Which Premier League manager will get fired first

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Jupiter’s Icy Moon

Europa is a far distant world, covered by thick ice and a small chance, if any, of life there and from his comments this week it would seem Harry Redknapp feels that you may as well be playing there if you finish 5th and that he would sooner finish 6th in the Premier League rather than enter the EUROPA League next season. If Spurs fail to beat Liverpool this weekend he will get his wish but is playing in Europe's 2nd tier competition as bad as he thinks it is.

The Europa League is a bit strange as clubs sped all season qualifying for it and then complaining about being in it yet it provides opportunity for extra revenue, a chance of silverware and the opportunity to play against some of Europe's top clubs (and some not so good ones as well). Whilst Stoke and Birmingham fans are overjoyed at the prospect of playing in Europe some Tottenham and Liverpool fans seem less than overjoyed by the prospect even though (if they approach it properly) they have a decent chance of winning it. After all Fulham reached the final last season, Liverpool reached the semis and Spurs did well in this season's Champions League so they should be looking forward to it with some confidence of picking up another trophy instead of wondering whether they can cope with that and their league campaigns. On that premise why bother trying to get into the Champions League? In fact why bother entering the FA Cup or Carling Cup and see if you can win the Premier League while only playing those games.

In reality those who blame the Europa League are just looking for an excuse to mask their own performances. The current Premier League leaders reached the FA Cup semi-final, Carling Cup quarter final and are in the Champions League final yet I don't hear any complaints from Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge about the number of games played. Winning becomes a habit no matter what competition it is in and you give yourself as many chances to win as possible. Cup runs breed confidence and players who may never get a league winners medal get a chance to win something. Fulham, Rangers, Celtic, Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Arsenal have all reached the final in the last 15 years and although only Liverpool have emerged as winners the fans of all those clubs have enjoyed the experience of reaching the final and would not trade the memory for anything. Ask Spurs 1984 UEFA Cup winning side what they think of the trophy's importance and you will likely get a positive response of it being one of the highlights of their career and likewise the 2001 Liverpool cup winning team and I daresay the Rangers, Celtic, Middlesbrough, Arsenal and Fulham players would likewise all speak of it favourably. The last 8 winners (including this season) have been from Spain, Italy, Russia and Portugal with 4 British finalists in that period. It is a great chance of a trophy and clubs should not be regarding it like a trip to the outer reaches of the solar system because ultimately whilst success breeds success the same can also be said of complacency and indifference, two things that are a far greater threat to Spurs than Thursday nights on Channel 5.

18 comments:

  1. Totally agree Adam.

    I also believe that Spurs will be hit hard if they fail to qualify for European competition. 'Arry can bitch and moan all he wants, but without the extra income that these competetions generate he will not be able to 'ave a flutter or wheel n deal in the transfer market, plus he will more then likely lose a few squad players to lessen the wage bill.

    As for this weeks poll, I got the feeling that Stoke could do well, they're very hard to break down and have an excelent home record. I can't see B'ham getting too far and I couldn't give a caber toss about the Glaswegian teams.

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  2. All the money is in the CL,so for some teams in this country the Europa league can seem like a bit of a booby prize,yet I'm sure the Stoke and Birmingham fans are delighted.Teams with visions of a top 4 finish will take the Europa as more of a hindrance,which may be why we don't have the best record in the tournament.

    Still remember my brave lads winning it in 81 though.

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  3. I think for a coming few years we will see 4th place being exchanged frequently between Liverpool, City and Spurs. So they will realize the importance of playing in Europa league.

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  4. Evening all (comedy knee bend)

    Adam,in the morning will you put up a new blog with a Robbo reference in it for us all to get on here.

    Cheers (where everybody knows your name)

    I'm off home.

    See you tomorrow H2,plus other assorted minstrels.

    Although I'm more of a revels man myself.

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  5. Back again.

    Robbo has again attempted to get himself free from a radiator in Beirut,or wherever he is.

    Good luck Robbo......

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  6. Night Jacks.

    Come on Robbo, you can do it lad.

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  7. Cor blimey I'm keeping fit jogging about cyberspace right now.

    Nowt wrong with the Europa league, apart from the fact it starts before the football season resumes and there's a silly amount of games to play in order to get anywhere.

    Still it's a cup and Spurs are a team with a fine tradition when it comes to cup runs.

    That said, with Liverpool in the form they're in, I can't see us getting in next year even if 'Arry wanted to.

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  8. Nope.

    Robbo's new effort "Give it back now" has also fallen behind enemy lines into the hands of Mr Sheen's ol'man.

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  9. Doesn't CL qualification start pre season too, Star?

    As for L'pool, King Kenny's got the contract he wanted, it's all signed, sealed and notorised, so it's all down hill from now. ;p

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  10. Tottenham could be willing to let as many as nine players leave in the summer, with Robbie Keane, Jonathan Woodgate and Roman Pavlyuchenko amongst the high profile names up for sale.
    Full story: The Independent
    -----
    "could be willing to let as many as" =
    will have to let at least

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  11. Only if you're Barry Town or the like H. Spurs's games against the Young Boys was spread over the first two weeks of the season.

    As for that mob, they need to be shifted, either to balance the books or because they just don't make the grade. Roman will bugger off back to Russia, Woody's contract is up anyway, but how the hell do we sell off Keane and Bentley?

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  12. Polish Dad's tweets

    Recent Tweets
    »
    M S
    ThePolishdad M S
    @Robbo_Robson Emailed you. so go check it out. want you to get back to blogging asap
    31 minutes ago
    »
    M S
    ThePolishdad M S
    Welcome to me and Twitter world! The Polish dad is in the house! and waiting for responses! @Robbo_Robson do you want your blog site back?
    4 hours ago

    Robbo's tweets

    Recent Tweets
    »
    Robbo Robson
    Robbo_Robson Robbo Robson
    @
    @ThePolishdad why not say what you need to say on Twitter?
    17 minutes ago
    »
    Robbo Robson
    Robbo_Robson Robbo Robson
    @
    @ThePolishdad yes please. Its just a fun blog. I make no money from it. If you're a fan I'm not sure why you'd do this. Do let me know.


    It may be resolving itself(without the assistance of a UN envoy/US Navy seal)

    So we may be back to normal soon enough.

    http://twitter.com/#!/Robbo_Robson

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  13. Put them on E-bay or donate their bodies to science.
    -----
    In other news, CNN is reporting a small band of Smoggies armed to the teeth with attitude and parmo's heading towards the Polish border.
    The only hope of avoiding a conflict that may or may not result in the outbreak of WW3 hangs on the outcome of an online tweet off now unfolding on Twitter....

    WE'RE DOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!

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  14. I'll try again then Adam.

    A lot of Europe tends to take the Europa league a lot more seriously than we do over here.What's the point in busting a gut to finish as high as you can in the league,and then complaining about extra fixtures,travel etc that the Europa League brings?They don't tend to moan too much about travelling to Donetsk in the CL.

    Stoke,Birmingham,and possibly Fulham through the fair play league,will be delighted to be in the tournament though.

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  15. Media comments by Fulham regarding the Europa League have been really positive as they have been for Stoke and Birmingham. Would serve Redknapp right if Spurs didn't get into Europe this season and his chairman sells their best players

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  16. Here ytou are, Adam!!...
    Anonymous6 June 2013 11:08
    Why does everyone keep saying that Brazil are a good team? they are average at best and should thank fuck that they are at home this world cup. With that over-hyped superstar in attack and a pretty ordinary midfield, they could be humiliated by the likes of Ireland.

    About Arsenal's salary structure....the less said, the better.

    --BeeZee

    Reply

    Holloway2Holland6 June 2013 12:31
    Blogs.

    The wage structure has been a major gripe among the fan base, potential (read mediocracy) was rewarded while real talent was let go. Too many non starters, the one's you mentioned plus a few more on lucrative long term deals meaning they were impossible to shift.

    Diaby is our Michael Owen, he's never gonna play , we all know it, he comes back and like a cheap toy breaks with out any real playing time, but he's on a contract and we can't shift him..... Them be the pitfalls!!!

    The stadium is not an excuse, it's a fact, that AW managed to keep us in the top four all that time is nothing short of a miracle, we knew he'd have to operate under strict guidelines, but now there is light at the end of the tunnel. Most of the deadwood will be shifted this year, plus comercial contracts are being renewed, the kit for example will change from 2014/15 the new deal dwarfing the previous, due to money needed to build stadium at the time, the same with the naming rignts of the stadium.

    This summer though, more will be expected, especially in the transfer market, for the first time in a long time, the players leaving are the ones we want to go, but it will be important to strengthen the squad, a message of intent is what the fans want to see, if they get this one wrong then heads may roll.

    If I remember correctly our priciest signing was J.A Reyes at 17.5mil, I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse.

    Wigan may have a nice shiney FA Cup but they got relegated, lost their manager and probably a large section of their squad, I'll take CL qualification thank you very much.

    I'm sure most Pompey fans would agree with me too.

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    blogdignag6 June 2013 13:28
    i know but my kids have all by some mysterious process ended up as arsenal fans and i need ammunition for return fire!

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    AnfieldHopeful6 June 2013 13:03
    Redknapp ready to quit QPR because they won't sign Wayne Bridge. Really??? That's why he's threatening to quit. Sneaky bastard.

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    TrotterUSA6 June 2013 13:39
    any excuse for 'arry but he's clutching at straws with that one!

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    Stephen6 June 2013 13:29
    Beginning to think the title of this blog post refers to the time we have to wait until the next one. I'm sure someone has pointed this out already, but my Load More button isn't working. Truly dark and bleak, indeed.

    Reply

    adampsb6 June 2013 13:55
    Can someone nice please email me a screenshot of what's over 200 as I have no idea what's there.

    To answer Rastafairy no I didn't confuse them Shep Pettibone remixed several Pet Shop Boys tracks in the 1980s along with several by Madonna, a couple for New Order, Run DMC and David Bowie among others

    Reply

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    blogdignag7 June 2013 07:45
    Great news for arsenal fans

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10104877/Arsenal-preparing-to-join-European-superpowers-with-70m-boost-says-chief-executive-Ivan-Gazidis.html

    Reply

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