Europa League - Danger of Overconfidence?

I've seen quite a few comments suggesting we could 'scoosh' it through to the latter stages.

I think that kind of thinking is premature. Taking a look at some of the opposition I can think of more teams I want to avoid rather than those I want to meet.

It's important to consider the genuine quality of some of these teams. The names may not look familiar at times, but there's no way it's an EASY competition. Some seem to people think that winning it is a serious probability (OK - my heart yearns for that too), but take a step back and look at some of the teams there.

A perfect draw (depending on results) would be Ventspils, or Tromso from pots 3 and 4, but it's far more likely to be a higher calibre team.

The new Chapions League qualifying actually means that a CL group could contain far weaker teams than we're going to face in the Europa league.

Personally, I'd fancy Bilbao or Ventspils or maybe Odense, but looking at the rest of the teams I don't see it being much easier than the CL.

Caution with expectations is all I'm saying.

Can we do well in it? Reserved optimism is my view.

Thoughts?

 

I think we've learned a lesson againt Arsenal. Even slightest mistake may cost us. We are in pot 2 which is fantastic, I think we will do well and go to next round. Not expecting much, another European experience, but I honestly believe in our squad.

 

If we play like we did in the 1st leg against dynamo and the 2 games against arsenal, we will be lucky to get past the group stage. If we play well and get rid of mcdonald and bring in a quick pacey striker then we will win the cup.

 

True mate - there's some great teams in it this year (The format of the CL qualifying changing has made the Europa League stronger).

We could get:

Valencia
Celtic
Aston Villa
Dinamo Zagreb.


Not going to be easy whoever we get.

 

Obviously we won't walk the europa league as it's getting harder now but i think we stand as good a chance as anyone. Wouldn't it be great if we were the first team to win the "Europa League". :icon_mrgreen:

 

I think we will do well after watching us against Arsenal.

The scoreline says 5-1 but in my mind it was 2-1.

2 terribly unlucky goals lost as home and THAT "penalty", seriously when was the last time you've seen a CL game fraught with so much luck and controversy.

The team looks raring to go and they looked filled with belief, even after 5-0 they still looked hungry.

Good times ahead if we keep our heads up, i reckon :icon_mrgreen:

 

Feel the same AO,think because Celtic havent been in here in a few years Seville is still on a lot of peoples minds but that was 6 years ago now and a lot of the so called diddy teams are not anymore ,and theres a few teams that i had never heard of or thought they where poor but they have moved up a level ,then you have the better teams ,and still the fallouts from the champs to come in ,easy my * .

 

i dont know how this europa leauge works but you and i know we should have been champions last season an in the CL proper.

there is a lot of teams probley everysingle one of them thinking they should be in the CL
so for me its a level playing feild,celtic have got no right of getting to the later stages,Celtic will have to play even better in this tourney to get to the later stages

if anyone thinks its gonny be a breeze your heads ruling your heart.the europa leauge is new no one has any experience in it so every team will have a chance of winning it

keep your feet on the ground lads because in this campaign there will be many ups and downs..and may the ups outweigh the down

 

looking forward to europa league potential for a good run ,yes there is strong teams but were not exactly a weak side in the tournement. would be great to get a good draw but at some point would have to play quality sides anyway plus the other groups will be the same and good teams will meet good teams and some will fall we dont have to beat every team to have a good run.bring on the draw.

 

if celtic get that group ,sorry but i dont fancy our chances

 

A lot of teams in there will be thinking they can get to the final and that tells its own story but we have as good a chance as most teams so lets hope we get a good run at least

 

PSV, Hertha and Ventspils, but tbh, I'd have preferred some of the teams form pot 2., i.e Bruges, Heerenveen, Austria Vienna, Anderlecht. I'd have been happier in pot 3 I think!

 

I think this is a competition we can do well in.

We need the luck of the draw obviously but it will be a good experience for some of our players and a decent run could just add a bit more confidence and belief for next year.

Here's hoping.

 

Whens the draw?

 

Maybe tomorrow. All the second leg ties are tonight.

 

Yeh tmrw is the draw.

this competition is more competitive than the uefa cup so it will be difficult but we should do resonably well.

 

overconfidence will have its risks but this is an open comp out of all the teams still in it there are no fewer than 20 teams that could win it (including us), unlike the champions league where its hard to look past the top english and spanish teams. So we have to be confident

 

Look at the manky mob they got to the final avoiding most the bigger teams we need a bit of luck. does anybody know if it will work the way uefa cup did wer u only play each team once or will it be like champs league

 

draw is tmmrw noon. fingers crossed 4 a good group