NEWSNOWEuropa League, you’re avin a larf….
Martin O’Neil has come out and criticised the revamped Uefa cup for being far too convoluted and I for one agree with him.
How many of those fans actually advocating the virtues of qualifying for it have actually looked at the fixture congestion that is going to result? With our current squad and our record in terms of injuries I can see this becoming a really burdensome commitment. I can see no way that we are ready to sustain another successful league campaign and compete on this footing.The games schedule is as follows:
Third qualifying round, 1st leg 28/29.07.2009
Third qualifying round, 2nd leg 04/05.08.2009
Play-off round, 1st leg 18/19.08.2009
Play-off round, 2nd leg 25/26.08.2009
Group stage, Matchday 1 15/16.09.2009
Group stage, Matchday 2 29/30.09.2009
Group stage, Matchday 3 20/21.10.2009
Group stage, Matchday 4 03/04.11.2009
Group stage, Matchday 5 24/25.11.2009
Group stage, Matchday 6 08/09.12.2009
First knockout round, first leg 16/17/23/24.02.2010
First knockout round, second leg 09/10/16/17.03.2010
Quarter-finals, first leg 30/31.03.2010
Quarter-finals, second leg 06/07.04.2010
Semi-finals, first leg 20/21.04.2010
Semi-finals, second leg 27/28.04.2010
Final (Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid) 22.05.2010
Even if we do hold our end up over this additional 18 games, it is going to mean an absolute glut of Sunday fixtures in 09/10. Give me 3pm on a Saturday anytime! And, yes, I do realise that success inevitably leads to odd fixture KO times and dates. I just don’t see us ready for this one. Not yet.
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Disagree on several counts – (a) if we qualify there’s no way we’ll keep the squad the same size; (b) it’s a rather huge assumption that we’ll go all the way, it’s somewhat fanciful an idea…; (c) anyway it’s 17 games, not 18; (d) the two qualification games will be excellent pre-PL season games which will mean we have a better chance of starting the campaign running; (e) as long as we don’t get relegated then it’s a successful campaign as far as I’m concerned. I couldn’t swear to it but I’m not aware of a team that ever got relegated the same season as competing in the UEFA Cup; (f) It’ll be great experience for a young team; (g) hopefully we’ll see some great teams at Upton Park for a change rather than the mostly identikit and largely boring PL teams; (h) we’ll be better able to attract a higher standard of player. I’d say these are reasons enough to go for it.
agreed …. with our squad we are not ready for Europa – lets push up the league first
It is a big fixture, but then it applies to all clubs in Europe and most with a bigger burden financially then we have, we are lucky, we have an excellent youth academy to which this Europa league would be an ideal situation for them to gain experience and then play better football in the EPL.
At the end of the day its European football and that is what this club needs and with success in Europe come more money, more supporters and sooner or later a bigger and better club.
I want us badly to join the Europa league, Its good for West ham United, Zola, and the everybody who loves the Hammers.