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Europa League - Round of 32: Fiorentina (ITA)

Modric THFC said:
10 games we played in the tournament for nothing.
They really need to fix the tournament.

Uefa are never gonna take away the group phase. They see it as a way of rewarding the smaller club with games and money.
Still they need to reduce the amount of games.

They will not want to reduce the numbers in the groups either. That stuff gets negotiated by the UEFA and European Club Association.
So 48 teams in the groups as now.

Only way I see of fixing it is 8 groups of 6. Each team plays the other 5 teams once. The 8 winners go into the quarter finals.
That's ten games total to win the tournament.
Lots of dead rubbers in the groups. But this could be solved by having the difference between finishing 4th and 5th being a few million in prize money.
And get rid of the CL drop outs.


The other option is to get rid of 2 legged ties in the knockouts.
Just have home advantage based on luck like the FA Cup.
That would mean a maximum of just 5 games to get a winner from 32 teams.

Also it will get rid of the boring football that comes from away goals.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/mar/13/the-question-football-away-goals
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You couldn't really think up a more poorly designed tournament.
It's no wonder virtually every team who plays in it does poorly in their domestic leagues.
Its a mixture of too many games, too many teams in far flung places so more time wasted traveling and that horrendous thursday sunday scheduling of course.
 
Stop the CL drop outs, that is what makes the competition a mockery, an absolute farce.

Thursdays.... whilst this does devalue the competition ("yeah guys you can't play on a Monday or Tuesday because we want to keep that free for the real important stuff") it is workable. Leagues just need to be flexible in supporting this. No reason why the PL can't allow us to play on Mondays where possible. Similarly, UEFA should have allowed us to play last nights game on Wednesday.
 
This silly fudging cup has cost us points each year were in it. What position would we have finished in the league the last few years with the 5 or 6 points it's cost us. None of our top 18 players should be involved going forward unless we play on mondays after game. Wait and see how quick the format changes when a few of the man u's etc end up in it.
 
Another important fact about this tournament which is plain to see, is the psychology of it. Everyone loves coming to london for a few days and playing a game as well. English based players rarely look overjoyed to be in eastern wherever, (fans love it, obviously, but most of us not millionaires) the stats and performances of English clubs are cringe worthy in this cup. Yet we take part and it hurts us. What's that expression about doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different......
 
I wouldn't be so downbeat on the competition and talk like we are above it - anytime we came across half decent opposition we get taught a lesson!
 
LCLC said:
I wouldn't be so downbeat on the competition and talk like we are above it - anytime we came across half decent opposition we get taught a lesson!
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I think we've never treated this competition as a priority. Would have been interesting to see if we had gone with our first XI for both games v Fiorentina.

As we get into the latter stages of the tournament we always end up talking about the league v the EL. This competition has always been de-prioritised. Doesn't mean we don't take it seriously, just not as a primary focus. And that unfortunately for a club like Spurs will mean we get beaten.

We know that the EL is taken more seriously in other countries. Here it is all about the top 4 and the CL. That's why English clubs have had more success here. I refuse to believe that the second tier of the PL is not as good as (if not better) than other leading countries
 
Also thought I'd raise a point bout our left back last night - made rash tackles all night, was beaten a lot and kept hitting the first man or sending it out for a throw...... wait Rose wasn't playing? Must be the reason there aren't posts absolutely shredding him to bits.... :cool:

Davies put in a performance that was reminiscent of Rose at his very worst for us and there isn't a meltdown about him or his place in our squad.

Funny that
 
So, we would have faced Roma if we had overcome Fiorentina. Don't think we have any chance against Roma. With 5 Italian teams in Round of 16, it looks like an Italian team will win the EL this season.
 
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