European football....worth the risk

[Spijed]

I see the final's in Baku, Azerbaijan. I'll book my hotel now...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_UEFA ... ague_Final" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Roosterbooster]

Pope
Lowton Tarky Mee Ward
Lennon Detour Cork Brady
Wood Barnes

Heaton
New Long New Taylor
New Westwood Hendrick JBG
Vokes New

I expect we'll move one or two on in the summer (Arfield, Marney, Bardsley, Walters and Wells spring to mind) but it's an opportunity to bring in some top quality replacements; maybe a couple who can seriously challenge for the first team. Europe would be hard for us but it would be a great opportunity to continue our progression also.

I think you’re bang on there

New RB, CB, winger and striker needed if those players leave. I’d probably also go for another CM who can play as a 10, and that’s a pretty decent squad

[dsr]

It's a cost-benefit issue. Except we're all looking at it from the wrong side, at what might happen if we finish 7th. The assumption is that if we finish 8th we'll have an easy ride next season; if we finish 8th we'll be fine.

But is that right? Southampton finished 8th last season. Would anyone say their season has been improved by not being in Europe?

The year before, Man United were 8th but Stoke in 9th were the best-placed "small club" to miss out. Have the Stoke fans's experiences been improved by not being in Europe?

Before that, it was Swansea. In 2014-15, Swansea were 8th but missed out on Europe. What's happened to them since?

If we don't get in Europe, or we don't give it a go when we get there, we might still get relegated; we might still have a poor season; we might never have another chance. Throwing a few matches doesn't automatically mean you win the others, and letting the players know that they aren't good enough to handle Europe won't help them to win in England.

[Dyched]

Pope
Lowton Tarky Mee Ward
Lennon Detour Cork Brady
Wood Barnes

Heaton
New Long New Taylor
New Westwood Hendrick JBG
Vokes New

I expect we'll move one or two on in the summer (Arfield, Marney, Bardsley, Walters and Wells spring to mind) but it's an opportunity to bring in some top quality replacements; maybe a couple who can seriously challenge for the first team. Europe would be hard for us but it would be a great opportunity to continue our progression also.

Spot on. Playing in europe has improved Spurs. Tgey have a small squad like ours. Yet have coped well. I know they have better players etc but their reserves are weaker than the first 11. We can take a leaf out of their book.

With the way our squad is atm we only need a couple more. Obviously players will go and some come in.

Whatever happens we’ll most likely finish lower. Tgats not down to Europe but we’ve hit incredible heights.

[jlup1980]

It's a cost-benefit issue. Except we're all looking at it from the wrong side, at what might happen if we finish 7th. The assumption is that if we finish 8th we'll have an easy ride next season; if we finish 8th we'll be fine.

But is that right? Southampton finished 8th last season. Would anyone say their season has been improved by not being in Europe?

The year before, Man United were 8th but Stoke in 9th were the best-placed "small club" to miss out. Have the Stoke fans's experiences been improved by not being in Europe?

Before that, it was Swansea. In 2014-15, Swansea were 8th but missed out on Europe. What's happened to them since?

If we don't get in Europe, or we don't give it a go when we get there, we might still get relegated; we might still have a poor season; we might never have another chance. Throwing a few matches doesn't automatically mean you win the others, and letting the players know that they aren't good enough to handle Europe won't help them to win in England.

Decent post and pretty much where I come from with regards to this. For me it's quite simple; if we get into the Europa there's more chance of us signing a better quality of player. At the start of the season I would have laughed off any suggestion of us signing a player like Shaquiri from Stoke City, but there's a opportunity if they get relegated and we get into Europe. Even someone like Ward-Prowse could be tempted if we end the season well. I expect he'll be going onto bigger and better things but (and it is a big but) PL football combined with Europe AND the our track record with England could sway some players to give us a try. We could be entering a very exciting period for our club.

[houseboy]

I do find it odd that this question even gets asked. If all you want from your club is PL survival what's the point of having a club? Life is about risk, without it there is no forward movement, no improvement, nothing changes. As one or two have stated it's worth risking relegation to play in Europe, of course it is. The glamour, not to mention the extra money, make it worth it. If we qualify it will be an immense magnet to potential players we are hoping to sign. I wouldn't want to be just sitting in the PL every season hoping to avoid relegation, it would get stagnant. We all need improvement and/or variation in our lives to make it interesting and football is no different. Don't get me wrong, I want us to stay in the PL but if it came to a choice of just watching the same old survival battle every season or occasionally getting relegated to battle it out at the top of the Championship I would take the latter.
Europe is a must for us and it is, at the moment, very much a reality, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't want it because of injury risks etc. I'd sooner play good Italian or German or even Dutch or French teams rather play bloody United or Arsenal etc. There is more interest, glamour and chance of winning.

Bring it on.....please.

[Hroogar]

Will our team want to play in Europe?.................more than likely.
Do I want to see the Clarets in Europe.................YES
Why? - I watched them in Europe in the 1960's, and now I may have the chance of watching them again in Europe - who knows it could be the last time so let's make the most of it.

[RalphCoatesComb]

It's not just worth the risk, it's worth getting relegated for.

Errrrrr... NO !

European football would be OK but, staying in the Premier League has to be our goal.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

Burnley in Europe followed by Burnley in a major cup final will do nicely

Yes I'm a greedy get

[houseboy]

Errrrrr... NO !

European football would be OK but, staying in the Premier League has to be our goal.

I don't agree mate. Life needs to be interesting and I'm not interested in being in the PL just as cannon fodder for the big boys. I know we will never compete unless there is a massive (really massive) change in the way football clubs are funded, so the relief of Europe brings the change and variety that life needs. Being in the PL is great but just suppose we become well established and stay there for a good deal of time, what then? Do we just play out our time awaiting the inevitable relegation, be it next year or in 10 years? We have a chance to play in Europe, to take the Burnley FC name further afield and tackle top class opposition and perhaps give them a scare. Is that not worth risking PL status for, you know, taking a chance to take our club further than it's been in damn near 60 years? There is no evidence anyway to suggest that European games would risk out PL status. We have everything to play for and we should embrace the chance with open arms.

[Milltown1882]

A lot of people seem to be under the illusion that if we qualify for Europe we'll automatically go down next season. Naturally we'll expand the squad in the summer and we have January too if needed to help build the squad further.

Too many people are too previous over the "little old Burnley" tag.

[BOYSIE31]

Something like this is why you support a football team.

That one season where something amazing happens. We've been lucky under SD that those days have come along fairly often, but this would be one of those "I was there" moments.

I mean, we might not even get past the qualifying rounds (seriously gets in the way of pre-season) but its still well worth it.

I would use it as a pre season - better than pointless friendlies.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Can't for the life of me understand it. Literally once in a lifetime. How can anyone not think winning against Leicester is a big deal and opening up the gap and PROBABLY qualifying for Europe as a result?

As it stands if we were to qualify for The Europa we would potentially play:

Italy:

Inter Milan
AC Milan
Fiorentina

France:

Marseille

Germany:

Bayer Leverkusen
RB Leipzig
And probably Schalke from the cup

Holland:

Feyenoord
AZ Alkmaar

Spain:

Betis
Sevilla
Villareal
(And a long shot that Real Madrid could end up in it)

Portugal:

Sporting Lisbon
Braga

Bring it on I say!

[South West Claret.]

I’m sure my post from last night has gone missing, here goes again then.

Would be nice to qualify but we need everyone fit for the league, or can we politely refuse the place.

Also how are we going to fit the games in unless we are allowed to put reserves out?

[Right_winger]

What's wrong with a nice trip to Malta to see the clarets play. Bring it on. It would be nice to see us give it a go, as it stands I think a lot of European teams will find us very difficult to play against.

I'm one of these though that think we should be trying to compete on all levels and not just concentrate on survival.

[houseboy]

Only use the development squad and the reserves. We won't win the competition, it's a massive slog and just a few squad depletions and we are struggling. We've hardly scored any goals in fact a relegation amount, to be fair. next season could easily go awry without Europe. let's see if we can qualify and then have some fun with it, only.

No no no! Have you actually seen the quality of some of the teams in this competition? I would say if we were in it we would have to be in the top 15/20% which means we could do well in it, why in the name of anything would we play 'reserves' in it. What the hell are you scared of, have you never taken a risk in your life? What is it with the 'not sure we should be in it' lot. Europe is a great place to play football, it's better than playing the likes of Arsenal or United or City and hoping we might get a point. It's an adventure, a variation on the boring norm. I'd risk our PL status for it (not that I think it will be a risk). The PL is pretty boring really and a European adventure is just what we need. It opens up new doors and would, as many including myself have said, attract better quality players (and bring in more money if that's all you're bothered about). It's a dream and if anyone can't get with that maybe they should think of going down the road to watch League 1/ Championship football at Bollywood.
I don't want to spend the rest of my days as a fan just surviving in the PL, let's get out there and enjoy more.

[Silkyskills1]

I was against the idea at first as the new TV deal means that staying up next season will make a huge difference to the club as a whole. But on reading through the posts I have changed my mind. Even though there is no trophy for it (and perhaps there should be) finishing 'best of the rest' and playing in Europe is a permanent achievement for the club. The best I can ever see us doing. So I think now we have to go for it, even if it means scrapping for our lives in the league next season.

Would you really expect a trophy for finishing 7th?

[gandhisflipflop]

Only burnley fans could put a negative spin on getting into Europe. So much small time mentality amongst us.

[claretblue]

Cant wait for all the discussion around how tickets are allocated....

1st tickets will be issued to those who attended our FA cup win of 1914!

[Pstotto]

Houseboy not at all. I don't think we would have the squad depth to compete in four competitions, it's not a squad depth club, we can't afford the fall-out if anything goes wrong.

[Pstotto]

I want to go and see Burnley play at the San Siro every bit as much as everyone else.