I never said I wanted to finish 4th but compare that to being 5th and going to the arctic circle to play crap like Tromso, Maribor etc. The sheer amount of games really catches up with english teams who have to play in 2 domestic cup competitions already, to win the Europa requires a minimum of 6 extra games compared to reaching the CL final.
The Thursday sunday schedule just doesn't work, and it hasn't for a number of other PL clubs either.
We've been in the Europa for a few seasons now and what have we got out of it, whereas every spurs mate I know "glows" about that Champions league run we had
The solution is to revamp the europa cup but UEFA doesn't want to do that because they're happy with their status quo and it means we'll be stuck in this vicious circle for the foreseeable future.
The vicious cycle of being in a competition we might actually be able to win, the horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will play the crap like Tromso and Maribor, at this point in the competition we use players on the fringes of the squad and it gives them a chance above reserve football to show what they can do. Whilst some were slagging off Harry Kane for being fudging useless and clumsy two seasons ago against some Cypriot part timers, I was watching with interest, to see players from our academy as well as other young talent brought in. Alongside the youth that will play, if we are in the CL our regular XI will be expected to perform in a European game as well as a tough premier league fixture so why not start practicing now? Obviously the quality of the opposition will be harder in the "Elite" European competition so we should find it even easier, if we are undone by the Cypriots or the Ukranians then we would have got royally fudged by quality opposition.
Oh but it matters more in the CL so the players will be more up for it I hear. We pay our players substantial wages to represent us on the football pitch, whether it's a pre season friendly or an FA Cup final they should feel the honour and privilege of being in this position and should show 100% commitment and pride in how they assert themselves. If we have got players that can't really be bothered because there's less of an appearance fee then we should simply get rid of the lazy fudgers.
I hate to bring up Chelsea again, but when they dropped down in to the competition did they say "Actually, can't be arsed, let's take an arse raping and get ourselves out of this competition? No. They won it. Because they are winners. Our mentality of not wanting to be in a competition we might be able to win is fudging embarrassing, it really indicates how much our thinking as football fans has changed yet it's ourselves that are the problem. What fudging difference should playing on a Thursday and Sunday instead of a Saturday Wednesday? Is that really an argument against the Europa league?! Precious little flowers, having to play on a Thursday instead of a Wednesday, how can they cope?
What I have got out of the Europa league is seeing some good games at White Hart Lane, seeing Eriksen's first goal for Spurs against Tromso was definitely something I got out of it. Were you there? Would you have been if it was a champions league competition? And if so, does that tell you something about your mentality in support of our club. It's an honest question, please answer it if possible. If you are trying to claim we haven't benefited in terms of giving players game time to find form then there's barely any point continuing this discussion.
That's okay to "glow" in fondness for our run in the CL, I'm in no way saying I didn't enjoy it, but I think that many would suddenly be glowing about the EL if we did win it. Although we make it harder to do so with our ridiculous apathy towards it. I'm actually desperate for you to provide a thought out argument of why you feel the way about this, because although I am happy to talk about it in a reasonable manner, I find it an absolute fudging disgrace the way in which we perceive the competition, there appear to be many who yearn for us to emulate Arsenal, with the idea that supporting Spurs will only be worth it when we're able to jerk each other off whilst the "Champions" league theme music plays. Ooooooh the ambition. I feel like many who have this bizarre notion that EL is the thing stopping us from getting CL will be looking a bit silly with their trousers down and lube at the ready when we have a season out of Europa, yet don't surge to a majestic, high flying fourth place, what will we blame then? I'd say Bassong's suspension because it's as valid of an argument.