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Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2026 11:20 am
by Escalator
Every time this thread is bumped into the top five we lose the next game.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2026 1:30 pm
by Nicco
So we need five stickies?
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:37 am
by Matt1878
Whats the feeling on here of Conference League? I assume people would be happy for the extra games, for pretty small revenues, given the impact on a small and developing squad, in terms of league position?
Last derby I was bickering with a red about this point, that its a buffer for teams to try and break the top 6 and this "Europe for all" approach, rather than the top 3 (like in the 80's,) just promotes the status quo for teams at the top each year. He was saying Everton should just be glad to be playing any sort of European football. I dont neccessarily disagree, but it came across as patronising and well, we were losing, so I just doubled down.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 11:24 am
by brap2
I want it and I want to win it.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 11:31 am
by Kerryblueboy
Wouldn’t it be better for our younger players to play in this competition next season rather then go out on some pointless loan use it as a development opportunity for the fringe and better younger players
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:06 pm
by Escalator
Matt1878 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:37 am
Whats the feeling on here of Conference League? I assume people would be happy for the extra games, for pretty small revenues, given the impact on a small and developing squad, in terms of league position?
Last derby I was bickering with a red about this point, that its a buffer for teams to try and break the top 6 and this "Europe for all" approach, rather than the top 3 (like in the 80's,) just promotes the status quo for teams at the top each year. He was saying Everton should just be glad to be playing any sort of European football. I dont neccessarily disagree, but it came across as patronising and well, we were losing, so I just doubled down.
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.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:12 pm
by Cereal Killer
Kerryblueboy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 11:31 am
Wouldn’t it be better for our younger players to play in this competition next season rather then go out on some pointless loan use it as a development opportunity for the fringe and better younger players
Rather say Aznou went and played 40 games somewhere rather than hang around to play 6 random European teams and maybe a couple of knockout matches
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:41 pm
by superpull
If this is a worthless trophy, then we've never won a worthwhile European title
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:44 pm
by brap2
My dream is Everton win the league, the cup, the champions league.
But playing smaller European competitions is part of that unless we make a titanic step change.
If you think Europe will impact your league position you recruit appropriately.
Would absolutely love to see us win the conference and the europa in our next ten years.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:56 pm
by AjaxAndy
Earlier on the season I argued against Europe, but now it's a distinct possibility I'm all in on it.
There's many benefits and many downsides, but I think given where we've been then to qualify for Europe is a huge success we'd need to embrace.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:19 pm
by Risky
Obviously would much rather the Europa League, but I'd still take the Conference League over not qualifying.
I think we'd be in position to recruit reasonably well to ensure our squad was capable of the extra matches, we'd have a decent chance of winning it, and it might be a bit of fun too.
Don't think we're in position to pick and choose ultimately anyway - should we throw the last game of the season if winning it means getting in the Conference League but we don't fancy it?
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:29 pm
by Escalator
Risky wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:19 pm
Obviously would much rather the Europa League, but I'd still take the Conference League over not qualifying.
I think we'd be in position to recruit reasonably well to ensure our squad was capable of the extra matches, we'd have a decent chance of winning it, and it might be a bit of fun too.
Don't think we're in position to pick and choose ultimately anyway - should we throw the last game of the season if winning it means getting in the Conference League but we don't fancy it?
No we wouldn’t throw a game to avoid it, if we qualify that’s fine but let’s not flog our top players to death, put out fringe players, one or two might make a break through.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:51 pm
by Bluedylan1
Absolutely take any kind of Europe whenever you can get it. With the massive gulf between resources in the Prem and the rest of Europe we'd immediately be favourites to win the Conference League, and if we got there, one of the favourites to win the Europa League.
Also gives you a chance to play the likes of Dibling, Aznou, Armstrong, maybe even Braiden Graham etc a lot more.
Also Moyes said we were rejected by a lot of our transfer targets last summer because we weren't in Europe in any capacity.
Would be a huge thing for the club moving forward.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:01 pm
by Shogun
Conference League should be a guaranteed trophy, so can't knock it really.
Re: The race for... Europe?
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:56 pm
by Matt1878
I do see Uefa cup as springboard to prep for CL, which proves you have a squad thats ready to compete.
I think that'll take longer than one more transfer window though and I expect our league form to suffer next season if we're in the conference. Speculating of course, but just how I see it, at this point in time. I dont see Davey as a big squad rotator, he'll flog them.