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The Case of the Europa League

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
I dont think its really prize money that is the issue - its TV contracts. While ITV and Sky pay a fortune for the Champs League rights, we spent half of the competition this season not having our game on any channel, not channel 5, ITV 3, or keplang 12.

Its why Uefa have gone for a central rights contract with the Europa League - either pay for the lot and have plenty of games to show, or end up not showing any football from the Europa League. It should put UEFA in a better bargaining positioning, and result in more money

What I read Patrikc Barclay in The Times suggest (probably his only good suggestion) was to make it a straight knock out tournament, then every game matters, you will get some david vs goliaths, upsets or thrashings, and its different to the champions League. Plus teams arent forced into 6 games that they might put their reserves out in.

They could also do with making Wednesday a duel Champions/Europa league matchday, instead of shoving Europa onto a thursday, like the forgotten kid who you have to give some attention when everyone else has pissed off.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
I think some people are thinking too hard.

First, the figure of £20m profit for a UEFA Cup run is way off. There's a bit of money to be made from gate receipts at home, partly offset by substantial costs associated with away legs. There's a few hundred thousand pounds of profit in a UEFA Cup run, from what I have read in multiple places.

But who cares? This is about football, not about profit - and Daniel Levy would be the first to agree. If we were to qualify for Europe for four years in succession, that would say a few things about Tottenham as a football club. When added to our CC win, it would confirm that we are the major English club outside the top 4. I don't think that important players sign for a club because they happen to be in the UEFA Cup or Europa League, but the succession of years in which we have had an international profile is significant, because it attracts attention and coverage in the international football fraternity.

There's the importance of having enough games to keep a squad happy. People talk about the exhaustion factor of mid-week European matches and then, in the next breath, the same people worry about how we can get enough matches to keep a serious 4-man strike force - or 3 senior central defenders - or 2 first team goalkeepers - happy.

Anyway, it's a no-brainer. Success breeds success. Being in Europe adds to the lustre of the club. Winning matches and finishing higher up the league is a Good Thing.

If we do qualify, Harry will moan like hell. But he wouldn't swap it for the world.
 

ravo

SC Supporter
Jun 4, 2004
4,787
2,885
Good article and good replies. A poll should be added to this post, which will show that well over 60% of us (or higher I would imagine) want to be in the Europa league.

Anyhow, that said, I think it's something that we should be aiming at every year, for all the reasons above.

COYS
 

Jenko

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2004
5,290
4,157
Yeah, and we need to remember that it was not UEFA cup fixture pile ups that destroyed our last two premiership campaigns. It was two terrible starts where there were virtually no cup games to worry about. If we fix our start we give ourselves a huge chance.

I think it has to be important to qualify for the europa tournament, otherwise whats the point. I wouldn't take it seriously until the last 16 but it would be great to play the fringe players up until that point and dedicate the carling cup entirely to them. That would keep them pretty happy and our 1st team could continue on with prem and FA cup games which 'usually' come once a week.

In the end I think Harry will get it right regardless, but getting into europe would be a lovely bonus.
 

spurs_viola

Rui Costa,dreamspurs no10
Mar 10, 2005
2,454
0
Agree with the views of many (most) supporters here, Spurs need to be in Europe to utilise the squad, gain more international experience, enhance club's profile etc.

However, Harry decided to neglect UEFA Cup with Portsmouth at the early stages already, when Pompey were around 6th in the league - surrendering meekly to Braga of Portugal 0-3 away, which really damaged their prospects in the Cup and subsequently dented their form & confidence in the league too.
Unless he realises that the European competitions are much more important to Tottenham Hotspur FC than it may be for Pompey, I have concerns that he may still take (getting to) Europe not seriously enough.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
Unless he realises that the European competitions are much more important to Totenham Hotspur FC than it may be for Pompey, I have concerns that he may still take (getting to) Europe not seriously enough.


I think Harry realises that our squad is much bigger, better, and our youngsters are of a higher quality. If we did have a great start to the league season I think we would still see a pretty strong team in the Europa League. Lets be fair, our 'second string', save the last ten minutes in Ukraine, nearly beat Shaktar. We should be able to get through the group stage
 

DC_Boy

New Member
May 20, 2005
17,608
5
I think it's obviously good to qualify for europa -but it's not worth risking lge points for - go for a mainly second string team - especially in the early rounds/group stages

something like (depending on available personnel)

cudicini - hutton dawson chimbonda bale - bentley zokora hudd o'hara - bent defoe

subs gomes caulker mason obika bostock taarabt gds

that's not a bad line up I reckon

if say one of our four strikers is injured etc then play someone like obika or taarabt/gds

I would go for stronger line ups in the carling as it's easier to win - especially as you miss an early round if in europe

and my guess is that it's slightly more profitable - certainly if you get to a final there's not much in it betwen the two comps- wembley is the 6th game in the carling for euro qualifiers

compared to 6 games in europa which probably will just get you past the group stage to the last 32? or some such
 

paxton_soul

Grand Poobah
Jul 4, 2004
468
21
We need to be professional about the competitions we prioritise. Regardless of whether we make it this year (and I say Europa Cup is worth it - we cannot be confident of ever making champs league) then we must make the league cup an under-21 competition for us.

We cannot afford to drain the main squad with those early season midweek games. We should be aiming for a position where that competition is about bringing on promising youngsters. I say make Jamie O'Hara league cup captain and then send out him Dervitte, Mason, Parret, Smith, Bostock and Obika with a few of the trusted older heads.

But next season it is league league league - Ledley only plays league games period.
 

DC_Boy

New Member
May 20, 2005
17,608
5
Hi Paxton

completely disagree about the Carling being an U21 tournament for us

it's a great chance to win a trophy and get into europe

we need a mix of youth and experience there
 
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