Quite fancy an away European match but have absolutely no idea how to go about it!  Last year there were Thomas Cook package deals for some (all?) of the matches.  Is this normal?  Any tips from anyone as to how easy it is to get tickets etc?  All advice welcome!

Home matches: 

Vidi, 4 October

BATE Borisov, 25 October

PAOK, 29 November

I was hoping for a home match on 8 November, that would have fitted great workwise. Now I'm not sure what I can arrange 

This competition is the ugly sister compared to the Champions League it should have been left as a cup knockout.

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

I hope he's banned now. Would it even be safe to allow our players and fans to go there if he can do that?

He's not messing around with a club owned by Roman Abramovich.

8 hours ago, Nibs said:

Who The f**k are PAOK???

I watched them get hammered by Benfica the other day, they have a Sunday league inspired defence. 

7 hours ago, Blueblur said:

I'm? having none of it. We want to be up there competing with the best, and these teams are just....tripe. 

Our o?wn fault though, we weren't good enough last seaso?n. 

Most of them are, Arsenal wouldn’t be a walkover though, neither would Sevilla or Sporting. 

If I could bring myself to miss a Chelsea game I’d tune it after the round of 16 assuming and expecting we get there 

10 hours ago, bluehaze said:

This competition is the ugly sister compared to the Champions League it should have been left as a cup knockout.

Ofc it is a lower competition but lets not be picky now, winning it again would be really nice.

14 hours ago, Valerie said:

Home matches: 

Vidi, 4 October

BATE Borisov, 25 October

PAOK, 29 November

I was hoping for a home match on 8 November, that would have fitted great workwise. Now I'm not sure what I can arrange 

Could you not hang on for the Everton game on the 11th?

45 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Could you not hang on for the Everton game on the 11th?

That might be an option. It's such a shame though that ideal scenario's don't get followed by those inconsiderate people at UEFA.

41 minutes ago, Valerie said:

That might be an option. It's such a shame though that ideal scenario's don't get followed by those inconsiderate people at UEFA.

Maybe they’ll compensate you?

Its a great group. This is a perfect oportunity to firld our youngsters. Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi etc. They will get some experrience and when it gets to do or die, we could implement a stronger line up to make sure we make it to the finale. 

9 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Ofc it is a lower competition but lets not be picky now, winning it again would be really nice.

It would be wonderful. Ivanovic's winner in the Europa League final is one of my favourite moments as a Chelsea fan.

On 31/08/2018 at 20:25, Eden17 said:

PAOK isn't the best greek team

It's behind AEK and arguably Olympiakos

They came 2nd last year and just lost 1-4 to Basel

Their home ground is notorious though

Last year after a 1-2 loss to AEK the pitch was invaded and the club owner walked around holding a handgun

 

You are not correct my friend. I'm Greek and i know it first hand. PAOK is the best Greek team the last two years. The only reason they lost the championship last year was because of that incident with the gun. Which is an another story... 

Obviously the owner didn't walked on the pitch with the intention to use the gun. He walked in to take the players ouut because if he didn't the fans would invade the pitch...

So PAOK scores a goal on the 90' and he's closer than ever to take the championship after 32 whole years. Fans are screaming like crazy and suddenly, while the ref counted the goal suddenly decides to take it back after 4 minutes of pressures from the opposing players. And Savvidis, as a person who's invested more than 100 million in a rotten football environment, watching the ref's decision decides to enter and take the players out and also goes mad.

Savvidis(the owner) always has his gun with him because he's taking threats the last 6 years he's involved with the corructed Greek football. Whih is also why the previous coach suddenly left(coach's Ivic brother got threats).

He took out his jacket, forgot he had his gun on him and...

Edited September 1, 20187 yr by Nick4

On 31/08/2018 at 18:53, Beerqueen said:

Quite fancy an away European match but have absolutely no idea how to go about it!  Last year there were Thomas Cook package deals for some (all?) of the matches.  Is this normal?  Any tips from anyone as to how easy it is to get tickets etc?  All advice welcome!

My missus works at Thomas cook, they have a partnership with the club, and they sell hospitality packages to the bridge, so I think they usually do the European packages aswell. 

Might not be the cheapest option though.

3 hours ago, Nick4 said:

You are not correct my friend. I'm Greek and i know it first hand. PAOK is the best Greek team the last two years. The only reason they lost the championship last year was because of that incident with the gun. Which is an another story... 

Obviously the owner didn't walked on the pitch with the intention to use the gun. He walked in to take the players ouut because if he didn't the fans would invade the pitch...

So PAOK scores a goal on the 90' and he's closer than ever to take the championship after 32 whole years. Fans are screaming like crazy and suddenly, while the ref counted the goal suddenly decides to take it back after 4 minutes of pressures from the opposing players. And Savvidis, as a person who's invested more than 100 million in a rotten football environment, watching the ref's decision decides to enter and take the players out and also goes mad.

Savvidis(the owner) always has his gun with him because he's taking threats the last 6 years he's involved with the corructed Greek football. Whih is also why the previous coach suddenly left(coach's Ivic brother got threats).

He took out his jacket, forgot he had his gun on him and...

I follow the League very closely my friend, I'm Cypriot and in my opinion AEK was the best team in Greece last year

8 hours ago, big blue said:

My missus works at Thomas cook, they have a partnership with the club, and they sell hospitality packages to the bridge, so I think they usually do the European packages aswell. 

Might not be the cheapest option though.

Thanks. I agree it may not be the cheapest but it's a good option as a fall back and I guess you know you've got it all sorted rather than having to think about which to book first - match ticket flight hotel? 

16 hours ago, Eden17 said:

I follow the League very closely my friend, I'm Cypriot and in my opinion AEK was the best team in Greece last year

Really? You believe that?

We can have this discussion in PMs if you want. :)

Edited September 2, 20187 yr by Nick4

34 minutes ago, Nick4 said:

Really? You believe that?

We can have this discussion in PMs if you want. :)

Yes of course. PM if you wanna have a discussion mate :)

On 01/09/2018 at 13:11, Munkworth said:

Maybe they’ll compensate you?

After careful (sort of) consideration and taking no advice whatsoever, I've decided work be damned, and booked for the PAOK match end of November. Who can resist a £20 match ticket?

Edited September 4, 20187 yr by Valerie

You can spit on my head from up in the lofty heights of the shed upper 

8 hours ago, Munkworth said:

You can spit on my head from up in the lofty heights of the shed upper 

I'll see what I can do, no guarantees