Good article Fred, agree with every word. I thought O'Neill was offside at Villa when he did the same thing.
Cheers PNM. When Fergie said about it being embarrassing for United to be in the Europa League I can see where he's coming from because they are huge players in the CL. But why not go on and win it and prove how good you guys are!
I fully expect either City, Ajax or United to win the thing.
I'm behind Stoke all the way though .
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Fred, I guess you could have added "don't enter it if you don't care about it".
"When a team plays in Europe they are flying the flag for both the Premier League for for England,"
You forgot Birmingham's brave effort on behalf of the Championship.
Add the fantastic large following to the away games.
The EL has been an amazing journey for us and usually 10 pts would see you through but this time, not quite enough.
In a way, if you are constantly in a competition you lose focus and treat it with a shooing hand and flick of the wrist. Spurs have forgotten how lucky they are and take it for granted they will be in it again next year.
At Brum we know it could be another lifetime before we see the likes of that again at St Andrews and I think the club treated it with the respect it deserves.
It's not until you don't have it that you miss it. Shame on Spurs.
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Christ this is biased and generalising Fred.
Yes I did want to stay in it, its still a credible piece of silverwear, good place to give our youngsters a run about. However the powers that be really havent made it credible in the slightest. What with the third round of the CL going straight into the knockout round, the lack of prize money, and the number of fixtures. Cant blame us for wanting to focus all our attention on the PL to get CL football.
To be honest I can see you point and partly agree. Spurs seem to think that after one half decent run in the CL they are now big time players. I dont blame the fans too much, the team is constantly overhyped in the press. If you only had press cutting to assess the success and stature of a club you'd think Spurs were up there with Man Utd and Barcelona in terms of size and success levels. Its really poor.
Anyway whilst I think that you do have a point I lay the blame firmly at UEFA and Pratini's door. There is little incentive for a team that harbours ambitions of making it to the top. The prize money is pitiful considering the number of fixtures and the distance teams are expected to travel and the resultant toll that will take on the players. If UEFA want the bigger sides to show it a little more respect then they first have to treat the competition with respect. Increase the prize money, or at least even it out between that and the CL a little and get rid of this ludicrous rule were by the 3rd place sides in the CL group drop into the competition.
If the incentives are there the clubs will take it seriously. Ultimately you can only put so much blame at the door of the club for prioritising the competitions that will better help the club prosper.
Comment deleted by Article Creator
Another point is that while Spurs have a decent first team their squad is absolute pants
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
When players finish their careers they look back on what they've won,getting 4th spot in the prem against Europa league winners medal?Not a tricky one
I hope city give it the respect it deserves as we've done with the carling,should be a great atmosphere at the semis with 6000 away fans at each game
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Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Comment deleted by Article Creator
EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109)
posted 6 minutes ago
TalksRubbish, you do realise that Liverpool are vastly overhyped by the media as well?
-------------
Sometimes yes, but Liverpool have the trophy cabinet to add a little more justification to that.
Not necessarily when you look at a team and see that on paper the only hope of a real trophy your team has is the CC.
Spurs were class in 60 but does that justify us to winning stuff now? No.
Getting 4th spot to enter a competition you have no hope of winning? The argument against disrespecting the Europa just don't stack up,fair enough if its utd or Chelsea who have realistic CL winners claims,but as spurs are not likely winners of the prem or CL at the moment surely the Europa/FA cup and carling cup would more important than finishing 4th?
comment by EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109) posted 12 seconds ago
Not necessarily when you look at a team and see that on paper the only hope of a real trophy your team has is the CC.
________________________________________
Please enlighten me.....................What trophy are Spurs aiming for
EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109)
I never said it did, and you are completely missing the point if my post.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Fred...
Harry put out the team that he thought could do a job and get us through.
By and large it was a success with the exception of the PAOK game at WHL when we were particualrly bad and they played brilliantly to hang on to a 2-1 lead....ironically that game we started with Gomes, Corluka, Gallas, Bassong, Modric, Defoe, Lennon, Pienaar, Livermore and even the likes of Bale & walker came on in the second half.
Not sure if you saw that game but Spurs had a goal disallowed which was an utter joke. The 5th or 6th official gave a foul by Defoe about 10 seconds after it occurred and after we had scored an equaliser..it was an amazing decision and ultimately cost us qualification.
Most Spurs fans had accepted 2 weeks ago that we were out...so don;t expect an outpouring of emotion today from Spurs fans at the disappointment of being knocked out.
BTW...there were plenty of LFC fans happy to make 6th not 5th last season and not play Europa.
Comment deleted by Article Creator
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
I agree with the point that UEFA need to increase the money and the prestige of the Europa League. The winners should also be guaranteed CL football next season as well. This will encourage clubs to take it more seriously.
However, it remains the prerogative of the manager to prioritise as he see's fit and pick the team accordingly.
I remember a certain team withdrawing from the FA Cup not so long ago which is far, far worse than fielding a weakened side. This is what I would call a "disgusting attitude".
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Disgusting Attitude
Page 1 of 4
posted on 16/12/11
Good article Fred, agree with every word. I thought O'Neill was offside at Villa when he did the same thing.
posted on 16/12/11
Cheers PNM. When Fergie said about it being embarrassing for United to be in the Europa League I can see where he's coming from because they are huge players in the CL. But why not go on and win it and prove how good you guys are!
I fully expect either City, Ajax or United to win the thing.
I'm behind Stoke all the way though .
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
Fred, I guess you could have added "don't enter it if you don't care about it".
posted on 16/12/11
"When a team plays in Europe they are flying the flag for both the Premier League for for England,"
You forgot Birmingham's brave effort on behalf of the Championship.
Add the fantastic large following to the away games.
The EL has been an amazing journey for us and usually 10 pts would see you through but this time, not quite enough.
In a way, if you are constantly in a competition you lose focus and treat it with a shooing hand and flick of the wrist. Spurs have forgotten how lucky they are and take it for granted they will be in it again next year.
At Brum we know it could be another lifetime before we see the likes of that again at St Andrews and I think the club treated it with the respect it deserves.
It's not until you don't have it that you miss it. Shame on Spurs.
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
Christ this is biased and generalising Fred.
Yes I did want to stay in it, its still a credible piece of silverwear, good place to give our youngsters a run about. However the powers that be really havent made it credible in the slightest. What with the third round of the CL going straight into the knockout round, the lack of prize money, and the number of fixtures. Cant blame us for wanting to focus all our attention on the PL to get CL football.
posted on 16/12/11
To be honest I can see you point and partly agree. Spurs seem to think that after one half decent run in the CL they are now big time players. I dont blame the fans too much, the team is constantly overhyped in the press. If you only had press cutting to assess the success and stature of a club you'd think Spurs were up there with Man Utd and Barcelona in terms of size and success levels. Its really poor.
Anyway whilst I think that you do have a point I lay the blame firmly at UEFA and Pratini's door. There is little incentive for a team that harbours ambitions of making it to the top. The prize money is pitiful considering the number of fixtures and the distance teams are expected to travel and the resultant toll that will take on the players. If UEFA want the bigger sides to show it a little more respect then they first have to treat the competition with respect. Increase the prize money, or at least even it out between that and the CL a little and get rid of this ludicrous rule were by the 3rd place sides in the CL group drop into the competition.
If the incentives are there the clubs will take it seriously. Ultimately you can only put so much blame at the door of the club for prioritising the competitions that will better help the club prosper.
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Article Creator
posted on 16/12/11
Another point is that while Spurs have a decent first team their squad is absolute pants
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
When players finish their careers they look back on what they've won,getting 4th spot in the prem against Europa league winners medal?Not a tricky one
I hope city give it the respect it deserves as we've done with the carling,should be a great atmosphere at the semis with 6000 away fans at each game
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Article Creator
posted on 16/12/11
EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109)
posted 6 minutes ago
TalksRubbish, you do realise that Liverpool are vastly overhyped by the media as well?
-------------
Sometimes yes, but Liverpool have the trophy cabinet to add a little more justification to that.
posted on 16/12/11
Not necessarily when you look at a team and see that on paper the only hope of a real trophy your team has is the CC.
Spurs were class in 60 but does that justify us to winning stuff now? No.
posted on 16/12/11
Getting 4th spot to enter a competition you have no hope of winning? The argument against disrespecting the Europa just don't stack up,fair enough if its utd or Chelsea who have realistic CL winners claims,but as spurs are not likely winners of the prem or CL at the moment surely the Europa/FA cup and carling cup would more important than finishing 4th?
posted on 16/12/11
comment by EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109) posted 12 seconds ago
Not necessarily when you look at a team and see that on paper the only hope of a real trophy your team has is the CC.
________________________________________
Please enlighten me.....................What trophy are Spurs aiming for
posted on 16/12/11
EdinSAspur- alternate boards ftw (U1109)
I never said it did, and you are completely missing the point if my post.
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
Fred...
Harry put out the team that he thought could do a job and get us through.
By and large it was a success with the exception of the PAOK game at WHL when we were particualrly bad and they played brilliantly to hang on to a 2-1 lead....ironically that game we started with Gomes, Corluka, Gallas, Bassong, Modric, Defoe, Lennon, Pienaar, Livermore and even the likes of Bale & walker came on in the second half.
Not sure if you saw that game but Spurs had a goal disallowed which was an utter joke. The 5th or 6th official gave a foul by Defoe about 10 seconds after it occurred and after we had scored an equaliser..it was an amazing decision and ultimately cost us qualification.
Most Spurs fans had accepted 2 weeks ago that we were out...so don;t expect an outpouring of emotion today from Spurs fans at the disappointment of being knocked out.
BTW...there were plenty of LFC fans happy to make 6th not 5th last season and not play Europa.
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Article Creator
posted on 16/12/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/12/11
I agree with the point that UEFA need to increase the money and the prestige of the Europa League. The winners should also be guaranteed CL football next season as well. This will encourage clubs to take it more seriously.
However, it remains the prerogative of the manager to prioritise as he see's fit and pick the team accordingly.
I remember a certain team withdrawing from the FA Cup not so long ago which is far, far worse than fielding a weakened side. This is what I would call a "disgusting attitude".
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