⚽UEFA Europa Conference League Discussion Thread -- 2021/22 Winner: Roma!

[morvillz7z]

Thanks to removing away goal rule, now so many games went to extra time and penalties. But there weren't many surprises.
<snip>

I'm not sure i'm a fan of the away goal rule change, out 54 matches 11 went to ET/Pen, and that's way too much for my liking.

Steaua Bucharest (or now known as FCSB) is one of the first victims of that change, 1:0 at home and losing 2:1 in regulation to Shakhtar Karagandy, who scored in the 90th minute to send the game to extra time. Steaua leaving the tournament at this stage is probably the biggest surprise imo.

Larne, the team from Northern Ireland, was the absolute outsider in their matchup with Aarhus but they are going through, they pulled 7/1 in the first match and were minutes away from 15/1.

Both teams from Greece, Aris and AEK are out after ET/Pen, this could also be considered a surprise.

Pretty shitty day for me, 0/2, RFS won again, lol let me pull a quick stat from those two matches:

goal attempts: Puskas 33 - 8 RFS
corners: Puskas 17 - 4 RFS
dangerous attacks: Puskas 160 - 60 RFS
total goals: Puskas 0 - 5 RFS

[Juggy777]

Thanks to removing away goal rule, now so many games went to extra time and penalties. But there weren't many surprises.
As surprises, I would mention Split Hajduk eliminated by Tobol, Shakhtyor Soligorsk again lost to Fola from Luxembourg. And offcourse, Feyenoord having hard time with Drita.
There were some more unexpected results, but not something sensational.

@LTU_btc this is just a trailer imagine when the big teams in Champions League face each other knowing they need to win and no longer can they hide behind this rule, it’ll make matches more interesting and competitive. Furthermore how are you analysing these games, and is there any good site that regularly provides an insight in this league’s teams and their form?.

[Altryist]

@LTU_btc this is just a trailer imagine when the big teams in Champions League face each other knowing they need to win and no longer can they hide behind this rule, it’ll make matches more interesting and competitive. Furthermore how are you analysing these games, and is there any good site that regularly provides an insight in this league’s teams and their form?.

Conference League matches are very difficult to predict, and more difficult to do it in the early stages. And if a strong team plays with an outspoken outsider, then the odds are so small that there is simply no point in placing a bet. There is no point in combining them in an express train either, because you can get on sensation.

[buwaytress]

I'm still wondering if I make any bets on these games, the biggest obstacle for me to avoid placing bets on these games is because I don't know these clubs, it's difficult for me to do pre-game analysis, I can't get much information on the TV channels either. , I even thought about making at least 3 bets betting on luck, for example: if team X has 1.50@ odds against team Z that has @2.0 odds I thought about using luck and betting on three games where the teams have @ 1.50 odds, but then I thought that this too is risky and I came back in indecision. I'm amazed when I see people placing bets on these games and winning them, and it's something amazing

I usually compare league positions plus form if possible, and if a current league champion is riding high, and meeting a mid-table team on a poor run from a "superior" league, sometimes the odds are just about coefficients and then you see 10/1 ++ odds, I feel like handicaps are really good values (or draw/win). Drita were 40/1 against Feyenoord, for example... but were runners up in their league, while Feyenoord were fifth and had a horrible season. Of course quality is quality but if you bet on a HT win last night for Drita, you'd be pocketing 14/1.

@LTU_btc I should have guessed you were Lithuanian and I actually have good times with The New Saints -- really value odds on both legs (both scoring 5) and even the same last season;) You must be gutted about Suduva losing on pens and Panevezys out on a last-gasp goal.

@Trofo: Rijekaaaaa

[LTU_btc]

I'm not sure i'm a fan of the away goal rule change, out 54 matches 11 went to ET/Pen, and that's way too much for my liking.

I also still don't know whether I like this rule changes or no

Furthermore how are you analysing these games, and is there any good site that regularly provides an insight in this league’s teams and their form?.

I think it would be difficult to make in depth analysis about qualifying stage. So, I simply use websites like Flashscore to check recent results, maybe there is some important players miss game and etc.

@LTU_btc I should have guessed you were Lithuanian and I actually have good times with The New Saints -- really value odds on both legs (both scoring 5) and even the same last season;) You must be gutted about Suduva losing on pens and Panevezys out on a last-gasp goal.

Yeah, I disappointed about Suduva and Panevezys elimination. Epecially because they didn't played bad and opponents weren't impossible to beat.
The New Saints achieved their biggest win in Europe. Lithuanian league is ranked 33th in Europe, while Welsh is just, so, loos on aggreagate 10:1 against Welsh team looks shameful and I'm surprised that they didn't sacked coach yet. But I don't like this team at all, so, I'm not disappointed about their loss.

[buwaytress]

Yeah, I disappointed about Suduva and Panevezys elimination. Epecially because they didn't played bad and opponents weren't impossible to beat.
The New Saints achieved their biggest win in Europe. Lithuanian league is ranked 33th in Europe, while Welsh is just, so, loos on aggreagate 10:1 against Welsh team looks shameful and I'm surprised that they didn't sacked coach yet. But I don't like this team at all, so, I'm not disappointed about their loss.

Yeah, I think they've been doing real wonders in two seasons past. Don't really know much about Welsh teams but since the two of them best ones started playing in EPL the rest have been gaining in overall quality I think, judging from performances in Europa. Maybe they will actually appreciate appearing in this Conference League and then get more prize money to build better squads.

[Joca97]

Yeah, I disappointed about Suduva and Panevezys elimination. Epecially because they didn't played bad and opponents weren't impossible to beat.
The New Saints achieved their biggest win in Europe. Lithuanian league is ranked 33th in Europe, while Welsh is just, so, loos on aggreagate 10:1 against Welsh team looks shameful and I'm surprised that they didn't sacked coach yet. But I don't like this team at all, so, I'm not disappointed about their loss.

Yeah, I think they've been doing real wonders in two seasons past. Don't really know much about Welsh teams but since the two of them best ones started playing in EPL the rest have been gaining in overall quality I think, judging from performances in Europa. Maybe they will actually appreciate appearing in this Conference League and then get more prize money to build better squads.

The entire welsh league is really really weak and low quality . TNS destroyed for the first time in history a team in the europe qualification. I dont know if they can make it to the group stage but this still a big achivement for them. Still all weak opponents for now for them .

[buwaytress]

Yeah, I think they've been doing real wonders in two seasons past. Don't really know much about Welsh teams but since the two of them best ones started playing in EPL the rest have been gaining in overall quality I think, judging from performances in Europa. Maybe they will actually appreciate appearing in this Conference League and then get more prize money to build better squads.

The entire welsh league is really really weak and low quality . TNS destroyed for the first time in history a team in the europe qualification. I dont know if they can make it to the group stage but this still a big achivement for them. Still all weak opponents for now for them .

I don't disagree, but as I said I think the two really good ones -- Cardiff and Swansea -- competing in England really took a massive bite out of the Welsh league in terms of talent. But they've still been making slow steps towards progress, and if they can somehow find a way to carve out a nice piece of progression prize from Conference (which could end up being a lot more money than if they got knocked out early in Europa) then maybe the silver lining of this farmer's league competition is that these teams get more prize money and get a better chance at competing with higher quality leagues. Don't know what it means for the rest of the lower leagues though.

[LTU_btc]

The entire welsh league is really really weak and low quality . TNS destroyed for the first time in history a team in the europe qualification. I dont know if they can make it to the group stage but this still a big achivement for them. Still all weak opponents for now for them .

I don't disagree, but as I said I think the two really good ones -- Cardiff and Swansea -- competing in England really took a massive bite out of the Welsh league in terms of talent. But they've still been making slow steps towards progress, and if they can somehow find a way to carve out a nice piece of progression prize from Conference (which could end up being a lot more money than if they got knocked out early in Europa) then maybe the silver lining of this farmer's league competition is that these teams get more prize money and get a better chance at competing with higher quality leagues. Don't know what it means for the rest of the lower leagues though.

Welsh league is one of weakest in Europe, though they have very solid national team. But professional players from Wales prefer to play in lower divisions of England where money is completely different than in amteur Welsh league. And I doubt that things is going to improve significantly soon.
But TNS already earned over €1 000 000 prize money from UEFA, what is solid amount for them. It can let them to buy some better players and increase gap from other teams in league.

[Joca97]

Welsh league is one of weakest in Europe, though they have very solid national team. But professional players from Wales prefer to play in lower divisions of England where money is completely different than in amteur Welsh league. And I doubt that things is going to improve significantly soon.
But TNS already earned over €1 000 000 prize money from UEFA, what is solid amount for them. It can let them to buy some better players and increase gap from other teams in league.

Well Cardiff and Swansea are completely diffrent they have choosen and got accepted into the premier league and get much much more money from the league itself. TNS earned a decent amount but they need a much better infrastacure

[boltz]

I would say stay away from FCSB this year as this team is kinda unique in the world as I'm talking because I know their situation as I've been to so many games when they were named Steaua Bucharest and not FCSB. Now , the real Steaua Bucharest is in 2nd Division of Romanian league and you can see the emblem and all that and recently they build a great stadium for the team. However, they cannot rank up to first division because the team is owned by the army so this team is way more complicated that it seems. Also , FCSB doesn't have their own stadium , so they play from here to there every time as they are a Bucharest team but they play in other cities stadiums.

[buwaytress]

Welsh league is one of weakest in Europe, though they have very solid national team. But professional players from Wales prefer to play in lower divisions of England where money is completely different than in amteur Welsh league. And I doubt that things is going to improve significantly soon.
But TNS already earned over €1 000 000 prize money from UEFA, what is solid amount for them. It can let them to buy some better players and increase gap from other teams in league.

Yeah, but there you go, already over 1 million, which is a heck lot of money for a league like that and maybe that can be invested into better club academies etc. I mean, if Rangers can relegate to the lowest division and lose all their good players but still after 10 years climb back up and develop everything from the start, TNS can be a mould for future Welsh teams. I think academies and good scouting are the answer. Homegrown, proud talent that want to prove something.

[sana54210]

Welsh league is one of weakest in Europe, though they have very solid national team. But professional players from Wales prefer to play in lower divisions of England where money is completely different than in amteur Welsh league. And I doubt that things is going to improve significantly soon.
But TNS already earned over €1 000 000 prize money from UEFA, what is solid amount for them. It can let them to buy some better players and increase gap from other teams in league.

Yeah, but there you go, already over 1 million, which is a heck lot of money for a league like that and maybe that can be invested into better club academies etc. I mean, if Rangers can relegate to the lowest division and lose all their good players but still after 10 years climb back up and develop everything from the start, TNS can be a mould for future Welsh teams. I think academies and good scouting are the answer. Homegrown, proud talent that want to prove something.

I am not sure about the foreign player rules in UK and premier league, I know that for other nations there are few stuff that needs to be checked, however welsh is right there so maybe it could be different? In that case if Wales takes care of this conference league situation then they could honestly do much more improvement and they could simply just sell their players to premier league or lower leagues and make money from that as well. Think about it if you are making maybe 500k a year would you say no to 1 million dollar for extra transfer fee? Of course not, but when you make a few million dollars a year then would you accept a million dollars right away or will you negotiate? This will definitely be awesome for welsh teams for sure.

[buwaytress]

I am not sure about the foreign player rules in UK and premier league, I know that for other nations there are few stuff that needs to be checked, however welsh is right there so maybe it could be different? In that case if Wales takes care of this conference league situation then they could honestly do much more improvement and they could simply just sell their players to premier league or lower leagues and make money from that as well. Think about it if you are making maybe 500k a year would you say no to 1 million dollar for extra transfer fee? Of course not, but when you make a few million dollars a year then would you accept a million dollars right away or will you negotiate? This will definitely be awesome for welsh teams for sure.

We've only spoken about Wales but I think there will be many others who'll appreciate the prize money -- which is actually comparable to Europa League prize money, just distributed amongst more teams if I'm not mistaken.

It's not just about higher salaries either. Better grounds, better stadiums, better facilities, which attract more talent that's homegrown, which is where the real sustainability lies. Even maybe develops other ignored areas before like women's football.

[swogerino]

I would say stay away from FCSB this year as this team is kinda unique in the world as I'm talking because I know their situation as I've been to so many games when they were named Steaua Bucharest and not FCSB. Now , the real Steaua Bucharest is in 2nd Division of Romanian league and you can see the emblem and all that and recently they build a great stadium for the team. However, they cannot rank up to first division because the team is owned by the army so this team is way more complicated that it seems. Also , FCSB doesn't have their own stadium , so they play from here to there every time as they are a Bucharest team but they play in other cities stadiums.

Didn't know that the real Steaua was in the second division and I thought FCSB was just a rename after the legal problems they had a couple of years ago.Anyway FCSB has the same uniform when they play as the old Steaua that violet with yellow stripes if I remember correctly and also they have played good football overall in the Romanian Liga 1 and they are doing normal during this year Championship which has just started being 4th with 2 wins and 1 draw so far.

In the conference league is another thing but I think they were unlucky to be eliminated with penalties against a not well known team like Karagandy.

[Daniel91]

Thanks to removing away goal rule, now so many games went to extra time and penalties. But there weren't many surprises.
As surprises, I would mention Split Hajduk eliminated by Tobol, Shakhtyor Soligorsk again lost to Fola from Luxembourg. And offcourse, Feyenoord having hard time with Drita.
There were some more unexpected results, but not something sensational.

Away goal rule is relic of the past and it's good that UEFA has finally changed that rule.
It's no longer a surprise that Hajduk;  once a reputable club, is losing games to unknown and weaker teams.
Other Croatian clubs was very good,  Rijeka and Osijek.
Velez,  club with great traditon since former Yugoslavia,  made great result against Aek.

[morvillz7z]

Let's bump this thread as we've got 30 matches from Conference League slated for today, what're everyone's best plays?

I've cooked two parlays, mostly centered around backing the favorites:

Luzern - Feyenoord btts + Lokomotiv Plovdiv - Copenhagen X2 @1.82 X

Luzern plays extremely offensive football, with well over 20 goals scored/conceded in their last five matches across all competitions. Feyenoord had quite the battle with the team from Kosovo in the previous round, and i'm sure they'll be glad to face and play in a more open match, O2.5 seems like a good bet here too.The only thing stopping me from picking the Danes (who are unequivocally the better team) to win outright is the extreme weather in the Balkans right now, with temps reaching up to 40C.

Laci - Anderlecht 2 + Gent - RFS 1 + Ujpest Clean sheet NO @1.69 X

The difference in class between those teams from Belgium and their opponents is tremendous, i see a comfy win for both, thus the low odds from bookmakers. Ujpest has conceded at least one goal in eight of their last nine matches, and i don't think they have a chance against a much stronger and higher-scoring side like Basel.

[LTU_btc]

@morvillz7z, damn, I forgot to post my picks . I'll post it now, even for these games which already live:
Took Copenhagen win @1.6, Kolos @1.55, LASK @1.53, Aberdeen @1.9, Basel @1.55
Luzern - Feyenoord over 2.5 @1.70, AEL - Qarabaq over 1.5 @1.60
And few bets on Europa League - Slovan win @1.72, seems that I already won it. Mura - Zalgiris under 2.5 @1.55.

[ingiltere]

I watched first half of Dinamo Batumi - Sivasspor game but it was so slow and boring, I switched to Trabzonspor - Molde game. It's way better, there were two goals in first half. Trabzonspor is playing superior and they also have home advantage but they conceded a goal unexpectedly. I believe in second half they will find winning goal, you can bet on them. I like Gervinho and Hamšík but Djaniny's performance is under expectations so far. Nwakaeme scored a nice goal from corner organisation.

[morvillz7z]

@morvillz7z, damn, I forgot to post my picks . I'll post it now, even for these games which already live:
<...>

You did fairly well, congrats!

Those two past rounds have been disastrous for me, and i'm usually good at capping lesser-known teams, hmm...guess not this year. Haven't watched the game but damn, who are these Latvian guys RFS, seriously 0-2 at the half? This is just bizarre:

goal attempts: Gent 31 - 4 RFS
corners: Gent 19 - 1 RFS
dangerous attacks: Gent 135 - 13 RFS

Hibernians from Malta 15/1, Prishtina 8/1, RFS draw 7/1, TNS 7/1 winning vs a team that not so long ago played CL group stages.

edit;

And something epic, look at Rubin Kazan shirts:
<snip>

LORD, HAVE MERCY!