What the hell is the Europa League?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Is it a handball tournament for any 'soccer' clubs in Europe's top leagues who finish between 8th and 20th spot just to give them something do over the summer? Is it the Intertoto Cup in all but name?!?!?!

 

[Hiney]

It's what we now know as the UEFA Cup isn't it?

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

No its the new name for the UEFA cup although the handball tournament would probably be more interesting

 

[Brian Fantana]

It's what we now know as the UEFA Cup isn't it?

That's what I thought as well.

 

[murraymints4brighton]

It's what we now know as the UEFA Cup isn't it?

Yes. But i think we can assume the winner will be the winner of a league as opposed to the current league then knockout format.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

It's what was originally the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a competition between cities in Europe that have annual trade fairs. Strange but very true.

 

[The Large One]

It's what was originally the European Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a competition between cities in Europe that have annual trade fairs. Strange but very true.

And for that very reason why Newcastle United qualified in 1968, despite finishing 10th.

 

[Napper]

Uefa cup has been ruined and now only matters from 1/4 finals onwards.
Why oh why they f***ed about with the formats thinking it would improve things is beyond me

 

[Paxton Dazo]

f*** knows, but we're going to be in it next season.

 

[Mendoza]

Its going to be some shit tournament where every Premier League club will be proud to qualify for it at the end of this season. Then play in it next season, think its shit, field weakened teams and try and get knocked out so that they can concentrate on qualifying for the next seasons Europa League, by proudly qualifiying for it with their place in the Premier League

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Think yourself lucky. the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup originally took three years to complete.

They could give the competition a greater incentive to win by giving the winners two Champions League places, one for each of the next two years. No need for the league structure....

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Its going to be some shit tournament where every Premier League club will be proud to qualify for it at the end of this season. Then play in it next season, think its shit, field weakened teams and try and get knocked out so that they can concentrate on qualifying for the next seasons Europa League, by proudly qualifiying for it with their place in the Premier League

Nail on head. That post should be framed and hung on a wall in Martin O'Neill's office

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

fascinating sport handball, very popular here.

I saw an attack once where the forward didn't score!

 

[Wardy]

I saw an attack once where the forward didn't score!

Like our forwards most of the season then.

 

[Storer68]

Uefa cup has been ruined and now only matters from 1/4 finals onwards.
Why oh why they f***ed about with the formats thinking it would improve things is beyond me

more games = more tv money

 

[GT49er]

It's the UEFA Cup (formerly the Fairs Cup) and the European Cup Winners' Cup, two competitions that used to matter, bunged together to make a horrible mess.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Bring back the Anglo-Italia Cup, I say.

 

[Paxton Dazo]

Bring back the Anglo-Italia Cup, I say.

Anglo-Italian League Cup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Another cup we've won.