How important is the Europa League to the club's future?

[pascell]

It's always been imperative, anyone rejecting the notion is burying their head in the sand.

Failure to get CL football will result in more cuts until we're self sufficient, meaning the quality of the playing squad will suffer also, unless we hit the jackpot with an influx of talented youngsters from the youth squads.

 

[cyril C]

About 40m TV money, another 40m on ticket, plus whatever penalty / incentive from sponsors. I think we will be 100m short without Europa.

 

[TheLord]

The importance varies on many variables, including current financial state of the club, recent success, situation with the sponsors, immediate future plans (stadium, etc.).

For this season, it is absolutely important that we win the Europa. It is more important than at any point in the PL era.

 

[next_number_seven]

Hypothetically if we won the EL and qualified for the CL, would that be the lowest league position for a CL qualifier?

 

[Captain Barnacles]

Hypothetically if we won the EL and qualified for the CL, would that be the lowest league position for a CL qualifier?

Frankfurt ended 11th in 2021/22 on 42 points and Seville 12th on 49 points in 2022/23

 

[Bwuk]

It's a shame that the fixture list around the Lyon game isn't great.

City at home on the Sunday, Lyon away Thursday, Newcastle away Thursday then Lyon at home.

Not a real chance to try and rotate at all.

 

[Todd]

It's a shame that the fixture list around the Lyon game isn't great.

City at home on the Sunday, Lyon away Thursday, Newcastle away Thursday then Lyon at home.

Not a real chance to try and rotate at all.

We have nothing to play for in the league; he might as well rest our key players against City.

Although I think the odds are still long, if we somehow managed to actually win the Europa and qualify for Champions League it would be the biggest silver lining to an embarrassing season you could possibly ask for. It'd probably allow us to court higher caliber players this summer.

 

[next_number_seven]

It's absolutely vital and we've a decent chance.

It probably adds 80m to our revenue and makes us more attractive to players.

 

[DRJosh]

We have nothing to play for in the league; he might as well rest our key players against City.

Although I think the odds are still long, if we somehow managed to actually win the Europa and qualify for Champions League it would be the biggest silver lining to an embarrassing season you could possibly ask for. It'd probably allow us to court higher caliber players this summer.

Well there are financial incentives if we finish higher in the league even if it’s within the bottom half of the table.

 

[Pexbo]

It's a shame that the fixture list around the Lyon game isn't great.

City at home on the Sunday, Lyon away Thursday, Newcastle away Thursday then Lyon at home.

Not a real chance to try and rotate at all.

The problem is that we don’t have enough players in the squad to rotate. I don’t mean “we can’t field a second team that is strong enough to compete”, I mean “we can’t field 11 different players that are of the minimum standard”.

As said above we have nothing to play for in the league so have nothing to worry about in terms of dropping points but we surely have to respect the completion still and field a team that is competitive and keeps any momentum we might have.

 

[Fugeeface]

It's absolutely vital and we've a decent chance.

It probably adds 80m to our revenue and makes us more attractive to players.

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

 

[Stobzilla]

We look to be getting some players back over the next couple of weeks, and the international break is quite generously timed to help get some of those who have been out some serious minutes on the training pitch. More options will be available after the Leicester game to keep the starting XI relatively fresh.

With that said, I think Amorim will prioritise the Europa, and I think the club may ask him to be a bit pragmatic in his selections around the Lyon game.

 

[Cutch]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

Are you not seeing encouraging signs in recent weeks on top of the performances against the better sides we've played this season? We have Heaven and Dorgu adding more physicality and balance to the left side, the likes of Yoro and Zirkzee starting to show real signs of quality, and then others looking like they're getting to grips with the system and what's asked of them (Casemiro for example).

If we can continue to cut out the silly individual errors our defence is looking pretty solid. Our record in the Europa league this season is good and our lack of athleticism and physicality in the league doesn't seem to be a factor in Europe where many are even worse off. Returning players should also make us better, particularly if we can get Mainoo and Mount fit, and if we see Amad again this season it would be a major help in getting us over the line in the Europa.

 

[Bobby_2024]

We can earn 60-70M if we cross group stages but if we don't qualify then club can save same money or more on 25% salary cut rule?

In lines of Pathetic Glazers thinking

 

[stevoc]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

In the league under Amorim we've tended do alright against the better teams.

 

[Fugeeface]

In the league under Amorim we've tended do alright against the better teams.

Are you not seeing encouraging signs in recent weeks on top of the performances against the better sides we've played this season? We have Heaven and Dorgu adding more physicality and balance to the left side, the likes of Yoro and Zirkzee starting to show real signs of quality, and then others looking like they're getting to grips with the system and what's asked of them (Casemiro for example).

If we can continue to cut out the silly individual errors our defence is looking pretty solid. Our record in the Europa league this season is good and our lack of athleticism and physicality in the league doesn't seem to be a factor in Europe where many are even worse off. Returning players should also make us better, particularly if we can get Mainoo and Mount fit, and if we see Amad again this season it would be a major help in getting us over the line in the Europa.

Yes, I see encouraging signs and I agree with a lot of your points. I still don't see us winning anything. We still have a questionable mentality, Onana in goal and bad performances in most games this season. I hope I'm proven wrong, that would be obviously great.

 

[buckooo1978]

Are you not seeing encouraging signs in recent weeks on top of the performances against the better sides we've played this season? We have Heaven and Dorgu adding more physicality and balance to the left side, the likes of Yoro and Zirkzee starting to show real signs of quality, and then others looking like they're getting to grips with the system and what's asked of them (Casemiro for example).

If we can continue to cut out the silly individual errors our defence is looking pretty solid. Our record in the Europa league this season is good and our lack of athleticism and physicality in the league doesn't seem to be a factor in Europe where many are even worse off. Returning players should also make us better, particularly if we can get Mainoo and Mount fit, and if we see Amad again this season it would be a major help in getting us over the line in the Europa.

im seeing some positive signs myself

Im seeing the players looking more together

Bruno is absolutely flying

Zirkzee is growing in confidence

Casemiro is playing his best football in a long time

We've Collyer and Mount coming back

the defence looks better with De Ligt and two of Yoro, Mazraoui and Heaven

Dorgu has added quality

If we can get Mount adding something and if our front 3 can get even a bit more confidence in front of goal we will improve further.

the slower pace of playing teams like Sociedad suit us more as well.

 

[Cutch]

im seeing some positive signs myself

Im seeing the players looking more together

Bruno is absolutely flying

Zirkzee is growing in confidence

Casemiro is playing his best football in a long time

We've Collyer and Mount coming back

the defence looks better with De Ligt and two of Yoro, Mazraoui and Heaven

Dorgu has added quality

If we can get Mount adding something and if our front 3 can get even a bit more confidence in front of goal we will improve further.

the slower pace of playing teams like Sociedad suit us more as well.

Yep, agree with all that. Only thing I would add is I think it's important to note the manager is also getting to know and understand his players better at this point. Patterns of play are looking more and more evident in recent weeks. So he's getting better at his job too, which is another positive.

 

[Pexbo]

im seeing some positive signs myself

Im seeing the players looking more together

Bruno is absolutely flying

Zirkzee is growing in confidence

Casemiro is playing his best football in a long time

We've Collyer and Mount coming back

the defence looks better with De Ligt and two of Yoro, Mazraoui and Heaven

Dorgu has added quality

If we can get Mount adding something and if our front 3 can get even a bit more confidence in front of goal we will improve further.

the slower pace of playing teams like Sociedad suit us more as well.

Agree with this however we are only a loss against Leicester away from this place losing its collective mind again and feeling like the end is nigh for Amorim and this club in general.

 

[redNATION]

Critical importance. So much so I think Amorim will be sacked if he doesn’t win it. They’ve given him a pass in the league but only because we’re doing relatively well in Europe.

 

[gajender]

Agree with this however we are only a loss against Leicester away from this place losing its collective mind again and feeling like the end is nigh for Amorim and this club in general.

Well losing against a team that has lost their last 13 league games and failed to score in last 5 of them would definitely bring some extreme reactions .

 

[2 man midfield]

im seeing some positive signs myself

Im seeing the players looking more together

Bruno is absolutely flying

Zirkzee is growing in confidence

Casemiro is playing his best football in a long time

We've Collyer and Mount coming back

the defence looks better with De Ligt and two of Yoro, Mazraoui and Heaven

Dorgu has added quality

If we can get Mount adding something and if our front 3 can get even a bit more confidence in front of goal we will improve further.

the slower pace of playing teams like Sociedad suit us more as well.

Agreed, feels like we’ve seen a slight improvement in the last 3 games. Whether they’re finally clicking into the system or not remains to be seen, but I also think Amorim has accepted he needs to be a bit more pragmatic which has helped.

 

[themanguydude]

Critical importance. So much so I think Amorim will be sacked if he doesn’t win it. They’ve given him a pass in the league but only because we’re doing relatively well in Europe.

You aren't serious are you? Hinging the job on a good cup run? That's as smart as extending an underperforming manager just because he won the FA Cup.

INEOS are not serious people if they make these kinds of decisions (making this very mistake in the past and then go on to do it again)

He should only be sacked if;
1) He shown no signs of improvement in terms of adapting the team to his long term setup
2) The management is unconvinced of his long term setup
3) Permanently deviates from his long term setup for short term results

 

[next_number_seven]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

There's no great teams left.

We've drawn with Liverpool and Arsenal recently.

We're capable of decent performances against better sides.

If we were in the CL, I'd say we've no chance of winning.
But we've a decent chance of winning the EL.

Our performances are improving, albeit slowly.

 

[next_number_seven]

Critical importance. So much so I think Amorim will be sacked if he doesn’t win it. They’ve given him a pass in the league but only because we’re doing relatively well in Europe.

Amorim will get until next November at least.

If we're outside the top 10 at the end of November, his job will be in jeopardy.

 

[NZT-One]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

I have the same doubts. I mean, the rest of the teams that we could get aren't really much themselves but the same has to be said about us as well.

Are you not seeing encouraging signs in recent weeks on top of the performances against the better sides we've played this season? We have Heaven and Dorgu adding more physicality and balance to the left side, the likes of Yoro and Zirkzee starting to show real signs of quality, and then others looking like they're getting to grips with the system and what's asked of them (Casemiro for example).

If we can continue to cut out the silly individual errors our defence is looking pretty solid. Our record in the Europa league this season is good and our lack of athleticism and physicality in the league doesn't seem to be a factor in Europe where many are even worse off. Returning players should also make us better, particularly if we can get Mainoo and Mount fit, and if we see Amad again this season it would be a major help in getting us over the line in the Europa.

Not really. I don't think performances improved too much from early on (even though I never thought, they were too crazy bad under Amorim to begin with), we still aren't comfortable on the ball, we still have mistakes and concentration lapses in us and creating chances wise we are pretty much back to individual brilliance with only one player in the team able to display some of said brilliance.
I agree with you, we looked decent to even good against better teams but to win EL, we won't play against better teams. We look usually fairly bad against teams that are around our own level and were set up to hit our weaknesses. There isn't much to expect Lyon, Fener or Spurs to try to play a dominant game like Arsenal or Liverpool against us.

Don't get me wrong, I dont want to put a dampener on things, I was never crazy worried about performances since Amorim is there but I don't see the level having changed too much apart from certainly going down a notch with Amads injury. I think, the other poster is right, we are just one bad result away from many fans go into doom mode again so much of the latest optimism is down to some good results rather than a promising uptick in performances.

 

[Cutch]

I have the same doubts. I mean, the rest of the teams that we could get aren't really much themselves but the same has to be said about us as well.

Not really. I don't think performances improved too much from early on (even though I never thought, they were too crazy bad under Amorim to begin with), we still aren't comfortable on the ball, we still have mistakes and concentration lapses in us and creating chances wise we are pretty much back to individual brilliance with only one player in the team able to display some of said brilliance.
I agree with you, we looked decent to even good against better teams but to win EL, we won't play against better teams. We look usually fairly bad against teams that are around our own level and were set up to hit our weaknesses. There isn't much to expect Lyon, Fener or Spurs to try to play a dominant game like Arsenal or Liverpool against us.

Don't get me wrong, I dont want to put a dampener on things, I was never crazy worried about performances since Amorim is there but I don't see the level having changed too much apart from certainly going down a notch with Amads injury. I think, the other poster is right, we are just one bad result away from many fans go into doom mode again so much of the latest optimism is down to some good results rather than a promising uptick in performances.

I think we've been decent in the Europa League all season, unbeaten so far I think. Think we're also capable of raising our game given the importance of this tournament and with the second legs at home I hope the crowd can raise the roof to get us over the line. A lot of reasons to be cautiously optimistic.

I would be more confident if Amad was fit and thought our season was finished after he got injured. But hopefully we'll see him back for a final and we can put all our eggs in this basket to get the 5 results that we need.

 

[NZT-One]

I think we've been decent in the Europa League all season, unbeaten so far I think. Think we're also capable of raising our game given the importance of this tournament and with the second legs at home I hope the crowd can raise the roof to get us over the line. A lot of reasons to be cautiously optimistic.

I would be more confident if Amad was fit and thought our season was finished after he got injured. But hopefully we'll see him back for a final and we can put all our eggs in this basket to get the 5 results that we need.

Completely agree. I guess, my main point for not making the EL win sooo essential for the imminent future is that it is a cup competition after all and there is always the element of bad luck and coincidence. I am all for going out and trying to get this thing and as you said, we have a decent enough chance to do it. I just don't want to put some additional pressure on the actual outcome. There is enough pressure on every match right now, a lot of scrutiny just waiting to once again release itself towards players and managers. There is simply no need to entangle those specific games with our future. We'll be here even if we miss out on EL.

 

[MoshPotato]

It's always been imperative, anyone rejecting the notion is burying their head in the sand.

Failure to get CL football will result in more cuts until we're self sufficient, meaning the quality of the playing squad will suffer also, unless we hit the jackpot with an influx of talented youngsters from the youth squads.

Fully agree.

Winning the cup should ideally translate into some positive performances. Having the squad clicking into gear with Amorim's vision going into pre-season with the lift of a cup would be massive. I might also be being overly optimistic in this case!!

 

[Dominos]

Out of curiosity, what makes you think we have a decent chance? I don't see anything that fills me with confidence that we'll beat the better teams, let alone the whole thing.

Decent chance because there are 5 games left to play and we effectively need to win 3 of them and the trophy is ours. When you think about it like that it's not that implausible. And we are one of the better teams left in the competition despite being a bit shit, the group stage league table being evidence of that.

However we're still more likely to not win it, than we are to win it. That is because we are no more favourites than the likes of athletic, spurs, frankfurt, lazio.

If we have a 20% chance of winning that's a decent chance.

Unfortunately winning this trophy isn't just a bonus, it's a necessity given the state of our finances.

 

[Teja]

We have to beat Lyon first. They're only 4 points off of 2nd in Ligue 1 but still technically below Nice. Surely we're better than Nice? Otherwise that'd be embarrassing for Ratcliffe.

Bilbao are going to be tough. Currently 4th in La Liga and basically every neutral would want them to win the thing. Valverde is a very experienced coach.

Spurs would basically be past their injury crisis and full strength for EL final should we make it there.

Back to United, we are also hitting something that resembles form. Bruno in his new playmaker role is doing great. Amad might be back before the end of season if we make it all the way to the final and so will Maguire, Yoro, Mount and Mainoo.

Let's see, squeaky bum time.