Mauricio Pochettino: avoiding Europa League could help us

[jolsnogross]

“The Europa League is not an easy competition, it’s a very tough competition because it affects your domestic league,” Pochettino said.

Read the full article at The Guardian

There are plenty who agree with Potch on this. I'm not one of them. And it seems especially counter-productive to come out with this now since it's difficult to avoid the Europa, even with 7th (Arsenal are firm Cup favorites in my view).

 

[jolsnogross]

His exemplifying Liverpool highlights the loser-ish aspect of this mentality. They had a great season in the league last year, without European footy. They've 'struggled' in the league this year, with European footy. So maybe they should have forfeited their CL place to concentrate on qualifying for it again next year!

I'd suggest keeping it simple and positive - we should put our best foot forward in each competition. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks to his current position as we enter the competition next season.

 

[Spurger King]

When I suggested that the EL is a shit competition (at least in its current set-up) and that we'd be at an advantage if we missed out, I was called an "entitlement wanker". Now our manager is saying the same thing.

It's probably not the best thing for him to come out and say though - especially as we'll almost certainly be in it again next season.

And anyway, nobody was forcing Pochettino to play strong teams in the competition.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

It's the one European Trophy we have a chance of winning. If Poch does not want to play in it then i guess a mid-table is good for him as well?

 

[DCSPUR]

It's the one European Trophy we have a chance of winning. If Poch does not want to play in it then i guess a mid-table is good for him as well?

that is a ridiculous comment. Firstly it is the only European trophy we have been in in recent years so clearly the only one we have a chance of winning. But how that translates to Poch being "good" with mid table in the EPL is beyond me. There is a clear correlation between EL performances for us and other EPL teams and a weakening in league position. If we are not in there it stands to reason that we'd see an up tick in EPL league performance - a clear benefit, one Poch is reasonably interested in and the opposite of your agenda driven remarks.

Frankly you are so transparently anti-Poch one wonders why you bother watching our club play at the moment

 

[Dharmabum]

His exemplifying Liverpool highlights the loser-ish aspect of this mentality. They had a great season in the league last year, without European footy. They've 'struggled' in the league this year, with European footy. So maybe they should have forfeited their CL place to concentrate on qualifying for it again next year!

I'd suggest keeping it simple and positive - we should put our best foot forward in each competition. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks to his current position as we enter the competition next season.

Where does Poch say that Liverpool should have forfeited the CL place or from where do you draw that conclusion?
This is what Poch was quoted is this article:
“It’s true that the experience of last season with Liverpool and now with Manchester United – I think that is a clear example that you will have the opportunity to stay closer to the top four, if you only have to focus on the Premier League and the cups.”
The way FA has set up League/Cup matches after Europe League games just show they have no clue whatsoever about the game! Often Spurs come back early morning, Friday, and have ony got Saturday to prepare for a game while the other teams have had a whole week.
But, on the other hand, the Euro league has at least 2 benefits: Spurs' players are getting used to play against other European teams and players who normally doesn't make it in the EPL XI get match-practice.

 

[bigspurs]

This has come as no surprise to me, as it is bleeding obvious to anyone with any common sense. However what is surprising is that Poch actually admitted it openly. I'm sure that this has upset Don Levy on some level. He hates his managers disrespecting him in this way. I just hope that it's a one-off comment, cause up till now Poch has been all about integrity and professionalism.

Maybe Poch is just feeling so frustrated about having his season wrecked by the Europa joke, he felt compelled to say something. To be fair I can't really blame him. It is clearly too difficult to compete on all of the domestic and European fronts with this current squad and the incompatible nature of their fixture lists etc.

Hopefully next season he will really go for the domestic league and cups with the first team and let the fringe players try to impress in Europe!

 

[Japhet]

I don't see any relevance in the EPL and us shipping a hatful of points to WBA, Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and so on. We should have bagged those points and been cemented in the CL by now. Our performances have got worse if anything since we got knocked out.

 

[noiseboy55]

We should just play a different team to the league in the cup - we've got a big enough squad, and big name players who don't even play.

 

[noiseboy55]

Plus it's also the opportunity to give players the chance to impress - where would Kane be this season without the Europa league?

 

[teok]

This is hardly a controversial opinion. Loads of people have been saying this for years and it's perfectly sensible.

People are fine to disagree with it if they want but let's not act as if he has come out and said the earth is flat or some thing.

 

[cliff jones]

looking at these quotes the far more interesting aspect is he certainly wants to add to the squad in the summer and he wants it done early. whether we play in 3 comps or 4. this line is obviously more suited to the will levy back poch thread, but these quotes willbneed to be brought up again after they return home from the oz excursion.

 

[JimmyG2]

Play it on Mondays or Fridays
Nobody over 21 to qualify for the team,
or who is selected at the weekends.
So no clash with Premiership ambitions.
No weekend fatigue problems.
Allows extended squad and youngsters a go.
No dropouts from the CL allowed in.
This last is probably the key change.
Sorted
There are downsides to playing in it
but the upsides are higher and steeper.

 

[JC-Rule]

When Harry Rednapp took us into the CL, we had missed out on the Europa the previous season.

We had a clear run for our flying lap and just made it.

 

[JonnySpurs]

Fans are never gonna agree on this, some see the benefit and some don't. Quite honestly those on either side of the fence will just have to agree to disagree.

I would happily forsake the EL for a better run at the league and domestic cups. The only way I want to be in EL is if we won the FA Cup/League Cup on the way to it.

IMO the competition is drain on players and a distraction and offers nothing in terms of pull to signing new players. The CL clubs can sign the top players and the rest of us just have to pick the best of the rest.

Plus can anyone honestly say that they don't think we'd have done better in the league this season had we not been in Europa. I'm convinced we would have.

 

[Jimmyjimmyo]

The problem is that for a lot of the Europa group games he used a totally different team to the league games on the following sunday and still managed to drop the points in the league and the Euro hangover excuse was wheeled out.

We have a massive bloated squad and have had so few injuries this year that there really is no excuse for the poor performances after the Euro games.

If the players were motivated over the last few games we could still be on for top 4 but dropping 5 points against Burnley and Villa will always leave you as also rans

 

[UncleBuck]

Back in the day when there were three 'meaningful' European trophies can anyone remember when games were played, was it designated nights for European cup/CWC/UEFA cup?

 

[pablo73]

I don't disagree with him at all but if this is his opinion then why not use it as a competition to blood youngsters, give fringe players games and not use first teams players at all, unless we get to the quarters?

 

[TheChosenOne]

Back in the day when there were three 'meaningful' European trophies can anyone remember when games were played, was it designated nights for European cup/CWC/UEFA cup?

Always Wednesday night IIRC for all comps

 

[Tel Boy]

Yes, I am pretty sure they were all played at the same time on a Wednesday night (unless you had one of those early kick offs in Russia).

The matches were not all on live TV then, you had to wait for Sportsnight/Big Match. I remember staying up for the Spurs v Madrid game with my Dad for the highlights, hardly any and Stevie Perryman scored an own goal.