European qualification is a real quandary this season to work out, there are so many variables in play that even now, with just a few games to go it is almost impossible to work out which competition Tottenham, among others, will be in next season.
For starters, there is the European conference league to throw in the mix and that is set aside for the sixth-placed team, however, the FA Cup winners may yet have a say in that and in theory, England could end up with no team in the Conference League.
The Europa League is set for the team in fifth and FA Cup winners but again, it all depends on who wins the Champions League and Europa League.
You could have a scenario where the team that finishes fourth misses out on a Champions League spot if Chelsea finishes below fourth and win the competition. I am sure that scenario brings back bad memories for some.
The chances are that Spurs will end up in the Conference League once all the permutations have been sorted out, however, I am fairly confident that we will finish fifth and qualify for the Europa League.
And yes, before anyone makes a comment below, I now accept that we will not be finishing top four and even if we did, Chelsea would then win the Champions League and eliminate us, it is just written in the stars.
The reason I believe we will finish fifth is our run-in, it is a decent one and all games are winnable, maybe not the Leicester City game but the Foxes may well have nothing to play for when we face off against them (probably already confirmed in Champions League by then) and they will have a FA Cup final to look forward to.
There are six teams fighting for positions 3rd to 8th and I am of the opinion that Leicester and Chelsea will occupy 3rd and 4th respectively, which leaves, Liverpool, West Ham, Everton and Spurs fighting for 5th -8th.
Based on each teams’ run-ins and the fact that there are just two points between us and fifth I can see Spurs grabbing that fifth spot.
Not what we wanted when the season started but still better than a kick in the marbles.
The Good Old Intertoto. If you were passing by, had a pair of boots and 2 legs hanging out of your a*s+ you got to play for the mighty Tottenham. 👍
Usually I’d be all in favour of Spurs in any competition but we had played more games than any other team besides Man United until a few weeks ago and it was showing in our play.
We’ve had Euro qualifiers and that other International Cup or whatever it was called. Instead of a break this summer we have the Euros. Now we have World Cup qualifiers and a World Cup next year.
There are more than double the number of games in The Champions League and probably extra games in the lesser European competitions. Add in pre season games, it’s too much.
How many games have Spurs run out of steam in this season? The work load needs to be reduced, so for one season no European football would refresh the players.
Our much maligned Tim Sherwood had a respectable win ratio of 59.9% after 21 PL games and harshly he got the boot!!, just saying!
BBC showed Emery and Arteta’s respective Arsenal record – Emery had higher win %, Goals Scored etc. yet fan power got him the boot.
My point was, similar in terms of overall squad quality (Kane aside), they have a better back 4 than us in my opinion. Allan and Doucoure are excellent midfielders and they have James, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.
They have played no European football this year and I think they would be a barometer of what we could expect. Chelsea and Liverpool have a different mentality to us. You can absolutely bet that at the beginning of that season the Chelsea players would have been told that there is an expectation to win the league. Liverpool will have been told something similar.
Our boys would be told to maximise brand awareness.
They have Foyth and Capoue on their books as well
Don’t write off Villarreal, Emery (who has won the Europa many times) will have a point to prove.
If they play like they have this season, I get it completely.
Results vs them it’s hard to say we are better, but we are a ahead of them (maybe only just).
Overhaul isn’t going to happen, even Jose said it would be a multi transfers window job. But 2 decent players this summer changes the dynamic(a), which even off the back of Bale and Rose freeing up 15m of salary a year should be possible, let alone a partial squad clearance.
But it means Levy would have to buy with intelligence and structure 2 deals on the never never. Just the new manager would have to massage his ego in that he’s the greatest deal maker.
The Europa league will likely be a toss up between Utd and Arsenal, both can focus their attention on it now.
Annoying that Super Jan’s Benfica were so close to knocking Arsenal out. Some teams do have more luck.
I hear that but I like when Tottenham are playing.
I am expecting Man City to win the CL and Man Utd the Ropey Cup!
Not us though, come on. We wouldn’t be challenging at the top, we have all made a huge point about this squad not being good enough and accept that we aren’t going to get the level of overhaul we need in the summer.
Everton don’t play in Europe, that is a fair comparison to where we can expect to be.
Was about to say this as well.
Euro conference….if ever there was a “competition” made for ENIC and Levy, that’s it. Unreal.
The squad is pretty thin so not having any extra matches outside of the domestic cups could help when forced to play the same 11 over and over.
The thing is though, as we want spurs to play at the highest levels, we must realize that this team is no where good enough right nowand losing is the consequence.
Perhaps the mentality of winning should be started by beating teams that are as good as we are first on a constant basis. This new europa conference is just the kind of competition where you can learn to win. The Carabaa cup is almost the same but we are better equipped win the EFL trophy because Man city doesn’t compete for that one.
Honestly, the Europa league is out of spurs league. The top cup winners and more drop downs from the champions league is going to make winning that cup even harder.
“Conference” says it all. Its about as mickey mouse as the Intertoto cup.
Still its a good chance to blood some young players or those not getting many league minutes.
If Chelsea finish outside and top four and win UCL the fourth placed team would still get champions league spot. England can have a max of 5 participants. Problem would arise if Arsenal also won Europa because whoever finishes fourth would lose their spot.
Teams have performed better in the league without European distractions, Chelsea won a league and Liverpool got 2nd when they’ve missed out. We won’t have a squad to compete on multiple fronts as any signings have to improve the 1st eleven and even forget about squad balance.
Given that we are starved of silverware albeit a poxy trophy if we are in it naturally I want to win it!!
Obviously as we started the season so early once January came the players were thinking we’ve played so many games the season must be over and we are playing the post season friendlies.
My predicted end of season table:
1.Man City
2.Man Utd
3.Leicester
4.Chelski
5.Liverpool
Spurs will likely finish anywhere between 6th – 8th!
You’d rather watch less Tottenham games next season? I don’t get that
As if the Ropey League wasn’t bad enough with the players unable to take it seriously,can you imagine their attitude towards a tinpot Conference league.
Whoever comes in as manager i think would field a second string side hoping for early elimination.The next season should be about getting rid of the deadwood and getting a playing system to suit those left with possible low-cost additions.
It certainly doesn’t inspire confidence or excitememnt.I would rather we dropped out of Europe altogether.