As Spurs went out of the Europa League last night, and we're hopefully on the verge of being in that same competition maybe next year, I got to thinking. Don't panic. This is normal thinking! So anyhoo, I've read reports that suggest Spur's season has been blighted for the league because of their involvement in the Europa League, and it's cost them a top 4 spot. Why is that? Is it just an excuse used to cover for Sherwood being out of his depth? Is it squad depth? Is it the travelling? Man U are doing ****e in the League, but pretty well so far in the Champs League, so why does no one seem to complain about the CL but complain about the Europa? Is it because the Europa is seen as a poor second best? Is it because its playing less glamorous teams who are in the arse end of Eastern Europe or teams we've never heard of? I'd love for us to be in this competition next season, I'd hope we'd give it a good go, but wouldn't realistically expect to win it. I'm kinda torn at the moment on how I'd feel about PL survival or progress rather versus Europa League, if it came down to a choice like that, although at the moment I'm edging towards "****it, it'd be a one off, we could always regroup for the PL the following season". So, what's other peoples thoughts on the differing esteem/importance each European competition is held in and why?
I agree, it's not done Real Betis any harm either, they're only bottom of the league and 9 points from safety. It's just an excuse to field weakened sides and pretend they don't care when they go out. The financial rewards for the Europa league are minimal at best, so as such teams only really start trying once they're at the quarter final stage. Expect that to change instantly next year when the prize is champions league qualification, the competition will become a lot harder and a lot more serious overnight. I think the only teams that would take it half hearted lay would be whatever big clubs come into it after being knocked out the CL in the group stage but are pretty much guaranteed a CL spot via the league, say Man City for example (I know they got out of the group this season it's just an example)
It's completely an excuse. It's f**king ridiculous, playing 3 games a week doesnt seem to be hampering Bayern. And dont give me any ****e about 'lack of squad depth', Spuds have got a f**king massive squad. Didnt they spend £30m or something on Lamela and they never knacking play him?
Sherwood mentioned something last night about no CB being the reason for them struggling. It really just smells like excuses to cover up other failings within a club to me.
No no, it was an amusing public service announcement for those people who see the posters before they see the post and react according to that initial reaction. Thanks for the useful and on topic input to this thread btw.
Imagine that we won against Sheff Utd and got through to the final to face Arsenal. We are then in Europe. Imagine that we got through to the final (like Fulham) and faced a team that had won the league in their country...we would be in the Champion's League...how mad's that and not beyond the realms of possibility
Are we sure that's how it will work? ie the runners up qualify for the UCL if the Europa league winners have already qualfied for the UCL? I find that hard to believe to be honest.
Actually not to sure but I was just having a little fantasy moment of group matches with us, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Celtic (there has to be some whipping bhoys)
I doubt that would be the case as UEFA don't like the idea that clus can qualify for their competition by being runner up in a domestic cup so I can't see them implementing it in their own competition. More likely their country would just retain their usual qualifying methods. Say the qualification was this year and Tottenham won the Europa league and finished outside the top four I reckon fourth place would lose their champions league spot and be dumped in the Europa league. Also if we got into European qualifiation by being runners up, don't think we're actually in the Europa league, we'd have 4 games to play across two qualifying rounds, starting in July, before we were into the competition proper. Although these rounds are seeded, and we would likely be seeded, they are far from a formality as I showed in the other thread by listing the teams that failed to get through the qualifying stages this season, such as Saint Etienne, Stuttgart, Besiktas, Feyenoord to name but four. Some of the unseeded teams are decent sides and a lot of them are also in the middle of their season where as our players would just be returning from holiday and not match fit.
Yes, I wouldn't want to travel to Eastern Europe to watch City playing unknown teams like Juventus, Benfica, Napoli etc...
Being in the europa league does not harm your season if the club plans properly and has a big enough squad to cope with the demands of it. The excuse of thursday / sunday is silly. Yes a thursday trip to far flung places in southern parts of the former eastern block areas is not ideal but you leave your sunday PL starting 11 at home resting. To quote a well known phrase......"Failing to prepare 'IS' Preparing to Fail". I welcome Hull City having this problem for 2014/15.
I've no idea what you're trying to say here CC. Are you suggesting you WOULD be happy to go to the "big" clubs games, but would avoid trips to say Ludogorets Razgrad or Viktoria Plzen? This thread was meant to discuss why some other teams seem to use various excuses for either failing in the Europa competition, and if any of them are justified, not to have digs at anyone on here. Do you think any other teams or fans don't treat the competition seriously? What do you think of the reasons trotted out? How would you like us to approach the competition if we actually made it to it?
No, I am not saying I would be happy to go to the big clubs whilst avoiding the ones you mention. I am pointing out that your statement " Is it because its playing less glamorous teams who are in the arse end of Eastern Europe or teams we've never heard of?" is,like so much else you post, at best poorly written and not conveying what you meant, or complete rubbish as many of the teams most fans would be very happy to see us playing.
If we were to play in the Europa league, I'd rather we played second rate teams from the arse end of Eastern Europe. More chance of us getting somewhere then, although it would be a costly year.
It's a massive IF yet, but it's the back end of nowhere ones I'd try to get to in preference to the 'bigger' clubs, just for the adventure.
Don't the winners of the Europa League now qualify for the next season Champions League, I believe that will be the case from next season .
