Days In Europa – My Eyes Have Seen The Glory

Tottenham’s involvement in Europe has always been a mixed bag.
It has also provoked some strong views.
Here are a few articles from our archives about Spurs in Europe.


	As Spurs battle to end the season in fifth, it poses the question of whether this is a good prize for finishing just outside the Champions League places. What do you think of winning the opportunity to play amongst Europe’s fourth or fifth best ?? 19.05.2011 So, the battle for fifth place rages, with Spurs having the edge over Liverpool having beaten them at Anfield. But do we want fifth and a place in a competition that might feature half a season’s football if you go all the way ? Yes, 19 games could be involved to win this trophy and not only that, but you beat all the teams in this competition and then get to play the ones who are not good enough to go all the way in the Champions League in the latter stages. It is an ill-conceived idea to produce money and it does not do that all that well, with half-empty grounds full of fans whose glasses are half-full. TV revenue does not match that of the Champions League while ticket prices do. There is not much to commend this competition to any of the participating football associations, other than a chance to travel the continent to play teams from Wales, Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands. UEFA would better serve the footballing family by re-instating the UEFA Cup and the Cup-Winners Cup in their old formats, as at least they provided some excitement and a decent level of opposition. With the Europa League, it promises a lot but fails to deliver … which might yet happen with our own team in their last game against Birmingham City. East Stan
	19.05.2011 Spurs only have to match Liverpool’s result on Sunday to earn another year in European football. And that will be a major achievement in itself … even though it might not be the Champions League. Harry Redknapp was right. Spurs have not been regulars at Europe’s top table and to expect to qualify again this season was hopeful. A season trying to blend playing against top opposition on Tuesday/Wednesday combined with games at the weekend was a new experience for the team. And let’s face it, until the last few years, we had hardly been regulars in any form of the competitions to play European sides, so we shouldn’t be turning our noses up at the Europa League. If Spurs should qualify for it, then why not use it as a stepping stone. Both to the Champions League and for our younger players to get experience. We have a big squad with many of the fringe players out on loan getting first team experience with lower league clubs. So, why not keep them under the watchful eye of our own coaches and stick them into this competition. As well as blooding them in the first team, it would give them an opportunity to play against teams with different styles and get used to playing in different atmospheres. And it would give our established first team players a chance to concentrate on the league. Secondly, it would allow the fans the chance to see the up and coming players show what they can do in a Spurs shirt … instead of one of Millwall or Yeovil Town. Properly priced Europa League matches could see the Lane sold out and reproduce that special European Glory Glory night atmosphere that we have seen this season for the Champions League games. And it would give the club a chance to expand their fan base, by allowing those who might not be able to get along to games that often to see a match if some of our more discerning supporters wish to give those games a miss. I think there are benefits to be had by qualifying for the Europa League and if Harry does want to play some of the first team squad in matches, then it will satisfy their craving to pit their wits against teams from other countries. It may be Thursday night on Channel Five, but that is no reason to snub the opportunity to raise Tottenham’s profile across Europe and to raise our UEFA quotient in the process. Matt Hodge
	24.05.2011 For all the Spurs fans moaning about not getting Champions League football next season, just look at what was happening in one corner of the Park Lane. Relegation could spell the end for the Midlands club, as they won the League Cup and probably never thought they would go down. Financially, they might be in a perilous position and they need to sort that out, which will probably mean losing all their better players and in the process losing their best bet of getting back into the Premier League. While the Europa League might not be the greatest competition to be in, it is a darn sight better than the Championship. Gavin, Finchley
	24.05.2011 Now we are in the Europa League and the impact has sunk in, are we happy to take a full part in the competition or do we want to get out of it as quick as possible ? While not as financially lucrative as the Champions League, it will generate cash for the club and if they institute a sensible pricing policy for tickets, then there could be sell-out crowds and a reasonable match-day income from the competition. Add-ons like merchandising and programmes will boost revenue a bit as well. Spurs are one of the clubs in the Top 20 Richest in the World and that has been without playing in Europe on a regular basis. While the Board look for a new ground, the need to bring in money through the gates is assisted by having regular income from European matches and the TV rights that go with them. The kudos of doing well in the Europa League will help make Spurs a name that is known across Europe. Having had the one season in the Champions League, the impact made was immense and sustained presence, just as much as doing well in European football will help build a reputation for the club, who, for many years, were in the European wilderness. And any sort of European involvement will be an attraction to not only buy new players, but to try and keep the ones we already have. A shrewd selection policy should see the club do well on the domestic and European fronts this coming season. Stanford Rivers

May 2008

EURO PAIN

Oh, do you remember those Glory, Glory European nights ? Yes ? Are you an elephant then ? It seems like an age since the White Hart Lane floodlights shone down on the all white clad lads as they stormed to evenings of memorable victory over the might that European football could offer. Yes, Lyn Oslo, UT Arad and Drogheda were blown away in a whirlwind of wondrous wizardry. There were goals galore by the great names associated with the club – Chris McGrath, Ray Evans, and Phil Holder. Where are they now when we need them ?

As European competitions expand quicker than Jurgen Klinsmann’s bank balance, Tottenham are left in a railway siding in Luxembourg, while the champions of that country (a large wa-hoo goes out to anyone who can put a name to that team) roll into the mainline station of the UEFA Cup (at the very least). With the downsizing of the number of UEFA Cup berths available to English clubs, just because we have the “best (i.e. read “Biggest”) league in Europe” (Copyright. Premier League), it needs a special team to be likely to go all the way. There has been some progress in the other two European competitions – the European Cup-Winners Cup (which has stayed true to it’s original ideals, but because most top European sides do not view their national cup competitions with any seriousness, this is the easiest of the three to win) and the European Champions, Runners-up (and do you want to bring a mate with you) League/Knock-out competition Cup.

However, the UEFA (and the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, as its predecessor was known) was virtually resident in this country during the 70’s and 80’s. Undoubtedly, the most difficult European trophy to win as it contains an extra round of matches and contains more decent teams from each of the pre-eminent European countries. So, why is it that English clubs seem to fall by the wayside before reaching the closing stages of the competition ? Lack of European experience after the ban from taking part in the tournaments after the Heysel disaster could be one reason, but nowadays, most teams have European players in their sides. However, having said that, the Villa side consisted mainly of homegrown players from the British Isles and they have got to the quarterfinals before going out to Athletic Madrid. It could even be that English teams have adopted a more European approach to their play and this has led them to fall into their opponent’s trap. It was always said that they feared the traditional values of English football – passion, strong centre forwards and a pace to the play that other nations could not maintain for 90 minutes. Has this heritage been diluted to such an extent that it has had a vastly detrimental effect on the success of our teams in Europe ? You would hope that the foreign players introduced into the Premiership would bring a touch of flair and artistry to add to the virtues already inherent in our game, but perhaps it has taken our clubs onto a more level playing field. Whilst not advocating a return to the style of play that was considered the typical “English game”, perhaps a critical look at the way Premier League clubs play in European competitions needs to take place. I seem to remember that Glenn Hoddle and some of the leading clubs got together about a year ago in an effort to find some way forward, but it appears that little has been learned.

Manchester United’s exit from the Champion’s League at the hands of Monaco speaks volumes. Having achieved a 0-0 draw in the Principality, it was automatically assumed that it would only be a matter of time before united strode on to inevitably collect the trophy. Well, they hadn’t bargained on Monaco’s ability to pass and move. Their movement created space around United’s midfield and on the flanks. It allowed the French side to hold the ball and open up the English champions with rapid burst into their danger areas. Admittedly, Man. U. had injury problems, but they should have been able to field a side that would have been capable of winning the tie . Their lack of ambition in the first leg, when they were content to soak up Monaco’s pressure and failed to seize the opportunity to take the game to them and their inability to keep a clean sheet in the second, cost them dear. While teams from other nations do not play as many “crunch” matches in their leagues, they manage to maintain a similar style of play throughout the campaign and take that into Europe. With English clubs, it appears that they have to have one style when they play in the league and a totally different one when they go into competitions with teams from the continent.

When Liverpool were successful in the late 70’s and early 80’s, they played in a manner that was a hybrid of English and European styles. There was no reliance on the long high ball to a strapping centre forward. More of a passing game that used wingers to get around the back of defences to provide opportunities for the front men. But, most of all, it was founded on a solid defence (Sometimes with a dodgy keeper, but basically a solid defence). Even Spurs’ achievements in the early 1970’s and 1980’s were based on a decent defence (strange though it is to say that about a Spurs side). Their knack of obtaining an away goal meant that they could tighten up at Anfield or go for the kill. Their success continued utilising a fairly simple method. One that they used to great effect and virtually unchanged for their domestic programme.

Things tend to go in cycles in football, but a review of the performances of English clubs in European campaigns should be undertaken to try and rectify where we are going wrong. It shouldn’t take a lot of effort to put things back on track and achieve the success of old once again. And, let’s face it, things could be a lot worse. We could be talking about Scottish clubs in Europe !!

Bruce Castle

20.06.2009

EUROPA

“It’s magnificent to be in Europe, and this club – a club like Tottenham Hotspur – if we’re not in Europe, we’re nothing. We’re nothing.”

Bill Nicholson certainly set the bar high for Tottenham, and why shouldn’t he ? In his 16 years in charge of the club, Bill managed to guide Spurs into European competition on eight occasions, in an era when you either had to win the league title or a trophy in order to qualify. Today, seven English teams have the chance of competing in Europe every season, four in the Champions League and three in the UEFA Cup (Europa League). Like Nicholson said, a club like Tottenham needs to be in Europe every season, and that aspiration should be greater today with so many places up for grabs. Spurs have a good record in Europe, being the third most successful English club in European finals, the first British club to win a European trophy (the Cup-Winner’s Cup in 1963), and the first to win two different European trophies (the UEFA Cup 1972). We are a big club. With our resources, Europa League qualification should be the minimum objective for each campaign.

I was disappointed to miss out on Europe this season, although I think that I am in the minority. I was surprised when so many other supporters said that Spurs would be better off out of Europe, as it would mean one less distraction from out tilt towards the Champions League and major domestic silverware. I can understand that argument to a certain extent, particularly after the season we’ve endured. Nevertheless, I believe that it would be better for Spurs to be in the Europa League rather than not.

Playing in Europe gives a club greater prestige, and it provides them with an extra chance of landing some silverware. Just because Spurs can’t get into the Champions League we shouldn’t turn our noses up at the Europe League, even if it is not held in as high regard as it used to be. Obviously I would prefer that we were in contention for the Champions League every year, but at the moment that just isn’t feasible.

It’s a flawed argument to say that Spurs doesn’t need the distraction of Europa League football. We all want Spurs to play in the Champion’s League and to be in contention for the big trophies every season. In order to win the Champions League, a team would have to play a similar number of games needed to win the Europa League. Therefore, if Spurs can’t cope with the ‘distraction’ of playing in the Europa League, how would Spurs hack playing in the Champion’s League ?

Sometimes European games can provide a welcome distraction from domestic woes. Tottenham’s form in the UEFA Cup in 2006-2007 helped to galvanize the team’s performances in the league. We finished fifth that year, making the quarter finals of the FA and UEFA Cup as well as the League cup semis. Clearly European football wasn’t a distraction then. I agree that playing in the UEFA cup caused some difficulties last season, but that was because we were struggling at the bottom of the league. It would have been the same situation had Spurs been playing in the Champion’s League.

After three consecutive seasons in Europe, failure to qualify this season is a backwards step. Unfortunately, it seems that the novelty of playing in Europe has worn off for some fans and even the manager. Harry Redknapp complained on several occasions last season about playing in Europe. I agree that the Europa League’s format is bloated and it would benefit from being an un-seeded straight knock out competition. That would make the competition different from the Champions League, throwing up some juicy ties early on in the competition. But I would rather Spurs were in the competition than not. Without European football next season, Redknapp won’t have the same opportunity to try out different formations and give some of the younger squad players a run out.

Next season, with increasing competition for the European spots from Everton, Aston Villa and Man City, Spurs could miss out two years in a row. I think that some of our fans expect Spurs to easily qualify for the Europa League in the next campaign, and perhaps even the Champions League (will we ever learn ?). I certainly think that we have a good chance, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. If we fail to qualify for two seasons in a row, it will be difficult for Spurs to hold onto their best players and may make them less competitive in the transfer market. The pressure to qualify for Europe next year will intensify as the season progresses.

To those who say they aren’t bothered about missing out on the Europa cup, I ask them to cast their minds back to the pre-Jol era, the dark days, when we were desperate to qualify for European competition in any form. I also ask them to remember the euphoria of our first season back in Europe, putting Bestikas to the sword on their own patch, and the amazing atmosphere when battling back to draw 2-2 with Sevilla at home. Spurs were one of the favourites for the UEFA Cup that year and were hard done by not to win it. To the (slightly) older fans, I ask you to cast your minds back to the UEFA cup victories of 1972 and 1984, two of the proudest moments in our club’s history. It would be nice to enjoy nights like that again.

But as they say, you have to be in it to win it.

Marc Keown

03.11.2017

EUROPEAN PROGRESS

With Tottenham’s 3-1 home win in Group H of the Champions League, they qualified for the knock-out stages for the second time in the club’s history, with two group games left to play. This progress shows more than mere advancement in this season’s competition, but progress on a bigger scale.

With the victory over the reigning champions, who retained the Champions League becoming the first team to do so since AC Milan in the late 1980s, Spurs have announced their coming of age in the competition. The win against Borussia Dortmund a couple of months back indicated that we had grown up (see ), but this match sent out a different message.

When you step into European football, it is very different to the home league style. That also changes when you step up from the Europa League to the Champions League. Different teams playing different styles with different tactics and tempos. You learn that possession is not just nine-tenths of the law, but it is 100% of importance in trying to manage games against continental sides. Reaching the quarter-finals at the first attempt under Harry Redknapp was an immense achievement, but since then, the burden of staying in the competition was out-weighing actually trying to achieve something in it. Champions League qualification became the prime objective and that was normally through the league placing. The Premier League form therefore came before progress in the Champions League and so, we fell at the group stage to make sure we were in it the following season. This season, with the team now able to compete at the top of the Prem, the onus is on re-prioritising competitions, with the League Cup and FA Cup disposable, leaving the Premier and Champions Leagues as the ones to aim for.

This win is only a one off and while everyone says that Real Madrid are not the team that they once were, this shouldn’t detract from the way Spurs set about the holders. By pushing the wing-backs up to press the Real midfielders and their wing-backs, there was not the space for them to work into and Trippier and Davies both enjoyed more possession in dangerous areas than their counterparts. With Dier and Winks hassling in central midfield and Dele and Harry both tracking back, this caused uncharacteristic poor passing by the Spanish side, often leading to possession turning over to Tottenham.

Losing Toby Alderweireld after 20 minutes would have been a fatal blow in the past, but a quick re-arrangement of the back three, with Dier dropping in and Sissoko filling in the space he left, produced a seamless transition. Moussa played the role with intelligence, covering for Trippier when he was attacking from right wing back. Dier put in a fine performance and Jan and Davinson were almost unheralded, but their work was outstanding. This has all come from Mauricio instilling into the players that they know their role in the team shape. Where they should be and to take note of where other players are. Where to make runs and when to support the man on the ball. The players have obviously bought into this and with that comes Poch’s winning mentality. How often in the past has a late goal set off a nervy ten minutes before the final whistle for Tottenham fans … and often a more disappointing ending than would have been expected. While Real built pressure and Spurs dropped back and extra 20 yards, they stood firm and resisted the attacks from the visiting team. The determination to keep Real out was shown none more readily than from the corner, where Ramos headed down, Trips cleared off the line and then there was a massive scramble, with white shirts ready to block the ball had it got past Ronaldo’s leg.

It wasn’t so much of a win as a mauling, with Real looking ragged and lacking shape, determination or purpose. Some of that might be due to their current form, but much was a result of the way Spurs marshalled them, won possession and then quickly hit them with attacks from back to front. They couldn’t handle the way Tottenham moved into space, leaving Madrid light and opening up opportunities like the third goal, where the move started on the edge of our box and ended with Eriksen free on the edge of theirs to finish with confidence. A result of quick passing, good awareness and intelligent running carved through the black shirts.

And this all came after the draw in the Bernabeu. That was not a result where we held us to a draw. They held us to a draw. Yes, Lloris played well, but the chances that fell our way meant it wasn’t all one way and for supposedly the favourites for the competition and not just to win the group, we came away with the more credit for the outcome. The same happened at Wembley and that will give the team massive confidence, whoever they face. Yes, there are teams who could give us a lesson in how to play European football, but now, it will only add to our education, as we are working from a more elevated starting position.

But there is still so much more to come from this team. The players were not nearing retirement and many are just starting their careers. The longer the team stays together, the stronger they can become and results like this can only enhance that belief. Some have been touted as being wanted by other clubs (as has Pochettino), but why would they want to move to other clubs ? Money is a motivating factor for some and the need for silverware. The articles go on about Spurs having to win a trophy this season or they will risk the team splitting up. But apart from the people writing those articles, who says so ? There are some who only judge each season by trophies on display, but when you consider where we were a few seasons back, the progress that has been made since Poch took over has been dramatic. Even the progress from the Champions League campaign of last season to this one shows a marked difference in approach, application and belief. If we get knocked out in the round of 16, then the progress has been made, both in the stage we have reached, but more importantly the way we have shown that we are able to be comfortable in such company and to earn the respect of teams who are drawn against us.

When the manager and players see the potential within the team, there is an added incentive to stay and Lloris’ words about his pleasure at deciding to stay shows that they believe that something in building at Spurs … and it’s not just the new stadium ! The possibilities shine a light on a positive future and as well as the current staff wanting to see the ‘project’ through, it could attract players who can add to the squad strength.

If players leave where would they be better off playing wise ? Arsenal ? Not likely for a while. Chelsea ? Money motivated players might make the move, but the instability at the club, with managers and players coming and going don’t make it that appealing. Manchester United ? A manager with an ego and a side who shut up shop and play long ball football ? They may be more successful than with previous managers, but would you develop as a player in that side ? That leaves Manchester City. Possibly the most unshackled side in the country at the moment and one that could be special. but another season will tell whether they can make that name for themselves.

But Tottenham are about the collective, not the individual. There are moments of individual brilliance that may turn or win a game, but the efficiency is everyone doing their job and imposing the system on the opposition. At the time, they were the best I had seen in a long time, but the Champions League team of 2010-11 featured some fantastic individuals, but Spurs were reliant on them to turn it on, with a lack of depth in quality throughout the side. The current side cover for each other and while there are some star players, they are all in it together and work excellently under Pochettino’s hand as a unit. Formidable is the way to describe them when they are at their best (and that’s the English pronunciation).

We have looked into the face of the group of death and laughed in it to go through.

Now for Poch to mastermind the next step forward.

Barry Levington