Europa (early but realistic)

[Blue Since 76]

I have a sneaky there is a bit more to it than that. Read somewhere City will 'gain' 20-23mil just from being in the CL group stage. I presume that is a grand total of TV, prize, match day revenue and sponsor extras and whatever else.. merchandise?

If there is fucl all for winning the Europa, there is still all the matchday and TV etc etc, although that too will be less obviously but would start to add up if you get as far as the final.

TV is channel 5 who haven't got a pot to piss in so they won't pay much. Attendances will be low for earlier rounds so City will reduce prices. Presume players get an additional win bonus as well so every game is a cost. Won't be any additional sponsorship payments either.

Could be an entertaining competition if UEFA hadn't decided to ruin it, particularly with the group stages. I'd we get to the quarters it'll start to look entertaining again, but it's still got less prestige than the old cup winners cup.

[ant london]

I'm actually quite looking forward to us having a run in the Europa.

The way I see it....look how difficult lots of the "Big 4" found things in the CL early doors. Sure we have a much much better squad than they did at the time and it is full of CL experience but it's lack of savvy re game craft (and some dodgy selections and bench use by Roberto) that has undone us.

We weren't going to win the CL this year, we could have gone out in the first knockout round. This way we get more games...and yes....as someone said they are not against the absolute best in Europe but we will develop further as a European side. We are 100% going to qualify for the CL again next season so we really haven't lost too much IMO.

Agree that we shouldn't be playing the likes of David Silva against "weaker" opposition after or before a tough league fixture but we have plenty of players and certainly enough quality to go all the way. I'd love to win another trophy and this is certainly not beneath us...a laughable thought that is

[carl_feedthegoat]

I'm actually quite looking forward to us having a run in the Europa.

The way I see it....look how difficult lots of the "Big 4" found things in the CL early doors. Sure we have a much much better squad than they did at the time and it is full of CL experience but it's lack of savvy re game craft (and some dodgy selections and bench use by Roberto) that has undone us.

We weren't going to win the CL this year, we could have gone out in the first knockout round. This way we get more games...and yes....as someone said they are not against the absolute best in Europe but we will develop further as a European side. We are 100% going to qualify for the CL again next season so we really haven't lost too much IMO.

Agree that we shouldn't be playing the likes of David Silva against "weaker" opposition after or before a tough league fixture but we have plenty of players and certainly enough quality to go all the way. I'd love to win another trophy and this is certainly not beneath us...a laughable thought that is

Its a fuckign shite cup competition at the best of times and even worse when you get knocked out of the CL and parachuted into that spakfest.Noone will be remotely interested in it barring a few.

[ant london]

haha....so you won't be watching any of the games then will you not then Mr Monterray?


It's not money I grant you that but it's a pot and I'd like us to win it. I'd prefer the Europa than the Carling but I'd just like us to keep winning, that alone will help us in the long run.

Also the final is in Bucharest and as I'll be based in central/eastern Europe by then I'd be able to get there easy peasy. So I'm one of the "few" I guess

[Alioune DVToure]

We should either properly go for it or completely fire it off. The half in/half out attitude never works.

That said, I'd play a full side in the semi and the final.

How could this affect our CL co-efficient for next season? Could getting to the last four boost us into pot 2 for the groups? I've no idea how it works.

[PeterParker]

Also the final is in Bucharest and as I'll be based in central/eastern Europe by then I'd be able to get there easy peasy. So I'm one of the "few" I guess

Speaking of this. Monday the tickets for the locals will be available only on the romanian federation site, the Vip section is 100 pounds, but here is the tricky part, the tickets will be available from 26 november untill 18 december. Only 3 weeks, then they will be put on sold 2 weeks before the final and only on the official site of the clubs that will play.

Is this normal? Was the same on when the final was on our ground? I am guttered to see this that you must buy the ticket only in this window and then if you want to stay with the fans of one of the team, you must buy only from their site, in april.

[Green & Blue]

Its not eaxactly the most exciting prospect at the end of our maiden champions league experience is it?

If we do end up in the competition at least we have avoided the monotony of the group stages, the standard of football is shocking to say the least.I have from past experience never minded watching the competition after the group satges, it does throw up the odd quality game.

I would hope that we use our key players sparingly (unless we meet the spuds)and take the competition as an opportunity to give squad players a chance to show what they can do.

[Tokyo Blue]

Its not eaxactly the most exciting prospect at the end of our maiden champions league experience is it?

If we do end up in the competition at least we have avoided the monotony of the group stages, the standard of football is shocking to say the least.I have from past experience never minded watching the competition after the group satges, it does throw up the odd quality game.

I would hope that we use our key players sparingly (unless we meet the spuds)and take the competition as an opportunity to give squad players a chance to show what they can do.

Serious question. Would you rather finish fourth?

[Green & Blue]

Its not eaxactly the most exciting prospect at the end of our maiden champions league experience is it?

If we do end up in the competition at least we have avoided the monotony of the group stages, the standard of football is shocking to say the least.I have from past experience never minded watching the competition after the group satges, it does throw up the odd quality game.

I would hope that we use our key players sparingly (unless we meet the spuds)and take the competition as an opportunity to give squad players a chance to show what they can do.

Serious question. Would you rather finish fourth?

What are you getting at with that serious question?

Just stating that the prospect of playing europa after champs league is hardly that exciting im sure plenty would agree with me.

[Tokyo Blue]

Its not eaxactly the most exciting prospect at the end of our maiden champions league experience is it?

If we do end up in the competition at least we have avoided the monotony of the group stages, the standard of football is shocking to say the least.I have from past experience never minded watching the competition after the group satges, it does throw up the odd quality game.

I would hope that we use our key players sparingly (unless we meet the spuds)and take the competition as an opportunity to give squad players a chance to show what they can do.

Serious question. Would you rather finish fourth?

What are you getting at with that serious question?

Just stating that the prospect of playing europa after champs league is hardly that exciting im sure plenty would agree with me.

I am asking if you would rather we finished fourth and went out of Europe completely. I said "serious question" so you wouldn't think I was taking the piss, which I am not.

[Green & Blue]

Its not eaxactly the most exciting prospect at the end of our maiden champions league experience is it?

If we do end up in the competition at least we have avoided the monotony of the group stages, the standard of football is shocking to say the least.I have from past experience never minded watching the competition after the group satges, it does throw up the odd quality game.

I would hope that we use our key players sparingly (unless we meet the spuds)and take the competition as an opportunity to give squad players a chance to show what they can do.

Serious question. Would you rather finish fourth?

What are you getting at with that serious question?

Just stating that the prospect of playing europa after champs league is hardly that exciting im sure plenty would agree with me.

I am asking if you would rather we finished fourth and went out of Europe completely. I said "serious question" so you wouldn't think I was taking the piss, which I am not.

Sorry i picked you up wrong mate.
Seriously i would rather we were 3rd not for the love of the europa or anything but i think it can be used as an outlet to keep squad members happy.Ultimately its another shot at silverware and if we did win the prospect of playing the champs league winners in the Super cup.

[Tokyo Blue]

Sorry i picked you up wrong mate.
Seriously i would rather we were 3rd not for the love of the europa or anything but i think it can be used as an outlet to keep squad members happy.Ultimately its another shot at silverware and if we did win the prospect of playing the champs league winners in the Super cup.

No problem, mate.

See, this is my view as well.

None of those pooh-poohing it now will be grumbling if we get to the semis. In fact I suspect they'll be leading the clamour for tickets.

[Dazzacity]

These people slating the Europa League. Lets see how uninterested you are if we make the final. I personally think we have enough quality to give some other players some playing time along with a few more experianced ones. It'll be great experiance for them and I actually really enjoyed watching us play in the UEFA and Europa. Im still wishfully thinking we will progress in the Champs League though.

[Slim]

These people slating the Europa League. Lets see how uninterested you are if we make the final. I personally think we have enough quality to give some other players some playing time along with a few more experianced ones. It'll be great experiance for them and I actually really enjoyed watching us play in the UEFA and Europa. Im still wishfully thinking we will progress in the Champs League though.

I don't think anyone was uninterested last time we were in it and all of the ridicule that the Europa league suffers is at the hands of the Sky4 and their media mouthpieces. Add to that the fact that our first time at bat we failed to deliver a result on par with Spurs, people are gonna say "fuck it" to the whole thing and that's coming across as uninterested.

Like you say, IF we end up there I would think that come QF/SF time that people will be looking towards booking a ticket to Bucharest.