Europa League

[OneTrueLegend]

I think the Europa League needs work; more good teams in it, less cannon fodder, smaller groups like the Champions League. Then, just maybe, it would generate more TV interest, better sponsorship, more money, etc.

That being said, I would be happy for Everton to be in it, because it does raise the overall profile of the club in europe

 

[andybaker]

dont think we have the squad capable of competing yet tbh.

See what happens in jan and how things look in the summer but atm were short of quality numbers.

Swansea will see prem results suffer imo...spurs spent £100m on players this summer...that should just about cover the extra half a seasons worth of games it needs to win the thing.

 

[Brownie]

I thought loads of people hated it?

I know there are many counter examples of teams winning it and then doing nothing, but you only have to look at Atletico to see what it can do. In 2009 they got into the group stage of the CL, got absolutely pummeled and dropped down into the Europa. They then beat Galatasaray, Sporting, Valencia, Liverpool and Fulham to win it, their first trophy since 1996. Now three years later they've already won it again, won the Copa, have one of the best managers in Europe and look like being one of the best teams in the CL this year. Being in the competition in 2009 was certainly worthwhile for them. Apart from the fan perspective that I've argued for ages, the possibility, however slight, of something like that happening to Everton surely makes it a good proposition for the club.

 

[micknick]

I thought loads of people hated it?

I know there are many counter examples of teams winning it and then doing nothing, but you only have to look at Atletico to see what it can do. In 2009 they got into the group stage of the CL, got absolutely pummeled and dropped down into the Europa. They then beat Galatasaray, Sporting, Valencia, Liverpool and Fulham to win it, their first trophy since 1996. Now three years later they've already won it again, won the Copa, have one of the best managers in Europe and look like being one of the best teams in the CL this year. Being in the competition in 2009 was certainly worthwhile for them. Apart from the fan perspective that I've argued for ages, the possibility, however slight, of something like that happening to Everton surely makes it a good proposition for the club.

Great post

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Only thing that's a bit naff about it is playing on Sunday all the time which means you miss the other good Sunday games. Also Sunday matches just aren't the same.

Definitely this.

 

[Khalekan]

Well, of course we want to be in the Europa League.

In the first instance it means we will have had a high finish in the league or won the F.A. Cup (or at least reached the Final and been beaten by a team which finished in the top four) at the end of this season.

But more importantly, the Europa League winners will be given a CL qualiying round place from the end of next season.

So not only will it give us extra games to go to, always a good thing IMO, but it will be a way into the CL.

I am all for being in the Europa League next season if we don't make the CL.

 

[Brennan]

I thought loads of people hated it?

I know there are many counter examples of teams winning it and then doing nothing, but you only have to look at Atletico to see what it can do. In 2009 they got into the group stage of the CL, got absolutely pummeled and dropped down into the Europa. They then beat Galatasaray, Sporting, Valencia, Liverpool and Fulham to win it, their first trophy since 1996. Now three years later they've already won it again, won the Copa, have one of the best managers in Europe and look like being one of the best teams in the CL this year. Being in the competition in 2009 was certainly worthwhile for them. Apart from the fan perspective that I've argued for ages, the possibility, however slight, of something like that happening to Everton surely makes it a good proposition for the club.

Is right Brownz

 

[radiostar]

I thought loads of people hated it?

I know there are many counter examples of teams winning it and then doing nothing, but you only have to look at Atletico to see what it can do. In 2009 they got into the group stage of the CL, got absolutely pummeled and dropped down into the Europa. They then beat Galatasaray, Sporting, Valencia, Liverpool and Fulham to win it, their first trophy since 1996. Now three years later they've already won it again, won the Copa, have one of the best managers in Europe and look like being one of the best teams in the CL this year. Being in the competition in 2009 was certainly worthwhile for them. Apart from the fan perspective that I've argued for ages, the possibility, however slight, of something like that happening to Everton surely makes it a good proposition for the club.

THIS. Absolutely spot on mate.

 

[radiostar]

I'm totally for it and have never understood the arguments against it. Only 4 teams can get into the CL, if that's all anyone aspires to then football is pretty pointless nowadays, and may as well just be treated as a business. European nights give different experiences, different places to go, great atmosphere.

I think the worry has always been that the extra games will get us into a relegation fight but that was under mr negative 'let's get to 40 points first' . I actually think we'd thrive off it - players, fans and manager.

My dad bought me up with Europe being the aim of domestic football - what a sad state of affairs that there's now only one relatively small (in numbers who can qualify) competition that people are interested in when there used to be three

Basically, apart from finishing top 4 (supposed 'success') everyone else is seen as failures, even the cup winners really because they are going into a 'Mickey mouse' competition. Money has completely polluted football - some teams would rather finish 6th than 5th to avoid the Europa and that is very sad

Another top post

 

[JamesN]

Getting off the train in Lisbon and seeing literally thousands of blues in the sun drinking and singing in Rossio Sq was one of the greatest experiences of my life, so the Europa is a big yes from me...!

 

[Jimboefc97]

The only reason the Europa league is **** is because we are not in it.

 

[tadpole]

Bloody love European week nights even if it is away to dynamo mentalist Plovdiv Moscow FC.

I second that emotion

 

[evertony]

Any European competition/games can only be good for a team in our position. It's about learning to play a different style and mastering different opposition. It gets our name across Europe.....again, what's bad about that?
For fans it's just fantastic. The chance to get away for a few days with fellow Blues, make new mates, have an absolute whale of a time and watch Everton in some great stadiums in foreign cities just can't be beaten. I did Nuremberg, Benfica, Liege, Brann, Lisbon and Alkmaar, unfortunately missed Kharkiv, Olympiakos, Fiorentina and Villareal....and the memories of those trips are priceless.

The sooner we have a repeat the better.

 

[West]

Would be brilliant IMO versing the lower euro teams would be brilliant for bringing in the young uns as well

 

[TraffordBlue]

My dream as an Evertonian would be to go to somewhere like the San Siro, Bernebau, Nou Camp or Allianz Arena watching Everton in Europe. Not likely at the moment with three of them (unless we were to get in the CL) but there is always the chance of one of those teams dropping down from the CL into the Europa League. We took 7,000 to Benfica, imagine how many we would take to the San Siro! Given how well we should have done in Europe in the 80's it's probably wrong that I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Benfica, despite getting hammered 5-0! You just can't beat going to a European City with thousands of other Evertonians.

It's not just us younger fans who have missed out on Europe either. Without going in to it too much, plenty of the older fans have missed out on watching us playing against Europe's elite because of the events in 1985.