Europa League 2015/2016

[Fox92]

nothing special about their fans. just cos they belt out YNWA in stoppage time (pretty much the only time in any match they really get going) doesn't make them stand out. 

 

a lot of Liverpool fans carry a lot of unnecessary arrogance these days.

I was talking about their numbers and their flags, didn't even bring up what they sing. Although song wise, now you've brought it up, both Liverpool & Manchester United are ahead of everyone too.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

So it starts in August with 100+ teams, countless matches to play and in the end Sevilla win it.

Any idea what they're starting odds were anyone?

[foxes_rule1978]

Wouldn't want us in this next season, hope we don't finish 3rd it is a poor competition, the fact the two teams contesting the final aren't even in the top four of their respective leagues just alludes to how bad it is. Too many tinpot matches and odd locations as well throughout. Goes on way too long.

When it was the UEFA Cup purely knockout it was a better competition

[Jimothy]

Congratulations to Sevilla.

To win it three times in a row is a ****ing massive achievement.

Well sort of, in the same way Chelsea winning it the year after they won the CL was an achievement. It's an achievement because of failure, failure to progress in the champions league. Surely Sevilla have to build on champions league qualification rather than bowing out early year after year and then winning the second tier title.

[foxes161]

Sevilla were class in 2nd half

[m4DD0gg]

Tbf both the champions league and Europa league need restructuring. Both fairly shit competitions.

[Guest Manini]

Well sort of, in the same way Chelsea winning it the year after they won the CL was an achievement. It's an achievement because of failure, failure to progress in the champions league. Surely Sevilla have to build on champions league qualification rather than bowing out early year after year and then winning the second tier title.

Good point. But to be fair for a team that gets ripped apart every summer by European giants I think continuously winning a European competition is pretty good going.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Well sort of, in the same way Chelsea winning it the year after they won the CL was an achievement. It's an achievement because of failure, failure to progress in the champions league. Surely Sevilla have to build on champions league qualification rather than bowing out early year after year and then winning the second tier title.

What do you get to hold up for going out in the Quarters / Semis of a competition? Do you get an opened top bus ride for that?

It's winning things that counts!

[foxes161]

Wouldn't want us in this next season, hope we don't finish 3rd it is a poor competition, the fact the two teams contesting the final aren't even in the top four of their respective leagues just alludes to how bad it is. Too many tinpot matches and odd locations as well throughout. Goes on way too long.

When it was the UEFA Cup purely knockout it was a better competition

It isn't poor

There's a lot of quality teams in it. League positioning isn't exactly a factor in knockout comps

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Tbf both the champions league and Europa league need restructuring. Both fairly shit competitions.

Like making the Champions League a League... for just Champions!

But they won't do that - it's exclude too many box office teams.

[Danizen]

Wow, I've not seen a second half collapse like that since Fabrice Muamba.

[Manwell Pablo]

It probably doesn't influence the ref so sure, doesn't deserve a yellow, but it is so annoying to watch players do it, especially when they as you say have no idea who it hit last.

Then again, isn't it just a "natural reaction" to go to ground if you feel any contact inside the penalty area?

Lengthy debate on the table here and In a very rare occurrence for me I can't be bothered I'm afraid

[foxes_rule1978]

It isn't poor

There's a lot of quality teams in it. League positioning isn't exactly a factor in knockout comps

It is, there are a lot of very poor teams... not all obviously but because of the size of the competition you play in some odd locations against minnows at times

[Jimothy]

What do you get to hold up for going out in the Quarters / Semis of a competition? Do you get an opened top bus ride for that?

It's winning things that counts!

Do they want to grow? Do they want to build on success and become better and maybe win a bigger competition? If they're just going continue doing the same thing every year, they might as well do a Sunderland and avoid the drop every year. Yes it's nice to win a trophy, but what's the point in continuingly doing so if you're just going to stagnate and not build on it.

[foxes161]

It is, there are a lot of very poor teams... not all obviously but because of the size of the competition you play in some odd locations against minnows at times

Maybe at the start but in the knockout? There are plenty of very good teams. Liverpool knocked out a few of them

[foxes_rule1978]

Maybe at the start but in the knockout? There are plenty of very good teams. Liverpool knocked out a few of them

My point being the UEFA Cup was better for that reason they should go back to fewer teams and just knockout

[Manwell Pablo]

It is, there are a lot of very poor teams... not all obviously but because of the size of the competition you play in some odd locations against minnows at times

Odd comment regarding either team not being top four.....competitions a second tier European cup much in the way the UEFA cup was. Doesn't make it poor......you handed me Europa league football in August id of been delirious, as most of our fans would have been suspect.

[AKCJ]

Michael Owen reckons players will only go to Barcelona or Real Madrid over Liverpool.

 

Deluded.

[foxes_rule1978]

Odd comment regarding either team not being top four.....competitions a second tier European cup much in the way the UEFA cup was. Doesn't make it poor......you handed me Europa league football in August id of been delirious, as most of our fans would have been suspect.

Not that odd, teams can be in the competition and even win their league... it is a poor competition not because of that but it bloody drags on and on which takes away from it more. Sevilla haven't improved despite their wins and get knocked out of the CL group stages regularly. When the champions league was smaller and the UEFA Cup both were far better competitions in terms of quality and entertainment.

[Izzy]

Tbf both the champions league and Europa league need restructuring. Both fairly shit competitions.

How about this for an idea.....the teams who win their domestic league goes into the premier European knockout competition, let's call it The European Cup. The teams that finish 2nd and 3rd go into a different knockout competition, let's call this the UEFA cup. And finally the winners of each countries main domestic cup competition all go into a different knock out competition, and let's call this one The Cup Winners Cup. Just a thought.....

[Manwell Pablo]

Not that odd, teams can be in the competition and even win their league... it is a poor competition not because of that but it bloody drags on and on which takes away from it more. Sevilla haven't improved despite their wins and get knocked out of the CL group stages regularly.

One team, athletico would be my answer to the not improving point. Kicked on massively after winning it in 10 and 13.

I'll admit the format is a little draw out, they should halve the qualification places or go back to straight knockout. I still don't like people belittling it, I'd be happy to win it even without the cl place which I think gives the competition more credibility.

[foxes_rule1978]

How about this for an idea.....the teams who win their domestic league goes into the premier European knockout competition, let's call it The European Cup. The teams that finish 2nd and 3rd go into a different knockout competition, let's call this the UEFA cup. And finally the winners of each countries main domestic cup competition all go into a different knock out competition, and let's call this one The Cup Winners Cup. Just a thought.....

Sounds perfect

[Stadt]

It's silverware, I'd much rather win the Europa League once than go out of the knock out stages of the CL every season

[Izzy]

Sounds perfect

It was perfect. But my rose tinted specs and memories of English teams in European finals during the 70's and 80's is probably clouding my judgement...

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Do they want to grow? Do they want to build on success and become better and maybe win a bigger competition? If they're just going continue doing the same thing every year, they might as well do a Sunderland and avoid the drop every year. Yes it's nice to win a trophy, but what's the point in continuingly doing so if you're just going to stagnate and not build on it.

That comment might be fair where a club plays in a league that dishes out prize and TV rights money in a reasonably fair structured way like the Premier League - but when you consider what a monopoly the Spannish League is for the big three (was two) and the relative size of Sevilla as a club, the achievement stands in a much better light.

Lots of Spannish clubs have to do a lot just to stand still - like Villereal, who were a revelation for a period and then ended up getting relegated.