Hi All,
Looking forward to the CL group stage draw later today, and it got me thinking again how important is is that we qualified for this competition.
Now, I'd like to point out from the outset of this article that I want Spurs to win a trophy just as much as the next fan. However, let's say you offered me today, the chance to swap 17/18 seasons with Chelsea. Forget style of play for this, I'm purely talking about end of season finishes and accolades. So, we win the FA Cup (breaking Poch's trophy duck) but finish 5th, Chelsea don't win the FA cup but finish 3rd. Would I swap if I had the chance? I have a feeling that different Spurs fans on this board would have different responses. Mine is absolutely not.
Now to some fans of other teams, even some Spurs fans, that may sound silly, turning down the chance of a trophy (and I realise finishing top 4 and winning a trophy are not mutually exclusive, I'll come to that). But I think that those fans do not realise just how big of a difference it is for Spurs to finish top four, compared to if we didn't. And this is a much bigger difference than it would be for other clubs around us in terms of ramifications, which is the crux of my point. I also realise I sound like an Arsenal fan from anywhere between 3-8 years ago, and look where they are now, you may say. But my response to that would be that they failed to push on, and became too complacent, which is why they have dropped out of the top four and are facing a huge battle to get back in.
Back to my point, and the example with Chelsea. Imagine our seasons swapped, so we're now in the Europa League this season, having won the FA Cup. Being realistic, Poch may no longer have been here. He may have been swayed by a Utd/Madrid/PSG. Toby may well have gone to Utd. Eriksen may now be wearing the stripes of Barcelona. Even Dele or Kane may have been swayed, there is no way we could have afforded to double his wages like we have done. Our whole team would be destabilised and picked of its parts, because, even after having won a trophy, would they have wanted to stay with us, on our pay structure, with offers flying around from CL teams all around Europe? Compare that with Chelsea who did finish in a Europa League spot. They have not only managed to keep Hazard, Willian, Azplicueta, Kante etc. They have managed to hire a Manager who finished a very close 2nd in Serie A, managed to sway Jorginho for £50 million pounds. Does anyone think we would have been able to buy him for £50 million, with Europa footy to offer? Let's make another comparison. In 15/16, Man Utd finished 5th. They then went and bought Paul Pogba for £80 million plus. Ridiculous question I know, but a fair one - would we have been able to offer that, or sway him? Of couse we wouldn't.
CL footy is the main thing which is keeping our Manager and squad together, and our club is reaping the benefits with excellent results like Monday night. Obviously we need to progress, and as I said, top 4 and a trophy aren't mutually exclusive. With the might of the spending and swaying power of the club around us, and a new stadium to finance, CL qualification is way more of a priority than a trophy is right now. We will reach a point where we are equipped well enough to be able to truly go for both in the not too distant future, but it may not be just yet. Even with how much we are punching above our weight.
The Importance of CL Qualification For Us
posted on 30/8/18
comment by SirCastic (U8772)
posted 29 seconds ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 30 minutes ago
Without trying to be funny mate, but Spurs are also a well known team around Europe, they have still won more European Trophies than Arsenal.
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Isn't the point of this article that trophies don't matter?
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Only to the OP trophies don`t matter. But trophies certainly matter to me, and I suspect most football supporters.
posted on 30/8/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 10 minutes ago
The point was that I want to win a trophy and think we are way more likely to win the Europa than the CL.
Unless you disagree, sandrew?
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Well we are more likely to win the League Cup than the Europa, but I doubt you would suggest Spurs play their first team in that competition. And why cannot use my correct user name, instead of putting silly childish other names. How you would like me to refer to you as Edinspunk?
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Well Sandra Beige.
That comparison has no relevance whatsoever as you don't drop into the League cup if you fail in another cup. I could explain to you how European football works if it helps?
posted on 30/8/18
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 10 minutes ago
The point was that I want to win a trophy and think we are way more likely to win the Europa than the CL.
Unless you disagree, sandrew?
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Well we are more likely to win the League Cup than the Europa, but I doubt you would suggest Spurs play their first team in that competition. And why cannot use my correct user name, instead of putting silly childish other names. How you would like me to refer to you as Edinspunk?
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Well Sandra Beige.
That comparison has no relevance whatsoever as you don't drop into the League cup if you fail in another cup. I could explain to you how European football works if it helps?
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Well Edinspunk, I don`t think your original point was about how European football works, just that you wanted Spurs to get knocked out of the CL and drop into the the Europa. Hoist the white flag and all that, by the sounds of it.
posted on 30/8/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by No-name (U21614)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by MKspur- Lucas ⚡️ (U9129)
posted 3 minutes ago
It wasn’t the same TEAM that won 13 titles it was the club
Player for player that city team is one of the best ever to win the league
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I would still fancy any United team with Giggs, Keane, Beckham, Scholes, Nevilles at their prime to turn over the current Man City side, who did have a good Prem season, but failed miserably in the CL, whereas United went on to win it.
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You're missing the point Sandy.
United could beat that City team in a fantasy one off match but they didn't have the relentless consistency against the fodder that this City team do.
For example Arsenal had a vastly superior head to head record against Conte's Chelsea, but would you say they were actually better than us at any point during Antonio's time in charge?
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What the relentless team that have already this season dropped points to a promoted club from last season. City will no way replicate what they did last season. A one off season. They rolled over in the CL to a Liverpool team that came 4th in the Prem. They are a good side, but nowhere near as good as everybody is making them out to be.
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Exactly last season, it last seasons City squad that is in the discussion.
posted on 30/8/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 10 minutes ago
The point was that I want to win a trophy and think we are way more likely to win the Europa than the CL.
Unless you disagree, sandrew?
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Well we are more likely to win the League Cup than the Europa, but I doubt you would suggest Spurs play their first team in that competition. And why cannot use my correct user name, instead of putting silly childish other names. How you would like me to refer to you as Edinspunk?
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Well Sandra Beige.
That comparison has no relevance whatsoever as you don't drop into the League cup if you fail in another cup. I could explain to you how European football works if it helps?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well Edinspunk, I don`t think your original point was about how European football works, just that you wanted Spurs to get knocked out of the CL and drop into the the Europa. Hoist the white flag and all that, by the sounds of it.
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So you missed the point of another comment, for the 5th day in a row and threw your toys out the pram again? Good to know.
posted on 30/8/18
Edinspunk
posted on 30/8/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 53 minutes ago
Chelsea / United and even Arsenal can afford to miss out on it at the moment, united and Chelsea have won it recently, and while Arsenal have never won it they're a very well known CL club around Europe.
Without trying to be funny mate, but Spurs are also a well known team around Europe, they have still won more European Trophies than Arsenal.
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Overall though Sandy Spurs currently don't have the same gravitas Arsenal have, Arsenal were in the CL every season for like 16 years, that regularity builds the name.
It's not a dig it's just true, but Spurs' rep is growing every season they qualify, it takes time.
We won the CL in 2005, means little now to young players who were like 5 or something when we last won it.
posted on 30/8/18
You can't claim a European trophy won in the 60's counts today towards attracting a player Sandy.
Young lads are watching the CL and playing FIFA, the teams they see on TV having big European nights is what they remember, not a cup won when they didn't exist.
So my point is that spurs need regular CL qualification now to build that reputation as a modern, regular CL team.
posted on 30/8/18
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 10 minutes ago
The point was that I want to win a trophy and think we are way more likely to win the Europa than the CL.
Unless you disagree, sandrew?
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Well we are more likely to win the League Cup than the Europa, but I doubt you would suggest Spurs play their first team in that competition. And why cannot use my correct user name, instead of putting silly childish other names. How you would like me to refer to you as Edinspunk?
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Well Sandra Beige.
That comparison has no relevance whatsoever as you don't drop into the League cup if you fail in another cup. I could explain to you how European football works if it helps?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well Edinspunk, I don`t think your original point was about how European football works, just that you wanted Spurs to get knocked out of the CL and drop into the the Europa. Hoist the white flag and all that, by the sounds of it.
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He called you a naughty name. Time to filter him.
posted on 30/8/18
comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 53 minutes ago
Chelsea / United and even Arsenal can afford to miss out on it at the moment, united and Chelsea have won it recently, and while Arsenal have never won it they're a very well known CL club around Europe.
Without trying to be funny mate, but Spurs are also a well known team around Europe, they have still won more European Trophies than Arsenal.
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Overall though Sandy Spurs currently don't have the same gravitas Arsenal have, Arsenal were in the CL every season for like 16 years, that regularity builds the name.
It's not a dig it's just true, but Spurs' rep is growing every season they qualify, it takes time.
We won the CL in 2005, means little now to young players who were like 5 or something when we last won it.
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Celtic are like in the CL every season, don`t mean anything, most years they don`t get out of the qualifying rounds. Plenty of clubs from lesser countries are in the CL every season, they are still not bigger clubs than Spurs.