SouthbourneSpurs
New Member
- Dec 12, 2009
- 22
- 0
We've seen the Big Four devalue the League Cup and FA Cup in recent years - and now it seems the also-rans are happy to devalue the new Europa League at the first opportunity. Like everything that's gone before, it's all down to the strength of the Premier League. (the prize money, Champions League carrot, etc), but it's ruining the English game in my opinion.
I know the Europa League will always be a poor man's Champions League, but shouldn't English clubs at least give it their best shot or what's the point? (other than another source of revenue). Retaining Premier League status or pushing for a top four finish is now deemed more important than actually winning silverware.
Are we really going to be 'over the moon' when/if Spurs claim fourth spot? I know Champions League football will increase revenue, secure a bigger foreign fan base, etc, but fourth spot doesn't win you any silverware! I for one won't be singing 'Glory, Glory' or celebrating if Spurs finish FOURTH!
I spoke to well-known Spurs fan Morris Keston yesterday (to update his page on Twitter). He revealed that Mike Kelly, Roy Hodgson's assistant at Fulham, was at the Lane on Wednesday to see Spurs play City. From what Morris says, and he knows Hodgson and Kelly very well, the Europa League is proving an unwanted distraction for Fulham. In fact, Hodgson deemed it more important for Kelly to run the rule over Spurs (we've got them Boxing Day and again later in Jan) than travel with him to Basle where Fulham were playing in the Europa League on the same night. Fulham rested Dempsey, Duff and Hangeland for that must-win match. Of course you can understand Hodgson's thinking, with Premier League survival deemed the number one priority by the men who pay his wages. It's also what made Mick McCarthy field his second string against Man Utd during the week. (Why lessen Wolves' chances of beating Burnley by playing his first choice players against United)
I don't know about you, but I think it's a shame that as fans we've got to watch as our clubs and managers follow the Premier League gravy train. Terry Venables really was ahead of his time when he released THE MANAGER board game in 1992. (The winner of the game was the player with the most money at the end, not the player who had won the FA Cup)
Today, we've got a national game which sees managers resting their best players in the quarter-final of a League Cup (Harry at Old Trafford) or in the latter stages of the Europa League (Harry against Shaktar last season) This isn't a pop at our leader, but it's about getting the right balance between actually winning something and being as competitive as possible in the Premier League.
Will you be happy in the next decade if Spurs qualify for the Champions League three times, but win nothing, OR win the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League once? It's winning silverware and experiencing great days out like at Wembley against Chelsea that fuels the passion in me as a supporter - not qualifying for the Champions League and then going out after the group stage.
Of course, qualifying for the Champions League IS an achievement, although look a few miles down the road and ask the other lot. Wenger's now under immense pressure for not having won anything for the last five years, yet he's achieved top four consistently.
At Spurs we've got a great Cup tradition and it's why my Dad and his Dad loved Tottenham. (We reached the semi-final of the FA Cup four times between 1948 and 1959, before we won the Double. The Glory, Glory Nights, the first club to win the League Cup twice, first British club to win a European trophy). Tottenham Hotspur has built its name on being a great Cup team and these days everyone bar, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal is a Cup side! Let's face it, everyone else has got bugger all chance of winning the Premier League. Let's hope Spurs don't go down the route of devaluing Europe or the FA Cup. I'd like to see us put out a very good side against Peterborough, the sell-out crowd deserves it - and hopefully again in the forthcoming rounds. I'd certainly take a day out at Wembley over a place in the Top Four. We've got the makings of a good side at Spurs, one capable of breaking into the Champions League, but let's hope Harry sees that winning silverware is still what the game's really all about. (unless you're playing El Tel's 'The Manager' board game that is.) :wink:
I know the Europa League will always be a poor man's Champions League, but shouldn't English clubs at least give it their best shot or what's the point? (other than another source of revenue). Retaining Premier League status or pushing for a top four finish is now deemed more important than actually winning silverware.
Are we really going to be 'over the moon' when/if Spurs claim fourth spot? I know Champions League football will increase revenue, secure a bigger foreign fan base, etc, but fourth spot doesn't win you any silverware! I for one won't be singing 'Glory, Glory' or celebrating if Spurs finish FOURTH!
I spoke to well-known Spurs fan Morris Keston yesterday (to update his page on Twitter). He revealed that Mike Kelly, Roy Hodgson's assistant at Fulham, was at the Lane on Wednesday to see Spurs play City. From what Morris says, and he knows Hodgson and Kelly very well, the Europa League is proving an unwanted distraction for Fulham. In fact, Hodgson deemed it more important for Kelly to run the rule over Spurs (we've got them Boxing Day and again later in Jan) than travel with him to Basle where Fulham were playing in the Europa League on the same night. Fulham rested Dempsey, Duff and Hangeland for that must-win match. Of course you can understand Hodgson's thinking, with Premier League survival deemed the number one priority by the men who pay his wages. It's also what made Mick McCarthy field his second string against Man Utd during the week. (Why lessen Wolves' chances of beating Burnley by playing his first choice players against United)
I don't know about you, but I think it's a shame that as fans we've got to watch as our clubs and managers follow the Premier League gravy train. Terry Venables really was ahead of his time when he released THE MANAGER board game in 1992. (The winner of the game was the player with the most money at the end, not the player who had won the FA Cup)
Today, we've got a national game which sees managers resting their best players in the quarter-final of a League Cup (Harry at Old Trafford) or in the latter stages of the Europa League (Harry against Shaktar last season) This isn't a pop at our leader, but it's about getting the right balance between actually winning something and being as competitive as possible in the Premier League.
Will you be happy in the next decade if Spurs qualify for the Champions League three times, but win nothing, OR win the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League once? It's winning silverware and experiencing great days out like at Wembley against Chelsea that fuels the passion in me as a supporter - not qualifying for the Champions League and then going out after the group stage.
Of course, qualifying for the Champions League IS an achievement, although look a few miles down the road and ask the other lot. Wenger's now under immense pressure for not having won anything for the last five years, yet he's achieved top four consistently.
At Spurs we've got a great Cup tradition and it's why my Dad and his Dad loved Tottenham. (We reached the semi-final of the FA Cup four times between 1948 and 1959, before we won the Double. The Glory, Glory Nights, the first club to win the League Cup twice, first British club to win a European trophy). Tottenham Hotspur has built its name on being a great Cup team and these days everyone bar, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal is a Cup side! Let's face it, everyone else has got bugger all chance of winning the Premier League. Let's hope Spurs don't go down the route of devaluing Europe or the FA Cup. I'd like to see us put out a very good side against Peterborough, the sell-out crowd deserves it - and hopefully again in the forthcoming rounds. I'd certainly take a day out at Wembley over a place in the Top Four. We've got the makings of a good side at Spurs, one capable of breaking into the Champions League, but let's hope Harry sees that winning silverware is still what the game's really all about. (unless you're playing El Tel's 'The Manager' board game that is.) :wink:
