[Albion] We now have a BETTER chance of playing in Europe next year

[hughfromalice]

In my opinion.

Having seen the levels of Roma last night, it is highly unlikely that we were ever going to win the Europa League. If we played at our best we could win a 2-legged tie against a side like that, but 3 times in a row? And then a final against Liverpool or someone? It was never going to happen.

Now, we have only 11 games left this season (plus the dead rubber next Thursday) and we are only one point off 8th, which could well be enough for a Conference League spot this year. With Pedro back there is absolutely no reason why we can't finish 8th. I think 8th would have been a real stretch if we'd have had a long run in the Europa League knockouts and the FA Cup. So while it feels like our season has fallen apart in 8 days, I genuinely think we are now more likely to be having European trips away next season than we were 8 days ago.

I'm trying to decide whether I actually believe this overly positive nonsense as I'm writing it, but there is definitely some logic in it. I think.

Your logic seems strong but I'm apprehensive De Zerbi is going to pull a proverbial cognilia out of the cappello and we'll score to be 4 up in the 89th minute on Thursday evening and then win on penalties, thus condemning us to 5 extra games over the next few months. But, I do worry that Dunky will barely have enough strength left to lift that (big heavy) cup at the end of May. So, funnily enough, I agree with you..... that we are likely to qualify for Europe next year!!!

 

[um bongo molongo]

Can't understand people saying they aren't fussed about the Conference league. Have we really become that entitled after one season in Europe?
We would be favourites to win that competition. Ask a West Ham fan about how bothered they were about it...

Agree. Don’t think we’ll even get close to qualifying for it, but would be very happy if we do!

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

A few things you’re not considering

1- chance of 8 spots is much lower (66% plus need top 6 side to win fa cup
2 - we have won 5 in 22.
3 - we have the hardest run in by far out of our rivals
4 - conference league against random towns isn’t that appealing

Point 4 I strongly disagree with, now I won’t say I’m being ungrateful as the “champions league” group we finished up in was fantastic but a little disappointed (only a little) that we didn’t end up in the arse end of Serbia or staying in an Igloo in Northern Norway.

 

[MJsGhost]

I imagine any WH fan trying to hold that up as a significant trophy would be widely mocked by any fellow London fans (Spurs and Chelsea fans in particular)

Do you think what Spurs and Chelsea fans think means more to the WH fans than actually winning the trophy and the exploits across Europe to do it?

I doubt many of the fans were thinking "Great that we won, but I won't be able to say anything to that cocky Spurs fan at work because they won the FA Cup in 1991"

 

[Blue3]

In my opinion.

Having seen the levels of Roma last night, it is highly unlikely that we were ever going to win the Europa League. If we played at our best we could win a 2-legged tie against a side like that, but 3 times in a row? And then a final against Liverpool or someone? It was never going to happen.

Now, we have only 11 games left this season (plus the dead rubber next Thursday) and we are only one point off 8th, which could well be enough for a Conference League spot this year. With Pedro back there is absolutely no reason why we can't finish 8th. I think 8th would have been a real stretch if we'd have had a long run in the Europa League knockouts and the FA Cup. So while it feels like our season has fallen apart in 8 days, I genuinely think we are now more likely to be having European trips away next season than we were 8 days ago.

I'm trying to decide whether I actually believe this overly positive nonsense as I'm writing it, but there is definitely some logic in it. I think.

That’s the sprite some might say hopeless optimism but I tend to agree currently the table looks like this

Man U 6th won 14 drawn 2 lost 11 points 44 GD -2
WHU 7th won 12 drawn 6 lost 9 points 42 GD -4 Sat v Burnley Tuesday home second leg 1-0 down lots pressure might
Newcastle 8th won 12 drawn 4 lost 11 points 40 GD +12 Mon v Chelsea followed by Man City both away difficult games they don’t draw many can see them los both games
Brighton 9th Won 10 drawn 9 lost 8 points 39 GD +5 Sun v Forest then second leg 4-0 down no pressure although we then four games include Liverpool,Man City and Arsenal
Wolves 10th won 11 drawn 5 lost 11 points 38 GD -3

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

In my opinion.

Having seen the levels of Roma last night, it is highly unlikely that we were ever going to win the Europa League. If we played at our best we could win a 2-legged tie against a side like that, but 3 times in a row? And then a final against Liverpool or someone? It was never going to happen.

Now, we have only 11 games left this season (plus the dead rubber next Thursday) and we are only one point off 8th, which could well be enough for a Conference League spot this year. With Pedro back there is absolutely no reason why we can't finish 8th. I think 8th would have been a real stretch if we'd have had a long run in the Europa League knockouts and the FA Cup. So while it feels like our season has fallen apart in 8 days, I genuinely think we are now more likely to be having European trips away next season than we were 8 days ago.

I'm trying to decide whether I actually believe this overly positive nonsense as I'm writing it, but there is definitely some logic in it. I think.

Relying on English clubs in Europe for 8th for Europe ?

Last nights result don't help at all in the race for extra spots

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Conference doesn't excite me

This has got to be the most entitled thing I've read on here

 

[worthingseagull]

I reckon we have almost zero chance of Europe next season based on;

current form
key players absent
difficulty of teams left to play

Top half finish would be decent imo

 

[Peteinblack]

Sadly, I can't see it myself.

With key players (especially Mitoma and March) out for the rest of the season, long-term absentees returning but seemingly not 100% fit (Enciso), Ferguson having a fallow patch (loss of confidence, too much pressure due to high expectations?), our remaining fixtures including Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, and Roberto either distracted by rumours of a 'big club' coming-in for him (I think that is less likely after recent results) or disillusioned by a feeling that he's taken us as far as he can with our limited resources - echoes of Steve Coppell and Gus Poyet - I think we will be lucky to finish in the top 10.

Still, considering where we were in the 1990s, that would still be a great achievement - but it feels a tad disappointing because we started the season with such high hopes after the brilliance of last season, and the signing of Pedro right at the start of the summer break.

 

[Sussexscots]

I'd be more than happy for us to get a Europa Confrrence slot. It would mean that we played exceptionally well in our remaining eleven games.

Sadly, I fear that the combination of a long season, unprecedented injury problems (many of which were/are long term) plus not replacing MacAllister and Caicedo have caught up with us. Our remaing games look demanding to say the least and from here, a top ten finish would be remarkable.

 

[goldstone]

We have been too focussed on Europe, something we were never going to win, to the detriment of our league form.

 

[Brovion]

I find the people who criticise our fans for being entitled as irritating and totally miss the point of being disappointed by a poor result. But…for some of our fans to say they aren’t that bothered by the conference league is absolutely staggering.

I would bite your hand off right now for a season in the Conference League. I think it would be absolutely brilliant given what’s happened so far this season.

100% agree. Yes it's absolutely fine to be pissed off with a defeat, I am as well . And I'm still pissed off about losing to Wolves in the FA Cup. Bang goes our chances of winning some silverware. But overall we're doing fine. Not as well as perhaps we thought we would if we'd had a fair wind and a following tide, but historically WAY better than anything we've ever done.

I too can't believe that people are saying they aren't fussed about the Conference. I will happily settle for the Europa Conference next season as I now feel we won't make the Champions' League. Indeed if I wanted to be positive I'd say that as far as our development is concerned we should have started in the Conference this season as it can be argued that we'd missed a stage. But sod that, going straight into the Europa League meant the first four European opponents in our history were AEK Athens, Marseilles, Ajax Amsterdam and Roma - and we won our group.

Really hope we can kick on for the rest of the season and go on another European tour next year.

 

[Hamilton]

Conference doesn't excite me

Jesus wept!

Two years ago if I’d have offered you a conference place you’d have snapped my hand off.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I imagine any WH fan trying to hold that up as a significant trophy would be widely mocked by any fellow London fans (Spurs and Chelsea fans in particular)

Who gives a shit what other clubs think, I bet West Ham fans had 2 quality seasons following the team to a EL semi final and then winning the conference league.

Football in 2024 - celebration police and worrying what other club fans think.

 

[Gazwag]

Jesus wept!

Two years ago if I’d have offered you a conference place you’d have snapped my hand off.

Absolutely.

If you offered me that in two years time I would snap your hand off

 

[Gazwag]

I imagine any WH fan trying to hold that up as a significant trophy would be widely mocked by any fellow London fans (Spurs and Chelsea fans in particular)

Not sure how Spurs fans could mock WH fans for winning A trophy

 

[Krafty]

In my opinion.

Having seen the levels of Roma last night, it is highly unlikely that we were ever going to win the Europa League. If we played at our best we could win a 2-legged tie against a side like that, but 3 times in a row? And then a final against Liverpool or someone? It was never going to happen.

Now, we have only 11 games left this season (plus the dead rubber next Thursday) and we are only one point off 8th, which could well be enough for a Conference League spot this year. With Pedro back there is absolutely no reason why we can't finish 8th. I think 8th would have been a real stretch if we'd have had a long run in the Europa League knockouts and the FA Cup. So while it feels like our season has fallen apart in 8 days, I genuinely think we are now more likely to be having European trips away next season than we were 8 days ago.

I'm trying to decide whether I actually believe this overly positive nonsense as I'm writing it, but there is definitely some logic in it. I think.

Yes, that should certainly be our target for the rest of the season.

I can never expect anything from Brighton, they may finish 6th/7th or 12th/13th. It really is unpredictable.

We have the potential to qualify for Europe again, it depends if the players have the desire to do so.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Technically our defeat last night has actually made it harder to qualify for Europe as it has made it slightly more unlikely that 8th place gets into Europe too.

 

[Dibdab]

Roma were totally beatable last night. We created big chances and gifted goals. A half decent organised team should beat them. And as for the others in the competition, top sides like Benfica drew at home to Rangers. Interestingly, Rangers manager was quoted after the game as saying anyone is beatable if you organise yourself properly....

 

[oldboyroy]

I get where you're coming from, but we need to come out of this current slump and FAST. Forest isn't a MUST win, but there are a lot of tough games after that, that we could lose even if we are playing a lot better than recently (and I say this as someone who recognises we are often better against the better sides).

A 3-0 (alright 3-1) on Sunday would be a chance to start fresh and focus on finishing the league campaign as well as possible. Get Barco right involved, he looks qualla.

Forest is must win to bounce back from last night, get some confidence back in the team and get 3 points to keep us in the mix. Agree with OP that with only the league to concentrate on(after next Thursday), playing 1 game a week and getting some of our injured players back will give us some chance of a top 7 finish. As for the conference league, too right I'd take it. No European football next season lowers our chances of being an attractive club to come too when we are looking in the summer.