Will the return to Europa League action derail our push for 4th?

[Wheeler Dealer]

Since we finished the group stages of the Europa League we have lost only two of our eleven league games and picked up 23 points out of a possible 33.

I'm concerned that the return of Thursday football to back of beyond will potentially derail our season, when Liverpool have no such distraction.

 

[Legend10]

Since we finished the group stages of the Europa League we have lost only two of our eleven league games and picked up 23 points out of a possible 33.

I'm concerned that the return of Thursday football to back of beyond will potentially derail our season, when Liverpool have no such distraction.

We also changed our manager at that time which could be the bigger influence, we shall see.

 

[tototoner]

Push for 4th, what sort of ambition is that?

Are Liverpool and Arsenal pushing for 4th?

PS we picked up all those points in the last 10 games, all under Sherwood

 

[only1waddle]

Hoping we got lucky with the fixtures and Norwich/Cardiff won't stretch us as the two games after the EL one's, also looking at Arsenals fixtures they too have a tricky March with a run of Bayern away, Us away, Chelsea away, Man City home and Everton away. CL teams won't have it easy.

 

[Yid-ol]

Why go for cl if we cant cope with a midweek game as well as weekend game.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

I agree. EL compared to no EL for Liverpool is a clear disadvantage in the head to head stakes plus we start 3 points back or even 4 points back given the goal diff disparity.

 

[JayB]

We are in a much better position to cope with the extra fixtures than we were last season, with our squad depth we should be able to handle it. I for one am glad that we have these matches as they allow us continue to bed in our summer signings, who need all the playing time that they can get to get up and running.

 

[spurs9]

Why go for cl if we cant cope with a midweek game as well as weekend game.

At the start of the season I would have agreed with you, however, with a change in management (to a manager with no previous experience) coupled with the form of our rivals, our injuries, the players we lost on loan, failure to get another LB and the fixtures around the time we would play Benfica (assuming they win) if we win.

Because of this, I would only want to play players that have returned from injury that need match practice before returning to the first team and squad players that need match practice but wont be in the first 11 for the weekends game. In fact, I would go as far as saying I wouldn't want any first 11 players or TS to go to the games, just stay at the training ground and prepare for the weekends games. Sir Les and Ramsey can take charge of the EL games.

Our fixtures would look like this, with each of our biggest games having EL games before and/or after:

Chelsea (a) - 08/03
EL round of 16 (Benfica?) - 13/03
Arsenal (h) - 16/03
EL round of 16 (Benfica?) - 20/03
Southampton - 23/03

then:
Liverpool (a) - 30/03
EL 1/4 Final - 03/04
Sunderland (h) - 06/04
EL 1/4 final - 10/04
Fulham (h) -

 

[Mr Pink]

Why go for cl if we cant cope with a midweek game as well as weekend game.

This line always gets trotted out.

Its pretty simple really.....float about in a lovely CL glamour tie.....

or get your bollox smashed in by some plumber in Albania who can't tackle for shit....

Seriously though, the Europa League is more of a slog, there is no doubt about that. And at least in the CL, matches are rotated between Tuesday and Wednesday - one week you'll get a Tuesday game the next a Wednesday etc....you do get more rest time.

So from a cumulative point of view the breaks for rest aren't as bad as they are in the Europa League. Furthermore the seasoned CL regulars have better squads to cope regardless. Even though are depth is good there is still a large drop in quality in some positions.

I know qualifying for it once doesn't mean you'll do it again, but it sure as hell will give you a better chance.

 

[Armstrong_11]

Kinda think we will see a mix of first team and the reserve squad. And maybe a few youngesters. But since it's the knockout rounds, should still be a fairly decent team. Great chance for the younger players to prove themselves. Pretty excited about it IMO.

 

[Macspur261]

No arguing against the fact our results have been terrible after a Thursday night game, the OP makes a valid point.

 

[Lufti]

It depends on how the squad is managed. If we put out our strongest 11 in both competitions then of course it'll affect us. Even sending out first 11 players all over Europe will damage us, but we should rotate well and challenge on both fronts.

 

[LSUY]

If could cause problems but we have to give the Europa League a decent shot regardless of injuries, our fixture list, form of our rivals, etc. In comparison to Arsenal we've done sod all in the last 20+ years. I've lost count of the amount of trophies I've seen Arsenal win and all I've managed to experience is two League Cup wins.

Winning the tournament, beating the likes of Benfica along the way will improve our coefficient which would come in handy if we make the Champions League. Playing in the Super Cup would be fantastic for the fans and great exposure for the club. Also, it doesn't breed a winning mentality if we give up on a winnable trophy.

 

[Syn_13]

Since we finished the group stages of the Europa League we have lost only two of our eleven league games and picked up 23 points out of a possible 33.

I'm concerned that the return of Thursday football to back of beyond will potentially derail our season, when Liverpool have no such distraction.

No more so than CL football derailing the other clubs at the top. In fact, Liverpool and Everton are the only ones who can comfortably not worry about any European games stretching their squads. Albeit, the former still has a domestic cup to worry about.

The problem is, I can understand the dislike for the Europa when it comes to flying out to the arse end of nowehere, and playing on a shitty plastic pitch, risking players against some sides that are pretty much League 1 or even 2 standard. But as far as a midweek games goes, that can't be used as an excuse. If you're in the CL you've got to play just as many games within a week, and some of those might still be against Russian/Ukrainian clubs many, many miles away in poor conditions. It's something you've got to deal with. Also, this is why you build up a large squad, so that we can deal with it.

The main inconvenience for me is that the Europa League offers very little incentive to take part. The money received is laughable in comparison to the Champions League and the format is pathetic. For failures in the CL to be allowed to have a "second chance" after dropping out is a bit of a piss take. And that's coming from a Juve fan who have dropped out into the Europa. If the final weren't held in the Juve stadium this year I'd have no interest for Juve to win it, as they've bigger fish to fry. Besides, I'd rather see Spurs win it as we could do with a trophy a hell of a lot more.

 

[Mr Pink]

Since we finished the group stages of the Europa League we have lost only two of our eleven league games and picked up 23 points out of a possible 33.

I'm concerned that the return of Thursday football to back of beyond will potentially derail our season, when Liverpool have no such distraction.

All depends on Sherwood's approach.

Suffice to say if AVB was in charge I wouldn't just be concerned, I'd be writing off fourth for sure as we would be full strength and it would impact on us heavily.

I do think Tim will mix it up though, quite a lot actually.

He knows he's got to make fourth to have any chance of keeping the job - he's said it enough times and he keeps talking about how its the Club's number one sort of aim, or words to that effect.

So a good chance his Europa League selections will reflect that. Weren't there a few other youngsters added to the squad recently as well?

 

[Syn_13]

Sorry, one other point which kind of links in to my above post. The argument used for our lacklustre performances on following Sundays is that our team looks "tired" after playing on Thursday. Who is going to be more tired on the weekend after a midweek European game - the team that plays Barca or Bayern, who are likely to run you ragged as you chase after the ball for 90 gruelling minutes, or the team that plays Dnipro? Yet there's never any talk of tiredness levelled at CL clubs as a result of a lacklustre weekend performance after a CL game midweek.

 

[Mr Pink]

Sorry, one other point which kind of links in to my above post. The argument used for our lacklustre performances on following Sundays is that our team looks "tired" after playing on Thursday. Who is going to be more tired on the weekend after a midweek European game - the team that plays Barca or Bayern, who are likely to run you ragged as you chase after the ball for 90 gruelling minutes, or the team that plays Dnipro? Yet there's never any talk of tiredness levelled at CL clubs as a result of a lacklustre weekend performance after a CL game midweek.

Travelling to the Ukraine is surely a lot more tiring I would of thought. And for instance Arsenal are playing Bayern this Tuesday, they'll have a clear four days to recover...where we'll have two flying back from the Ukraine. That's a huge difference in terms of recover time.

 

[spurs9]

So a good chance his Europa League selections will reflect that. Weren't there a few other youngsters added to the squad recently as well?

Just the one - Milos Veljkovic. You are only allowed to make two changes on the second round of registration.

 

[Mr Pink]

My mistake its City who play Tuesday night, Arsenal Wednesday night....point still stands though.

 

[Booney]

Tim likes to make a point of being the anti-AVB.

I don't think he's going to take it seriously at all.