Other games (2024/25)

[mighty__mag]

It just seems so wrong Spurs or Man Utd will be in the CL next season.

[Yorkie]

The Europa competitions are probably in a bit of an existential crisis now, certainly in terms of being an honour in their own right. 

 

The Conference League title will mean very little if there's always an English team of Chelsea's strength munching through the competition with their second string. Then again, Olympiacos pulled off a shock last season and Betis might yet do the same. Perhaps there's not enough of a carrot to guarantee the English clubs won't treat it with disdain (like Spurs did under Conte). There's a slim hope that variety will prevail but ultimately every season will be about stopping a default Premier League victor.

 

What is really depressing is that the same will seemingly now apply to the Europa League, meaning a once great competition has been completely undermined by the structural changes. The double-whammy of having the very significant carrot of CL qualification,  plus no CL dropouts to contend with, means it's far too winnable for PL teams to disregard. It's quite telling that this year is only the second time we've ever had an all-English final in the history of the tournament. 

 

I would love to see the side-effects of binning the prize of CL qualification. 

[AngelofTheFourth]

46 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

The Conference League title will mean very little if there's always an English team of Chelsea's strength munching through the competition with their second string. Then again, Olympiacos pulled off a shock last season and Betis might yet do the same. Perhaps there's not enough of a carrot to guarantee the English clubs won't treat it with disdain (like Spurs did under Conte). There's a slim hope that variety will prevail but ultimately every season will be about stopping a default Premier League victor.

 

Olympiacos wouldn't have happened as they dropped down from Europa into europa from the Conference league.

[toon25]

51 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

The Europa competitions are probably in a bit of an existential crisis now, certainly in terms of being an honour in their own right. 

 

The Conference League title will mean very little if there's always an English team of Chelsea's strength munching through the competition with their second string. Then again, Olympiacos pulled off a shock last season and Betis might yet do the same. Perhaps there's not enough of a carrot to guarantee the English clubs won't treat it with disdain (like Spurs did under Conte). There's a slim hope that variety will prevail but ultimately every season will be about stopping a default Premier League victor.

 

What is really depressing is that the same will seemingly now apply to the Europa League, meaning a once great competition has been completely undermined by the structural changes. The double-whammy of having the very significant carrot of CL qualification,  plus no CL dropouts to contend with, means it's far too winnable for PL teams to disregard. It's quite telling that this year is only the second time we've ever had an all-English final in the history of the tournament. 

 

I would love to see the side-effects of binning the prize of CL qualification. 

 

Fucking spot on 

[r0cafella]

54 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

The Europa competitions are probably in a bit of an existential crisis now, certainly in terms of being an honour in their own right. 

 

The Conference League title will mean very little if there's always an English team of Chelsea's strength munching through the competition with their second string. Then again, Olympiacos pulled off a shock last season and Betis might yet do the same. Perhaps there's not enough of a carrot to guarantee the English clubs won't treat it with disdain (like Spurs did under Conte). There's a slim hope that variety will prevail but ultimately every season will be about stopping a default Premier League victor.

 

What is really depressing is that the same will seemingly now apply to the Europa League, meaning a once great competition has been completely undermined by the structural changes. The double-whammy of having the very significant carrot of CL qualification,  plus no CL dropouts to contend with, means it's far too winnable for PL teams to disregard. It's quite telling that this year is only the second time we've ever had an all-English final in the history of the tournament. 

 

I would love to see the side-effects of binning the prize of CL qualification. 

Take away the champions league place and it becomes the conference league.

 

Problem is Uefa will be loving the amount of attention the Europa league has received this year.

[tgarve]

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

The Europa competitions are probably in a bit of an existential crisis now, certainly in terms of being an honour in their own right. 

 

The Conference League title will mean very little if there's always an English team of Chelsea's strength munching through the competition with their second string. Then again, Olympiacos pulled off a shock last season and Betis might yet do the same. Perhaps there's not enough of a carrot to guarantee the English clubs won't treat it with disdain (like Spurs did under Conte). There's a slim hope that variety will prevail but ultimately every season will be about stopping a default Premier League victor.

 

What is really depressing is that the same will seemingly now apply to the Europa League, meaning a once great competition has been completely undermined by the structural changes. The double-whammy of having the very significant carrot of CL qualification,  plus no CL dropouts to contend with, means it's far too winnable for PL teams to disregard. It's quite telling that this year is only the second time we've ever had an all-English final in the history of the tournament. 

 

I would love to see the side-effects of binning the prize of CL qualification. 

This is bullshit

 

this is all about who is in the final and not what it means

 

if it was us you would be loving it

 

 

i don’t think there’s anything wrong with this 

 

Man Utd  were 5 mins from going out 

[tgarve]

Did you moan about sevilla finishing 12 and being in the champions league by winning the europa? 

[tgarve]

It’s a bit bitterness as I feel people think it dampens us qualifying 

 

it doesn’t it will be great still and we can push on still and to be honest the Europa final will actually be a very good watch.

[tgarve]

( if we qualify!! ) roll on chelsea

[Sibierski]

The Europa league is never losing the qualification, one of the main drivers will be the big clubs to see that never happens as it’s another gateway into UCL if they’re failing in league. 

 

The fuckers wanted historical co-efficient to determine who qualifies for UCL  Didn’t get it, but still got money weighted to it when they do qualify.

[Newcastle Fan]

That Manchester United vs Tottenham final is a crime against football to be honest.

[Tsunami]

I think it shows how weak many of the European Leagues are now below Champions League level. An historic name no longer means a quality side.

 

Spurs and Man U can only play to the rules and the teams they’ve been drawn against. Let’s not get started on the Conference League.

 

Our route to winning the League Cup this year will stand up against almost any other cup this season.

[El Prontonise]

6 hours ago, r0cafella said:

Take away the champions league place and it becomes the conference league.

 

Problem is Uefa will be loving the amount of attention the Europa league has received this year.

 

The main issue is the stupid league systems in place for all these extra games.

 

Sooner it all implodes the better.

[r0cafella]

4 minutes ago, El Prontonise said:

 

The main issue is the stupid league systems in place for all these extra games.

 

Sooner it all implodes the better.

As you know man, we complain as fans rightfully so but the set up we have is exactly what the clubs wants. Well close enough at least.

[Yorkie]

@tgarve so many posts, I don't know which one to quote! It's a shame about the aggression cos there's some fair points raised there. First of all about bitterness. I'm always bitter. No arguments there. But it's bitterness about a competition I've always loved (and feel NUFC have unfinished business with) becoming devalued by structural changes invoked to appease a cabal of clubs. 

 

As for Sevilla, at least there was something interesting about their weird hex on the competition. Their continuous wins weren't due to the disproportionate financial strength of their league and the institutional decision to reduce the competition around them. 

 

@r0cafella I think my point is that it pretty much already is the Conference League; certainly this season anyway, with the winners just being a PL team who's steamrollered everyone. At least if you removed the CL carrot it would be about the silverware rather than the cashmoney. (I know it won't happen)

 

I just find it really sad. I've harped on about PL clubs monopolising the Europas and this season it's finally happened. Maybe I've got my knickers in a twist over nowt and it'll just be a one-off.

[r0cafella]

Just now, Yorkie said:

@tgarve so many posts, I don't know which one to quote! It's a shame about the aggression cos there's some fair points raised there. First of all about bitterness. I'm always bitter. No arguments there. But it's bitterness about a competition I've always loved (and feel NUFC have unfinished business with) becoming devalued by structural changes invoked to appease a cabal of clubs. 

 

As for Sevilla, at least there was something interesting about their weird hex on the competition. Their continuous wins weren't due to the disproportionate financial strength of their league and the institutional decision to reduce the competition around them. 

 

@r0cafella I think my point is that it pretty much already is the Conference League; certainly this season anyway, with the winners just being a PL team who's steamrollered everyone. At least if you removed the CL carrot it would be about the silverware rather than the cashmoney. (I know it won't happen)

 

I just find it really sad. I've harped on about PL clubs monopolising the Europas and this season it's finally happened. Maybe I've got my knickers in a twist over nowt and it'll just be a one-off.

It won't be one a off, how can these clubs compete?

 

Football is obviously full throated capitalism and as the Premier league has the lion share of money domination becomes inevitable. Don't get me wrong we will have seasons where English clubs are no where especially in the champions league but for the other 2 competitions english clubs will generally be amongst the favourites.

[TheBrownBottle]

4 hours ago, tgarve said:

This is bullshit

 

this is all about who is in the final and not what it means

 

if it was us you would be loving it

 

 

i don’t think there’s anything wrong with this 

 

Man Utd  were 5 mins from going out 

Very harsh, Yorkie raises plenty of salient points.  Not everything has to be seen through a B&W lens.
 

European football has been in a deeply unhealthy state for some time, and even the extension of the Conference League looks likely to be won by half-arsed big English clubs.

 

Yes, we all want to win more trophies - but it’s perfectly reasonable to be concerned re the state of football. 

[54]

I think I would rather Spurs win it than Man United, feels like it'd mean 10x more to them than Man United, I think Man United as a whole are mainly thinking about winning it in terms of getting Champions League, whereas I think for Tottenham its mainly about winning something. It'd also be really depressing if Man United have their worst season in nearly 40 years, and they still end up winning a trophy. 

[Rich]

I’ll be supporting both Manchester clubs precisely because it’ll mean next to nowt to them versus the alternatives. Fuck Palace and Spurs.

[Optimistic Nut]

I don't mind Spurs winning it. I think we've overtaken them now.

 

Man Utd though, fuck another £200m spent throwing money at it, along with another Champions League campaign. 

[Groundhog63]

As far as Europa goes, I've stated already that I didn't think 3rd placed "losers" in the CL group stages should've parachuted into the EL. Ergo that means teams from the top performing leagues (Eng, Spain, Germany, Italy and, at a push France) that finish outside of their CL qualification will always be favourites for EL glory. However, when that means 5th 6th (?) placed because CL qualifications take the very best 4 then you have to take a long hard look at the depth of those leagues. 

There were still some decent teams in the EL at the start. You also have to consider these teams ability to play in both domestic and Europe competitions effectively. Look how we struggled. 

I think the Spurs v Man U thing is an anomaly. Need to see how it goes. 

 

I think the bigger issue, for UEFA, is Chelsea pissing the Conference with their 2nd team. 

Desperately bad look. 

[Fak]

The Europa was a trophy that was beneath Man Utd not exactly a lifetime ago and now they're absolutely desperate to win it. For that reason I hope they bomb in the final. Hopefully there'll be severe consequences on & off the pitch if they have zero European football next season.

[duo]

1 hour ago, Newcastle Fan said:

That Manchester United vs Tottenham final is a crime against football to be honest.

Either one gets CL is a bigger crime - currently 15th and 16th respectively 

[kingxlnc]

I'd prefer Spurs to win as they might hold on to Ange longer. Secondly Man U need to suffer some bloody hit for all their mismanagement, both sporting and financial. At this rate, each of the last three seasons progressively worse League wise could result in a trophy each season. Meanwhile we win after 70 years and it's our best season. Ridiculously jammy.

[Froggy]

59 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Very harsh, Yorkie raises plenty of salient points.  Not everything has to be seen through a B&W lens.
 

European football has been in a deeply unhealthy state for some time, and even the extension of the Conference League looks likely to be won by half-arsed big English clubs.

 

Yes, we all want to win more trophies - but it’s perfectly reasonable to be concerned re the state of football. 

 

Tgarve is right though. Nobody cared when it was Frankfurt or Sevilla getting a spot in the Champions League via the Europa. It's only an issue now because of who the finalists are. 

 

I do find it funny that some people think the 5th place finishers in the league have a right to be in the Champions League, yet the Europa League champions somehow aren't worthy.