Is it impossible for mid-table clubs to handle the weight of European football?

As European football returns this week, we head into the last two gameweeks of group stage action for all three UEFA competitions. 

With the recent expansions to European competitions, including the creation of the Conference League, it has created the possibility for more unlikely clubs to qualify for some form of European football. 

Especially this season, as we see nine clubs from England's top flight taking part in mid-week European action. This includes the likes of Crystal Palace, who are taking on their first ever European campaign in club history, and Nottingham Forest, a once staple of European nights winning two Champions Leagues in a row in 1979 and 1980, have made it for the first time in 29 years.

But for these more unlikely and unexpected clubs, how do they balance additional games and the dream of European glory, along with the desire for another successful domestic season to see them back in Europe the next year? 

The answer is, unfortunately, that they struggle. This balancing act is made tougher by a lack of squad depth compared to other English clubs in Europe, along with the simple fact that over the summer, key players may have departed for bigger opportunities despite qualifying for Europe.

These clubs lack the money, depth and appeal to have a strong European outing along with replicating the previous season's domestic success. 

Nottingham Forest

Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images

The Midlands club were definitely the surprise package of last season, being in contention for Champions League football right up to the final game of the season. Finishing seventh on 65 points, only one point off fifth-place Newcastle and a spot in Europe's elite competition. 

However, they still qualified for the Europa League, along with achieving their longest winning streak in the top flight since 1967 and made the semi-final of the FA cup. 

This season has been drastically different, and that tone was set early for Forest fans when Nuno Espírito Santo, who led them to such heights the year prior, was sacked three games into the season. 

Despite picking up four points in those first three games, the Forest board weren't pleased and following Santo publicly criticising Forest's transfers over the summer, resulting in what he deemed a now "unbalanced" squad, the writing seemed to be on the wall for the Portuguese manager, who had only been in charge of the team for 21 months.

Along came Ange Postecoglou, hoping to replicate his European glory with Tottenham the season prior, however, winless in his first eight saw his reign end swiftly. Since October, Sean Dyche has been the manager and has somewhat steadied the ship, winning five, drawing two and losing seven league games. 

The team sits in 17th on 22 points and are five points above the drop zone. They're already out of both domestic cups, both in the third round to lower league opposition, falling to Swansea in the EFL cup and Wrexham on penalties earlier this month. 

So such a sputtering season compared to last must mean that all focus has been put into their Europa League campaign, right? 

Well, sort of. Forest sit 11th and only two points off automatic qualification, with crucial games against seventh place Braga and sixth place Ferencvárosi coming up. Despite their position, Forest should at least make it through to the playoff phase. 

 

However, their concern will be that seven of their points have come against teams in the bottom 12, who are currently facing elimination from the competition. They haven't shown the same level of consistency and quality as fellow Premier League side Aston Villa have. 

Villa finished one point above Forest last season and currently sit third in the Europa League and Premier League. This demonstrates the still-present gap in quality and depth between the two clubs and whilst there is a pre-established 'big six' Aston Villa and Newcastle have created a tier just below that and are taking up European spots from big six teams and mid-table ones alike. 

Crystal Palace

The South-London side, whilst not having an amazing league campaign last season, still finished the season comfortably in 12th on 53 points, and made the EFL Cup quarter-finals. But most importantly had one magical day at Wembley, winning their first ever major trophy, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. 

Justin Setterfield - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Despite losing Michael Olise in the summer, this felt like a real turning point for Palace. Oliver Glasner was building something and they were already reaping the benefits just over a year in, as they had qualified for European football for the first time in their club's history. 

This season at face value looks a lot better than it has been, 13th in Premier League whilst balancing European football seems like a good start with maybe more focus on the Conference League and other competitions at points.   

However, losing starman Eberechi Eze in the summer and now captain Marc Guéhi just last week is showing its mark. The Eagles haven't won a league game in seven, losing five in that time, and were knocked out of the FA Cup in their first attempt at defending it to National League North side Macclesfield FC, breaking the record for the biggest upset in the FA Cup in terms of gap in league positions.

At the same press conference, it was confirmed that Guéhi was departing, Oliver Glasner also announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season and has let his frustrations be known on multiple occasions with the lack of support from the club. 

Glasner came out following their defeat to Sunderland on Saturday and said: "I feel like we are being abandoned, completely. You know, selling our captain one day before a game, there's no completely understanding this."

It's clear the Austrian feels abandoned when it comes to the transfer policy at the club, as he seems to have little say in when key players depart and who and when players can be brought in to replace them, as currently Palace have no one lined up to replace the gaping hole left by Guéhi. 

 

Palace's squad is far too thin for additional competitions and yet they still sit 10th in the Conference league, only two points off automatic qualification for the round of 16 and their two losses being to 1st place RC Strasbourg and eigth AEK Larnaca. 

However, for a competition that is seen as below the standard of most Premier League clubs Palace should be expecting not only automatic qualification but to go and possibly win the whole competition. Due to their squad size this will take priority over the league and could see them tumble down a few places, further proving how difficult a challenge it is for clubs in Europe for the first time.  

West Ham United

But how detrimental is it prioritising European football completely? 

Well, only a few seasons ago, West Ham showed the short-term success it can bring a club by snatching this European opportunity they may not have again for a long time. 

In the 2020/21 season, the Hammers finished 6th in the league on 65 points and qualified for the Europa League. This was their first time in Europe since making consecutive appearances in the Europa League five years ago, however in both seasons they were knocked out in the qualifying stage.

However, in the following season they made it all the way to the semi-final, losing to eventual winners Frankfurt. However, this didn't impact their league form too heavily as they finished seventh and qualified for the Conference League. 

David Moyes and his players decided to go all in on Europe once again and this time it paid off. They beat Fiorentina 2-1, with a Jarrod Bowen 90th-minute winner, in Prague, winning their first ever European trophy and their first major trophy since 1980. 

 

They won all six group stage games and convincingly won every knockout round. However, their league form saw a dip as they finished 14th on 40 points, winning only two of their last seven games. Clearly showing a focus on the Conference League by that point in the season. 

It was very much a smash-and-grab opportunity and after losing key players such as Declan Rice and manager David Moyes departing swiftly afterwards has resulted in a huge drop-off as West Ham now sit in 18th and five points off safety. 

Depending on whether or not they go down this year, the Hammers will be the perfect case-study on whether or not going all-in on European football is worth it for a smaller club in the long-term.

So whilst the allure and thrill of European nights is definitely something to marvel at for these clubs, they can struggle with the additional fixtures due to a lack of squad depth and quality compared to the other Premier League clubs competing in Europe. 

So the question remains, when a club unexpectedly gets a European opportunity, should all focus be on that? Or is it possible to balance it with a similar domestic success?

  

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