UEFA Cup - Is It Really Worth It?

[THWH90]

You may all raise your eyebrows at this question, but I think you'll understand my point by the end of the article...

It is true, Spurs need trophies to attract and keep big players, hence ensuring that we continue to grow. The UEFA cup, rises our chances of gaining a trophy a lot but with the group stages and 2 leg knockout rounds (we played 10 UEFA Cup games this season), does it damage our league form enough to stop us progressing? As it may have contributed to our relatively large injury list this season and perhaps fatigue has damaged a few of our performances. Also the UEFA cup isn't really deemed as that important, as it is 2nd best in europe so is rather like the carling cup here in England, and as you know it is not very highly regarded.

Also i came across this article and this really has made me believe does the UEFA cup really help in the long term? This season we have played the joint 2nd most amount of games in the season and played a staggering 18 more games than Everton! The telegraph article shows that Spurs managed to receive £2 million pounds from the UEFA cup, compared to Ars*nal's £13.90 million, when getting not as far and Man Utd getting £28.9 million. Now I think you can understand why I am questioning the UEFA cup, as it does perhaps heighten the gap between the big 4 and those trying to break into champions league football.

I am questioning the point in us entering the UEFA Cup, but as many of you do despite these staggering figures believe that we should enter the cup, as it does give us European experience, as well as rising the probability of us winning the cup. Also perhaps the extra games help the players to improve as they get more games and so our squad players will play plenty of games. This is our domestic record after a UEFA cup game this season: Played 10: Won 6, Drawn 3 and Lost 1!

Source for European prize money: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/05/14/ufncas14.xml

Worth The Effort?

FRONT PAGE ARTICLE

[Berba's girl]

It's a valid argument of course from a financial point of view. But, can you imagine the fans' reactions if we didn't enter the UEFA Cup just to possibly better our chances in the league & secure that UCL spot? We just have to find a way of juggling both & that can only happen if the squad is strengthened. Personally, I would love to see Spurs win the UEFA Cup again, it's been 23 years. I couldn't care less if it's 2nd best, I just wanna see Spurs win something...anything.

Good post though.

[Georginho]

Of course the Uefa Cup is worth it. Are you telling me you didn't enjoy seeing Spurs set a record number of consecutive wins in the Uefa cup or going and facing Seville who are probably one of the best teams in the world at this moment in time. In the Uefa Cup we are already probably favourites to win next year and watching Spurs play their wonderful football in the Uefa Cup is brilliant to watch. Seeing Berbatov score the wonderful goals that he did is much better than seeing some boring teams play in the champions league from Eastern European countries earning a stupid amount of about 2million pounds game. Spurs vs Bayern Munich in the final next year then?

[Dj Frisky]

Yes it is worth it. I do agree that we do need to win a trophy to say the least and then if we do win one then it will attract top players to join the club. I don't think it damages our league form whilst we are still in the UEFA Cup I mean look this season we were in the same competition and still we had league matches on the weekend and we won most of them. But next season it'll be more different. It's great to be in the UEFA Cup again and I would like  see us winning it for the third time I just want to us to win any of them cups that we are in next season.

[Daniisco]

It's worth it in my eyes. Nothing is quite like it at the lane on a European night. We would love to win it, it will be amazing even if it does play second fiddle to the Champions League. Next season we'll be even stronger and will now know what to expect from the competition.

Added the front page.

[ct5845]

Good arguement with more then valid point, but like most other supporters i think it would be crazy not to enter. It would be crazy not to put our best into it! Ok we played more games then everton this is true, but other then lennon and last few games i think the best form we had was when our schedule was packed with Europe PL and FA, think they all complemented eachother really well and resulted in better performances. Berb espicially needed those extra games i tihnk to gel into the squad.

Although directly finances we get from it aren't great, pretty poor tbh, you can see the positive effects of doing well in the cup. Ok not as highly regarded as CL true, but defintely higher regarded then the league cup compared to the FA. It draws alot of attention on the club, and most importantly with a large squad, and players of equal abilitly and youngsters having these amount of games is crucial to keeping everybody happy. I have no doubt if Mido wasn't so injured this season he'd of got alot more games and we would be very happy to keep him.

In the end, yes it's tiring, yes it isn't finicially worth it, but it gives everybody experience which should pay divedends next season, it brings more attention to the club then winning FA of League Cup, which as long as our league form supports is a very good thing.

[Jude106]

Ok so financially it's not great but imo it's more than worth it. The prestige of playing in Europe, More excitement for the fans- great atmosphere, a chance of winning another cup. Can u imagine the last few weeks without the excitement of wondering if we would get in?!!- it gives the players that something extra to work for and the fans that something extra to support and banter.

[a12 warrior]

Good for the club profile, players want Euro football.

Good for the fan's

Good for the clubs bank balance

Sunday, midweek, and rearranged games not so good.

Worth being in it? without a doubt but only if you win it.

[ShelfsideSpur]

True the cup is a less prestigous than the Champions League and attracts less money, but it gives the club a higher profile at home and in Europe.  That has to help in attracting the top player that will take us to the next level.  The real test of the club's ambition is what happens in the transfer window.

[SpursLad]

I agree the more games may hinder us, but if we win the UEFA Cup then everyone will go barmy. The extra games are bad but it is more chance of winning something. I want Spurs to go all out for trophies.

[gethinlluest]

True Uefa Is A Long Drawn Ouyt Affair With Hundreds Of Games Even Before You Play Mediocre Teams But I Feel It Is Vitally Important We Get Experience In This Cup Before Our Cl Campaign In 2008/09.
It Does Attract Some Class Players Too. Coys

[WildCard]

The UEFA, while not worth as much as the CL in revenue is as important to Spurs as the Cl to the 'big four' as it is is vital to the future success of the club, it is needed to promote the brand to other countries and to make us a better option when players are considering moving to a new club, they know they will play in a European competition that will gain them recognition for their country. Who are you more likely to join, a club in Europe, or a club not in Europe?

It would also be a sign of the club development if we won in Europe, considering we haven't been there in a while.

It is also vital for the experience it offers to our players, it allows them to develop into greater players. Besides the lubs in the last 8, 4 are generally quality clubs with a lot of strength.

The CL may gain more money but the reputation we will gain will be needed for advancement, it also offers enough revenue IMO, obivously it is a smaller competition but it is a competition and it means more chances for us as a lub, and for our players, to gain more experience and to field more players.

[Powerage]

Consider this, at the moment 5th is good for us, stability at the right end of the table, European experience.

I don't care what anybody says, a dirty gooner, snobby scouser, smug Chelsea cling-on, we ONLY lost that quater final with Sevilla due to a horrendous penalty decision and Malbranque's moment of madness. If the ref had actually seen the incident, it probably would have stayed 1-1 and that would have given us real incentive to go on and do the job at the lane.

If Sevilla are the best the competition has to offer, do you not feel we should go out and take this competition by the scruff of the neck? Dominate it like Sevilla have? If we start next season with 2 or 3 quality new faces and kick off in a positive manner, we can win the bloody thing and push for CL.

We have to admit, we are well out of touch with the pressure of so many games, we've spent the last 15 years in the depths of ther premier league, always doing enough to ensure a mid-table finish possibly a cup run but never really going for glory while we sit back and watch an enormous gap open between the top 4 and the rest of the league.

The Uefa Cup may not mean much to some people, but as a Spurs fan, this is a second chance to change and make up for that horrible night at the Lane in April.

We can bridge that gap with the top 4 and have European success, and by god Bill Nick is looking down on us now smiling with a twinkle in his eyes, knowing that the name Tottenham Hotspur FC will strike fear into the hearts of clubs all over Europe and we can bring the glory days back to White Hart Lane.

[topperspur]

well put Powerage,I agree 100%

p.s the bit about Bill Nick (Nicholson) gave me goosebumps.

[ventriloquist]

Also lets not forget that one of the reasons is that we had an awful start to the season. Our first 7 games (6 league, 1 UEFA) we lost 4 and drew 1. in fact we have performed better in league matches after we play a UEFA cup game.

We have also not seen european football for so long that we as fans deserve to have a taste of what it feels like to play in europe

It also forces us to strengthen our squad to be able to carry out games in different competitions which i beleive that in the long run will benefit our league performances.

Considering the lack of quality of many teams playing in the uefa cup we don't strain ourselves as much and the little money that we get is a bonus.

Plus it should be us playing in the final tonight and King lifting that trophy at 9:30pm