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The UEFA Cup and our long term success

jimbo

Cabbages
Dec 22, 2003
8,035
7,436
I've seen a lot of posts lately that express fears for the worse should we fail to qualify for the UEFA Cup this season, and it looks likely. I'm not convinced it will be as detrimental as some seem to think, but first, the fear.

So on the one hand, if we don't have European football next season we will fail to attract quality players, we will fail to keep our better players and so our chances of any kind of long term success will be seriously damaged.

On the other, I don't think this is the case. Man City have had no trouble attracting players and staff and doing well, Portsmouth are also doing well despite not being in Europe. Bolton, who are in the UEFA, haven't really benefitted at all.

Players will sign for Spurs because they want to play in the Premier League, and I think that also goes for the players we have. The UEFA Cup wouldn't make a difference, the Champions League, would.

If as looks likely, we don't have European football next season, we will have fewer games to play and so be able to concentrate more thoroughly on the league with less opportunities for injury. Plus we will have a squad that has tasted Europe and wants to be in it again. I think this could act as a spur. If our ambition really is to crack the big four then not being in Europe, for a season could be a help.

Long term, I believe Spurs should be in Europe every season, ideally the Champions League, but at least the UEFA Cup. However, I want that through league position, winning a cup doesn't show improvement and doesn't give us back our status. I think that maybe a season out of Europe could galvanise the team to go that one step further than we managed 2 seasons back and reach the promised land.
 

Zammo

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2005
994
281
Players have recently signed for City because of the enourmous wages they are offering. They amongst others will beat us on that front. Then combine that with potential lack of european football that Pompey, City Black burn, whoever are offering and your foreign mercenary player will go elsewhere.
 

gregga

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2005
2,281
1,312
U are forgetting one thing though - we fans follow the team for our enjoyment (at least thats how I try and justify it to myself). Speaking for myself and others I'm sure, a european campaign is exciting and interesting and will be greatly missed.

Everything else you have said I mostly agree with though.
 

SpurSince57

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2006
45,213
8,229
I don't think City are offering outrageous wages. Let's not forget that none of this summer's imports were exactly household names. Had anyone but FM fiends heard of Elano or Corluka? If we hadn't been connected with him you could probably have said the same of Petrov.
 

AngerManagement

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2004
12,518
2,739
Also, to me uefa cup has been somewhat dissapointing. At first last year I was excited just to be in Europe again, and going to the home matches was great. However now I feel like the Uefa cup has become a bit mickey mouse. We mostly play second rate (if that) European teams and so have have only played one decent team (to whom we lost over two legs)

Im sure the away days are fun/exciting, but I have never been to one so only see them on TV and an away trip to Isreal is not that overwhelming on tv.

Seems to me the way the Uefa cup and CL have been structured in recent years have left the Uefa cup in tatters and basically a waste of time (there is little money or presitige involved)
 

tooey

60% banana
Apr 22, 2005
5,228
7,948
The uefa cup doesn't draw players, yeah its europe but it doesn't have anywhere near the level of anticipation and coverage of the champions league. The only thing these days that makes a players mind up is hwo fat his pocket will be. Its sad but its a fact.
 

Zammo

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2005
994
281
There's no doubt that whilst I have enjoyed our european games, the UEFA cup is decidedly third rate. UEFA don't really know hwat to do with it, and certianly want to get away with spending as little cash on it as possible. The prize money I tihnk is a good indication of the value of the competition and it's currently a fraction of the Champions League.
 

llamafarmer

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2004
10,775
1,055
There's no doubt that whilst I have enjoyed our european games, the UEFA cup is decidedly third rate. UEFA don't really know hwat to do with it, and certianly want to get away with spending as little cash on it as possible. The prize money I tihnk is a good indication of the value of the competition and it's currently a fraction of the Champions League.


It's a great shame, but it's very true. Typical of footy these days unfortunately.
 

Davey-O

is your hero
Mar 16, 2005
4,223
7
We will be in the UEFA as we'll win the FA Cup, the Milk Cup and the UEFA Cup this season!

Job's a good un.
 

Stoof

THERE IS A PIGEON IN MY BANK ACCOUNT
Staff
Jun 5, 2004
32,219
64,273
How embarrassing for you. They changed the name. It's now called the Worthington Cup. Get with the times.

Derrr, it's quite clearly the Coca Cola Cup. :duh:

Now we've gone through most of them, what actually is it?? :lol:
 

SpurSince57

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2006
45,213
8,229
There's no doubt that whilst I have enjoyed our european games, the UEFA cup is decidedly third rate. UEFA don't really know hwat to do with it, and certianly want to get away with spending as little cash on it as possible. The prize money I tihnk is a good indication of the value of the competition and it's currently a fraction of the Champions League.

But look at some of the makeweights in the CL. There are several better clubs in the UEFA Cup than some of those in the CL, ourselves included. To win it you do have to beat at least one decent side, this season more than most. But yes, there is a problem, and it started when UEFA caved in and allowed runners-up and then third and fourth placed sides from the big leagues to participate in the CL. We also have the group stage, allegedly to make the competition 'more exciting', but in reality to minimise the chances of Milan, say, going out early on to a bunch of bozos. In the process they seriously damaged the UEFA Cup, which until the changes was probably a far tougher competition to win.
 

chinaman

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2003
17,974
12,423
Winning a milk cup will not get us in Europe. It will only make a better breakfast table.
 

jonnyrotten

SC Supporter
Aug 16, 2006
2,114
3,721
Im sure the away days are fun/exciting, but I have never been to one so only see them on TV and an away trip to Isreal is not that overwhelming on tv.

I went to Leverkusen and a the best time of my life as a Spurs fan. Been waiting to do that for years, and sure some of the wafer teams aren't great, but surely that is a good opportunity to rack up some goals, wins and confidence.

We're all going on a European tour, a European tour, a European tour!!:beer:
 

DC_Boy

New Member
May 20, 2005
17,608
5
I love us being in Europe - though I agree UEFA competition may not sway many players

realistically for every club in the prem (and championship) outside the top 4 - the UEFA Cup is the only european competition available to us - so best to make the most of it :)
 

Vegas

New Member
Jul 28, 2006
213
0
But what about the Rumbelows cup?



Oh no...Justin Edinburgh

Edinburgh right ahead...
 

Adam456

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2005
4,453
3,117
I think you have to look at this as pros and cons and for me the pros outweigh:

Pros

1. Attracting players - being in the UEFA does undoubtedly attract some players but not others. If you've never played in Europe and you have the possibility of being drawn against Bayern in the Olympic Stadium then that's going to be a big plus
2. Money - whilst the UEFA is dwarfed by the CL it still brought in £2m in TV money + gate receipts + unquantifiable extra merchandising and brand exposure
3. Fans' enjoyment - nuff said (we'd rather be seeing our team play European games than not)
4. More games - this allows us to operate a bigger squad as we have more games to play them in and keep them happy
5. Player and team experience - gives them different styles and situations to play against/within and learn from

Cons

1. More games - equals some distraction from league, fatigue and possibility of injury

...and that's it really
 

DC_Boy

New Member
May 20, 2005
17,608
5
I think you have to look at this as pros and cons and for me the pros outweigh:

Pros

1. Attracting players - being in the UEFA does undoubtedly attract some players but not others. If you've never played in Europe and you have the possibility of being drawn against Bayern in the Olympic Stadium then that's going to be a big plus
2. Money - whilst the UEFA is dwarfed by the CL it still brought in £2m in TV money + gate receipts + unquantifiable extra merchandising and brand exposure
3. Fans' enjoyment - nuff said (we'd rather be seeing our team play European games than not)
4. More games - this allows us to operate a bigger squad as we have more games to play them in and keep them happy
5. Player and team experience - gives them different styles and situations to play against/within and learn from

Cons

1. More games - equals some distraction from league, fatigue and possibility of injury

...and that's it really

agreed Adam - we have a big squad and we can cope - imagine how much moaning we'd get from our strikers if we hadn't had the UEFA to help with the rotation

we made more money from our UEFA Cup run in TV & prize money than we did from our lge & FA Cup runs combined last season (from memory)

the extra gate money from Cup runs is vital as it gives us higher profit margins than lge games - the season ticket money is already in and apart from first two cup games all the seats that are solld are gaining extra revenue - plus there are a lot of fixed costs that we'll have to pay whether we have cup runs consisting of only two games in total (05/06) or stacks of cup games (06/07) - the vastly improved financial figures of last season over the season before were helped greatly by our cup runs
 
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