The Europa League - Sh1t got real...

[Roy1983]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Undoubtedly. It's an absolute beast of a competition to win. Puts the FA cup to shame.

Puts the FA Cup to shame? Please explain. The FA Cup is the one I want to win more than any year in year out.

 

[Jurgen the German]

Re: Europa league in vogue

I wasn't happy when we abandoned the Europa League in Redknapp's first season. We narrowly lost against Shakhtar, despite playing a weakened team. Shakhtar reached the final, I think, makes me wonder what we could have achieved. We were safe in the league, I believe, and so wouldn't have been that high a risk to have gone for it.

Wasn't that the year we struggling until about March? And Ramos was resting King in the league games and playing him in Europe. I wonder why he never succeeded at Spurs.

But I agree on the whole yes Redknapp did dismiss the Europa.

I agree with Roy though, the FA cup is the one I am desperate to win. For a club of our size and history in the competition to have not won it in so long and to have lost 6 semi finals in a row is simply not good enough.

 

[SteveAWOL]

Re: Europa league in vogue

I was too young to remember us winning the UEFA Cup in 1984. Even back then, the UEFA Cup was a "minor" cup compared to the European Cup. In fact, the media used to give more coverage to the Milk Cup(League Cup) than the UEFA Cup. For this reason, might have failed to see the importance of the UEFA Cup and simply "missed" us winning one. Or probably the Heysel riots in 1985 and the subsequent 5 year ban for English clubs might have overshadowed our victory. Would love it if we can win another trophy in Europe after so long. Just don't understand how Redknapp and some fans could fail to see our tradition in Europe.

I suppose the UEFA Cup didn't get much coverage at the time as English clubs completely dominated the European Cup with the trophy ending up in the hands of the English champions 7 times (4x Liverpool, 2x Forest, 1x Villa) between 1977-84 with Ipswich Town in 1981 the only other English side to pick up the UEFA Cup in that era. Although nowadays I think it's fair to say that most football fans would prefer to see their club win the Europa League than the League Cup which is currently the least prestigious trophy up for grabs.

I remember how much it meant to the ManU fans I went to school with when their club broke its European trophy drought by picking up the Cup Winners Cup in 1991 and that win helped instil the belief in their players that they would go on to win more silverware. Hopefully, just as Fergie replicated his Cup Winners Cup exploits from Aberdeen at ManU, AVB can repeat his Europa success with us and that will provide Spurs with the impetus to begin a new golden trophy winning era.

Wasn't that the year we struggling until about March? And Ramos was resting King in the league games and playing him in Europe. I wonder why he never succeeded at Spurs.

But I agree on the whole yes Redknapp did dismiss the Europa.

I agree with Roy though, the FA cup is the one I am desperate to win. For a club of our size and history in the competition to have not won it in so long and to have lost 6 semi finals in a row is simply not good enough.

For me the FA Cup is on par with the Europa League and it is shocking to think that since we last won back in 1991 Chavski have won 6 times, ARSEnal 5 times... and even Portsmouth have won it once!

 

[par_18]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Puts the FA Cup to shame? Please explain. The FA Cup is the one I want to win more than any year in year out.

I love the FA Cup more than any other. My point is a Premier league team has to win 6 games to win the FA Cup. Compare that to what it takes to win Europa League.

 

[rosenthal]

Re: Europa league in vogue

1960s: First Division Championship + Cup Winners Cup + 3 FA Cups
1970s: UEFA Cup + 2 League Cups
1980s: UEFA Cup + 2 FA Cups
1990s: FA Cup + League Cup
2000s: League Cup

+
1950s: First Division Championship


The only other english club to have won a trophy every decade in that time periode is Manchester United - Spurs and United.

 

[spurspinter1]

Re: Europa league in vogue

+
1950s: First Division Championship


The only other english club to have won a trophy every decade in that time periode is Manchester United - Spurs and United.

So we better pull our finger out this decade and win some silverware, lest we tinkle away 60 years of tradition - that is, unless we'd rather qualify for the champions, runners-up, also-rans and, in some countries, the fourth best teams League instead of course :-"

 

[parklane1]

Re: Europa league in vogue

So we better pull our finger out this decade and win some silverware, lest we tinkle away 60 years of tradition - that is, unless we'd rather qualify for the champions, runners-up, also-rans and, in some countries, the fourth best teams League instead of course :-"

Indeed.

 

[spurspinter1]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Tottenham legend Ledley King has told talkSPORT that the players at the club are fully focussed on attempting to win the Europa League under Andre Villas-Boas.

In previous campaigns in the competition, Harry Redknapp chose to field weakened sides and play youth team players leaving the north London side exiting it early.

But Villas-Boas, who has already won the trophy with Porto, is fielding his strongest side possible in the Europa League as he looks to lift it for a second time, and King believes his former team-mates are also intent on winning it.

Asked if he’d rather win the tournament or finish in the top four, he replied: “As a player I would take the trophy. You want to win things as a player. They’re the things you remember most in your career when you look back.

“I think the manager has set his stall out from the beginning that he wants to win this. The players have bought into that and that’s why the performances have been so good.

“You can see the players want to win this. It’s a trophy all the way for me, although the club wants to be a Champions League club.”

 

[SteveAWOL]

Re: Europa league in vogue

+
1950s: First Division Championship


The only other english club to have won a trophy every decade in that time periode is Manchester United - Spurs and United.

Another excellent reason for us to make a wholehearted effort to win the Europa League. Plus it would be our 3rd trophy in this competition (inc UEFA Cup) which would put us joint top of all time table alongside Inter Milan, Liverpool and Juventus.

Tottenham legend Ledley King has told talkSPORT that the players at the club are fully focussed on attempting to win the Europa League under Andre Villas-Boas.

In previous campaigns in the competition, Harry Redknapp chose to field weakened sides and play youth team players leaving the north London side exiting it early.

But Villas-Boas, who has already won the trophy with Porto, is fielding his strongest side possible in the Europa League as he looks to lift it for a second time, and King believes his former team-mates are also intent on winning it.

Asked if he’d rather win the tournament or finish in the top four, he replied: “As a player I would take the trophy. You want to win things as a player. They’re the things you remember most in your career when you look back.

“I think the manager has set his stall out from the beginning that he wants to win this. The players have bought into that and that’s why the performances have been so good.

“You can see the players want to win this. It’s a trophy all the way for me, although the club wants to be a Champions League club.”

A real tragedy that a player of King' calibre only has a League Cup winners medal to show for his whole career. Especially when you consider that as inept a defender as Djimi Traoré has Champions League plus FA Cup winners medals in his collection.

 

[parklane1]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Tottenham legend Ledley King has told talkSPORT that the players at the club are fully focussed on attempting to win the Europa League under Andre Villas-Boas.

In previous campaigns in the competition, Harry Redknapp chose to field weakened sides and play youth team players leaving the north London side exiting it early.

But Villas-Boas, who has already won the trophy with Porto, is fielding his strongest side possible in the Europa League as he looks to lift it for a second time, and King believes his former team-mates are also intent on winning it.

Asked if he’d rather win the tournament or finish in the top four, he replied: “As a player I would take the trophy. You want to win things as a player. They’re the things you remember most in your career when you look back.

“I think the manager has set his stall out from the beginning that he wants to win this. The players have bought into that and that’s why the performances have been so good.

“You can see the players want to win this. It’s a trophy all the way for me, although the club wants to be a Champions League club.”

Could not agree more with King, the game is about glory and that means winning things.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Tottenham legend Ledley King has told talkSPORT that the players at the club are fully focussed on attempting to win the Europa League under Andre Villas-Boas.

In previous campaigns in the competition, Harry Redknapp chose to field weakened sides and play youth team players leaving the north London side exiting it early.

But Villas-Boas, who has already won the trophy with Porto, is fielding his strongest side possible in the Europa League as he looks to lift it for a second time, and King believes his former team-mates are also intent on winning it.

Asked if he’d rather win the tournament or finish in the top four, he replied: “As a player I would take the trophy. You want to win things as a player. They’re the things you remember most in your career when you look back.
“I think the manager has set his stall out from the beginning that he wants to win this. The players have bought into that and that’s why the performances have been so good.

“You can see the players want to win this. It’s a trophy all the way for me, although the club wants to be a Champions League club.”

I find this interesting. All you ever hear is how so and so wants to join a club to play in the CL and how playing at that level is all that players want. Great to hear Ledders say that winning the EL would mean more than playing in the CL.

Makes me think that playing in the CL isn't the primary reason for a lot of players moving clubs. It might just be the money. Who'd have thought it? :-k

 

[Spursalot]

Re: Europa league in vogue

I find this interesting. All you ever hear is how so and so wants to join a club to play in the CL and how playing at that level is all that players want. Great to hear Ledders say that winning the EL would mean more than playing in the CL.

Makes me think that playing in the CL isn't the primary reason for a lot of players moving clubs. It might just be the money. Who'd have thought it? :-k

Players want to win trophies. They also want to play in the CL.


If you join a club who has won a trophy, you don't get anything. If you join a club that has qualified for the CL, you get to play in the CL.


The teams who are playing in the CL are the ones that usually challenge for trophies. It's more what the CL qualification symbolises.


I do not think it is just money. I think it plays a part though.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Players want to win trophies. They also want to play in the CL.


If you join a club who has won a trophy, you don't get anything. If you join a club that has qualified for the CL, you get to play in the CL.


The teams who are playing in the CL are the ones that usually challenge for trophies. It's more what the CL qualification symbolises.


I do not think it is just money. I think it plays a part though.

Fair point and I agree with you. Just being a bit cynical.

 

[Lily White]

Re: Europa league in vogue

Players want to win trophies. They also want to play in the CL.


If you join a club who has won a trophy, you don't get anything. If you join a club that has qualified for the CL, you get to play in the CL.


The teams who are playing in the CL are the ones that usually challenge for trophies. It's more what the CL qualification symbolises.


I do not think it is just money. I think it plays a part though.

The clubs playing in the CL also pay the biggest wages

 

[elltrev]

Improving the 'Europa League'

Some fans seem to look down on those who place more value on qualifying for the Champions League than they do on winning the Europa League, or who simply don't value the Europa League in general. The argument seems to be that "football is about winning trophies". But for me that argument is too simplistic; after all, who would prefer to win the Kappa Cup than to qualify for the Champions League? The quality and prestige of the competiton has to be taken into account. And unfortunately the quality and thus the prestige of the Europa League has got worse and worse over recent decades and years.

The first problem is that a lot of teams who used to play in the UEFA Cup now play in the Champions League - those who finish 2nd and 3rd and even 4th in the top domestic leagues. The Champions League has improved in quality, and the Europa League has suffered for it.

But then UEFA made things even worse with their more recent changes to the Europa League. In order to improve the quality of the Europa League, UEFA should:

- Abolish the group format. It takes away the excitement of cup ties and needlessly drags the competition out (it takes 6 games each to reduce the number of teams by half, rather than 2 games as is the case in a knockout format).
- Reduce the number of teams that play in it. At the moment 48 teams play, which means the inclusion of Israeli cup winners, Slovenian Champions, 4th-placed Cypriots and 6th-placed Ukrainians, all of whom are currently likely to finish bottom of their group anyway.
- Stop the teams who go out of the Champions League group stages from entering the Europa League. I think they hoped this would add to the quality of the latter, but actually it just reinforces the notion of the Europa League being inferior to the Champions League, and I would imagine these teams don't want to be there (see Mikel's recent comments).
- Give the Europa League winner a spot in the Champions League group stages.

The UEFA Cup / Europa League is never going to be as popular as the Champions League, so UEFA should stop trying to make it a carbon-copy of its bigger brother. A normal cup competition with less teams and a bigger prize would make it better quality, more passionate and exciting and less of a drain on team's squads (you'd only have to win 9 games to win the Cup).

Also English entry to the competition should stop being through the cups, or at least through FA Cup runners-up (see Stoke, Birmingham, Wigan / Millwall etc).

Thoughts?

 

[indianspur]

Re: Improving the 'Europa League'

significantly increase the prize money, nothing else matters

money rules football.

 

[Spursalot]

Re: Improving the 'Europa League'

significantly increase the prize money, nothing else matters

money rules football.

You can't just significantly increase the prize money though. If the Europa League doesn't make the money, you can't award it to the competitors.

 

[GrimsbyYid]

Re: Improving the 'Europa League'

Agree with it all. It would improve the competition ten fold. I have no idea of the logic of group games and letting the champions league teams in it. Destroys it.

 

[indianspur]

Re: Improving the 'Europa League'

You can't just significantly increase the prize money though. If the Europa League doesn't make the money, you can't award it to the competitors.

Uefa can distribute the cash towards this comp

 

[Spursalot]

Re: Improving the 'Europa League'

Uefa can distribute the cash towards this comp

They could, but then the competition would make a loss. Which is the opposite of what a business is attempting to do.


If we're going to discuss ideas that would improve the Europa, they should at least be realistic.