Wotcha.
I’m genuinely fighting the urge to declare this game a non event before a ball is kicked. The previous leg Top 10’d in the World’s Worst Games Of Football Ever™ with several fans who made the journey finding themselves nominated for Nobel Laureats.
We’ve been here before. I bemoan the team selection providing entertainment and value for money in the process alienating a good few readers and those who don’t give a monkey’s how I see it remind anyone who’s still bothering to read that it’s great to see the kids given a run out.
Word is that ticket sales have been suspended for security and safety reasons. This precaution might well be explained by a sizable number of Greek fans bellowing ‘Gowaaaanmysan!’ rather than any traffic backing up from Gatwick.
The game is on 2005hrs GMT on Channel 5 and if you’re watching anywhere else in the world… this arrangement will be unaffected.
Watched the game, unusually accompanied by two huge dogs and a few glasses of red. Really,I can’t see anything negative about the result as we’ve played the entire competition with the same outlook throughout. If we’ve not given it our full attention, then it’s because the format and rewards for winning it are equally to blame as it pales into insignificance when compared to the CL. Saturdays game is far more important, and last nights game only proved that any team, inc Bolton are not there simply to make up the numbers. Seen some really entertaining games in the Europa, but come late Feb, I’ll be pleased we’re not in the damned thing.
Not wanting to argue with you, but three years ago, we thought qualifying for this was a worthy cause. One season in the CL, and this is beneath us.
We used to say, that if we only got EL (or it’s equivalent), then it was good enough to attract decent players who wanted to play in Europe. The game has moved on since then, and there are those who would rather warm the bench for megabucks than take a big paycut to play for us in any Euro comp.
Still: I don’t suppose Stoke, Brum and Foolham have the same jaundiced view of this comp as we do.
No, I’m not saying this comp or any other is ‘beneath us’. All I’m saying is take it for what it’s worth and consider it’s effects on our season’s success or failure because of our continued involvement in it? We’ve blooded players who’d never have been given the opportunity otherwise and seen some pretty good games with one to go. I would say on last nights evidence, that not a single player didn’t give his all and POAK defended brilliantly, that’s football.
Fair comment, but two points that I would make.
The first is that you occasionally see us concede a sloppy goal, but I doubt if you will see two such sloppy goals in quick succession for the rest of the season. It wasn’t the lack of goals that killed us, but fifth rate defending.
As far as the team itself is concerned, even though most of them were first choice or squad players, they looked like a scratch team that had been cobbled together. As an example, I know that Walker did not come on till late, but I have yet to see a game where he and Lennon complement each other. Modric was undoubtedly our best player, and frequently, he played brilliant one-twos. that would have had uus on the edge of our seats had Ade or Bale been on the end of them, but so often, the player who was on te field lasy night seemed to think. “Pass to Modric. Job done”
Well, I’m still trying to get a positive out of a negative, so here goes. Gallas was ring rusty as was evident for most of the game, so this game has at least allowed him to get a little game time after being out for so long, also it’s pretty evident that Livermore and Kane are not ready (in Kane’s case, I don’t think ever will be) So it’ll be the kids on tour come Dublin and a rest for the those that’ll need it ahead of the most crucial period of this campaign, so not disheartened or downbeat although I still hate to see any Spurs team lose especially at home, it’s just this defeat as a few positives to soften the blow, there I think I did it-Any jobs going Mr Cameron?
I wasn’t suggesting you implied the comp was beneath us. My point was that the way we consider it after one season in the CL, is a lot different from how the other three teams view it.
Having said that, I recall the disappointment of the bindippers when the failed to qualify for this.
Halve the amount teams in it, give a CL place to the winners and Stop 3rd placed teams in the CL group stages from dropping into the EL.
The competition would then have some credibility.
A simple way to do this would be to bring back the European Cup Winners Cup as a start, then as you say award a CL place to the winners of EUFA/Europa Cup and ECWC, also stop the 3rd placed teams in the CL group stage from dropping into the EUFA .
Whatever happens the EUFA Cup/Europa Cup needs to be rejigged as it clerly has too many fixtures.
That’s exactly what I’m saying,The competition has little value either prestigiously or financially, so why not use it in the same manner as most clubs including ourselves perceive League Cup?. UEFA have created this situation by messing about with the European Cup, which has rendered the Europa League little more than an afterthought and one where losers can actually qualify? As TMWNN and any sensible person would suggest,the ultimate reward must be a CL place directly into the group stages
Financially, with prize, TV and gate money, the team that wins the tournament can expect somewhere in the region of €20-25 mill, but you can earn almost that much for reaching the Q/f’s of the CL.
Still, it’s not what I would consider “little value” financially.
There used to be competition called “The Plate”.
All the 64 men knocked out in the first round played each other reducing this to 32, The 32 players knocked out in the second round then played the other 32 in a straight knock out.
Sounds familiar doesn’t it. Of course it was abandoned from the Wimbledon programme at least 20 years ago, because it was seen as a tournament for losers. That really is the thing that spoils it as a tournament. The further the tournament goes, the more it looks like a consolation prize for CL failures.
One real positive from the Your Ropey Cup experience….. Tom Carroll.
Unbelievable, iv copped abuse from gooner mates over this. They really have turned into a petty, bitter bunch. To overcome it i have placed a $100 bet with the pair of them that spurs will top le arse in the league.. please tell me im not out of my mind cos my arse went a bit wobbly when we shook hands
Money for old rope mate. Give us your address and I will help you spend it. You should be betting $100 dollars a point, then you would really clean up.