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Champion's League??

RedHelly

First Team Squad
I've been thinking a lot lately about the possible ramifications of Champions League football for our club and it scares me a bit.
I can't stop thinking it might be at least one season too soon for us to qualify.
If you look at Villa and even Man City having poor seasons (by their standards) maybe because of playing more games, could we cope with that at the moment?
It would be fabulous to finish in the top 5, of course, but what then happens next season? Are we properly set up for that level of football?
I fear it would dump us back into the bottom half of the table and maybe into the relegation dogfight.
Perhaps we need another season or two of building to be ready?
What do you guys think? Most of you know lots more about this beautiful game than I do so I'd appreciate your thoughts.
 
I've been thinking a lot lately about the possible ramifications of Champions League football for our club and it scares me a bit.
I can't stop thinking it might be at least one season too soon for us to qualify.
If you look at Villa and even Man City having poor seasons (by their standards) maybe because of playing more games, could we cope with that at the moment?
It would be fabulous to finish in the top 5, of course, but what then happens next season? Are we properly set up for that level of football?
I fear it would dump us back into the bottom half of the table and maybe into the relegation dogfight.
Perhaps we need another season or two of building to be ready?
What do you guys think? Most of you know lots more about this beautiful game than I do so I'd appreciate your thoughts.
It has its challenges, but we have to take the chance while it’s there. We may not be in with a sniff for another decade.
 

DocForest

First Team Squad
I've been thinking a lot lately about the possible ramifications of Champions League football for our club and it scares me a bit.
I can't stop thinking it might be at least one season too soon for us to qualify.
If you look at Villa and even Man City having poor seasons (by their standards) maybe because of playing more games, could we cope with that at the moment?
It would be fabulous to finish in the top 5, of course, but what then happens next season? Are we properly set up for that level of football?
I fear it would dump us back into the bottom half of the table and maybe into the relegation dogfight.
Perhaps we need another season or two of building to be ready?
What do you guys think? Most of you know lots more about this beautiful game than I do so I'd appreciate your thoughts.
1/ It would never be too soon for us to play CL football
2/ No, we're not properly set up for that level of football
3/ Enjoy the ride :)
 

Ashley

Steve Chettle
These opportunities rarely happen for clubs like us. When given the chance you have to take it.

Worse case scenario is we'd finish midtable due to the additional fixtures taking their toll but we get to experience some memorable games in Europe and the club earns a lot of money from it. Makes us a bigger draw for players as well.

There are no downsides to qualifying for the Champions League (or either of the other two European competitions for that matter).
 

Bohinens_chip

First Team Squad
I'd like to win trophies so the conference league would be fine for me but as others say, can't turn your nose up to try and give some of Europe's best a smack in the mouth.
 

RedHelly

First Team Squad
If, and it is a big if, we make it in the top 5 then we have a wealthy owner ready to invest significantly in the summer so that we would have enough quality to handle the extra games.
But we aren't Man City or Chelsea; we would be restricted on spending.
I like the positive attitude but fear it might put us back where we started.
I'm not being negative, just trying to be honest about the negative side of "too much too soon".
 

NFFCForeverRed

First Team Squad
But we aren't Man City or Chelsea; we would be restricted on spending.
I like the positive attitude but fear it might put us back where we started.
I'm not being negative, just trying to be honest about the negative side of "too much too soon".

Trust me, if we are not spending in this current window we would have very significant amounts to spend come July.
 

EmmersonForest4

Steve Chettle
The future of this club depends on stadium expansion and attracting more sponsorship income. We may never get this opportunity again unless we sort out the stadium and our appeal. So take the money and improve the foundations again.

We may finish 12th next season but it’s worth it if we improve all of the above.
 

Steve Stone’s Brylcreem

First Team Squad
With the “quality” coming up in the past few seasons (ourselves included) I’d be amazed if CL games had such an impact we went down. I see the point in many ways though given my memories of the UEFA Cup campaign and the following season but the extra revenue and prestige must surely be worth it so long as we don’t do a Leeds and overspend after getting giddy with it all and end up in the $hit
 

WatnallRed

Geoff Thomas
Any form of European football is going to put extra games into the calendar. But you have to take it and everything that comes with it when you can, much like promotion.

Would there be a worry about dropping down the table, yes but that’s where the recruitment team will need to build a stronger overall squad that can rotate.
 

IJPS

Supporting NFFC since 1977
I thought I’d see England win a World Cup before seeing Forest in the CL.
So for it to be even a real conversation now is unbelievable.
Take what you can get, worry about the rest later.
 

Cortez the Killer

Impressive member
We literally have just 14 games to go. Take it one game at a time.
It's basically the same as we did the last few years, but this time we're aiming for the Champions League instead of avoiding the Championship.

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk
 

mysteryduck

First Team Squad
Nah, don't let it scare you! Playing the extra games will be tough, but we'll have money to spend and the recruitment team have been on top form for the last year or so now.
 

apondaway

Geoff Thomas
Champions League raises the club's profile around the world and elevate revenues for years to come.
 

DizzyBala

Jack Armstrong
Firstly, it will be really interesting to see over the next 14 games whether the decision to essentially bring no one else of note in, costs us our league position or not. Villa strengthened and City strengthened as well. Our chances of finishing in the top five are somewhat dependent on our ability to keep all our best players fit and on form. You could argue that in some respects, we're actually weaker than before the window.

That being said, qualifying for the Champions League is a good problem to have but it is still a problem, as was promotion to the Premier League if we're being honest because the club spent the best part of 18 months after promotion playing catch-up with even the decent teams in the league.

I hope that if it does happen, we don't abandon the principles that brought us to the dance in the first place. Every agent under the sun is going to throw players our way, current players will want significant raises and all of a sudden, the expectation goes from "wouldn't it be a dream to finish top four" to that being the new minimum.

In terms of longevity, I don't want to be a Leicester, I want to be a Villa. Leicester had everything going for them and in the space of a season f**ked it up, they're going back to the Championship again this year. Villa on the other hand, they're out of the Group Stages.

All that to say, if it happens, I'm along for the ride.

I don't want to think about the ticket prices though, Villa charge an absolute fortune for theirs.
 
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