Really, is it worth it? Wonga nation don't seem to think so.. The fat controller and his rather elegant side kick are working their socks of to bring glory nights to the lost souls up in NE1. How do they repay these kind generous fellas? 21,632.for a glory night of European football. Why is this? They usually have a smashing crowd.
They were already pretty much qualified, I suspect. The extra games seem to be taking a toll on their squad now, though.
A nothing Euro League game which is the blight of these daft qualifiers. Interesting from next round on.
They need to revert back to The Uefa cup and have it a straight forward knock out competition. At the minute it is de valued as a watered down Champions League. it would hit us hard squad wise but any Sunderland fan would love to qualify for it.
I'd love to have the option to get injuries - it's extra income at the end of the day for the club and will attract better players to us! But it is killing them as Jacky says and I have no doubt it'd do the same to us! Unfortunately the UEFA cup is the league cup of Europe as in it's been completely devalued by the champions league (in the early stages) - stioll - it'd be a nice problem to have
It's only really last night that they've played any first teamers from the start. So it really shouldn't have had too bad an effect on the first team squad. They're just a bit piss at the moment. Quick look down Bruges away Krul, Collo and Tiote (who's suspended in the league) Bruges home Taylor, Tiote, Cisse Bordeaux home, Cabaye, Tiote, Cisse Maritmo Away Taylor Atrocious Home, Krul, Collo, Ba Atrocius Away Cisse
Cant believe some of the comments! Why struggle to get a cup victory or into the top 6 or 7 if not to go to the next level - Europe? Yes it's a drain on resources and lets not kid ourselves - we wont fill the ground every game either. The only meaningful games we have played in Europe was nearly 40 years ago. Fortunately for me I was at the home legs. Had me hurrumph now! x
I think we'd all like to be in it, but having six games to decide who goes through to the knockouts is daft.
As billy said the Prize money is crap you can attract players because you are in it, but doesnt mean you can actually pay for them.
Europa league is complete and utter bull. Rangers got to the final and lost £1m (that's what they said anyway). Not sure what Fulham made/lost. I consider myself a bit of a knowledgeable football fan but I haven't even heard of some of some of the crap teams in it (I mean Newcastle, who the hell are they) LOL. Would rather finish 6/7 (baring 1 /4 of course) every year and stay clear. Only one organisation making money out of it and we can guess who they are. Bent bastards.
Bloody hell man, most of us go to home games and most of us will have been to away games in the UK. Who wouldnt love for SAFC to be involved in European cup competition albeit not the greatest?? Slight hint of jealousy when the smellies had a day out in Bruge the other week. As said above it was 40 years ago we last played in Europe, before my time, so just to have 1 season playing teams abroad is still a slight dream!
Absolutely cannot believe what I'm reading here. If you're in the Europa league it's because: a) you've finished 5th in the Prem or b) you've won a cup. Therefore, I'd ****ing love it for Sunderland AFC to be in the Europa league. That's success that we've not had since '73. If we played a bunch of kids/reserves in the group we'd steer clear of injuries - of course the flip side of that is you might not qualify for the more glamorous knock-out ties anyway. If we're in a European cup, whichever cup, I want us to put a team out there to win it. Because you might have a bloody long time to wait before you get the chance again.
I'd just like to see the format changed back. if it were straight knockout and no CL drop downs it would have much more spice.
That rule is just ridiculous and just devalues the Europa. "here you weren't good enough to play in our proper competition, but you can play in this two bit one we also run". Then look at what Man U did? They didn't even think it was worth the hassle and was below them. UEFA are a bunch of ****ing ******s and couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. Mind I also think the Champions League should be for actual 'Champions' so what do I know. Its all about the money!
