by Noel Draper
As regular readers will know, I have a hatred of anything UEFA. If something has Platini written all over it then I shy away, knowing that it will be for the good of the few whilst ignoring the many. The financial fair play regulations? A waste of time and money that will only serve the few. European Championships in Ukraine? Only there due to several large backhanders and since when has Ukraine been in Europe? I could go on. I have done before. Trust me, it will be like a broken record.
The trouble is I agree with one rule that UEFA brought in recently and it is this. I will quote it just to get it right.
2.03. The UEFA Champions League titleholder is guaranteed a place in the group stage even if it does not qualify for the competition through its domestic championship.
a) If the titleholder comes from an association entitled to four places in the UEFA Champions League and qualifies for the UEFA Europa League through it’s domestic competitions, the lowest ranked club of the association’s UEFA Champions League representatives is automatically transferred to the UEFA Europa League (into the latest possible round where there is a vacancy).
In English? Chelsea get the fourth place and Tottenham go into the Europa League. It’s all very simple. These rules were set out before this season’s competition started. In fact they were brought in after Liverpool had won the damn thing in 2005 but didn’t finish in the top four places. They finished 5th. Obviously a team needed to defend the title it had won so UEFA decided to let them in the next season although they would have to start from the first qualifying round. Everton, the team that finished 4th, blew a huge sigh of relief as they were allowed to keep their place. The new rule was then set in stone.
So why are Tottenham fans complaining about having to drop into the Europa League? Surely they knew the rules at the beginning of the season? Is it because an old London rival has pushed them into an inferior competition? Is it because their closest rivals finished in 3rd thus guaranteeing a Champions League position? Is it because their manager was linked to the England job by the media and it ruined his concentration? Is it because they lost a 10 point lead for 3rd place in the space of two months?
Well, according to the Spurs fans it is a combination of all of the above.
The trouble is I don’t agree, because I think it was due to a manager who was outed for the one-trick tactical non genius that he is. I also think that the Spurs fans, deep down, also agree with me but are using the above excuses to cover over the cracks. Redknapp, for all his bluff and media savvy chat, is an average manager in charge of an above average team. When the going got tough the manager didn’t and simple let his team go through a horrible patch that cost them the season. If Redknapp is that good a manager how did he let his “beloved” team slide from 3 points to 20 points behind the eventual winners in the space of 2 months?
Complain all you like Spurs fans but if you want an excuse then I would look a little closer to home if I were you.
i am a spurs fan and i know the rules to be honest about it if we beat villa we would be in champ league
Agree, but if your cut and paste of the regulation is 100% accurate, then if I were Daniel Levy I would have the regulation rendered invalid on the count of the misuse of the apostrophe of ‘it’s’ in the second line. That should be a lifeline.
Couldn’t agree more, except toss Levy in there for not buying in the January window!
Sorry Paul but the error was mine and mine alone.
Your Absolutely bang on about harry ! something i mentioned this way back in march when the same scenario happened last year around the same time!! When you have a squad and a position of ten points a head in the situation we found ourselves, the manager has to take control and he did not or could not !!
“The trouble is I don’t agree”
Well bully for you. No-one else gives a toss what you think.
Harry settled for a draw againt villa by taking off Van Der Vaart and bringing on Parker when only a win would do, but to make an even bigger joke of our club he said a draw was a great result and he was happy with it even though it meant we was still behind the scum in the league. he also said he was cheering on chelski in the champions league even though it would cost us a place in it before changing that statement saying he would be a liar if he wanted chelski to win. any yid who likes redknapp is a bigger cnut than him!!!!!!!!!!! not to mention playing gomes every week and costing us a champions league place again 2 seasons ago!!!!!
need i mention him letting Bale play where he likes??
like it. Tottenham is to BIG for HR.before spurs as a manager he has never see 4th in the league or CL so coming 4th to him is prefect for him.
sack him and all the back room staff as they are s**t too
erm he got us in 4th before….. remember peter crouches winner at city???? lol
Redknapp is a complete mug. A lot of Spurs fans aren’t complaining at all.
Rules are rules.
As a big Spurs fan, I have to pretty much agree with your article about Redknapp’s inability to lift and direct the team tactically but the players also have to share the blame too because they are the ones on the pitch. When they see things arent going their way, an above average team must be able to make adjustments themselves, take responsibility and fight for the cause but I honestly feel that the players could see that Redknapp was going to leave and turn his back on them if England came knocking on his door at the end of the season so perhaps they thought, why should we bother for someone who went on record to stress and preach that the club must do all they can to keep their top players if they are to trully become a top top side (his words)when he was going to jump ship which is hypocritical to say the least. All the signs were there, why didnt Redknapp renounce what the press were saying and cut the rumours dead by distancing himself from the job instead of saying that the FA should leave any decision until the end of the season. No he stayed quiet andf that silence was deafening. Why did he loan out so many good players when other clubs were utilising their players in a rotation system knowing how long the season was going to be. So many questions but ultimately the majority of the blame lays at Redknapps door for me.
I partly agree that Redknapp can be found out tactically at times and his decisions in the Villa game cost us ultimately. Although it wasn’t tactically inept to bring on Parker, it was because he lacks ambition and plays safe – finishing 4th was vital to him even if he was 90% sure defoe sub would have won it. Redknapp will be very happy with 4th, he reached his personal target and he can’t be sacked.Faint praise to call Spurs team “above average”!! only city played better football. utd were average.
I agree with the article and although it could be argued Spurs were unlucky we have to accept it and move on.
The one issue I have is with the FA. I think the article is correct when it stated being linked to the England job ruined Harry’s concentration. I think this happened. Harry could have gone to jail in early February instead he looked a shoo in for the one job he has dreamed of getting his whole career. And the media constant questioning and support led him to believe it was a done deal.
And yet the FA kept schtum. Nevertheless Berstein stated that the timing of the announcement of Hodgson’s appointment was exceptionally well timed given WBA had informed him they would not have allowed an approach even a week earlier.
The FA’s handling of the appointment was a disgrace and the only reason the FA was taken to book was the Media’s own complicity in the matter.
What Tottenham fans are complaining? I haven’t seen any of us complaining about anything other than the fact that it is indeed Harry’s fault.
Yep totally agree. Mu ywo bobs worth is. Harry the guy who gropped spurs like a hot spud not once but twice. HE tried to take the dubai job only levy demending compensation halted that. The england job aroase and rednapp, no one else kept banging on about it. So that leaves us with a manager who’s not much cop. The other poser is when some other team, say liverpool, are looking he’ll drop the ball again. He simply cannot be trusted. As for levy not buying in jan, er yeah but. Levy gave harry Sandro and VDV, HArry when left to it bought saha, nelson and parker. He picked danny rose and livermore ahead of much better youth players. He’s old hat is ol harry. Spurs always try to entertain. We were named that before he joined us. Levy follows his plan and that’s where I see spurs being successful. I remember the manager sceen always changing and levy moving to make sure spurs go forward no matter the manager. I hope liverpool get rednapp, hell anyone else but spurs. The last straw was watching defoe and parker on the bench up and down like a jack in the box. He reallt has no idea what he’s doing. Poor ol modders. If he’d been allowed to go to chelsea he’d have an FA cup and Champs league medal. He wont get that here. That’s what football is all about. Yeah loyalty comes from the fans the players are there for the money and to win trophy’s.
not the first time he has been in liverpool sights lets hope he goes this time
Spurs fans are acting as if we have been title contenders for ever and this is the first time in 6 years that we have surrendered a 10pt lead. This was the first time we had been in this position and who actually thought we would be in that position at the beginning of the season. What we are now witnessing is a project- a team put together who are trying to find their feet among the big boys and i’m not just talking about the players. They are making mistakes and trying to learn from them- they have never been put in the position where they go to the Emirates and are expected to win, then at home to Manchester United and the media talking it up saying this could be the game that looses United the tile blah blah blah. I’m not saying loosing a 10 point lead is a good thing but think of the games we actually had- Arsenal away, Man United at home and Everton away- even City- the Champions- with all their mighty expensive players one one of those fixtures- and if they had them all in a row who knows they might not be Champions right now. And by then the nervousness and inexperience started to show and to add to that, the silly England job fiasco. There where games where spurs should have got 3 points- Wolves at WHL, Stoke, Chelsea- all had refereeing decisions that we shambolic especially the Wolves- goal which was our throw in to Adebayor clearly onside disallowed goal. You can mention the QPR and Norwich games but every team lost a dodgy game to a lower league side- its the beauty and annoyance of our league. Redknapps not the best Manager in the world but nor is he the worse- His record is excellent- he has helped us achieve our highest points haul ever in the Premier League- Played- 144, Won 71, Drawn 37 and lost 36 over a three and a half year period and plus he has only spent £66.7million to do so which is less than what Liverpool spent on Carroll, Henderson and Downing put together. I was just as annoyed when we lost our lead but i understand that my team are a work in progress and we will make mistakes a long the way- we as fans just need to support them because I believe we are staring at the making of an amazing team! COYS!
P.S Sorry for the long rant!
I gotta hand it to ya kid…hole in one. We ain’t been here in over 20 years And his record beats anyone’s for over 35 years. We’re ok. It’s good that we feel like this. Bodes well for next season, whether we have 2 glamour playas or not….COYS
Redknapp is to blame. Poor tactics, poor use of subs, awful in the transfer market. Plays players out of position, never has a plan B. Hasn’t brought the long term players we have needed since he has been in charge. 85% of his signings have been sold, out on loan or don’t get in the team. He never sets us up with our strengths against oppositions weaknesses. He doesn’t manager the team, players play out of position. The players quality carrys redknapp untill he burns them out with a lack of rotation. He can’t keep his mouth shut, has belittled the club, fans players and chairman. Has a lack of ambition. Terrible manager! A better manager would get more out of this team and add the correct quality long term players. Redknapp only seems to buy premier league based players who are over 30, injury prone or out of favour with there club.
it’s no more than we deserve. 2 games to go 1 point behind and a game in hand, HR plays for a draw. is HR really that bad at maths.
if u lose=4th
if u draw=4th
but if u win, top 3 finish
is that to hard to work out HR
sack him and all the back room staff
what a crap rule they should make a place for the title holders not take it away from a team that deserves it as spurs finished in the top 4. Thats unfair!!
Well said. HR is the problem. Where was the second striker against Villa? Why did he not make changes after the drubbing by Arsenal. He knew King was never fit all season. Why did he not bring in a centre half in January. Why did he let Coprluka, Bassong, Pineaar go? He never seemed to appreciate that it was going to get far tougher in the second half of the season, with injuries and tiredness creeping in. He relied on the natural ability of a very good squad to be in the running for 1-2-3 place. When the wheels started to fall off he was unable to put them back on. If HR could not see that a draw was NEVER going to be good enough against Villa then God help us next year. You can spend Billions on players but if the Manager cant see the overall picture and use the subs. bench to get a result whats the point of keeping him. He didn’t just lose the battle, he lost the war.
Harry is a terrible manager. I’m relieved to find out I’m not the only one who thinks so: mostly terrible signings; no rotation; tactics? What tactics? No striker who can score goals; a fragile defense reinforced with more fragility; Aston Villa sub shocker; satisfaction w fourth when third was locked up in February????
I predicted that Harry wld lead team to a free fall that wld result in no CL and that he would not get England. Apparently the FA is smarter than Levy which is not saying much. Levy must be a dumb ass as well for going along with HR all this time.
totally agree…..and he had Defoe warming up first, then changed his mind….,.then with only 2-3 minutes left HE brings on Scotty!!!??? We HAD to win that fkn game, if only to get back above the Arse! 1 minute he talks the team up as possible contenders, the next minute everything is really difficult and we should be lucky with this or that draw after another clueless attacking game in games we should be scoring at least 2-3 goals to be “contenders”! fkn awful last third to this season, Im finding it hard to get over the stupidity and humiliation!
As you say … “rules clear at beginning of season”
Media complain on behalf of spurs fans.
Spurs fans no complain.
Similar if there should be rule for FA cup
Media did complain on behalf of Chelsea fan.
Chelsea fan no complain.
(especially after result)
And all this about John Terry should no wear shirt on pitch.
If I in his position I would do.
Closest he ever get to winning Champions League Final.
Totally agree. We threw 3rd place away, Arsenal didnt win it. Two slumps, two seasons on the trot and Harry clueless about how to get us out of it on both occasions. We threw it away last season and same again this season although this seaon was a worst offence because of the 10 point lead.
Redknapp is to blame end of.
+100000000000000000 #:0
I hate guy always have always will. Sure the stats are on the up. But we have been trending upwards for quite some time. Jol did well enough with a lot less. Aside from my dislike of rednapp it’s his attitude of seemingly wanting away from spurs. Also there’s a big diff in his signings to the ones we’re lead to believe (by rednapp) are made by levy. VDV, Ade and Sandro. I hate this rubbish that we only started playing good football when rednapp arrived. Most spurs supporters will tell you they follow spurs because of the way we play. It’s what brought Levy to spurs too. That’s the problem with stats they show no personality or heart of the individual concerned. I’d also like to point out Spurs (the club) annouce themselves we are competing with the top sides. Therefore they raise the bar for club and fans alike. If Harry doesn’t like the heat he should walk. As for mistakes, sure we all do, but the trick is not to repeat them. Interesting to see what happens now. Both with Harry and how spurs build (or dont) during this transfer window. Lets hope it’s better than the dross harry has brought here. That’s not forgetting crouch, chimbonda, kean…..
Beginning of the season Noel? Really? What side worries about the potential implications of 4th place and an English side outside of the top 4 winning the champs league at the beginning of the season?
If that was the case, 4th would be a risky hot potato. No, no team worries about that because 9/10 seasons this doesn’t happen. This is our fault however for not beating teams like Villa. The UEFA law is unfair on 4th places teams who worked hard to get there; our situation is different because we were 3rd for so long.
The beginning of the season Noel? Really? What team worries about the potential implications of a non top 4 side winning the champs league and thus voiding 4th place at the beginning of the season? If that was the case 4th place would be considered a risky hot potato.
No teams worry about this scenario at the start of the season but Harry knew it existed when we played Villa. I also find the UEFA law unfair to teams who work hard all season and manage 4th place only to get it snatched from within them; the main difference in our situation being we were in 3rd for so long and managed to go on a bad run.
could not agree more the players should be2 blame as well as now players like bale modric &vdv want away 4 cl football but they could av had it if they kept the form they had before th slump !!
Never mind at least now Spurs’ European matches will be on Channel 5 and therefore free to watch 🙂
People need to stop moaning look how bad it was before he came. Use ya brains lads….. look at us now we cudnt of dreamed of 4th not to long ago….