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Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:32 pm
by Shogun
I think it's easier to qualify for the Europa League, as an English club, through the Conference League than it is through the league and it gives you a year to get used to playing in Europe whilst be able to cruise through games against Irish and Lithuanian sides.
Europa League is still winnable but it does generally have stronger sides in it and it's more difficult to maintain league form in that competition.
Like Palace and Forest are both depending on winning the European competition to draw a line under this season and it's definitely easier for Palace to do that than Forest.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 5:16 pm
by AjaxAndy
Maybe all these dodgy team selections by Moyes is because he knows Europe would fuck us so he's throwing in McNeil in the hope of tanking the game, then having to watch him come off to a standing ovation after a really good performance

#conspiracytheory
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 5:46 pm
by blueToffee
I've no problem with Europe in any form, but it would require us to do a decent amount of business again this summer as the squad as it is (even with the players who don't often get a sniff) is still shy of what we'd need to play in Europe and the PL.
So as long as the funds were there, sure. If we had to play this season with EC mixed in too I think we'd be floating around the lower third of the league as I think a little like Howe's Newcastle we get by on a fair amount of running and effort and inevitably tiredness and injuries creep in when there are more games in the mix.
Would require Moyes to be happy to rotate a bit more too.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:28 pm
by kramer
Any step into Europe is good.
If we have any real long-term ambition, we have to be able to cope with the squad management required for multiple competitions.
The important thing was not mortgaging future spending ability on overpriced players to get there. Mission accomplished on that front, now it’s just a matter of picking up enough points.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 6:59 pm
by Audrey Horne
Escalator wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:06 pm
Swerve, there’s hardly any financial gain unless you win it, you can in fact
lose money, travelling to Azerbaijan or Tashkent for a Thursday night game. Focus on improving league performance and getting into Europa league at least.
Come on man!!
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 7:00 pm
by Audrey Horne
I want Europe. What's even the point of footy if we can't enjoy finishing in a place where we get Europe (in any form)
What's the alternative? Miss out and have a year challenging for top4?? It ain't going to happen lads.
Let's enjoy trips in Europe and make it normal again to be there
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 9:02 pm
by Trowel
I don't get this argument against Europe. We'll all be dead soon in the grand scheme of things - let's have a bit of fun while we can.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:10 pm
by Escalator
Think there have been enough convincing arguments for me to change my view on this, yeah, let’s get on the European bus !
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:16 pm
by Audrey Horne
Escalator wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:10 pm
Think there have been enough convincing arguments for me to change my view on this, yeah, let’s get on the European bus !
Get your passport sorted Esca!!!!

Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 11:57 pm
by TheRam
The conference league is a bit of a farce like.
I’d be fully involved if we were in it but I don’t think it would be looked back on as any great achievement when half the premier league will have won it over the next few years.
Would rank as a distant fourth in terms of the trophies we’ve won in our history.
If we’re 8th and have a chance at the Europa we need to go all out for it. Winning that would genuinely change the perception of the club and really push us forward.
That would go above winning the fa cup and cup winners cup for me.
Even though it’s still stacked massively in favour of the English clubs you’re still coming up against some very good teams and winning that is a huge achievement for a club like us.
Then go onto win the big one init.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 12:04 am
by TheRam
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/eu ... s-fixtures
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/eu ... s-fixtures
It’s weak europa league this year but it’s still miles ahead of the conference league.
I’d feel a bit shit I waited 30 years to see us lift a trophy and it was the conference league tbh
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 7:43 am
by Toddacelli
Any and all trophies are there to be won until you’re out. I’d be very happy winning any competition we’re in right now.
Also don’t understand people who think it would be a training exercise for youth team and fringe squad members. Play your strongest eleven and bring it home.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:10 am
by Cereal Killer
Toddacelli wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2026 7:43 am
Any and all trophies are there to be won until you’re out. I’d be very happy winning any competition we’re in right now.
Also don’t understand people who think it would be a training exercise for youth team and fringe squad members. Play your strongest eleven and bring it home.
Just arrogance, “we’ll beat all these shitty teams because I’ve not heard of them, so we can just play the kids”
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 9:13 am
by Shogun
If even our reserve players can't go through to Dundalk and win comfortably then something it wrong.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2026 9:22 am
by TheRam
Whole reason palace have dropped off this season is because glasner didn’t rotate in Europe.