Europa League, a blessing or a curse?

Article by Natalie Porter

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The Europa League is a divisive subject among Spurs fans, many see it as a hindrance affecting our Premier League programme and do not like the format of playing on a Thursday night. I am on the side of enjoying being in a European competition with a chance of silverware. I can understand the reservation amongst fans but I think that if the squad is used appropriately it’s a competition we should embrace. In the group stages we could use a mixture of squad players who don’t make the starting eleven in the Premier League and youth players who are impressing in their age groups. I feel it’s an ideal situation, enabling us to keep our squad in good condition and also good for moral with squad players getting playing time.

Positives from this year’s Europa League has to be Harry Kane, his hat-trick against Asteras Tripolis and then replacing a sent off Hugo Lloris was the night he endeared himself to every Spurs fan. His goals in the Europa League were the catalyst for him to be given the chance in the Premier League. Who knows, if we were not in the competition this season he may have only got a few minutes at the end of games and featured in the Capital One Cup. He proved to everyone, fans and management, that he had the ability to make an important contribution. We also saw an amazing goal from Erik Lamela. The ‘rabona’ was an unbelievable effort and lit up White Hart Lane. Unfortunately Lamela hasn’t kicked on as much as we all hoped but whatever the future holds for him he has left us with that goal.

Our campaign came to a disappointing end and I was hoping that we could have gone on much further. Not just because the winner would earn a Champions League place but because I want Spurs to win silverware. Unfortunately I am not old enough to remember the big European nights and the trophies we won but of course I have seen old clips and know the names. I want to be part of that with the team I have grown up supporting and if the Europa League is the competition we are in then so be it. The Thursday night schedule is the biggest complaint amongst fans and I can understand it’s not ideal. My thought on it is that most players who should start the games would not start in the Premier League. Of course players could be subs in either games and feature in both. With good squad management I feel we as a club could cope with both. If you look at the current squad we have two players for each position. Performing badly after a Europa League game has become a bit of an unwelcome habit and something of an excuse. This season I can understand the dilemma due the Capital One Cup final being so close but I for one hope we make next season’s Europa League. If we can’t make the Champions League then Europe is Europe and I want as many chances to win a trophy as possible.

The competition could also be used as the next step in our youth development. I think for the next few years while the stadium is being built the youth system will have great importance. Imagine the next young stars knowing that they could feature in a European competition and help Spurs progress. A mixture of experience and youth could be just what we need to help fans re-engage in the competition and would allow the manager a closer look at his youth prospects. In a time where football is becoming an expensive past time the £20 I paid to watch the Europa League is good value for money. Families and the younger fans can also benefit and what is better than encouraging more youngsters to watch Spurs as they will be the fans of the future!

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