The great man will be looking down in disgust

[Spurs218]

"It is a nuisance. There won't be too many of these going to Greece

This evening I've got in contact with many of the people I would usually meet up with at European games, over 75% of them aren't going and have said:

Sorry mate but no chance of me going

Would usually be counting down the hours for this trip but what's the point?

First trip I've missed in years but if the manager doesn't give a s**t then why should we?

When the manager starts to show that he actually cares about the cup then I'll come

When did a EUROPEAN cup become so worthless? What on earth has happened? Have Tottenham Hotspur really become too big for the Europa league?

I think back to what Sir Bill once said:

"It's magnificent to be in Europe, and this club - a club like Tottenham Hotspur - if we're not in Europe.... we're nothing. we're nothing

"It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."

Look, i'm not asking us to take and play players like Ledley King, Van der Vaart and Adebayor. I'm simply asking for us to show the competition some respect. How can any player in our team be motviated for this game when they hear their manger, the "motivator expert", describe the thing as pointless?

Another question, what does Redknapp actually see us doing this season? According to him, the 4/5 above have either spent too much or are too good so we can't compete with them. So surely then we try and win a trophy? Instead if seems we'll put youngers out and get knocked out..... finish 5/6th and do the same next season?

God I'm despressed tonight.

[RiffHard]

Absolutely agree. Some glory-hunters seem to think that after one appearance in CL we are nothing if we're not there. Come on, I'd take Europa League any time. Btw, only Liverpool, Juventus and Inter have won the competition three times and there are seven others besides us who have won it twice.

[Spurs218]

Riff, that's two posts of mine you've agreed with now! Might have to go back to posting rubbish.... Seriously though, I'd just love us to win the Europa league and if we seriously gave it a go then I can't see why we wouldn't win it.

I remember leaving the ground against PSV after losing on pens and I was heartbroken that we had lost. It really does matter.

[DC76]

European play is European play, full stop.

If I had enough dosh and a passport (I'm not an EU citizen, remember ) I would be on this like hyenas on an abandoned carcass.

[Spurs218]

For what it's worth, I don't blame any fan who chooses not to go. If the team aren't taking it seriously then the hundreds of pounds can be spent better elsewhere.

[baldbloke]

Well I appear to be in the minority here, but certainly not amongst my friends and people who sit around me at the Lane. I didn't want it and would still like to get knocked out in the group stages. It's a Micky Mouse cup which has been made that way by EUFA. You can get into it simply by not fowling the opposition, you can get into by getting knocked out of the Champions league and you can get into it by finishing as low as 7th in certain circumstances. As a season ticket holder it pisses me off that the league games are moved to a Sunday, and this season I dropped down to silver from gold as I don't want money debited from my account in order I can watch Spurs play against teams I haven't even heard of.

That said, if we get to the quarter finals, just watch me become a hypocrite !!

[aspursfan]

I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing. I find it hard to disagree with this quote:

“It doesn’t mean we are not treating Europe seriously, because we are. But we think the fans would all agree that, certainly at this stage of the season, domestic football has to come first.”

We have a big squad with good players who can never get a game and younger players who never get a chance. This is a good opportunity for players like Townsend and especially Dos Santos to step up. I think some of the comments that have been made regarding Europa are realistic. Too many teams, too easy to qualify and too many fixtures.

These are the only ones being left behind:
Friedel, Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Sandro, Parker, Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale, Adebayor

Perhaps a hint at who is playing against Liverpool 

[RiffHard]

These are the only ones being left behind:
Friedel, Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Sandro, Parker, Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale, Adebayor

Perhaps a hint at who is playing against Liverpool 

That's a proper line-up!  But Dawson and Sandro won't be playing...

[aspursfan]

I wonder if King will be... I'd feel quite a bit more comfortable if he is.

[pieboy]

Problem with the Europa league is that there is too many games, don't blame the gaffer for putting out a weaken team if it means we have fresher team for Liverpool this weekend. But after the group stage we might take it a bit more seriously.

Still rekon if Uefa REALLY want to increase the prestege and competition , all they need to do is reward the winner of the Europa league with a place in next season Champions league.

I actually think being in europa will actually benifit the squad as a whole. Along with the carling cup, its going to mean our fringe players will get more game time and hopefully means they will be more match fit if called upon.

[baldbloke]

Problem with the Europa league is that there is too many games, don't blame the gaffer for putting out a weaken team if it means we have fresher team for Liverpool this weekend. But after the group stage we might take it a bit more seriously.

Still rekon if Uefa REALLY want to increase the prestege and competition , all they need to do is reward the winner of the Europa league with a place in next season Champions league.

I actually think being in europa will actually benifit the squad as a whole. Along with the carling cup, its going to mean our fringe players will get more game time and hopefully means they will be more match fit if called upon.

There are a few things that EUFA have to do to revive the EUROPA cup. Get rid of the fair play spot, don't let teams that have fallen out of the CL in, award the winners a CL place for the following season, don't ever let the runners up of the FA cup in and stop playing it on a Thursday night. CL football can be played on a Wednesday and Europa a Tuesday, that way league games can still be played on a Saturday.

[taimedowne]

The TV companies wont like that idea they like to show as many CL matches as they can. The draw is even made so that there is an even spread over 2 days that's why Utd and City Played Wednesday and Chelsea and Ars*nal on Tuesday it is designed for TV purposes advertising is God when it comes to football. We are stuck playing Thursdays and the fixture list can go to hell, for all they care we can play on Sunday nights. The real fans don't matter and never will they know that the grounds will always be full no matter how they mess us about. And if you don't want to go you can always watch on the telly you might even be persuaded to buy a nice new car or take out a loan whilst your at it which for them would be ideal.     

[Spurs218]

Only 500 making the trip yesterday shows that many can't be f**ked. Real shame that.

[ugs]

Only 500 making the trip yesterday shows that many can't be f**ked. Real shame that.

In these times of great financial hardship and the fact that it was an extremely hostile arena to go to I don't blame them really !!!!
 
 

[Spurs218]

Only 500 making the trip yesterday shows that many can't be f**ked. Real shame that.

In these times of great financial hardship and the fact that it was an extremely hostile arena to go to I don't blame them really !!!!
 
 

Passionate - yes, hostile - No. Locals were really friendly which surprised me.