European Qualification This Season - Do we Really want it

[The Original Yiddster]

Would be interested to see view on this.
Given our trials and tribulations this year I dont think the answer is that clear cut albeit hopefully next year our squad will be stretched chasing CL football and the Europa League would be a distraction for a more positive reason.

Personally, I love European nights at Spurs but unless we are going to go all out to win it I think qualifying is pointless and I can just see HR saying again not a priority ' we are 3 points off 4th place and we have a big game on Sunday' etc

 

[mil1lion]

I certainly want us in Europe again. We have the squad for it and i love European nights. I also think its a great way for our younger players to develop with the differing styles of European opposition. Saying that, it wouldn't be too bad to go 1 season without European football. As long as we finish in the top 6 and challenge in the Carling Cup and FA Cup next season.

 

[masterblaster80]

If we miss europe this season, play next season with no european "distraction" and somehow qualify for the champs league, wouldn't we then have to deal with the "distraction" issue all the same?

The more games we play the better, financially, statistically and status.

having a squad not good enough shouldn't be an excuse, we have to find a way to compete, therefore, we've got to expand our squad, step by step. Not buying 22 new players every season

 

[Yid-ol]

I say we shoiuld try and get in it again, brings in more money, means we have a slightly more attractive club for players to come too as we are in it and even if we did take a year off to try and get top 4, we will be in the uefa cup or CL next season and have to do it anyway.

 

[mkkid]

Ge into europe and play the kids and second string and make the ticket prices cheap.

 

[masterblaster80]

^^ exactly, why delay to do something next year, when you can do it this year?

 

[Hoowl]

I'm pro-Europe. I know it will mean more games, a large number of which wont necessarily have much meaning, but it's an oppertunity for more silverware and a chance to try out some of our squad players and give them much needed experience. I not saying we should play weakened sides, but we can experiment with one or two players who we might not want to play in the league. It will also (probably) mean we have more games on TV and have at least one exciting knock-out game at The Lane.

I think most people seem to have become a bit blasé about us being in Europe but it's hardly been a common occurance in the last 20 years. To get in through the league again would definately signify some kind of success from this rollercoaster season and help improve our reputation on the continent.

It seems that in this demanding culture expectation levels increase so quickly that Europe has become almost the minimum achievement that is acceptable. We need to remember that in the premiership our average finish is 11th and before 05/06 we hadn't qualified for Europe through the premier league. Getting into Europe 4 years in a row is a big achievement for us in recent times. Obviously we want to strive to improve but we need to acknowledge that, in general, we have definately taken steps forward in recent years otherwise we'll never be happy.

 

[Spurs_Q8]

we need it, if you used 1st team just for EPL and F.A cup, this is good way for CL place push, then using benchers and youngsters for Carling & UEFA cup, that's keep out of favour of players playing with confidence, not like now leaving the manager reluctant to change the team, which cost us our good display in 1st halfs, so we need to keep all players ready for 1st team anytime if we want top 4.

UEFA cup needed.

 

[masterblaster80]

I'm pro-Europe. I know it will mean more games, a large number of which wont necessarily have much meaning, but it's an oppertunity for more silverware and a chance to try out some of our squad players and give them much needed experience. I not saying we should play weakened sides, but we can experiment with one or two players who we might not want to play in the league. It will also (probably) mean we have more games on TV and have at least one exciting knock-out game at The Lane.

I think most people seem to have become a bit blasé about us being in Europe but it's hardly been a common occurance in the last 20 years. To get in through the league again would definately signify some kind of success from this rollercoaster season and help improve our reputation on the continent.

It seems that in this demanding culture expectation levels increase so quickly that Europe has become almost the minimum achievement that is acceptable. We need to remember that in the premiership our average finish is 11th and before 05/06 we hadn't qualified for Europe through the premier league. Getting into Europe 4 years in a row is a big achievement for us in recent times. Obviously we want to strive to improve but we need to acknowledge that, in general, we have definately taken steps forward in recent years otherwise we'll never be happy.

Loving the bold part. What most of us fail to realize is that we shouldn't be looking at "the new dawn". is wont happen overnite, it's step by step process

 

[mil1lion]

Wouldn't it be great to be the first team to win the Europa League though? I'd like to see us involved in the new format but to win it would be great.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Europa next year would definitely be used for the kids which would be fantastic for them, but if we don't make it'll just be another year in the reserves and bench.

 

[The Original Yiddster]

Europa next year would definitely be used for the kids which would be fantastic for them, but if we don't make it'll just be another year in the reserves and bench.

you see I cant agree with this type of thinking or playing the squad players ....... this is a major competition where we showcase our club and talent to the rest of Europe. To enter and then treat it with disdain is wrong on so many levels with the biggest being, in my eyes, it devalues the traditions of our club. I just dont see the point of striving all year to qualify and then reduce it to a youth team/reserves outing when we start competing in it.

 

[steve]

I think our squad is too big to not have it really. Although there's the other 2 cups, the League cup is virtually over by February and the FA Cup doesn't start until January. If we're to give playing time to our fringe players and youngsters then Europe becomes very handy. We can't have 15 players on loan every season can we?

 

[masterblaster80]

First Teamers (22 players) - League, europa and FA. Should be enough games for all

Youngsters (11 players) - Carling and group stage of europa once we qualify

What's the problem? easier said than done

 

[JonnySpurs]

I don't mind either way, if we make then great, lets have a good crack at it next year with what is a pretty healthy and deep squad which will only get better in the summer under Harry.

If we don't make it then same as above really regarding the squad and improving it and instead we will get to make a really solid run at the league and domestic cups, maybe win one again and try to finish top 4 or top 6.

I don't believe that being in Europa League offers any more to the level of player we want to sign anyway that our already pretty solid reputation won't get us. Example, if we were lookin to sign De Guzman, I highly doubt his decision to play for Spurs would rest on whether we're in that competition or not.

 

[mil1lion]

I actually think it would be easier to keep players happy if we have the extra games next season. Gomes and Cudicini in goal. Hutton, Chimbonda and Corluka at right back. I'm sure Bale will be looking to step up next season, so Ekotto and Bale at left back. Dawson usually plays well in Europe and he'll want games next season. If we keep Bentley then i'm sure, like Bale, he'll want to step up next season. Huddlestone, Zokora and O'Hara certainly want 1st team football. And then theres Bostock, Parrett and Livermore in the picture for next season. The you have the four strikers in Defoe, Pavyluchenko, Bent and Keane. Aswell as Obika.

I'm sure we'll sign a few players aswell in the summer. If we sign Downing for example, then he'll want to play games. But with Modric on the left, he wont have much chance in the League. So we've got one hell of a squad building up. We could end up with...

Gomes
Corluka....Woodgate....King....Ekotto
Lennon....Jenas....Palacios....Modric
Defoe....Keane​

Cudicini
Hutton....Chimbonda....Dawson....Bale
Bentley....Zokora....Huddlestone....Downing
Pavyluchenko....Bent​

Reserves: O'Hara, Bostock, Parrett, Livermore, Dervitte, Archibald-Henville, Obika, Townsend

Its going to be tough trying to keep all of those happy.

 

[TheBlueRooster]

I don't think there is any question that the club and supporters want Erupean football next season. When we were knocked out this season it wasn't down to not wanting it, other priorities plus injured & cup tied players dictated that we had to field a weaker team than normal. If we could have played our current league squad I believe we would have won this competition.

If we get it next season we will have a squad that can play in all competitions. If we don't get it I think we will have a third trip to Wembley.

 

[sendô]

UEFA have ruined European competition with their money spinning boys club known as the Champions League.

Entering this competition means 6 guaranteed lucrative group games. It is also possible to win it in 13 matches.

The new Europa league would take 19 from finishing 7th, and would bring in very little in the way of extra funds, less than the worst team from the CL groups.

This competition has been reduced to a nothing cup that is less desirable than the League Cup, and even gets shown less on the box.

More of a curse than a blessing IMO, which is a shame, as all teams should be aiming to win in europe, and the UEFA cup was once a great cup to win.

 

[DC_Boy]

easy - yes

 

[SpurSince57]

Gimme gimme.

We'll be far better prepared in terms of player eligibility next season, something that left us with one hand tied behind our backs this, and hopefully not be worrying about league survival. Although I was a bit peeved at the time that Harry didn't put out a stronger line-up against Shakhtar at the Lane, he was in a pretty invidious position and his decision has been justified by an upturn in league form that's seen us able to debate this in the first place—anyone suggesting we would be in with a realistic shout of Europe via the league a couple of months ago would probably have been hooted off the forum.

Besides, what was largely a scratch team of second-stringers and kids did remarkably well against a very good side that's since seen off CSKA and Marseille (beating Marseille in both legs) and must feel themselves in with a real shout of winning the thing. After the way we were given the run-around in the first leg I don't think anyone gave us too much hope at the Lane, whatever side we put out. If nothing else, it gave a pretty good indicator of our strength in depth, and whilst I certainly don't want us putting out weakened teams if we should get in next season, we can certainly rest a couple of first-team regulars and allow the likes of Bostock and Mason and Parrett an outing without disrespecting the competition. And as Mil1lion says, it's a good way to keep players who might otherwise feel marginalised happy.