[Albion] Which ranks higher in all time greatest achievemens?

[jamie (not that one)]

Getting into Europe. Some really crap clubs get promoted to the prem but you have to be very, very good to finish in the top 6.

Honestly I never thought I'd see either in my lifetime, but I also predicted covid would be over in a few weeks so never listen to me is the moral of the story.

 

[Curious Orange]

Well, we've been promoted to the top tier of English football twice. In ten seasons of top flight football we've only finished in the top half of the division twice, and this is the only time we've finished high enough to qualify for a European competition.

So, yes, qualifying for the Europa League ranks as a higher achievement.

 

[Reddleman]

If it’s ‘greatest achievements’ then it has to be Europa League, not sure how it’s really a debate.

1. A large number of smaller clubs have won promotion to the PL.
2. A very small proportion of them have qualified for EL via a league position of sixth.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Qualifying for Europe is the greatest achievement: you’ve got to be good to get promoted to the Premier, but to qualify for Europe you’ve got to be better

 

[oldboyroy]

Europe all day long for me. To finish the 6th best team in the land playing the sublime football we do is simply unreal. Considering the level of spending we have compared to most also beggars belief. Add to that the turmoil we were put through back in September with barely no one left!

 

[MJsGhost]

NSC on a laptop is a far better experience and easier to type replies.

Less comfy in my pocket though

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Less comfy in my pocket though

True NSC masters strap their laptop to their head so it occupies 90% of their vision wherever they go.

 

[studio150]

Europe, given that its been achieved by finishing 6th.

Given the established PL top 6 is difficult to break into, any European dream until now was probably down the cup route.

Getting into the PL was fun, but was it any different to getting promoted to the old Division 1 in 1979.

 

[BN41Albion]

Burnley have also been promoted

So have the likes of Swindon and Oldham!

 

[Bodian]

Pointless hypothetical question - we'll never achieve either (Bodian, c.2005).

 

[BN41Albion]

Has to be 6th and Europa Lge for me considering how we've done it: very little spent on players no-one else had heard of before joining us, comparatively low wage structure, lost our manager and entire coaching staff in September and replaced them with a management team on absolutely no other club in England's radar, playing absolutely incredible football changing the landscape of how football can be played, teenagers at BHA scored over 50% of the total goals scored by teenagers by ALL other clubs combined... feel like I could go on...

Its absolutely mental - still cant get my head around it.

Reaching 6th considering the above for me all day long

 

[The Grockle]

We achieved promotion with a healthy budget on the back of some eye watering losses if I remember correctly.

Our transition to a top six finishing side has been done on a tiny budget compared to our rivals with key players, who in premier league terms, cost a pittance. Our wage bill (if reported accurately) is half of Aston villa's and less than 20% of Chelsea's.

Being close to a champions league finish with the 2nd lowest wage bill in the league is phenomenal and arguably ranks as one of the greatest achievements in the modern era of top flight football.

 

[kuzushi]

If it’s ‘greatest achievements’ then it has to be Europa League, not sure how it’s really a debate.

It's true. If for some reason you're going to say that promotion to the PL is a greater achievement, then someone can come along and using that reason say, "Ah, actually promotion from League One to the Championship was a greater achievement because of whatever," and then someone else can come along and say, "Well, actually, when we went from League Two to League One, given the circumstances or whatever, that was actually the greatest thing this club has ever done."

 

[dangull]

Europa League is the bigger achievement for the reasons that people have given.
Promotion is more important financially for the club though, and was the platform that made this incredible season possible.