Can we do this?

[Gilzeantoscore]

Let's say we finish 5th or 6th this year, or win tonight and qualify for the Europa League next season. Can we notify the FA or UEFA that we want to give up our place to the next best qualified team? I really think It is holding our domestic form back. Also, because of the huge number of matches played in English football, it's almost impossible to win. Has any English club actually won the thing since it was re-jigged?

 

[Joesh]

In a strange way it holds us back but has its rewards, would Kane have gotten his chance if he didn't star in the EL? Maybe some other youngsters could get the same chance that won't be as big a risk as in the Fa cup for instance. I think we could manage the group games a lot better especially with the weaker teams as you basically can't not qualify, we did play teams that were too strong. Thought if we get to the knock out stages we have to go for it.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

Yes, but could we drop out if we wanted to? United dropped out of the FA Cup one year.

 

[Spurs7891]

Let's say we finish 5th or 6th this year, or win tonight and qualify for the Europa League next season. Can we notify the FA or UEFA that we want to give up our place to the next best qualified team? I really think It is holding our domestic form back. Also, because of the huge number of matches played in English football, it's almost impossible to win. Has any English club actually won the thing since it was re-jigged?

Chelsea won the EL in 2013. I think we will have the same problem if we have been playing in CL as well. To overcome this problem, we need to have a bigger squad to cover both PL and EL matches. Remember when we used to play virtually 2 different teams in the league and Europe ? We need that kind of depth in the squad.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

Forgot about that. Parachuted from UCL? Does anybody know if we can do it?

 

[Modric THFC]

I'm sure we can. But why would Levy want to? Its around 6-7m in prize money for going out in the last 32 plus whatever we get from gate receipts.

 

[Gutter Boy]

There's no difference between EL and CL really.

If you don't like/are incapable of competing in one, the same applies to the other.

It's not faultless (the CL dropouts/round of 32 needs removing), but Spurs without European football would be a sad thought and a big step backwards in our development as a club

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

There's no difference between EL and CL really.

If you don't like/are incapable of competing in one, the same applies to the other.

It's not faultless (the CL dropouts/round of 32 needs removing), but Spurs without European football would be a sad thought and a big step backwards in our development as a club

I reckon it's harder to win than the UCL, given the number of matches where they are located (far eastern Europe much of the time) and the farce of UCL parachuting.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I reckon it's harder to win than the UCL, given the number of matches where they are located (far eastern Europe much of the time) and the farce of UCL parachuting.

There's nowhere really more than a 3 hour flight, so I don't think that's a problem. It's just squeezing in the extra round that ruins it

 

[Joesh]

Looking at the league, there is only 4 CL places, if teams get their act together at least 6-7 will compete for these, more likely 3 teams for 1 not always easy qualifier 4th place. I don't think we have "graduated" from EL yet to become a team that deserves CL. We should really be using these games to learn how to be effective in Europe and how to combine the extra fixtures without suffering league wise.

In our desperation for CL football, we are like the not so fit guy going to a club only settling for the stunners and going home disappointed.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Yeah - EL should be appreciated as an end in itself, not a means. Playing in Europe is a privilege.

I think our issue this season is Ade, Kaboul, Capoue and Lennon behaving like roosters. That has meant we've ended up competing with a non-European squad (18 senior players), rather than a European squad (22 senior players). Imagine if those 4 had been able to pick up some more of the load from our core

 

[Mr_B]

couldn't agree more with the OP, the EL is a horrendously designed competition that benefits no-one, at least there is that carrot now of the CL place to the winner but the sheer number of games to get there is like playing another half-season. UEFA were thinking of creating a bigger CL.
We can only pray they do that because at the moment we're stuck in this no-mans land of EL and 5-7th in the league that we wont get out of in this current status quo

 

[90291Spur]

Yeah - EL should be appreciated as an end in itself, not a means. Playing in Europe is a privilege.

I think our issue this season is Ade, Kaboul, Capoue and Lennon behaving like roosters. That has meant we've ended up competing with a non-European squad (18 senior players), rather than a European squad (22 senior players). Imagine if those 4 had been able to pick up some more of the load from our core

Do you know if Lennon was the worst offender or the only one of the roosters we could shift?

 

[chicken_badge]

1) where's the proof that those four senior players have been disruptive?

2) if all four of those players were in the side and playing well then Kane (Ade) Bentaleb (Capoue) Dier (Kaboul) clearly all drop further down the squad. We've dipped into out young players successfully this season and seem to have used a large number of players in total

 

[Lost Mango]

couldn't agree more with the OP, the EL is a horrendously designed competition that benefits no-one, at least there is that carrot now of the CL place to the winner but the sheer number of games to get there is like playing another half-season. UEFA were thinking of creating a bigger CL.
We can only pray they do that because at the moment we're stuck in this no-mans land of EL and 5-7th in the league that we wont get out of in this current status quo

It benefits the big beasts as a) it makes it harder for the next tier clubs to compete for the CL places & b) it gives them a second chance if they f**k up the CL.

Doesn't benefit the other 95% of clubs though.

Was it designed like that? Don't know but doubt you'd get the Sky 4 voting for a change to the EL now.

 

[spurs' magna carter]

Affect our domestic form?

Whilst this is true it's part and parcel of being in Europe, infact in the whole history of the game only 3 English clubs, for example, have won the league and a European trophy in the same season.

Liverpool (1977 & 1984), Manchester United (1999 & 2008) and Everton (1985)

And only 3 for have won a domestic cup and European trophy in the same season: Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

Sadly I am back with the EL ruins our season phalanx and wasn't that sad to see us knocked out of it this season but to request to not participate in it woild feel a bit embarrassing.

 

[inkpenspur]

My fear would be that if we tried to withdraw from the EL, then UEFA would ban us from the CL if we were to qualify the next season. The will not want tealtively 'prestigious' clubs to pick and choose whether they enter their competitions or not. That would be very Spurs!

 

[Steviejman]

I don't know why we don't add to our squad then go all out to try and win the thing.

 

[Lemonade Money]

We should give up our place in the League Cup if anything, but do it subtly rather than a straight up snub.

Don't forget the EL coefficient points get you seeded in big cup.

 

[Spur of the moment]

1) where's the proof that those four senior players have been disruptive?

2) if all four of those players were in the side and playing well then Kane (Ade) Bentaleb (Capoue) Dier (Kaboul) clearly all drop further down the squad. We've dipped into out young players successfully this season and seem to have used a large number of players in total

Do you have an alternative theory for why they have so totally disappeared off the radar?

If Poch has shown us one thing since his arrival it is that he is scrupulously fair and gives anyone who demonstrates they are prepared to work hard their chance. He does not seem to hold grudges. Yet it seems pretty clear that despite his reassuring public words (re Ade for example) he has lost all faith in those players, such that he is not even prepared to turn to them at times of real need.