Certainly wouldn't want the distraction of that piece of sh*t tournament in the unlikely even we qualify. As a tournament, it only is watchable in the latter stages. The ridiculous group is a poorly attended chore. It was a far more exciting tournament as a straight two legged knock out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Villa haven't even progressed to the group stage two years in the running. They aren't a valid example of European game congestion... I wasn't saying they suffered from fixture congestion, they didn't benefit from being in Europe. It was of no benefit at all to us. The first year was nice, did ok, had a decent run, but I think it was the novelty. Watching us play MSK Zilina on a Wednesday night in November isn't that much fun, mind. O'Neill then showed what he thought of it when we played CSKA. The problem is that the EL lasts FOREVER. That season, we started in the Intertoto, so it went on even longer, and nobody really cares about it. Incidentally, there are currently 6 points between 16th and 17th in the league, which is insane. I haven't even entirely discounted our chances of finishing 6th. Needs to go back to straight knockout. UEFA have completely devalued the Europa/UEFA League/Cup with their constant meddling. The second chance scenario it provides for Champions League teams is a joke. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The Europa Cup is a complete turd. Certainly wouldn't want the distraction of that piece of sh*t tournament in the unlikely even we qualify. If we were to somehow get to the final of "that piece of shit tournament" I suppose you would still view it as a needless distraction? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Needs to go back to straight knockout. UEFA have completely devalued the Europa/UEFA League/Cup with their constant meddling. The second chance scenario it provides for Champions League teams is a joke. I agree entirely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Oh, I agree about the format thing. Dunno why they insisted in turning it into a CL lite, at least the different format gave a point to the UEFA Cup and made it exciting. UEFA's obsession with group stages is almost sexual in nature. The CL had TWO of them at one point FFS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnbull2000 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The second chance scenario it provides for Champions League teams is a joke. I thought that was supposed to be abolished? It's a shame. The old days of Champs League, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup were great. Now it's Champs League or nothing. The Europa League is largely worthless IMO, with even the domestic cups heavily devalued thanks to 2nd, 3rd and 4th getting Champs League (many clubs and fans would choose fourth place over League/FA Cup win) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Oh, I agree about the format thing. Dunno why they insisted in turning it into a CL lite, at least the different format gave a point to the UEFA Cup and made it exciting. UEFA's obsession with group stages is almost sexual in nature. The CL had TWO of them at one point FFS. Quite pleased we fell in that one off season tbh, as we got more games out of it but any other year I'd say it was a joke. Somehow the Europa League must make UEFA more money through TV deals for more games or something. Joke either way and I don't think ever met anyone who's thought otherwise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Obviously our current squad couldn't cope with the strains of both a domestic and a European campaign, but i think people are forgetting that, surely by getting to Europe - we'd have more grounds to build the squad? We'd be more attractive a proposition for incoming players and it'd also convince some of our 'stars' to stick with us. As someone said earlier, qualifying for Europe would do more good than bad imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BooBoo Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Obviously our current squad couldn't cope with the strains of both a domestic and a European campaign, but i think people are forgetting that, surely by getting to Europe - we'd have more grounds to build the squad? We'd be more attractive a proposition for incoming players and it'd also convince some of our 'stars' to stick with us. As someone said earlier, qualifying for Europe would do more good than bad imo. You'd generally think that, but remember the Ashley factor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Do you not think we'll sign anyone in the summer then? We'll improve the squad, we have to. We did last January and we did in the summer - we will do again. And being in Europe will attract better players, plus give us more money to play with. Ashley will know the financial benefits of a good European campaign. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Obviously our current squad couldn't cope with the strains of both a domestic and a European campaign, but i think people are forgetting that, surely by getting to Europe - we'd have more grounds to build the squad? We'd be more attractive a proposition for incoming players and it'd also convince some of our 'stars' to stick with us. Nah, bollocks is it like that No player is going to give a shit about playing in the Europa League. Obviously, if you finish in the EL places, you're up the league, which makes you more appealling per se, but the very fact you're in the EL makes no difference. You also don't need to build the squad to play in that competition, you just chuck the stiffs in. I'm a season ticket holder and the Europa League was really the only time i ever got to see people like Steve Sidwell, Moustafa Salifou, Nicky Shorey play with any predictability. It's a shame. The old UEFA Cup was miles better, as was the CWC, but with this shitty half arsed attempt at a tournament, they've done the ultimate and managed to come up with something that unites the fans, the clubs, the players AND the TV companies - none of them give a shit about it. The tv revenue even from a decent run is absolutely negligible. I appreciate, incidentally, that Fulham clearly gave a shit when they got to the final, but the fact is, you start out in that competition facing about 200 games against any one of approximately 3000 sides, with that freaky group system where you dont even play each team in your group home and away, and you soon start thinking "hhmmmmm, Thursday night ..... best check if there's something on telly first". Even when you have some good matches, it wears you down. Our first year back in it, I went to all our home games starting with Odense in the Intertoto in fucking July. Ajax was nice (their fans were incredible), and some of my mates did all the aways too and had a nice time, but by the end of it, most people just wanted it to end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Do you not think we'll sign anyone in the summer then? We'll improve the squad, we have to. We did last January and we did in the summer - we will do again. And being in Europe will attract better players, plus give us more money to play with. Ashley will know the financial benefits of a good European campaign. The money you get for winning the Europa League wouldn't pay the Coloccini transfer fee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Man, I loved the old CWC. Coupled with only the league winner going to the EC, made winning the domestic cup feel more momentous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 The group system is a load of fucking bollocks like. I agree that the CWC had become redundant and i'd argue that the CL is better for it, but the UEFA Cup was a mint tournament and they're ripped the soul out of it. That said, i did enjoy being in it cos, as i said before, it's the only competition i know there's a genuine chance of beating a load of teams and doing well. It's still exciting when you (finally) get to the knockout. The group stages surely must just be revenue-based? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Do you not think we'll sign anyone in the summer then? We'll improve the squad, we have to. We did last January and we did in the summer - we will do again. And being in Europe will attract better players, plus give us more money to play with. Ashley will know the financial benefits of a good European campaign. The money you get for winning the Europa League wouldn't pay the Coloccini transfer fee. Doesn't matter. It's still more gate receipts/TV revenue/'prize-money'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Fulham earned a total of €10,010,114 for their run to the final. So about 8m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Fulham earned a total of 10,010,114 for their run to the final. So about 8m. They would have got less than an extra £1 million if they had of won it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Fulham earned a total of 10,010,114 for their run to the final. So about 8m. They would have got less than an extra £1 million if they had of won it. Sunderland are probably already planning how to spend their EL money. Reading RTG today, they seem to have decided they've finished in the top six. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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