Europa league- blessing or distraction?

If I took one thing from watching Spurs last night it was that Arry has only one aim this year, Champions League qualification. In a crucial home leg with Spurs needing to win, he fields a second string team bolstered by Modric. Ok, Defoe was playing , but even he doesn't get penciled in before Adebayor these days.

It also shows Spurs aren't really serious about winning the Europa League, so what should this mean for Newcastle should we qualify?

Does it mean that we should view it as an adventure to play lots of second string teams from around Europe or a potential banana skin in which we might lose players through injury?

 

Spurs arent bothered as they're more interested in trying to qualify for the CL. It's a blessing if you have the squad for it, Stoke, Fulham and Birmingham arent exactly regulars.

 

I'd want us to go all out for the Europa league, it's a European trophy ffs! I'd class it above the league/FA cup (although i assume many others wouldnt).

Also, i seriously doubt we'd be in with a shout at CL qualification any time soon...

 

Well to be honest, I doubt we are going to get into Europe anyway. However, should we manage it, I would think we would go via the Spurs method and use it to blood our younger/fringe players!

 

It depends on your situation, as a club trying to get into the CL, a distraction, but as a club that would love Europe again (us) then it would be great.

 

Doesn't the winner qualify for the champions league?

Go for it! We've got more chance of winning that thing than breaking the top 4.

 

Blessing. just play youngsters. Good experience and a bit of money in the bank.

 

dont think so

 

Both. It could tire out our players but it could also convince players to stay.

It all depends on how important Ashley considers our European run. If we are going to make a go of it, we need 5-6 new players.

Another striker. By next campaign I'd like to see our new squad like this -

Keepers -

Krul
Harper
Elliot
Ode Sodderburg. Forster can **** off to Celtic.

Defenders -

Saylor
Coloccini
Santon
Raylor
Simpson
Ridgewell
Pieters
Willo

Mid -

Cabaye
Tiote
Jonas
Marveaux
Obertan
Hoillet
Raylor (Cover fullback and midfield)
Guthrie
Sammy
Gosling
Fergie

Strikers -

New striker
Ba
Best
Shola
Lover
Hatem Ben Arfa (support striker)

Team for PL -

----------------------Ba/New striker------------------------

-------------------------------HBA------------------------

Gutierrez--------Tiote-------------Cabaye-------------Hoillet

Santon----------Colo(c)--------------Saylor-----------Pieters

----------------------------Krul-----------------------------

Subs:
Harper
Ba/New striker
Best
Guthrie
Marveaux
Ridgewell

Team for early stages of Europa -

-------------------Best-------------------------

Sammy------------Marveaux-------------Obertan

--------Guthrie-------------Gosling--------------

Raylor------Ridgewell------Williamson------Simpson

--------------------Harper------------------------

Subs -

Elliot
Colo
Santon
Ferguson
Shola

The above team is good enough to get through the early stages, depending on who we're against.

 

No thankyou to Ridgewell!

 

I concur he's ****e

 

Are we all in agreement Raylor is NOT a defender?

The lad needs to be brought on as useful sub further up the field.

 

If teams dont want to be in it then they should use it as a tool to play the fringe and young players.

Any manager who blames the Europa League ie Jol and Pulis, are terrible managers.

No-one says you have to play your first XI, but if you do then dont blame the competition. NUFC have never moaned at being in Europe...ever! Our record in the Prem after a European game, especially in the Champions League season was immaculate!

Toon 4 Europe!

 

Raylor is a midfield man, but he can cover fullback.

 

I agree with many above.

If you have a big enough squad, you can compete in both.

If you dont, you simply prioritise one (usually PL) and use it as a good training ground

It will encourage players as fringe players will get game time in europe.

Also, get some money for europe and will raise profile a bit more.

Toon for 7th (and hope thats going to be good enough!)

 

Who you going to drop to make way for Raylor?

 

If we get into Europe think it would be the platform to take us on yet another level and become a regular top 7 or 8 team.

 

I certainly wouldnt see it as a distraction or in any negative way.

I love watching the european games and at the very worst, its another way you can blood the youngsters coming through the first team. A lot better experiance than they'd get out of reserve match or lesser stages of the FA/League cup.

I cant believe somene even suggested that winning the Europa league might not be as good as a FA or League cup... seriosuly? Its not the Champions League, but its an amazing achievement! Especially for a team wanting to take steps back up to the top.

Increased revenue, more people taking ntoice of the team, etc...

Only possible downside is if theres no money put into increasing the squad size. To be able to cope with the league, both domestic cups and Europa travel youd have to have a bigger squad tha what ours currently is. Even if youre just using it to blood the young 'uns.