Europa League Yes or No?

[willy white wonka]

If we really go for the EL like Sevilla do, then be prepared to finish down the table, ironically maybe missing out on EL the following season! It's a conundrum. Personally I think we've got as much chance of finishing 4th as winning the Europa as aside from this years Carling we haven't exactly set the world alight as a cup team.

 

[Wellspurs]

Spammers have to submit their squad for the opening games by 22nd June... they're going to have to re-sign Carlton Cole again!

 

[Hoops]

We need to man up and get a squad capable of fighting on all fronts.

You never hear Chelsea players moan of having to play twice in a week.

 

[yido16]

Play reserves until knockout stage then if we are in top 4 carry on playing reserves if not 1st team common sense, can't see a problem we have a squad of 20 plus

 

[whitesocks]

We need to man up and get a squad capable of fighting on all fronts.

You never hear Chelsea players moan of having to play twice in a week.

That is because they can win prem games relatively easily.
Our league games are very tight and exhausting - even when we were finishing 4th, there were late goals and drama.

I think AVB recognised this so introduced a slow tempo, possession based game, to conserve our energies. But this lack of urgency did not go down well especially when combined with poor results.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Thanks to all the seasons with EL in a row, Spurs is seeded high enough (pot 1 in the EL draw) to avoid Schalke, Napoli, Villarreal, Marseille, Dnipro, Braga and Fiorentina in the group stage. Draw is 28th of August.

 

[nightgoat]

Does anyone know the date of our first EL group game?

Edit.. just looked it up
West Ham 1st game 2nd July
Liverpool 1st game 30th July
Spurs 1st game 17th September

Thank fuck we got 5th on the last day of the season!

Liverpool go straight into the group stage along with us. Southampton have to play one qualifying round, so will start on July 30th. Even with no European football over the last five years, Southampton's national coefficient will be sufficient for them to be seeded in the draw and avoid the likes of Dortmund and Bilbao.

 

[Wellspurs]

Liverpool go straight into the group stage along with us. Southampton have to play one qualifying round, so will start on July 30th. Even with no European football over the last five years, Southampton's national coefficient will be sufficient for them to be seeded in the draw and avoid the likes of Dortmund and Bilbao.

Nightgoat, when i posted that Liverpool were indeed due to start their EL games in July. It all changed when the Goons beat Villa.

 

[DCSPUR]

really interesting read (second half of this article) on Europa v Not:
http://www.espnfc.us/spanish-primer...a-america-bound-lionel-messi-gets-little-rest