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Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 12:58 pm
by NomadskiEFC
Again, it actually works in our benefit as a squad building club to NOT qualify for the ECL as we won’t be under UEFAs more strict 75% rule for transfers vs the Premier Leagues 85% rule.

We don’t have a squad big enough to really compete in the Premier League without chucking another competition at us while also restricting us more than the other clubs around us for transfers.

It’s a decent silver lining if people are pinning hopes for Europe next year.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 12:59 pm
by Shogun
Looks like Villa are desperate to finish 5th anyway, so good chance of 6th being champions league at this rate.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 1:21 pm
by blueToffee
Starting our day bottom half with Fulham winning, such fine margins right now.

Feels like almost a must win today if we’re serious about staying in the race.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 4:26 pm
by NickNack
Moyes more or less said at the press conference he wasn’t thinking about it - neither it seems are half the team.

Forget it for me, we’re not good enough in any case

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 4:27 pm
by Cozzie
Still on but a mammoth task.

For me it's about seeing the season out and making sure we get the recruitment right.

Get two full backs in and get them in early.

If we don't attack the market then might as well Jack it in.

Absolutely sick of these players.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 5:36 pm
by Bluedylan1
Massively pissed off with the lot of them.

Had a strong chance of achieving something really exciting, and their arses have totally gone at the crucial part of the season. Two injury time defeats in a row tell you that.

Any kind of expectation on this club, even a mild one like qualifying for the Conference League or the Europa League, and we crumble. Quite telling that Dewsbury-Hall is the only one who seems to continue stepping up and pulling out important moments. He's won something and he's been around a club with pressure and expectations.

It's fine saying ''let's build and go for Europe next year'', but no-one knows what the league looks like next season. It might be much more difficult to finish in the Top 8. Got to take these chances when they present themselves.

Weak football club.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 6:10 pm
by AjaxAndy
Think the international break screwed us. We were in great form and since we've picked up 1 point from 3 games.

Just sucked all the momentum out of us.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 6:28 pm
by The Doc
Bluedylan1 wrote: Sat Apr 25, 2026 5:36 pm Massively pissed off with the lot of them.

Had a strong chance of achieving something really exciting, and their arses have totally gone at the crucial part of the season. Two injury time defeats in a row tell you that.

Any kind of expectation on this club, even a mild one like qualifying for the Conference League or the Europa League, and we crumble. Quite telling that Dewsbury-Hall is the only one who seems to continue stepping up and pulling out important moments. He's won something and he's been around a club with pressure and expectations.

It's fine saying ''let's build and go for Europe next year'', but no-one knows what the league looks like next season. It might be much more difficult to finish in the Top 8. Got to take these chances when they present themselves.

Weak football club.
Ultimately its on Moyes. Hes pulled us out the shit most definitely, but he hasn't used the squad well enough this week and last week.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 6:37 pm
by Gash
Mid table mediocrity beckons but I'll take that after the last few years. It feels like the season will probably just fizzle out a bit now, we've lived off the back of our away form but that's gone south recently, our home form has been poor and our defence from set pieces has been awful, 18 goals conceded now. That's a bit un-Moyes like and while he can take a lot of credit for some things he also needs to take a lot of criticism for others and not addressing them and it feels like a lot of the old Moyes traits are still there after all these years.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2026 8:34 pm
by Cereal Killer
Gash wrote: Sat Apr 25, 2026 6:37 pm Mid table mediocrity beckons but I'll take that after the last few years. It feels like the season will probably just fizzle out a bit now, we've lived off the back of our away form but that's gone a bit south recently, our home form has been poor and our defence from set pieces has been awful, 18 goals conceded now. That's a bit un-Moyes like and while he can take a lot of credit for some things he also needs to take a lot of criticism for others and not addressing them and it feels like a lot of the old Moyes traits are still there after all these years.
Bring back Charlie Adam!

Jobs for his mates etc etc, but appears it’s better than nobody doing the fucking job

:whistle:

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 1:44 am
by Blueomar
Shogun wrote: Sat Apr 25, 2026 12:59 pm Looks like Villa are desperate to finish 5th anyway, so good chance of 6th being champions league at this rate.
That will be nice for some team not called Everton.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 10:35 am
by superpull
I have to be careful around criticising Moyes as I was so vocal about him not being anywhere near my preferred choice. So I want to start this by saying a top half finish is still a fantastic improvement that is pretty much entirely due to him.

Finishing 12th is still an improvement.

However, and calling out a lot of what @Bluedylan1 has mentioned there: the feeling around the place at this exact moment is my overriding memory of Moyes' first spell. Disappointment just as you start getting your hopes up that this time will be different and we will push on.

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 10:50 am
by Shogun
Yeah I don't think Moyes will be going anywhere but you look at someone like Iraola leaving Bournemouth this summer and that does feel like a missed opportunity

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 11:04 am
by Cereal Killer
Shogun wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 10:50 am Yeah I don't think Moyes will be going anywhere but you look at someone like Iraola leaving Bournemouth this summer and that does feel like a missed opportunity
Not sure he’d fancy the step down :whistle:

Re: The race for... Europe?

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 12:31 pm
by Audrey Horne
I am also massively vocal against Moyes.

I think he has done incredible here. But I also think he is just far too cautious and hinders the team with his favourites.

It just baffles me how anyone can think certain players should be starting or staying on till 74 mins.

It's frustrating, just like his first spell was at times.

Imagine we got Iraola. Would transform us as a club imo