Completely agree that it keeps getting harder.

For those interested here is a summary of how the UEFA Cup has changed since it was merged with the Cup Winners Cup back in 1999/2000 (UEFA have changed it five times since 1999 each time making it harder for teams like us)

1999/00 - 2003/04
Teams in Competition - 118
Format of Competition - 8 rounds of straight knockout with all teams starting in first two rounds
Teams dropping down from Champions League pre CL Group stages - 16
Won't repeat it but under every format 8 third placed CL Group teams drop into last 32

2004/05 - 2008/09
Teams in Competition - 121-133
Format of Competition - 3 rounds then 40 in Group stages then 5 rounds
Teams dropping down from Champions League pre CL Group stages - 16
Available places in Group stages to teams like Aberdeen - 40/40

2009/10 - 2011/13
Teams in Competition - 157-160 (big increase from prior years due to intertoto cup merged in)
Format of Competition - 4 rounds then 48 in Group stages then 5 rounds
Teams dropping down from Champions League pre CL Group stages - 15
Teams straight in Group stages without having to play any qualifiers - 1
Teams straight in Group stages dropping down from CL - 10
Available places in Group stages to teams like Aberdeen - 37/48


20012/13 - 2014/15
Teams in Competition - 160-164
Format of Competition - 4 rounds then 48 in Group stages then 5 rounds
Teams dropping down from Champions League pre CL Group stages - 15
Teams straight in Group stages without having to play any qualifiers - 7
Teams straight in Group stages dropping down from CL - 10
Available places in Group stages to teams like Aberdeen - 31/48

20015/16 - 2017/18
Teams in Competition - 155-158
Format of Competition - 4 rounds then 48 in Group stages then 5 rounds
Teams dropping down from Champions League pre CL Group stages - 15
Teams straight in Group stages without having to play any qualifiers - 16
Teams straight in Group stages dropping down from CL - 10
Available places in Group stages to teams like Aberdeen - 22/48

20018/19 -
Teams in Competition - 157
Format of Competition - 5 rounds then 48 in Group stages then 5 rounds
Teams dropping down from CL pre CL Group stages - 2 (other 54 losers in early CL rounds play each other in own mini competition)
Teams straight in Group stages without having to play any qualifiers - 17
Teams straight in Group stages dropping down from CL - 10
Teams in Group stages from CL mini competition - 8
Available places in Group stages to teams like Aberdeen - 13/48

I know there is a lot of information above but key conclusions from me is (1) from being 40/40 Group places available to teams like Aberdeen coming through EL qualifiers it is now a miserly 13/48 and (2) from a maximum of 3 qualifying rounds to a maximum of 5 qualifying rounds to get to Group stages

As I have said before fcuk UEFA and all who sail in her