we'd have struggled in either of those 2 CL groups this season, simply due to our injuries. IMO, i don't expect we'd have made it out of either, especially the Real Madrid group. At full fitness, we'd give anyone a good game, but even Chelsea's group would have been touch and go. we'd have needed some of thier luck, which appears to be wearing out...
A load of old if and but and nothing else. Had we qualified, our summer spending/signings would no doubt have been different with CL to offer.
The way we've defended so far this season, I don't think we would have qualified from either group. You can't leak goals at that rate in Europe and hope to thrive.
haha go on AVB!! http://www1.skysports.com/football/...Chelsea-do-not-deserve-to-be-in-Europa-League Andre Villas-Boas: Chelsea do not deserve to be in Europa League Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his former club Chelsea are undeserving of a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. Having finished second in Group J, Spurs will not be seeded in the second round of the competition, meaning they could face teams who have dropped down from the UEFA Champions League, such as Benfica and Olympiakos. Villas-Boas will not be able to take on former club Chelsea in the next round as teams from the same country cannot face each other until the last 16 but he thinks they should not be in the competition at all. "I think it's extremely unfair," he said. "It would be much fairer if the clubs came in to the Europa League when they are knocked out of the last 16 of the Champions League. "You can't give a bonus to teams who have failed, and in the situation as it stands, teams fail in the Champions League and are promoted to the Europa League, which, in my opinion, is a massive bonus. "I've not made this up today. I have said this in UEFA meetings before. It's up to them to decide but I think it's not fair." Despite this, Villas-Boas believes the clubs could cross paths later in the competition. "Sometimes it's destiny," he said. "Hopefully if we go through we can meet each other. "They have a team that can win the trophy, so they will be up to the late stages of the competition. We hope to do so. "If we cross it is going to be two magnificent games for sure."
I don't know why HIAG doesn't like him more, they're very similar in terms of winding up the neighbours
I know!! I reckon we can talk HIAG round! AVB is a very clever WUM. I've been impressed with some of his recent comments. Like Tots said, the chelsea board is hilarious at the moment. The banner is just the start
Spurf suggested they add "former" before the "European Champions" bit but I think they should go with "worst" instead.
I agree with Notso. You can't compare how we purchased compared to how we may have done had we got CL footy. For a start I think we would have definitely purchased both Willian and Moutinhio due to the extra CL money. Plus everyone would have written us off in a group with the Italian champions and holders. A very good German team and the Dutch Champions. Have some faith if I remember correctly we butt ****ed all them teams and that's how I choose to remember it. Not comparing it to teams we didn't meet or teams 3 years into the future etc etc. I hope City and Chelsea don't take solace from this in anyway at all. Some mighty Real Madrid team this is which languishes 11points off the top of it's domestic league. Whatever Shaktar have spent...Chelsea have probably wasted just on manager compo. the money spent by both the English clubs to feed their desires. Shame on them...but I love it...love watching every English team fall flat on it's arse in Europe unless it's my team
Understandably he's bitter towards Chelsea so there's nothing I'd like better for him than to ram it back down their throats. Chelsea supporters seem to think that they'll end up in the top three when they finished 6th last season and I don't see better players in their team this season. Hazard misses penalties and goes missing along with Oscar. I think it was about this time last season that they began to fall away under AVB after being up at the top and free scoring. I hope AVB doesn't bring that tradition to Spurs.
Seems more likely that the Chelsea team will introduce that pattern to Rafa's regime. P.s I like Rafa Benitez
Well, seeing as we're not top, have never been top, and are letting in lots of goals as well as scoring them, It's probably safe to say he's not brought it to spurs, mate!
I'm tempted to take your Iraq analogy on a little spin over to the Chelsea board. But only with your permission. I'll attribute it to you if you like as well. It really sums things up so nicely.
Take it away my friend, it's ok you don't have to attribute it to me, they love me on their board anyway
It's estimated that by 2025 you will never be more than 6ft away from an ex-Chelsea manager............
love the spuds saying rafa destroyed inter and at the same time say they beat the holders, they devalue their achievement before touting it
