Europa League Draw

Hatch99

Here's all the details

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=1656289.html#uefa+europa+league+play+draw+preview

indiewindy

spurs v hearts. Shouldnt be too hard

Hatch99

indiewindy wrote: »

spurs v hearts. Shouldnt be too hard

Good draw, not too far to travel

condor26

Yep I agree, Id say the lads are happy enough thats its close to home.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Hope we lose it.

therecklessone

indiewindy wrote: »

spurs v hearts. Shouldnt be too hard

They will be up for the game, judging by our manager's comments our will be barely interested. Could be dicey.

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

Glory, glory...

Hatch99

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

Hate that attitude..

BERBA

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

would think you're on your own with this one.

Lemag

BERBA wrote: »

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

would think you're on your own with this one.

Meh! I wouldn't care too much if we did. Last seaon's taste of CL has, to my mind, diminished the importance of all other trophies besides the PL. It'd be one less distraction if we were to get knocked out. Even if we were to have a good run at it we'd more than likely come up against no more than a couple of teams that would inspire any bit of excitement.

Hatch99

Im looking forward to it. Yes we wont play our strongest side, but the fringe players and more importantly the younger players should get a chance so it'll be good to see what they are like.

KingdomYid

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

Can't believe there are Spurs fans who actually hope they lose a game, wow what has football become

m.j.w

im not a spurs fan but have to agree with the "hope we lose it" comment. why would anyone want to waste thier time in this competition. the fa cup would be more important imo, the europa league is just a waste of time as most of the good teams in it dont give a **** so whats the point? better of concentrating on a good league finish or a good cup run in which teams are actually trying.

everdead.ie

I really hope we win it this year I know it can be a nuisence especially in the latter stages of the season but a mix of senior and young players could do really well.

Lemag

KingdomYid wrote: »

Can't believe there are Spurs fans who actually hope they lose a game, wow what has football become

A bit melodramatic, no:rolleyes:

philon

THFC wrote: »

Hope we lose it.

As a Spurs supporter, I want us to win EVERY game !!

We had a taste of CL football last season ( and it was great) but this seems to have gone to some "supporters" heads ( remember back to our days of "Midtable Mediocrity").
We have a good team just missing 1/2 players to push us back into the top 4. Get those players ( Forward is a must, we all know that) and grab that top 4position. Retain top 4 & players the following season, and thats the time to have realistic hopes of a title :rolleyes::rolleyes:

hotspur147

i've been supporting spurs for around 25 years now and and i can still remember the barren years of the 90's when we had no european football at all,we are not that big a club to so easily dismiss any competition,the squad is big enough and with the right mix of youth and expierienced players good enough to handle the likes of hearts and get tru the group stage.
i'd love to see us reach the latter stages of the uefa cup,we have a good history in it and theres the likes of....celtic,lazio,psv,seville,ath madrid,rangers,roma,sp lisbon,psg,anderlecht,bestiktas,braga,d kiev and shalke in the mix aswell.all good teams that would stir the imagination on a thursday night at the lane.
bring it on........

2nd Row Donkey

.. I dont think anyone actually wants us to lose or not qualify or not win it.

But the concern is that we will be there or there abouts for a top 4 finish come next March/April and then we fall away because of the Europa league commitments and maybe end up with nothing - no top 4 finish, no Europa League trophy and maybe not even a 5th or 6th pplace finish. Thats the risk. Thats the worry.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

I don't know why there is such a big reaction. Even winning the EL isn't worth the inevitable slump in league form caused by midweek matches in eastern Europe. It's a second rate competition, and I'd rate Spurs as being on the brink of a first rate team. Being in this EL brings very few benefits, for example, how many people watched the EL final last May that was in Dublin? And I'd imagine less than half of that figure watched the semi finals and the earlier stages. So even in terms of exposure it's not really much of a prize. Losing this tie vs Hearts would do us much more good than IMO, and may be what determines our chances of breaking into the most competitive top 4 in PL history. We should settle for nothing less than CL football.

Dublin Spur

Sorry guys meaningless competition.

Now the Old UEFA cup, that was proper.

Hatch99

2nd Row Donkey wrote: »

.. I dont think anyone actually wants us to lose

Read previous posts mate

Hatch99

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Sorry guys meaningless competition.

Now the Old UEFA cup, that was proper.

Cmon man, you remember the days of no european football and here we are saying we dont want to be in it. I agree it's not the most attractive of competitions, but you gotta take what your given. Beat Hearts, get through the group stages using our younger players and fringe first team players, and there could be a couple of tasty european games at the lane come March/April 2012.

COYS

Dublin Spur

Hatch99 wrote: »

Cmon man, you remember the days of no european football and here we are saying we dont want to be in it. I agree it's not the most attractive of competitions, but you gotta take what your given. Beat Hearts, get through the group stages using our younger players and fringe first team players, and there could be a couple of tasty european games at the lane come March/April 2012.

COYS

Sorry Pal, Just don't see it that way.

Thursday night games fcuking up Saturday fixtures.
Rubbish games against unknown opposition in half empty stadiums
Something like 25 games from rd 1 to the final.
No hope of doing well in the PL if we take it seriously.
CL drop outs entering the competition after Christmas cheapens it more.
It's small time, it's pointless and it's totally Micky Mouse.
Winning it is not glorious, it would be nice but I wouldn't boast about it.

It's only grace is it could be useful to give the young players a run out
I wouldn't want to see any of the 1st team anywhere near it.

Thankfully, I think Harry shares my view.

Leinstersqspur

Dublin Spur wrote: »

It's only grace is it could be useful to give the young players a run out
I wouldn't want to see any of the 1st team anywhere near it.

Thankfully, I think Harry shares my view.

Agree, it's not a priority for us.
Good experience and opportunity for fringe players though.
We need to get CL next season or we'll be saying bye bye to Luka, Bale, et al.

SuprSi

I'm with you guys. While in theory it's great we're in Europe, this competition does nothing but keep the teams who are not in the CL out of the CL by ensuring they play a potentially ridiculous amount of games on non-league friendly nights. If they switched the games to a Wednesday night it would make things a lot better.

Play the young lads and if we get knocked out, big deal. The sooner we're on a parity with Liverpool's schedule this season, the better.

therecklessone

Wednesday - Saturday

Thursday - Sunday

Is my calendar broken, or is that the same sort of time frame?

Hatch99

therecklessone wrote: »

Wednesday - Saturday

Thursday - Sunday

Is my calendar broken, or is that the same sort of time frame?

Some people dont see it that way.

At least harry and others have the perfect excuse if things go belly up..

Hatch99

Dublin Spur wrote: »

Sorry Pal, Just don't see it that way.

Thursday night games fcuking up Saturday fixtures.
Rubbish games against unknown opposition in half empty stadiums
Something like 25 games from rd 1 to the final.
No hope of doing well in the PL if we take it seriously.
CL drop outs entering the competition after Christmas cheapens it more.
It's small time, it's pointless and it's totally Micky Mouse.
Winning it is not glorious, it would be nice but I wouldn't boast about it.

It's only grace is it could be useful to give the young players a run out
I wouldn't want to see any of the 1st team anywhere near it.

Thankfully, I think Harry shares my view.

So we are too big for the Europa League ? How many times have been in or had a half decent run in Europe over the last decade or so..

As I said already, it aint the most attractive, and the travelling is not ideal, depending on who you draw, but it's European football, something we should try and enjoy.

Dublin Spur

Hatch99 wrote: »

So we are too big for the Europa League ? How many times have been in or had a half decent run in Europe over the last decade or so..

As I said already, it aint the most attractive, and the travelling is not ideal, depending on who you draw, but it's European football, something we should try and enjoy.

I'll still watch the games, they'll make Thurdays a bit more interesting I suppose. But it's all a bit cringe worthy I'm afraid.

As the song goes: "Thursday Night, Channel 5"

It's nothing to be proud of

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Hatch99 wrote:

Some people dont see it that way.

At least harry and others have the perfect excuse if things go belly up..

It's not like we want things to go belly up Hatch, and I'd be fairly sure Harry and his team dont want it to either. EL is a curse, there are no pros to playing in it, apart from maybe a few extra bob. If the winners got a CL place then it might actually be worth it.
I'd be interested in hearing your reasons for wanting to play in the EL, other than for "the glory", and that goes for you too therecklessone, rather than just making condescending comments and insulting sigs. If we want CL again we need to be ruthless, and if that means neglecting sub-standard competitions, so be it. I'd hate to be looking at another few seasons of mid-table mediocrity and looking to the feckin Carling Cup for silverware, especially after the heights of 2010, which what we'll be in for if we don't finish in the top 4 this season. It'd be a shame not to capitalise on our best squad in over twenty years and instead start chasing cups like the EL.

therecklessone

THFC wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing your reasons for wanting to play in the EL, other than for "the glory", and that goes for you too therecklessone, rather than just making condescending comments and insulting sigs.

Get your knickers untwisted there, the sig is an extract from the pisstake "transfer request" jpg doing the rounds that Luka was supposed to have put in.

I won't lose much sleep in the grand scheme of things should we go out early, but I detest hearing people say they hope we lose. To put it quick frankly it is a losers attitude.

Secondly, no team with even a modicum of self respect lists a 4th place finish in the league as an historical achievement, and when I hear people dismiss cup competitions of any nature I always get the feeling they'd be happier with a 4th pace finish every year just so they can red button a game on a Tuesday night.

Here's a question, without googling where did we finish in the 1971-72 Division 1 table?

What about 1982-83?

Football should be about winning: games, and ultimately trophies. Sending teams out to lose is unforgiveable.

And finally, I cannot get my head around the argument that us playing in the EL will harm our challenge for 4th place: when we do qualify for the CL how are we going to cope with that workload?

Dublin Spur

therecklessone wrote: »

Wednesday - Saturday

Thursday - Sunday

Is my calendar broken, or is that the same sort of time frame?

In my experience 2 or 3 o'clock Sunday games after a UEFA tie are tame affairs with poor/sleepy atmospheres. This seems to transmit to the players. I often get the sence that the players and supporters are just going through the motions, the crowd never seems as up for it as a "normal" fixture. The reduced Sunday pub hours definately has something to do with it.

Again, just my experience....


From a personal convienience point of view, Sunday's a school night and I prefer to see my team play on a Saturday when I can build a nice little session around the game

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

therecklessone wrote: »

Get your knickers untwisted there, the sig is an extract from the pisstake "transfer request" jpg doing the rounds that Luka was supposed to have put in.

My knickers are fine thanks very much, believe it or not, what people say on the internet doesn't have much of a bearing on my life. And it was an easy mistake to make, apologies.

therecklessone wrote: »

I won't lose much sleep in the grand scheme of things should we go out early, but I detest hearing people say they hope we lose. To put it quick frankly it is a losers attitude.

That's paraphrasing. In this context it's very much a winners attitude. Going after a trophy where the top 20 European teams don't compete in (with exceptions obviously) is more if a "losers" attitude.

therecklessone wrote: »

Secondly, no team with even a modicum of self respect lists a 4th place finish in the league as an historical achievement, and when I hear people dismiss cup competitions of any nature I always get the feeling they'd be happier with a 4th pace finish every year just so they can red button a game on a Tuesday night.

An historical achievement? I don't believe I used that phrase, but if I implied anything to that significance, once again, apologies. 4th place, and I am sure more people would agree with me than disagree, is a far greater accomplishment than winning any trophy barr the CL. CL is a springboard to one day challenging for the league. It enables us to attract world class players, like van der Vaart, and hold on to our own world class players, like Modders and Bale. It also secures us huge funds for transfers/wages and gives us exposure all over Europe and indeed the world. I'd imagine we gained a lot more fans/admirers last year than we ever have in one season, and this will further boost our income.

therecklessone wrote: »

Here's a question, without googling where did we finish in the 1971-72 Division 1 table?

What about 1982-83?

I don't know the answer to either of those questions bit I'd take a stab at 4th considering your earlier comment.

therecklessone wrote: »

Football should be about winning: games, and ultimately trophies. Sending teams out to lose is unforgiveable.

Agreed. But we should definitely prioritise. Fergie certainly did in 2001, didn't even enter the FA Cup, and he ended up a winner that season.

therecklessone wrote: »

And finally, I cannot get my head around the argument that us playing in the EL will harm our challenge for 4th place: when we do qualify for the CL how are we going to cope with that workload?

That is a good question, but Dublin Spur made a good point above. I bloody hate Sunday games. For whatever reason they seem much more lacklustre than Saturday games.

Hatch99

Dublin Spur wrote: »

It's only grace is it could be useful to give the young players a run out

Is this you being positive ?

Hatch99

THFC wrote: »

It's not like we want things to go belly up Hatch, and I'd be fairly sure Harry and his team dont want it to either.

Have you listened to him recently ? The way he goes on sickens me, but that's another kettle of fish I suppose !

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Shít enough group travel wise;

Tottenham
Rubin Kazan (south Russia)
PAOK (Greece)
Aaaaaaaannnnnnndddddd......... *drumroll*

Shamrock Rovers!

twilight_singer

Rovers away will be in the aviva i'd say. Divided loyalties for me as I'm a hoops season ticket holder as well as a massive spurs fan. Sure its win win anyway!

Mullo76

THFC wrote: »

Shít enough group travel wise;

Tottenham
Rubin Kazan (south Russia)
PAOK (Greece)
Aaaaaaaannnnnnndddddd......... *drumroll*

Shamrock Rovers!

I sit near one of the rovers directors here in work, let the battle commence.

Mullo76

twilight_singer wrote: »

Rovers away will be in the aviva i'd say. Divided loyalties for me as I'm a hoops season ticket holder as well as a massive spurs fan. Sure its win win anyway!

be careful you dont get splinters on that fence

twilight_singer

Mullo76 wrote: »

be careful you dont get splinters on that fence

ha ha in fairness I will be supporting Rovers just hope a proper beating isnt dolled out by spurs we can save that for rubin

careca11

I'm loyal Dundalk Fan , and I was absolutely delighted for Shamrock rover's team and fans last night , fantastic achievement,
expected them to get a tough draw , however I'm sure the team and fans will enjoy the experience ,
3points at home V POAK is realistic,
If any of their home games get moved to RDS or Aviva , I will for one be getting a ticket to support them.

ziedth

When will the fixtures be made? It's my birthday on Thursday and the wife may get me tickets to that match in Dublin and a hotel

twilight_singer

afaik rovers v spurs will be on the 15th sept. I think sky just said its going to be on in the avivia

ziedth

Sweet.

Hearvee

Group ABC Fixtures from UEFA.com

15 Sep 2011 PAOK FC - Tottenham Hotspur FC
29 Sep 2011 Tottenham Hotspur FC - Shamrock Rovers FC
20 Oct 2011 Tottenham Hotspur FC - FC Rubin Kazan
3 Nov 2011 FC Rubin Kazan - Tottenham Hotspur FC
30 Nov 2011 Tottenham Hotspur FC - PAOK FC
15 Dec 2011 Shamrock Rovers FC - Tottenham Hotspur FC

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Hearvee wrote: »

15 Sep 2011 PAOK FC - Tottenham Hotspur FC
3 Nov 2011 FC Rubin Kazan - Tottenham Hotspur FC

Will be interesting to see how we do after the away games. We've Liverpool at home after POAK and Balckburn away after Rubin. The Blackburn game should be quite difficult, Kazan is a 10 hour flight from London, including one stop. Hopefully the Blackburn game can be put back to Monday or something.
And we've Wigan away after the Shams match but we shouldn't be suffering too much after that trip.

Hatch99

And there you all were giving out about being in it, i bet you have changed your mind now that we are coming to the capital

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Hatch99 wrote: »

And there you all were giving out about being in it, i bet you have changed your mind now that we are coming to the capital

Ah not at all, I think it will disrupt our season but lets not start that again! Now that we're in it I might as well accept it and get fully behind them.

Will be interesting to see how we do this weekend against Man City, if we lose another game after a European tie no doubt the statisticians will be out in force:rolleyes:

Hatch99

THFC wrote: »

Ah not at all, I think it will disrupt our season but lets not start that again! Now that we're in it I might as well accept it and get fully behind them.

Will be interesting to see how we do this weekend against Man City, if we lose another game after a European tie no doubt the statisticians will be out in force:rolleyes:

If we lose against City, it'll have nothing to do with the hearts game, we'll have near on a completely differtent team out on sunday.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Hatch99 wrote: »

If we lose against City, it'll have nothing to do with the hearts game, we'll have near on a completely differtent team out on sunday.

I fully agree, thats why I put the roll eyes smiley, but some eijits will use it another stat, just like they'll use the United game as one too, to which the Hearts game had as much influence as the colour of their underpants.