By Dave Langton
Do we need the Europa Conference League?
West Ham are in the competition and were drawn into the final play-off round on Tuesday. 
The opponents will either be Denmark’s Viborg FF or B36 Torshavn from the Faroe Islands.
Now, we should say here that every single team in Europe has the right to play in continental competition and it’s amazing for both teams that they have the chance of facing a Premier League side.
However, we’ve got to ask the question: Is this more trouble than it’s worth?
The Europa Conference League is undoubtedly the poor relation of the Champions League and the Europa League. Many fans don’t know most of the clubs participating.
Look at last season’s group stages: Group A was made up of Austrian side LASK, Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, HJK of Finland, and Alashkert of Armenia.
The following clubs were also involved: Cyprus’ Anorthosis Famagusta, Estonia’s Flora, Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia, Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, Romania’s CFR Cluj, Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps and Azerbaijan’s Kairat.
Now, be honest, how many of these have you actually heard of?
West Ham have a pretty thin squad even after the transfer window and it’s worth asking this question ahead of the play-offs.
David Moyes’ squad looks absolutely set up to play one game a week and thrive doing so. Playing two, including potential far-flung trips to places in deepest, darkest Europe, just doesn’t feel conducive to real success.
Of course, Roma won the tournament last season and there is also an argument that the Hammers can go far in this competition and even, potentially, win it.
But, we’ll ask again: Is it really worth it?
Without any doubt of course it is. Any chance of silverware we should be all over it. Plus the price is a place in next seasons Europa league, which of course the only certainty is 5th place in the league gets, and we are not finishing 5th
If the only rationale that people can come up with is “I’ve never heard of these teams” then frankly you can stop football, because I want to get off. We’re in a European competition, which, let’s face it, hasn’t exactly been a regular occurrence for us, and we have a more than decent chance, if last season is anything to go by, of actually winning something (again, if you haven’t noticed, not something we can say very often). I recognise that the squad is not the largest, but it wasn’t the largest last season either. Go ask the players if they’d willingly give up the opportunity of winning a trophy. Go say to our new captain “hey Dec, should we just give this Conference League thing a miss, as we’ve never heard of any of the teams playing in it” and see what kind of reaction you get.
If you don’t want to see us play in Europe fine – go and cheer for Millwall. For me, I’m relishing the prospect of either Viborg or B36 in three weeks time.
Yes it is worth it. Firstly we fought all season to get into Europe. It will be invaluable experience for the younger players. And it offers the opportunity to actually win something at last. Something we haven’t done for forty years.
Off course we need it! We haven’t won a trophy since 1980!
On top of that, its probably our best shot, at qualifying for Europa league next season. Top six is going to be incredibly difficult to achieve, with so many of the big teams strengthened. Its hard to look past a Man City/ Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Man united top six.
We need to strengthen our squad to complete in these European competitions. Otherwise just go backwards and accept we will be mid table team.
is it worth it?
have we just turned into spurs all of a sudden??
behave