The what on earth to do about EL poll.

[tttcowan]

I'm just curious how people think we should approach it next year given the fact as spurs fans we have the most experience of watching the EL and seeing how it impacts our season. Not to mention the fact we don't ever get close to winning the thing.

 

[CornerPinDreamer]

Goat option?

 

[teok]

Hopefully next season we will have more squad options to work with so rotating the team won't be quite as damaging.

 

[Riandor]

Certain players who got game time by playing EL have turned into mainstays of our PL team... Kane for example.
Play those who need the game time, development time and leave the rest at home, at least in the group stages.

Both Liverpool and Manchester United have shown that in a season when you don't have Europe, your league performances and position are greatly enhanced.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

I thought you were starting a poll about Erik Lamela.

And was bracing myself to be really frustrated with the answers haha

 

[talkshowhost86]

If top 4 is a legitimate target for us then I don't think we can compete in the Europa League.

The stats don't lie and we're crap after Europa games.

I would send out the kids/reserves for all the group games and only if we get to the quarter finals start taking it more seriously.

If we decide that top 4 is unrealistic, then more eggs need to go in the Europa League basket as you do get a CL spot for winning it, but I'd prefer for us to focus on the league.

 

[Booney]

Definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.

Fed up of seeing this competition ruin our season. Kids/reserves until at least knock-out stages (and probably beyond) please.

 

[Mr Pink]

Group stages, I'd play the youth and fringe players. Should be more than good enough to emerge from any group unless you get unlucky and end up in a particularly tough group.

Our key players shouldn't be anywhere near this tournament until its knock out stuff.

And even then it would depend on our league standing at the time. For instance, if we were in the top four and looked good for staying there that would affect how I'd treat the Europa League as well. Off the pace in the League. you'd prioritise the EL.

For me though, trying to do both just won't work. Too many games, too much travel...all leads to more cumulative fatigue.

Its like ground hog day, it really is.

 

[Greenspur]

The question implies that we won't finish in the top 4 this season. A bit defeatist (although probably true).

 

[dagraham]

First of all, why are we so sure we'll be in the Europa League next season?

If we are then I'd like to play it the same way I've always advocated we play it. None of our best players like Lloris, Verts, Erisken, Kane and a few others should even travel to the away games and be on the bench for the home games. If our fringe players aren't good enough to get out of these groups then so be it. Besides, with our new policy of giving youth a chance, the group stages are a perfect opportunity.

Once we qualify for the knock out stages then we can take it a bit more seriously (and still get knocked out ).

 

[Bobbins]

I'm not sure we'll qualify for it next season, unless we get a losers slot from the cup final?

Anyway, we're not ever going to finish in the top 4, I have no idea why people keep assuming we have a chance. Fringe players in the groups then the strongest team, otherwise what's the point? If you're not going to go all-out to win it you may as well not be in it, because our second team is nothing like good enough to progress past the group stages - there are teams in it right now which are significantly better than our first team.

I don't think we'll qualify for it next season anyway which will almost certainly do us the world of good (but people then need to be prepared for the drop off when we do qualify again the following season, as Liverpool found).

 

[mil1lion]

I want us to field a team capable of winning every game whether it's league or cup. However the current squad is not good enough for that. We have to get things right in the summer window first before we know how capable we are of competing on all fronts. I think we have 1 and a half good enough teams to compete so we need half a team to be set.

 

[Tucker]

Before Christmas the games are pretty easy, so play the youngsters and squad players. Do the same in the League cup.

If we've progressed, then a choice needs to be made after christmas when the stronger teams will be there to face. You either stick with the reserves or go balls deep. No half measures.

 

[tttcowan]

Goat option?

Sorry mate, how could I forget! Added it now.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Play kids and fringe players in the groups, first team at knockouts

 

[tttcowan]

I'm not sure we'll qualify for it next season, unless we get a losers slot from the cup final?

Anyway, we're not ever going to finish in the top 4, I have no idea why people keep assuming we have a chance. Fringe players in the groups then the strongest team, otherwise what's the point? If you're not going to go all-out to win it you may as well not be in it, because our second team is nothing like good enough to progress past the group stages - there are teams in it right now which are significantly better than our first team.

I don't think we'll qualify for it next season anyway which will almost certainly do us the world of good (but people then need to be prepared for the drop off when we do qualify again the following season, as Liverpool found).

Normally it drops down to 7th, it'll be down to 6th if Chelsea win the league cup. See what happens in the FA Cup but I can't remember the last time EL qualification only went down to 5th. You'd think we're a lot more likely to be in the CL next year than not be in anything... We must be the most experienced prem team in the EL although you wouldn't know it given how we fail to manage it correctly year in year out. Most expect us to be in EL next year although in typical EL irony we've now got more of chance of CL now we're out of it.

I want us to field a team capable of winning every game whether it's league or cup. However the current squad is not good enough for that. We have to get things right in the summer window first before we know how capable we are of competing on all fronts. I think we have 1 and a half good enough teams to compete so we need half a team to be set.

So if the teams not good enough now and as we don't have the resources to go out and buy 5 or 6 top class players this summer I'd say we can pretty much assume we won't have the personnel to manage EL and PL campaigns effectively on your logic. That's what it sounds like to me at least. We never have before after all.

 

[UpTownSpur]

It's just a horrible, horrible competition and I've had my fill of it personally - there's never any glamour ties, just nuisance ones. It generates very little money or prestige, and the same problem happens year in, year out - we lose league points during the group phase then go out quickly in the knock out stages against an inferior yet more motivated team - it's always a bigger game for them and our next domestic game is always a more pressing concern for us.

 

[philip]

I think the clubs should be entitled to make their own dates when to play though with the obvious incentive of more money from TV on Thursday. Maybe a caveat that all clubs have to play a certain percentage of their EL games on Thursday.

For example, I gaurentee you that we would have persuaded Fiorentina to play both these games on the Wednesday instead.

That would clear the whole thing up. More games than CL but on the same days.

 

[sunnydelight786]

We are to the EL what Arsenal are to the CL, a pointless participant. We qualify for it pretty much every season, sometimes get through to the knockout stages only to fall at the first or second knockout round. We are a nothing club in Europe, we may as well withdraw from it seeing our managers/club have no intention of wanting to win a trophy. They would much rather have the glory of winning the 4th place cup in the best league in the world ever, even though its clubs are getting dicked left, right and centre in Europe!!!

 

[tttcowan]

We are to the EL what Arsenal are to the CL, a pointless participant. We qualify for it pretty much every season, sometimes get through to the knockout stages only to fall at the first or second knockout round. We are a nothing club in Europe, we may as well withdraw from it seeing our managers/club have no intention of wanting to win a trophy. They would much rather have the glory of winning the 4th place cup in the best league in the world ever, even though its clubs are getting dicked left, right and centre in Europe!!!

I know what you're saying but I think that's a bit harsh. I mean the thing about us rather coming 4th than winning the Europa League. Of course everyone would rather win the Europa League. It's just a very hard competition with a lot of games and teams who play in less competitive leagues take advantage of that. We just can't afford to turn up to league games with weakened sides and blag through. The PL is too competitive and the games seem to be relentless... Wasn't it us and Liverpool had played more games than any other team in Europe? We have two domestic cups the PL and then the endurance test of the EL. In the EL it always seems to go wrong when the inevitable clash with a big domestic game on the weekend takes our focus away.

Spurs have pretty much become the go to case study of how the EL can ruin a teams domestic aspirations.