Europa Conference League 2021-22: the Road to Tirana, Albania

[Saoirse]

So are the games on a Thursday and at same time as Europa League?

Also does BT Sport TV contract cover this tournament?

Yes* and yes.

*UEFA have a rule where two teams from the same city can't play at home at the same time. And the better-ranked side takes precedence for the normal timeslot. In the Playoff this doesn't matter since we're the only side from London, and in the Group Stage ourselves and West Ham will be drawn to be home on different matchdays. But come the first knockout, if us and West Ham are both drawn to play at home in the Europa or Europa Conference leagues in the same round, we'll be moved to a Wednesday 5pm slot by virtue of being the smaller club.

 

[Amo]

If any of you think the fact that we haven't won anything in ages means we should give this competition any respect at all then you're insane. This is not a trophy, this is a joke competition.

You think winning this would end our drought and get rival fans off our backs? It would make us into a meme - "Haha, Conference League!" they'll laugh at us. This is a loser competition for loser clubs and winning it just spotlights your position as a loser club. There is zero prestige or financial reward from winning the Conference League and I doubt our players will be arsed at all. It's not even like there are less games to play, there are 15 games that we'd need to get through to win it, risking injuries, fatigue and distractions from real competitions.

If there is a way we can decline our position or forfeit then we should do it. If not then only kids, reserves and players that need match fitness should be making the match day squads - first teamers should not be used at all, even in the latter stages, unless we're languishing in the bottom half and don't have any other prospect of qualifying for Europe. I'd even prefer our manager not to travel to away games and let someone else take charge if regulations allow it.

There's nothing to gain but plenty to lose from trying in this competition. Hope the club doesn't fall for it

No one said any of that, though. Which post are you responding too, specifically?

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

Update: Roma back in

 

[Seafordian Spurs]

So in terms of the entrants from big leagues it could yet be:

England: Spurs
Spain: Nobody, if Villarreal win the Europa
Germany: Union Berlin
Italy: Sassuolo
France: RC Lennes

Biggest other teams being Basel, Copenhagen, Viktoria Plzen and Feyenoord.

This is a big oppourtunity.

Enter Dr Tottenham, PhD in Spursy etc etc

 

[topper]

What do you get for winning it??

A cup?

 

[Amo]

So in terms of the entrants from big leagues it could yet be:

England: Spurs
Spain: Nobody, if Villarreal win the Europa
Germany: Union Berlin
Italy: Sassuolo
France: RC Lennes

Biggest other teams being Basel, Copenhagen, Viktoria Plzen and Feyenoord.

This is a big oppourtunity.

Bigger teams than I expected tbf.

 

[Saoirse]

What do you get for winning it??

A trophy, a bunch of UEFA Coefficient points, up to £30m or slightly more in TV and prize money, and a spot in the Europa League.

 

[Northernspurs]

Does winner get in champion league

 

[chrissivad]

So are the games on a Thursday and at same time as Europa League?

Also does BT Sport TV contract cover this tournament?

BT still have the rights to all CL, Europa and conference league games

When are the games?
The UEFA Europa Conference League fixtures will take place on Thursdays along with UEFA Europa League games (though the final in Tirana will be a week after the UEFA Europa League final in Sevilla on 18 May 2022). The matches of the two competitions will in principle be equally split between the two time slots: 18:45 CET (no longer 18:55) and 21:00 CET.

 

[Chello90]

 

[danielneeds]

This has got to be a way of toughening up the likes of Scarlett, Devine, Cirkin and others next season. Get them playing men’s football in tought conditions alongside some other senior pros

 

[Marty]

If any of you think the fact that we haven't won anything in ages means we should give this competition any respect at all then you're insane. This is not a trophy, this is a joke competition.

You think winning this would end our drought and get rival fans off our backs? It would make us into a meme - "Haha, Conference League!" they'll laugh at us. This is a loser competition for loser clubs and winning it just spotlights your position as a loser club. There is zero prestige or financial reward from winning the Conference League and I doubt our players will be arsed at all. It's not even like there are less games to play, there are 15 games that we'd need to get through to win it, risking injuries, fatigue and distractions from real competitions.

If there is a way we can decline our position or forfeit then we should do it. If not then only kids, reserves and players that need match fitness should be making the match day squads - first teamers should not be used at all, even in the latter stages, unless we're languishing in the bottom half and don't have any other prospect of qualifying for Europe. I'd even prefer our manager not to travel to away games and let someone else take charge if regulations allow it.

There's nothing to gain but plenty to lose from trying in this competition. Hope the club doesn't fall for it

You're saying players who have never won anything will not want to win the tournament.

I don't want players with that mentality playing for the club.

 

[chrissivad]

Does winner get in champion league

No

What do the winners get?
The winner will gain a place in the following season's UEFA Europa League group stage if they have not qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their domestic competition.

 

[wrd]

I think it's pretty simple,

Each week you figure out 15 or so players you wish to be part of your first team plans and they train as if it's 1 game a week with the prem and they simply do not travel for this tournament abroad. You play the 5-7 or so players (depending on squad size) who are part of the first team but are rarely making an appearance off the bench along with giving the likes of Scarlett, John, Devine and others the opportunity to play with those first team players. You do not spend any time preparing specifically on the training pitch for these games.

If it were up to me, the manager would not be travelling for these games and he would prioritise the league. Once you get to the semi finals or so then depending how the league is going you can adjust accordingly.

 

[freeeki]

The biggest teams I can see in the competition are Basel, Feyenoord, Qarabag, Aberdeen, Hibs, LASK, Villarreal...

We really should be trouncing this

 

[punky]

Sort of a no win situation. If we go out we are a laughing stock. If we win it, we will likely be a laughing stock.

Having said that. Should really be considered among the favourites to win it, so best do so.

In addition to what others said before, the last time UEFA created a new lower European trophy we were the inaugural winners, so would be nice to be the inaugural winners for this too.

 

[Saoirse]

Sort of a no win situation. If we go out we are a laughing stock. If we win it, we will likely be a laughing stock.

Having said that. Should really be considered among the favourites to win it, so best do so.

We're a laughing stock for having come 7th behind West Ham after being top in December, we may as well at least bag a trophy out of it.

 

[King of Otters]

The absolute scenes when we get dumped out by a team of Lithuanian farmers in the quarter finals.

 

[wrd]

What I don't understand and maybe somebody can clarify for me is that usually we've had 3 teams in the Europa league from England in recent years? Has the numbers in the Europa League been reduced?

 

[bubble07]

Does winner get in champion league

Gets the world cup