I agree it would allow more focus on a bid to qualify for the Europa League - but win it (probably easier than finishing 6th) and you do that anyway, plus have a lot of fun on the way. Wallet permitting!I’d love the Conference next season, obviously. Can’t believe anyone wouldn’t. But a season with no Thursday football would probably make it easier for us to push for Europa League again in two seasons with a more experienced team and possibly new coach.
My bank balance also says “gap season”!
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[Albion] We now have a BETTER chance of playing in Europe next year
- Thread starter Commander
- Start date
Yep, this. If it happens, great but if not then that’s fine. We shouldn’t expect to qualify every season…….whether we do or not may define some of the summer transfer activity though as TB/PB will have learned from this season.I’d love the Conference next season, obviously. Can’t believe anyone wouldn’t. But a season with no Thursday football would probably make it easier for us to push for Europa League again in two seasons with a more experienced team and possibly new coach.
My bank balance also says “gap season”!
Exactly. We’ll probably have in/out of Europe and with / without RDZ options up our sleeves.
Not that it will always come off. Finished off the DULLARD’S book on the plane home. The bits in there about European football and transfers are highly informative. Precis - you can’t always get what you want,
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
A realistic chance of a major trophy. I’d take a tilt at the Conference everyday of the week - winning it is Europa League the following season. Can’t believe people wouldn’t take a go at it!?Doesn't seem to have distracted West Ham last season and Villa this. It's still Europe and more winnable than Europa League.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Sudden changes in form are what we seem to have. We’ve beaten ManUtd at OT, Spurs at home, Arsenal may well be having title jitters by the time they visit - we are a team that can struggle to beat a poor Sheff Utd side at home, but rip Spurs a new one.
I mean with my glass half full and a great run - 20 points, getting us toward the 60 mark. Doesn’t feel possible right now but couple of wins, no more distractions…
Hometownglory
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2014
- 647
I would be well up for conference league and delighted if we got there. It's a huge achievement for us any season, let alone this season with all the injuries. In my view, we could actually win the conference league which makes it more exciting.
Agreed.
Also, those saying we wouldn’t be able to cope with Europa Conference given how we’ve struggled this season - this has been the worst season for injuries I can remember in my lifetime as a Brighton fan. By some way.
Chances are we wouldn’t be half as unlucky next season.
By becoming regulars in Europe you also adjust, you know you need an extra couple of players and have a higher budget for it.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
With a 100% fit squad we could win the Europa league Roma would have been a different game with Mitoma and Pedro firing on all cylinders.
Hometownglory
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2014
- 647
I take your point. However, I feel getting conference is still exciting and a massive achievement. It's typical that the biggest season in our clubs history has been ravaged by the worst injury list we have had since being in the prem. The other side of that is that if we did somehow manage to get Europe again, the club will hopefully learn from this season in terms of squad depth.
Terry Connor
Active member
- Oct 21, 2022
- 131
Given we're never realistically going to win the League, then for me the main purpose of the season is to finish high enough to qualify for Europe. I struggle with the logic of those saying they don't want to qualify so we can concentrate on the League. I do realise it means extra games and pressure on squad/injuries but hey it's been a complete blast this season, win, lose and draw
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- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,221
It definitely did distract West Ham last season, they finished 14th, from 6th the previous season.Doesn't seem to have distracted West Ham last season and Villa this. It's still Europe and more winnable than Europa League.
Doesn't seem to have distracted West Ham last season and Villa this. It's still Europe and more winnable than Europa League.
Finishing 14th. in the league and winning the Conference? I'd take that any day! It would rate as our best season ever for me!
Baldseagull
Well-known member
I think the OP is being a bit premature, we are still in the Europa League currently.
kemptown kid
Well-known member
- Apr 17, 2011
- 362
Of course winning any major trophy would be our best ever. Worth noting that West Ham finished last season on 40 points and we have 39 already with 11 to play. In terms of league form we have coped much better than them, at our first time of asking and minus £150m of midfield talent, with the challenge of Thursday night Euro action and have had some fantastic afternoons and nights along the way - Spurs, Man U, Palace, Ajax, Marseille, AEK. At no point have we been relegation threatened. Injuries hard to cope with, but let's enjoy the rest of one of the top 2 most succesful top level seasons we have ever had.
There is perfect logic in it, but first we need to come through the home Roma game and roll over without exerting ourselves and not picking up anymore injuries.
Should we play all the kids? Can't see Roberto give it to them on a plate.
Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo
I believe in Joe Hendry
- Oct 4, 2003
- 12,063
This is West Ham's third straight season playing European football.
They finished 6th in the 20-21 season to qualify for the Europa League. The following season they finished 7th, they also got to a Europa League semi final. So it’s not necessarily European football causing their drop off in the league last season given they coped the season before and are in contention in the league again this season.
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