European Credentials

[MalletFox]

I’ve seen some posters suggest that winning the Europa League is within our capability, others acknowledge that our lack of experience on the European stage has a tangible impact on our ability to progress beyond a certain stage of the competition (which is my view). 
 

I just wanted to put my 2 pence worth in and open the conversation as I find it interesting how fellow supporters set their own expectations.

 

In our last 3 European seasons, our overall record is  W10, D6, L6 … as per below:

 

21/22

Napoli - drew

Legia - lost

Spartak - won & drew

W1, D2, L1

20/21
Sparta Prague - drew & lost

Braga - won & drew

AEK Athens - 2 x won

Luhansk - won & lost

W4, D2, L2

 

16/17
Atletico - lost & drew

Sevilla - lost & won

Copenhagen - won & drew

Brugge - 2 x won

Porto - won & lost

W5, D2, L3

 

 

Last night was an obvious disappointment, Legia away was a flat & poor performance against a very average side. Last season we lost in the Ukraine to an incredibly poor Luhansk outfit who we trounced 4-0 in the fixture at the KP and subsequently deservedly exited the competition against Sparta Prague who deserved their win over 2 legs. Point being, we cannot and do not sustain anywhere near the levels of consistency in Europe to even remotely be considered “favourites”. It’s a pipe dream to suggest otherwise, I have no idea how the bookies come up with the odds at the start of the season.

 

Even if we finish 3rd and drop into the Europa Conference, I’m not sure I would back us to turn over the likes of Basel, Spurs, Slavia Prague, Feyenoord, Roma, Copenhagen over 2 legs either.

Anyway, on a positive note, that’s the end of my post! It’s not meant to be negative, just realistic …

[Spudulike]

Our recent Euro credentials are much better than West Ham's but they don't seem to be having a problem. 

[Dan]

I give us virtually no chance of either. People acting like we'd drop into the conference league and walk it are in for a rude awakening. We're routinely failing to see off sides with a small fraction of our budget in Europe.

 

Would be gobsmacked if we won the Europa League.

[CosbehFox]

31 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Our recent Euro credentials are much better than West Ham's but they don't seem to be having a problem. 

Their European campaign so far has very much been like ours was last season - let's see them against a team who are more organised and combative. 

[Pliskin]

It should be within our reach. And it’s not far fetched to suggest it is. 
 

We’ve beaten better in our league, we just generally can’t seem to get going so far this season. 
 

West Ham could win it, and would you have suggested until this season they’re better than us? 
 

It’s a competition that English teams should be winning year on year, as the teams in it aren’t much at all, I don’t know as a country we just don’t take it seriously enough hence why we rarely do well. 

[foxinsocks]

Just now, Pliskin said:

It should be within our reach. And it’s not far fetched to suggest it is. 
 

We’ve beaten better in our league, we just generally can’t seem to get going so far this season. 
 

West Ham could win it, and would you have suggested until this season they’re better than us? 
 

It’s a competition that English teams should be winning year on year, as the teams in it aren’t much at all, I don’t know as a country we just don’t take it seriously enough hence why we rarely do well. 

Lads, we dont deserve to go any further.

[Pliskin]

Just now, foxinsocks said:

Lads, we dont deserve to go any further.

I’m not saying we do, merely on paper we should be. It’s been another mess of a European tournament, and probably our last for a while. 

[foxinsocks]

Just now, Pliskin said:

I’m not saying we do, merely on paper we should be. It’s been another mess of a European tournament, and probably our last for a while. 

Agree.  It wont help retention and recruitment.

[Corky]

12 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Their European campaign so far has very much been like ours was last season - let's see them against a team who are more organised and combative. 

Plus you've got 8 teams dropping into it from the Champions League.

 

I don't see how anyone can be favourites now.

[Spudulike]

2 minutes ago, foxinsocks said:

Lads, we dont deserve to go any further.

Doesn't matter whether we deserve it or not. 

 

It should be easier to win the Europa League than the FA Cup given the standard of opposition. 

[MalletFox]

3 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

It should be within our reach. And it’s not far fetched to suggest it is. 
 

We’ve beaten better in our league, we just generally can’t seem to get going so far this season. 
 

West Ham could win it, and would you have suggested until this season they’re better than us? 
 

It’s a competition that English teams should be winning year on year, as the teams in it aren’t much at all, I don’t know as a country we just don’t take it seriously enough hence why we rarely do well. 

But why should it be within our reach? It’s a completely different kettle of fish to playing in the Prem I don’t understand where this confidence comes from when looking at our recent European performances.

 

West Ham won’t win it, absolutely no chance. People will get carried away because they’ve done well in the group stage but when the Champs League teams drop down and the better Europa League teams are infront of them I expect they will come up short like we will.

[purpleronnie]

2 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

It should be within our reach. And it’s not far fetched to suggest it is. 
 

We’ve beaten better in our league, we just generally can’t seem to get going so far this season. 
 

West Ham could win it, and would you have suggested until this season they’re better than us? 
 

It’s a competition that English teams should be winning year on year, as the teams in it aren’t much at all, I don’t know as a country we just don’t take it seriously enough hence why we rarely do well. 

I always think that's a cop out, every time an English team loses it's because they're not taking it seriously, they said that after Tottenham lost to vitesse, persih the thought that a little team from Holland could beat mighty spurs... nah it had to be because Tottenham didn't really care, then when an english team wins a game it's suddenly 'they can win the whole thing'.  

 

 

[coolhandfox]

A lot can change in football in a short space of time

 

If we can sneak through to the knockouts, who knows.

Edited 5 November 2021 by coolhandfox

[Foxxed]

1 hour ago, MalletFox said:

Anyway, on a positive note, that’s the end of my post! It’s not meant to be negative, just realistic …

Damn you and your negative realism!

 

Seriously though, our form is so patchy we’ll be lucky to get out the group.

 

Something needs to give us the kick up the arse, and it’s not been Evan’s return, nor Ndidi, and I don’t suppose Justin’s return will suddenly magic us into form.

 

I live in hope. But my expectations are rather low.

[weller54]

30 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

I give us virtually no chance of either. People acting like we'd drop into the conference league and walk it are in for a rude awakening. We're routinely failing to see off sides with a small fraction of our budget in Europe.

 

Would be gobsmacked if we won the Europa League.

I've got more chance of winning 'Mr Positivity 2021' 😂

[KrefelderFox666]

46 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

It should be within our reach. And it’s not far fetched to suggest it is. 
 

We’ve beaten better in our league, we just generally can’t seem to get going so far this season. 
 

West Ham could win it, and would you have suggested until this season they’re better than us? 
 

It’s a competition that English teams should be winning year on year, as the teams in it aren’t much at all, I don’t know as a country we just don’t take it seriously enough hence why we rarely do well. 

I predicted West Ham to do much better than us this season, so far they have in every aspect. Let's see if it's still the same in May but I rate them (even though a lot on here don't, or simply cannot accept that fact).

[Dan]

3 hours ago, Corky said:

Plus you've got 8 teams dropping into it from the Champions League.

 

I don't see how anyone can be favourites now.

The whole thing about us and Napoli being favourites was always a bit of a nonsense from the off. Can only judge favourites at the first knockout round draw.

[Corky]

43 minutes ago, Dan LCFC said:

The whole thing about us and Napoli being favourites was always a bit of a nonsense from the off. Can only judge favourites at the first knockout round draw.

We've performed poorly results wise in this group but I think we bought into the favourites thing a bit too much. The Europa League has trimmed a lot of the weaker teams into the Conference, it's a tougher competition than last season.

[leicesterseddon]

Like other English sides, we suffer from delusions about how good we are relative to the opposition.

 

Like last year, we seem to believe we have enough to breeze the group with either little effort or a reserve side (or both)

 

Last year’s campaign showed proved that and I fear we are going to learn the same lesson again 

 

 

[leicesterseddon]

Just now, leicesterseddon said:

Like other English sides, we suffer from delusions about how good we are relative to the opposition.

 

Like last year, we seem to believe we have enough to breeze the group with either little effort or a reserve side (or both)

 

Last year’s campaign proved that to be incorrect, and I fear we are going to learn the same lesson again 

 

 

 

[Paninistickers]

1 hour ago, Corky said:

We've performed poorly results wise in this group but I think we bought into the favourites thing a bit too much. The Europa League has trimmed a lot of the weaker teams into the Conference, it's a tougher competition than last season.

Agree. Though I assume there are lots like menwho felt the 'favourites' tag was preposterous. Not least as I doubt punters were queuing round the block for the high street bookies in Bucharest, Rouen, Pisa and more just to lump on us

[bovril]

5 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Doesn't matter whether we deserve it or not. 

 

It should be easier to win the Europa League than the FA Cup given the standard of opposition. 

Really? Teams can make a run to the semi finals of the FA Cup without ever playing someone very good.

 

Europa League contains some of the best teams in Europe many of whom haven't qualified for the CL partially because UEFA stacks the odds against their domestic leagues. You play far more games, midweek, often travelling long distances. 

 

Maybe the attitude of 5th in PL = favourites in Europe is one of the problems. 

Edited 5 November 2021 by bovril

[Lambert09]

It’s a weird statement but we are better suited to the champions league. 
 

it’s the teams that come to play dirty and park the bus that we can’t handle

Edited 5 November 2021 by Lambert09

[Aus Fox]

What does European Credentials even mean? You hear it thrown around a lot, but I can’t see how a good 3-0 win in Brugge 5 years ago could have any impact on a game away in Napoli this season.

[Vestan Pance]

11 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

What does European Credentials even mean? You hear it thrown around a lot, but I can’t see how a good 3-0 win in Brugge 5 years ago could have any impact on a game away in Napoli this season.

👍It's the sort of thing that media types like to talk about to make themselves sound knowledgeable. It's all a load of crap. You play the team in front of you, European competition is no different.