With the media hype that surrounds the Champions League, fans interest in the Europa League seems to diminish more each year. Graham Price questions why that is and states his defence for this European competition.
In defence of the Europa League
It won’t be long now, less than 3 weeks in fact. We’ll all do a spot of googling to find out which channel, ITV4? BT Sport? Some of us will be up to date quicker than the official Spurs website. We’ll all be there. The Europa League. I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know a good number well informed and genuinely nice Spurs fans in the Twitter community in the last two years, and the majority will watch our Europa League games, though perhaps with varying degrees of interest. But should we care?
A while ago we had a taste of the Champions League, and we liked it. We were one Arjen Robben penalty away from tasting it again. The Champions League brings big money, big players and an unparalleled sense of achievement. So why should we care about the Europa League?
Realism
We’ve got the 6th highest wage bill in the league, the 10th biggest stadium, consistently sell our best players and can’t compete with Man City, Chelsea, or Man Utd for spending power. We don’t have the historical allure of Liverpool and haven’t been able to consistently offer Champions League football like our hated rivals Arsenal. There’s a strong argument to say 6th is about right for Spurs. I don’t necessarily buy that, and if Pochettino can be given the kind of backing that was denied AVB from the board and fans, then I believe we can achieve Champions League football again within two or three years. But in recent seasons the word ‘ambition’ seems to have become a byword for delusion and entitlement. I’ve made an argument before (see far below) that Harry’s achievement of 4th on both occasions were done so in ages of unprecedented turbulence at other clubs, along with the most talented Spurs line-ups you’re likely to see in some time. It’s worth knowing where we sit. Gooners can bait us with “you should know your place” and honestly? Perhaps, for the short term we should. It will make future progress all the sweeter. Realistically we’ve been in and around the Europa league for some time, so its worth accepting that and embracing it temporarily, as anything else will just lead to resentment.
It’s a European competition
You wouldn’t believe it sometimes given the media hype for the Champions League, but it’s true. The Europa league/UEFA cup has a proud history and exposes the squad to European football. Back in 2012-13 we played successive games against Lyon, Inter and Basel, all of whom have been Champions League regulars in recent seasons. That sort of exposure is vital for our players, and in the words of the great Bill Nicholson “If we’re not in Europe..We’re nothing..”
[linequote]In recent seasons the word ‘ambition’ seems to have become a byword for delusion and entitlement[/linequote]
Co-efficient
Yes, probably the saddest argument of the lot, but important nonetheless. Winning games and generally participating in European competition brings co-efficient points to clubs which determines seeding in subsequent group draws. Liverpool, having not progressed far in their Europa League attempts and missing last season entirely now face the rather daunting prospect of being 3rd or even 4th seeds for their Champions League group when the draw is made thanks to being 45th in the coefficient rankings. Spurs, by contrast are 16th, and were we to achieved the Champions League this year, far-fetched though it may seem, we would be second seeds. The same ‘ambitious’ fans who despise the Europa League may thank it should we reach the Champions League and have a favourable draw.
We could win it
There’s not a single game that comes up in the Europa League where every Spurs fan thinks “ah, we’ll get tonked here”. Unlike the Champions League, where, by the quarter finals you know your luck will run out soon. I just can’t accept the idea of regularly participating in a competition you have no prospect of winning. When the Champions League does happen for Spurs, I’d like us to be a good deal stronger than we are now and not contribute towards this farcical self-serving nonsense perpetuated by the media that being in it is enough. Competitions are there to be won, not so rich men in suits can slap each other on the back over a lucrative sponsorship deal.
Watching Spurs win is good
Among all the turmoil of August-December last year, watching us win every group was pleasant, blessed relief. Soldado even managed a hat-trick. Who doesn’t like watching their team win?!
Squad rotation
The top teams all have two players in every position. The difference between Spurs and Chelsea is that we can’t pay £200k to a player with the promise of a trophy most seasons. Our fringe player want games, and the Europa League provides a good opportunity to play the squad and let everyone fight for their place. And lastly…
What else would you do on a Thursday night?
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21 Comments
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13/08/2014 @ 8:55 am
Completely agree with every point, good to hear some sense about this. But you missed perhaps the most important point of all. The winner this year gets a Champions League spot and could well be our best route to get in!
13/08/2014 @ 8:56 am
Great stuff. I love the europa league, love the travelling, love the opposition whatever the flavour , It’s one failing is that games are played on the Thursday, which ‘cheapens’ the product. One of many UEFA faults but I’m still all for it. What genuine fan wouldn’t be, we’re playing in Europe!
13/08/2014 @ 9:01 am
Liverpool are in the Champions League, we aren’t, do you think they give a damn about the coefficiant ? They will also make more for qualifying than the anyone will make winning the europa. Liverpool showed last year the advantage not being in europe gives you in the league, United will enjoy the same advantage this year. Both clubs will be quite happy to see us plodding along in the Europa, grinding out the extra games for no return.
13/08/2014 @ 4:01 pm
I take the point, but am trying to look at the positives. Liverpool will give a damn if they get Real +BVB in group stages…..
13/08/2014 @ 9:05 am
Great article but what the Champions League will do is show how far we have progressed. There was a time when we didn’t know what European Football was let alone what 6th place was for a few years but now we’re regular Europa League participaters. Next should be the Champions League regularly and onwards to title challengers before actually winning the thing. Then if we’re back in the Europa League it would finally mean we’re going backwards that the plastic Levy out brigade are claiming we are now.
13/08/2014 @ 9:13 am
Whilst they are making efforts to improve the competition (dangling the CL carrot) its the group stage that just doesn’t cut it for me, too much dross. Change the qualifying rounds to filter out some of the amateurs, or return to an old knockout cup competition and its all gravy.
That said, we are second tier in europe at the moment, and as such, should really be competing for it regularly, bear in mind that Middlesbrough and Fulham have gone to the finals in this competition in the last decade, something we cant say.
13/08/2014 @ 9:37 am
Some very good points. The only thing I’d say is that the group stages are shocking and not worth sending any regular first team players out to. I would even argue that the manager shouldn’t be wasted on the group stages. The squad is big and strong enough that we could section off a group of youngsters and fringe first teamers each week that the manager decides he won’t want for the league game at the weekend and have them spend the week preparing for the EL game with a reserve team coach. Not only would that free up Pochettino and the players who will be playing in the league game to train and prepare all week for that but it would have been perfect for a Sherwood figure to gather up experience managing a team from week to week instead of being thrown in the deep end and ultimately being cut loose from the club. UEFA might argue that you’re undermining the tournament by doing this but I don’t see how they could argue if you were still winning your games which Spurs could easily do given some of the opposition you face in the groups. Then when you get to the knockouts and start facing more serious competition, you respond in kind by taking it more seriously. It’s great seeing the team win like the author says but it’s not so great seeing them demolished 5 or 6 nil a few days after because they’ve no time to prepare. Flying home from the Arctic circle and having only half of Friday and Saturday to prepare for facing Man City or Chelsea is not ideal.
13/08/2014 @ 9:41 am
I think the Europa Cup is getting better, but it needs more funds injected. What I now dislike about the competition is the teams who drop out of the CL get a second opportunate to win silverware in the EL. That’s can’t be fare.
13/08/2014 @ 9:43 am
bang on.agree agree agree.
13/08/2014 @ 9:52 am
Agree with all of that – great article. Literally my only problem with the Europa, is that it seems to adversely affect our league performances. Was it something like 8 of our first 10 losses last season came directly after EL games? Seems to many to be a coincidence. In a way though, I don’t believe it should and that may just be mis-management – playing Thursday / Sunday is no different to Wednesday / Saturday, and the games are easier so should allow more rotation until the latter stages. I love being able to watch Spurs mid-week and it’s a competition we have a genuine chance of winning…and let’s face it, we now need a cup more than ever after a six year wait and with the noisy neighbours breaking their duck last season! And that’s not to mention the fact that the winners now get a Champions League place…
13/08/2014 @ 9:54 am
well put, also, more important than anything else, I love watching Spurs… whoever we play and this means I get to watch an extra 15 (roughly) games a season, happy days!
13/08/2014 @ 9:58 am
Having said that, they really need to drop this rule that puts the drop outs of the CL in there!
13/08/2014 @ 10:25 am
I agree – that’s the most frustrating thing about the Europa League in my opinion. Why should the CL drop outs be rewarded for failure? I know they argue that it brings bigger ties and raises the profile, but it nearly always means a CL team ends up winning the EL as a consolation prize. If they were to take that away, I’m sure we’d win it within a year or two.
13/08/2014 @ 9:59 am
I, for one, look forward to the Europa League. Let’s face it, we’re not at the point where we’re considered Champions League regulars. We’re basically operating at a level where we’re capable of consistently achieving qualification for Europa League. Why not embrace a competition that pits us against the likes of Inter Milan, Villareal, Benfica, etc.? Are we really that much better than them? A bit of realism won’t hurt us here. I think it’s time to wake up and look at the bigger picture of where we actually stand. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but Europe is Europe. Would supporters rather we just sit out of Europa League because we can’t break into the Champions League? Sounds like a sour attitude, if you ask me.
Spurs should take every competition seriously. Plain and simple. After all, why be a football club if you don’t want to win things?
13/08/2014 @ 10:05 am
Pretty much agree, especially with dban on sending reserve squad for early away stages. Just to add, Spurs need Europa experience for when the chance for CL comes along. Can’t wait to see Liver-lillies come unstuck this year.
13/08/2014 @ 10:16 am
I agree with the points made by the author. I think we could use the Europa competition and the cup games to allow fringe players with a few senior pros who played in the World Cup like Dembele to support as a carrot that if they play well they can be promoted to the premier team squad. Spurs managers have not yet cracked how to rotate the squad to play in Europe and the premier league successfully. I can’t see the difference playing Weds / Sat to Thurs/ Sun on the physical levels the players are able to maintain during the season. To me it’s more physiological than physical.
Spurs have a large squad maybe we don’t yet have 2 top players for every position but have good cover in most positions especially in midfield. I trust Posh will get the squad performing to a higher level this season. The prima Dona’s will be weeded out and the players will know who is boss.
13/08/2014 @ 10:19 am
The carrot of champions league football for the winner will be enough for all teams to take this seriously this year never mind just ourselves. We will obviously need to compete with the teams falling into this comp from the champions league which makes this a really tough cup to win. We badly need to stengthenin key areas to have any chance.
13/08/2014 @ 12:45 pm
All good points, but there are yet more. As pointed out in an earlier post, the winner gets a CL place from this season onwards.
Winning has also always provided a chance to play the CL winners in the European Super Cup, a further tropy, with €3m for the winner and €2.2m for the loser.
Also, whilst it pays less than the CL, last season from the EL Spurs earned €3.75m in prize money, not to mention revenue from merchanising, match day purchases etc. If we had won it we’d have got a further €6.45m.
It also raises the club’s profile across Europe both to prospective fans and making players aware of us.
And it provides a further chance for fans to get to matches given that we’re sold out for every PL game.
13/08/2014 @ 1:12 pm
Europe league is shit. Should be scrapped. Champions league shud be adjusted with increased in team numbers and groups so after group leugues a “champions league cup” and “Europa cup” knock out tournaments are created.
13/08/2014 @ 1:36 pm
your webpage does not seem to load.
13/08/2014 @ 1:51 pm
Eh?