I don't think you and @The RDBD are quite right. We've already banked the Group Stage money. As far as I can see the additional Prize Money for winning the EL is more than for going out in the last sixteen in the CL. And allowing for the gate from the extra home matches I don't think there will be much difference in practice between losing in the quarter finals of the CL and in the semi finals of the EL.
Depends how much money you’re taking into account. TV money for CL is significantly higher than EL. If we qualify from the group and also win in the round of 16 we’ll likely double the earnings of what we could make winning the EL when factoring in prize money, TV money and gate receipts (CL tickets more expensive than EL).
As I've mentioned above, by winning two group stage matches we've already earned more prize money than the eventual winners of the EL will, even if they had a perfect group stage record (I don't think anyone does this year). There is a total pot of appx £17.5m left for the remaining rounds of the Europa including £7.8m for the eventual winners. The next two rounds of the CL are worth more than that on their own, so financially and pragmatically it is more worthwhile us playing 4 fixtures (even losing 3 of them) to earn appx £2m more than were we to play 8 fixtures and have to win at least 5 of them. From a footballing perspective, I agree - I would have nothing against us dropping into the EL, on the proviso that we go on to win it. That would be huge for the club and for Conte, whose European record is shaky to say the least.
Stellini’s confirmed Romero’s out, along with the other two. So that’s two key players and our best squad player out in a must not lose Champions League away game, where our away record in Europe is notably poor, with no manager on the touch line, in a stadium (whether it be full or partially) full of raucous fans supporting a team that has to win. Oh and Sanchez and Doherty or Emerson will be our right side of defence. Balls.
Spurs never do well in Europa, think the best they’ve done is get to the last 8 so I’m not sure why anyone would be confident of winning it.
The EL is so much more of a grind than the CL, partly because of the extra travel as the early rounds are as likely to have us play an Scottish team as a Kazakhstani one, but also the fact the CL has five rounds between the group stage and the final while the EL has six so the fixture list gets chucked into the blender
I wouldn't be confident at all, especially as by the semi finals the opposition is more often than not on par with us even at full strength. As HBIC pointed out, the extra round and greater distances to travel make it an unattractive prospect for many managers. Although I do feel the single main reason we've never done well in Europa is that we haven't taken it seriously enough.
Definitely. We’ve been good enough to win Europa in the past but our “we’re too good for it” attitude towards it is infuriating.
I disagree about being good enough to win it. I’m yet to see a Spurs side in the last decade that I’d really be confident about in a final. Even the star men go missing badly in finals. Add in the likes of Man Utd, Barcelona, Juve and even Arsenal and there is already 4 teams that I’d consider more likely to win it than Spurs. Even now, this CL is a weak group yet Spurs could crash out of it. On their day, they can give anyone a game but they never have enough good days in one season to get over the line to win any competition.
We’ve already beaten and drawn with last year’s winners of Europa. If you look at the Villarreal and Sevilla teams that won it in the years prior too, they didn't really have better sides than us, they just wanted it more. I’d say in both of their finals too, the team with the better standard of players lost. We’ve had the quality to win the competition, the mentality though is what’s often let us down. Juve are awful now and Barca aren’t much better, don’t let their glamorous names hide the fact they have a lot of distinctly average players nowadays. If we played to our full capacity I’d say we beat both. Utd would be an even battle, we were awful at OT this season but I don’t think there’s much in it in terms of quality between both teams. Arsenal the only team looking genuinely decent at the moment and I hate saying that but I don’t think they have much depth, so if they try focusing on winning both Europa and trying to maintain top spot in the Prem, I think they’ll burnout eventually or pick up a few key injuries.
Tis not even up for debate, however one may seek to "dimension" the realities of the CL vs EL. Maybe a couple of seasons of Barca being in the EL "round of 32" will induce true "equality of outcome" between the CL and EL, but I wouldn't bank on it (sic) ,
There's also times where we've prioritised the league above all else, most obviously in 2011-12 where Redknapp played a combination of reserves and the youth team in the Europa League
Spurs mentality is awful in big games though, I hoped with Conte it was finally changing after the crucial win in the NLD derby last season to get 4th but this season they’ve gone backwards and now look timid and toothless in any game against a rival. I have no expectation that in a final they would get over the line to finally win something. Plus I don’t think man for man, this Spurs team is as good as a lot of our fans think it is. Half the starting 11 should be squad players at best and wouldn’t get in the likes of Barca, Arsenal or even a poor Juventus side. Need another transfer window like last year at least where 2 or more come straight in and improve the starting 11.
Mentality is shocking, has been for years now, with different players and managers, not sure why that is but it just is. Doesn’t take away though that we’ve had the quality to win Europa in previous years, just not had the desire and right work ethic for it. I’d agree there’s a few players who should be in the squad and not the first XI but we’ve still got some considerably top players who comfortably make others team’s sides. Juve’s current team would struggle making top 8 here in the Prem, it’s that bad, there’s barely any player I'd take at Spurs. Barca are probably like us, have some good players and some that should be on the bench, I think overall we beat them though if on top form. Arsenal are in great form at the moment so are looking considerably better but I think if we click into gear we have an overall better side, we’ve also got a bit more depth than Arsenal in some areas.
Marseille fans let off fireworks at 1:30 and 4:30 am outside our hotel last night. So add tiredness onto the list problems we’re facing even before the game. A tired Sanchez and Doherty/ Emerson is a shuddering thought.
Hugo Sanchez Dier Lenglet Doherty Hojbjerg Bentancur Sess Son Kane Perisic As usual, I can't see this happening but it would be my team of choice given the injuries we have. My heart said Tanganga but my head said he's worryingly short of match sharpness (thanks to Conte) and throwing him in the deep end for this game is as much of a risk as playing Sanchez who at the very least has minutes and CL experience on his side. Davies/Lenglet is much of a muchness as far as I'm concerned. Perisic needs to start playing further forward. Shift Son over to the right flank to at least give their LB something to think about. He has played there plenty of times before and while he isn't amazing on that flank, he's still miles better than Lucas. Also it's not as if he's been covering himself in glory on his preferred flank so let's try it out.
And it gets better... It's like fate is asking us for a little retribution towards their fans after how they carried on at our place
