The thing with the Europa League or Uefa Cup is that you'd expect the winners of that competition to push on in Europe. You think about the winners in recent years, Porto, Athletico, Shaktar and Zenit. These aren't bad teams but they didn't make that step up. For me, this shows the inherant quality difference between the two competitions and if some of those teams I mentioned had done better in the CL in recent years then I feel the Europa league would have a better standing. But it is a good competition, a bit drawn out now but there is quality.
That's a very good point. When you had the old style UEFA Cup (prior to 1993), you always felt that had the winners of that comp been in the European Cup they would have had a good chance of winning it. Nowadays, you think they would have been lucky to get out of the group stage. The gap between the two competitions has gotten much wider. Although the Europa is still worth winning imo.
I would say there is a difference between the two - even back in 2001 when the CL was pretty big you still had teams like Barca and Inter in the comp, as well as Roma, Porto, Celta and PSV who were all going well back then. Nowadays, with the exception of Utd and City, there are none of the top performing European teams in the EL. I'd still be happy if we won it, but not as happy as if we'd won the UEFA Cup back then cos the challenge just isn't as large.
You gotta remember is that these teams win it because of the lack of tougher competition because it is all in the CL, so playing EL is to the detriment of a club as they do not face the very best europe has to offer, thats why they don't push on, also winning the EL and getting into the league place to qualify for the CL are two completely different things to achieve
This, and also the best clubs in the EL are often more focused on qualifying for the CL or dong will in their league rather than actually winning the EL. Look at City last season - should've won the EL at a canter, but were too focused on ensuring they got the CL for this season. And this year both Utd and City will probably be more focused on winning the PL than the EL. In contrast, Fulham got really far in 09/10 cos they were mid table so the EL became the focus. It's often the team that takes the comp seriously that does better than the best teams in the comp.
Hi there, you dont know me and we have never spoken but I would like to offer you a nice warm glass of shut the **** up. Do you accept?
We weren't good enough this year for the CL and got knocked out. Why should be we just then go straight into the knockouts of a another competition? You get knocked out, you're out as far as I'm concerned. Some of the cubs in the EL have been in it since July, they shouldn't now have to deal with CL failures. Quite the opposite of being egotistical for me, I'm slightly embarrassed by being given an undeserved second comp to enter. I'd hope of we do get back into the CL we'd turn it down.
I do agree that once you get knocked out you shouldn't just jump competitions - but we don't make the rules. The way I see it is you're fortunate to be in a European cup so go out and win it. Completely agree that if you get back in the CL then that's a farce. Not sure on the whole story, is it likely you'll get back in?
I doubt it really, the Swiss FA have to punish Sion for fielding inelligable players in the EL. If they don't UEFA will ban Swiss clubs from Uefa competitions, hence letting us back in apparently. Like I said, I would hope we politely decline. As for the EL, we've got our hands full straight away but it is a good opportunity to blood some of our younger players in european games and then see how it goes I suppose. It's the european equivalent of the Carling Cup in that respect and we should give it a go but with a team that is designed to gain experience.
So basically they're like Frankie Cocozza and you're like Amelia Lily? But yeah - great experience for young players, and also a good chance for your team to win a trophy. At the end of the day, yeah it's not as prestigious as the CL but it's still a great cup that should be respected.
This is the trouble Sky, whilst everyone assumes it to be the UEFA cup, which was a great tournament, they've ****ed about with it so much it's now become a joke. If it were still the UEFA there is no harm having it in your cabinet but there's a stigma attached to this one, not least because a team that's failed in one comp can go on and win it.
Can't see it happening to be honest. The Swiss FA will have to back down or they'll get booted out of 2014 WC qualifying and all their sides will be out of Europe next season. FIFA have got CAS on their side, so the only hope for Sion is that they can get the EU to agree that their transfer ban is a restriction of trade. And if the EU do take the case on then FIFA will have to suspend the ban on Swiss clubs anyway and back down like they did over Bosman. So either way Basel will still be in the CL come February.
