What do you think we have a better chance of achieving?

[ecce_tottenham]

I personally don't mind if we miss out on the big prize if we see some pretty football and show we are improving this season, but I'm interested to gauge opinion on which goal you think is more achievable.

 

[SamR]

If we can maintain our style in cup games I'd say we will be very difficult to beat over two legs! We certainly will give some bigger teams a fright this year but to finish top 4 would be an amazing achieve for the team when comparing it to the squads of others.

I'd favour a win in the EL. If we finish 4th I think our expectations for the following season would be higher which puts a lot of pressure of Poch and a team which I don't think is there yet!

 

[class of 62]

trophies anyday & what youre rememberd for... 4th is still 3rd best loser in this dumbed down age & soon forgotten.

 

[onthetwo]

blimey, we havent even finished the transfer window yet!! Better question for the New Year methinks.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I think that what happens in the next week could dictate where our season ends up.

We've solved our issues with strength in depth at the back. No Lloris, Rose or Walker now sees Vorm, Davies and Dier.
Compared to Friedel, Fryers, and Naughton its a quantum step in quality.
That should see us back on track for 5th as I feel we are now stronger than Everton and United and winning the Europa is a bigger priority for our route to CL football.

But, if we could secure MM, MS, and JR we would improve our starting eleven and be closer to Liverpool and Arsenal in the race for 4th or even 3rd. In which case prioritising the league now is more important and then making a decision on the Europa cup when we reach the knockout stage depending on our league status then.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

trophies anyday & what youre rememberd for... 4th is still 3rd best loser in this dumbed down age & soon forgotten.

That is not the question

 

[ecce_tottenham]

I guess I'm not suggesting that we start getting excited about either of these goals.

What I am asking is simply which is the more achievable one. I do agree, however, that we should revisit this question after 8 or 10 games.

 

[crokey]

Anyone who thinks top 4 is more difficult than winning EL is a deluded joker

 

[class of 62]

That is not the question

does the Europa league have a trophie to pick up at the end of it !

 

[Monkeyman]

Anyone who thinks top 4 is more difficult than winning EL is a deluded joker

I tend to agree. The bookies odds for us to get top 4 are 3/1 versus 18/1 to win the Europa League.

 

[Khilari]

The Europa League is still a joke competition for allowing CL teams knocked out at the group stages for a second chance at a European trophy. Admittedly it adds more sparkle to the names in the draw, however it is frustrating as I think we'd stand a good chance of winning it were it not for this banality.

 

[crokey]

The Europa League is still a joke competition for allowing CL teams knocked out at the group stages for a second chance at a European trophy. Admittedly it adds more sparkle to the names in the draw, however it is frustrating as I think we'd stand a good chance of winning it were it not for this banality.

If we cant compete with the 17th-24th best teams in CL then why should we ever be in it?

 

[FMA]

The standard of refereeing in the EL has been dire in years gone by. Almost to the point where it feels like we're playing against 12 men.

 

[SpurSince57]

does the Europa league have a trophie to pick up at the end of it !

It does, but is winning the thing more likely than finishing fourth?

 

[class of 62]

It does, but is winning the thing more likely than finishing fourth?

I believe so!... fortunately I got 25's last week...
we can beat anyone on our day!... because we have to beat anyone less times who are harder opposition than we face in our league than in the Europa,.... & lets face it looking at our possible opponents that could be in the group stage we have to beat better teams less to win it!

I think our worst enemy is the mentality among many that its a micky mouse competiton still.
I dare so if we get to the latter stages many who believe its a trophy not worth competing for now will be wetting themselves to get to games both home & away let alone a possible final tie

 

[SteveH]

The Europa League is still a joke competition for allowing CL teams knocked out at the group stages for a second chance at a European trophy. Admittedly it adds more sparkle to the names in the draw, however it is frustrating as I think we'd stand a good chance of winning it were it not for this banality.

The Europa League is what it is. I'm not a fan but continually deriding it for its obvious failings is a little pointless and also bloody repetitive. We aim to go as far as we can in both league and cups. If our performances continue to improve it will be a great watch!

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Man, I'm over this "We don't have to achieve well, as long as we play well and entertain". It's contradictory to reason, isn't it?
1) Watching your team win is entertaining per definition. (Albeit to various degrees).
2) If you play well, exciting football, nice tactics and this and that, at the end of the day, you will produce results, too. They go hand in hand. Settling for the style only is like saying, "I don't mind about the steak in my steak dinner as long as the side dishes and the wine is nicely presented".
3) Read 2.

Thus, I fully expect us to play delicious football and produce some sort of notable results. I'd prefer to win the EL, but I believe top-4 is more likely.

 

[SpurSince57]

I believe so!... fortunately I got 25's last week...
we can beat anyone on our day!... because we have to beat anyone on our day less times in the Europa & lets face it looking at our possible opponents that could be in the group stage we have to beat better teams less to win it!

I think our worst enemy is the mentality among many that its a micky mouse competiton still.

I've never regarded it as Micky Mouse. If you're going to win it, you're eventually going to have to see off some genuinely serious opposition from the last 16, and certainly the last eight.

Top four depends not just on how well we do, but on how well the five much wealthier clubs perform. In theory, sixth is par, but if Mo is the real deal and a couple of them falter, as has happened in the recent past, we're in. Even at this early stage, it looks as if United might have problems, so who knows?

 

[parklane1]

trophies anyday & what youre rememberd for... 4th is still 3rd best loser in this dumbed down age & soon forgotten.

Always said the same thing myself, screw finishing among the runners up lets win something.

 

[ecce_tottenham]

Interesting how the vote is going. The top 7 are so strong in the PL, with all of last years teams bar perhaps Liverpool strengthening.