Villas-Boas & The Europa League

[soup]

Okay, maybe not the most exciting thing to talk about at the moment, but I'm interested in how AVB approaches this in the coming season, what with his history with Porto and winning the thing, as well as having to manage good form in the league. Do we think he will go with a similar team to last year with the youth playing a bigger part, or will he go for it?

Although I'm sure he would have been told by the club it's a second priority to the league, I think he'll see it as a trophy to really go for and try and win it again and I don't see him shirking a challenge.

Thoughts?

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Priority must be the league but I think AVB will want to win every competition we enter, just to be able to shove it up the arses of his detractors.

 

[tototoner]

he'll take it more seriously than Redknapp and I wouldn't complain if we won it

we are currently 3rd fav

Inter Milan 11/1
Athletico Madrid 12/1
Tottenham 14/1
Liverpool 14/1
Anzhi Makhachkala 18/1
Napoli 20/1

some decent teams in it

 

[ShelfSide18]

I think it was completely missed last season how unlucky we actually were to not qualify through the group with 10 points - I think we should be doing the same again using squad players and youngsters and back them to get through, then you re-assess and see how we are going to attack the knockouts.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I'm hopeful he AVB will implement a playing style and philosophy throughout the club. So in comps like the europa league we will be competitive rather than Harrys method of throwing together a few fringe players and youngsters and hoping thet win the match.

I could be wrong though.

 

[TriXed]

I'm hoping AVB wants to win this and i don't see why not. The group stages should be easy and then come knockout stage it will get interesting but this could mean problems in the league which is why we need a few more players in to cope with both and other possible cup runs too!

 

[Kendall]

I think we'll try and win it. It was criminal what we did last year. Resting a few players for it is fine, but Redknapp's version was always stuffing players into incorrect positions with no real game plan, just to get them minutes. It had an awful effect on Gallas and Corluka, two of the senior players in the europa side last year.

 

[Montasura]

I think it is absoluitely perfect for AVB that we are in the Europa this year, rather than the CL and the higher expectations and media coverage that come with it.

I think he will want to do as well as he can, but it also gives him a perfect platform and extra matches to help get his new playing style and philosophy right, without the danger of getting utterly hammered by the tabloids if we don't win it.

 

[jonnyp]

It's a bit easier to qualify for the CL as Porto through the Portuguese league than Tottenham in the PL all things considered.

So I for one hope his number one priority is the league, and that the EL is just a bonus distraction on the side, where our younger talents can get a chance to show what they can do. Same procedure as last year please.

 

[hoodlum]

I think it is absoluitely perfect for AVB that we are in the Europa this year, rather than the CL and the higher expectations and media coverage that come with it.

I think he will want to do as well as he can, but it also gives him a perfect platform and extra matches to help get his new playing style and philosophy right, without the danger of getting utterly hammered by the tabloids if we don't win it.

This is a very good way of looking at it. As close to an ideal situation for him to walk into. I'll be very curious to see his rotation policy in the early stages of the Europa, FA, and CC competitions.

 

[danielneeds]

He will still utilise the squad players, but hopefully will get them all stepping into the system withj greater ease, and talking up the want to win it.

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

I would love it if we won it.

 

[Pat Rice Spurs fan]

Anyone know if we're getting the reserves back?
I think this could have a big influence on how we approach the europa league.
The guys we were loaning out, rather than playing reserve football and being subs to the first XI, could do very well here, instead of us having to play the kids. The likes of Naughton, Caulker, perhaps Hudd & Dawson and any that are left from Jenas, Bassong, Bentley ....

 

[Mattspur]

I think that with rotation, he will field strong teams for all competitions.

 

[StartingPrice]

Love the way the Dippers are just chucked in at the same odds as us.
We have finished easily above them in the last three seasons, and the gap has widened every year. We have a better squad than them. We have a youth system that is producing young players far better adapted to the European game. We have a head-coach who has actually won the competition.
But...they have a high status, so they must have as much chance of winning it as us

 

[chinaman]

How much would it be worth if we won it ? I don't think it is profitable in the group stages, so we must at least get to the QFs to make it pay the way.

 

[Mattspur]

Love the way the Dippers are just chucked in at the same odds as us.
We have finished easily above them in the last three seasons, and the gap has widened every year. We have a better squad than them. We have a youth system that is producing young players far better adapted to the European game. We have a head-coach who has actually won the competition.
But...they have a high status, so they must have as much chance of winning it as us

I can understand it as they did well in the cup competitions they were in last season and have a good european record.

 

[danielneeds]

How much would it be worth if we won it ? I don't think it is profitable in the group stages, so we must at least get to the QFs to make it pay the way.

Prize money is peanuts, I think I read that you only get £8m TV and prize money for winning it.

 

[kungfugrip]

I really enjoyed watching the later stages of the competition last year with the Spanish and Portugese teams - some brilliant football with brilliant atmospheres. I think the profile of the Europa League has gone up a bit as a result and I hope AVB goes out and tries to win it. Give some of the younger lads a chance again, but we need a good balance of established players in there as well. Think the younger players will learn more that way than playing 11 kids in the team.

 

[punky]

he'll take it more seriously than Redknapp and I wouldn't complain if we won it

we are currently 3rd fav

Inter Milan 11/1
Athletico Madrid 12/1
Tottenham 14/1
Liverpool 14/1
Anzhi Makhachkala 18/1
Napoli 20/1

some decent teams in it

Inter aren't in the champions league? Cripes.

I'd like to see us take it seriously. 1984 was before my time but looked on by the fans as a whole with such joy.