UEFA Conference League 2024/25

Jezpeza said:
Whats the point of this competition? Bar 3 or 4 sides it looks weaker than the johnstones paint trophy.
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What's the point of any tournament at any level then? Should we just stick to top level football and not organise any competition for any level lower than the absolute elite? Why bother having structured leagues below the Championship?

Chelsea being in this obviously highlights the immense gap between a club like Chelsea, a good CL level team and the teams that compete in the third tier European football. Take Chelsea out, and it's a good competitive competition mostly between clubs at the same level, which is what you'd want from a competition.
 
Chipper said:
The financials must be great for the minnow teams too. Just hope it doesn't mean they absolutely start annhilating their domestic leagues as a result.

I like the overall spirit or vibe of it.
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It was mentioned on the commentary last night that Shamrock Rovers have earnt over 7m euro during their run in the conference league so far, which will only increase now that they've qualified for the playoffs. I imagine that is an unprecedented amount for them. I was looking around to gauge their annual financials and saw that they made 800k from Europe and transfers in 2023, so this run they've been on this season has been unbelievable for them.
 
Jezpeza said:
Whats the point of this competition? Bar 3 or 4 sides it looks weaker than the johnstones paint trophy.
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But it is competitive. As we have now seen six matchdays in all three European competitions we can compare their tables and have a look at how the points are distributed among the teams:
CL Top 8111
CL Bottom 836
EL Top 8107
EL Bottom 1247
ECL Top 8107
ECL Bottom 1251

Also if you look at the points needed to qualify directly or for the playoffs it's right on par with the other competions. CL 13/8, EL 11/7, ECL 11/7. The ECL even is the only competition which has no team sitting on 0 points.

Even if we ignore the actual level of the clubs participating in it, it is a very good and tight competition. Chelsea obviously is an outlier and most likely will win it, but this format gives a lot of clubs the opportunity to experience great European adventures.
 
It's been more fun than the recent Europa League campaigns. I think that we've played a totally different team has made it more interesting for me.

That he's actually using our squad is a big plus point for Maresca.

 
Jezpeza said:
Whats the point of this competition? Bar 3 or 4 sides it looks weaker than the johnstones paint trophy.
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You have no idea how much it means to supporters of smaller clubs to have these European nights. My local club is playing a decent role this season in the Conference League and it's been tremendously enjoyable, as the atmosphere has mostly been incredible for home games and the revenue stream helps building a better team and keeping the best players. It may not be the Premier League, La Liga or even Champions League, but it's decent, affordable and with – at many places – an atmosphere most major clubs can only dream of.
 
Facundo Pellistri going with Panithinaikos to Iceland. He's worth more than the entire Víkingur squad I reckon.
 
To people saying this tournament is a waste of time tell that to a club like Larne here in NI that was basically this countries first ever european win in a group stage of a competition aslo the money is massive for clubs like that here
 
BelfastRed2021 said:
To people saying this tournament is a waste of time tell that to a club like Larne here in NI that was basically this countries first ever european win in a group stage of a competition aslo the money is massive for clubs like that here
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Anduin said:
You have no idea how much it means to supporters of smaller clubs to have these European nights. My local club is playing a decent role this season in the Conference League and it's been tremendously enjoyable, as the atmosphere has mostly been incredible for home games and the revenue stream helps building a better team and keeping the best players. It may not be the Premier League, La Liga or even Champions League, but it's decent, affordable and with – at many places – an atmosphere most major clubs can only dream of.
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Yep, really loving how it's turned out. I probably thought it was a bit rubbish when the concept was revealed. It's won me over over big time. One of the best things UEFA have done, and this big group phase thing really suits this competion in my opinion, even more than CL or Europa. More guaranteed games for some of the smaller clubs who will cherish every moment of their time in the limelight. Close competition between them too. Just a shame they only play 6 compared to 8 in the others.

I suppose I just love sport and competition in general. Would never try to dismiss something that creates meaning to those taking part, their family and fans if they have any. Sunday league footballer to World Cup winner it's important to someone, a kid taking part in a school sports day right up to Usain Bolt winning at the Olympics is too. The feeling people get from it is amazing.
 
BelfastRed2021 said:
To people saying this tournament is a waste of time tell that to a club like Larne here in NI that was basically this countries first ever european win in a group stage of a competition aslo the money is massive for clubs like that here
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Indeed. It’s great for smaller clubs.
 
duffer said:
It's been more fun than the recent Europa League campaigns. I think that we've played a totally different team has made it more interesting for me.

That he's actually using our squad is a big plus point for Maresca.
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I agree with the fun part, for sure. Never expected to enjoy it this much. Not sure how, with the opportunities it’s allowed us to develop our squad, any team would decide declining to play would be a good move.
 
Bluelion7 said:
I agree with the fun part, for sure. Never expected to enjoy it this much. Not sure how, with the opportunities it’s allowed us to develop our squad, any team would decide declining to play would be a good move.
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No team would consider declining to play in that. It's just stupid fans who talk about such ideas.
 
Heidenheim turns it around and now leads 2-1 in Kopenhagen. Good news for a team in severe relegation danger in the league.
 
Magnus Wolff Eikrem just scores to level for Molde against Shamrock Rovers.

Hoepfully Rovers get back in front to go through.
 
Víkingur are so good. Just pounding the pressure on Panathinaikos. Some dodgy refereeing. Víkingur had a 1v1 chance but the ref didn't play on and give them clear advantage. Just now a player through and just when he shoots he's pushed from behind.

Icelandic NT CB starting for Panathinaikos and his weaknesses clearly being exploited. Current Víkingur manager has played with him in the NT so he knows what's up.
 
Sad to see Heidenheim's journey end. Was a great experience for that little village.
 
Unfair result. Víkingur had the best chances. 1-0 goal a massive fluke. Lots of unpunished diving and the ref allowed the Greeks to walk over him. Biggest moment still when Víkingur were through on goal and the ref blows the whistle to give them a free kick.
 
Sociedad are going to murder us aren’t they

We don’t do Spanish teams. Have we beaten a single one in the last 8 years?
 
LawCharltonBest said:
Sociedad are going to murder us aren’t they

We don’t do Spanish teams. Have we beaten a single one in the last 8 years?
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We managed to beat Real Sociedad, Barcelona and Real Betis in the EL two seasons ago until we met our arch nemesis Sevilla.
 
Very much enjoying Shamrock Rovers v Molde.
Shamrock Rovers not afraid to play their youngsters.
 
Shamrock played against 10 men Molde for over half of the first leg, and now all of ET in the second leg.

If they fail to advance in those circumstances, it's a massively missed gifted opportunity.
 
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PSV said:
A man up, season started and familiarity playing on their own potato field, you'd be surprised if they weren't.
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One game into the season, so not far off same thing. As for potato field- better pitch than the one in Norway!

Molde have been embarrassing given the difference in experience in the pitch and budget.
 
It's a measure of how asinine talking about 'potato fields' is that I'm this close to sticking up for Shamrock Rovers.
 
Bertie Wooster said:
Shamrock played against 10 men Molde for over half of the first leg, and now all of ET in the second leg.

If they fail to advance in those circumstances, it's a massively missed gifted opportunity.
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10 men of Molde were up against half a team of teenagers in extra time.

It was a good showing by Rovers overall, they should have created more, but Molde showed their experience by slowing the game down and breaking up their momentum.
 
Oranges038 said:
10 men of Molde were up against half a team of teenagers in extra time.

It was a good showing by Rovers overall, they should have created more, but Molde showed their experience by slowing the game down and breaking up their momentum.
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Hadn't realised that. Was that through choice (giving youth a chance) or necessity (senior players injured)?

Though I also hadn't realised the Norwegian league only starts in over a month's time and so their players will be lacking match fitness and sharpness during their off season. Add that to playing with 10 men for large parts of both legs and it was certainly a big, and missed, opportunity for Shamrock.
 
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Bertie Wooster said:
Hadn't realised that. Was that through choice (giving youth a chance) or necessity (senior players injured)?

Though I also hadn't realised the Norwegian league only starts in over a month's time and so their players will be lacking match fitness and sharpness during their off season. Add that to playing with 10 men for large parts of both legs and it was certainly a big, and missed, opportunity for Shamrock.
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Fairly sure it was out of necessity.

LOI started at the weekend, so Rovers probably could see it as a chance missed given they are further along fitness wise and the two reds. But the young players really did themselves proud. Young lad that scored last week was only 16 and still went to school on Friday and all.
 
Rovers have only played one league game, and it was on Sunday. They are in pre-season themselves. I thought Molde looked very ordinary though and I think the League of Ireland is improving a lot. Was still happy to see them knocked out though.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
Rovers have only played one league game, and it was on Sunday. They are in pre-season themselves. I thought Molde looked very ordinary though and I think the League of Ireland is improving a lot. Was still happy to see them knocked out though.
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It's not just that they've played 'one league game'. There's a big difference fitness wise, to having actually started your season - so completed all the pre-season training and friendlies, and played the first league game, and a few games in a competitive domestic cup competition that seems to have been going on over the last month - rather than being over a month away from the start of the domestic season, so only being at the beginning of all that. One team should be sharper and much more into their stride.

It's a big disadvantage to teams when they're having to play European matches during their pre-season. With the Norwegian league playing March - November, it'll be an advantage to them in the early qualifying rounds when they'll be match sharp and playing games in July and early August against teams lacking match sharpness. But at this year of the calendar, it's them that's at a disadvantage being in their off season.
 
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