Fancy a Ruby?
Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 12:37PM Rubin Kazan. Not related to Keyser Söze. Pretty certain unlike the latter, they most definitely exist. Yet I have no idea what to expect. They're hardly a team you would dismiss out of hand thanks to their adventures against the mighty (under-strength/not bothered at the time?) Barcelona. I would expect them to play a strong side, but then I'm guessing and I haven't googled or checked the sports sites to find out. Research, not something I can do much of during my lunch break. Speaking to other Lilywhites, they don't seem to know a lot either. Shame on us.
Honestly? I'm hardly gripped by the Europa League group stage but rather far more interested and perhaps just slightly (every so slightly) excited by the prospect of seeing a 'second eleven' take the field to what will probably be a White Hart Lane with the odd empty seat. I'm holding back on the sarcasm as much as I possibly can here. Perhaps I'll have my gob shut later on this evening, but if this game isn't a capacity filled occasion (which it wont be) then it begs the question about how such a game would play out in a 60+ stadium. I guess people who usually struggle to get tickets can't be arsed when its reserve football. To bring it full cycle, when season ticket holders can't be bothered to go either than I guess we need to appease all by not playing in this competition next season.
So, yeah, interested and a bit excited mainly because of the team news Spurs released in the build up that will see Aaron Lennon and Sandro return to the side along with Danny Rose. Equally of interest (nervous not excited) to see how we cope by the lack of centre-backs and the fact that those injured are apparently not going to be available for Sunday.
Pav and Gio will start which is always something you force yourself to watch just so you can angry the blood and inject some emotion into the game (as it's hardly nail-biting territory).
Looking forward to seeing man child Carroll in action.
The fact is, can't quite grasp what to expect. Will Rubin be up for it? Will they be cautious? Will our players be up for it? Will the back four be cohesive and will the formation have fluidity? Are we perhaps over-rating the visitors and under-rating our second string? Vice versa? Will Pav strop or show-off?
Lennon/Sandro fitness and their performance is key for the Prem games ahead of us. Gio is pretty much like a Kinder Surprise. Much expectation but in the end the anticipation is far more satisfying than what you end up with.
It's Tottenham. It's a proper game of football regardless of how much it's value has been diminished by other priorities and the lack of grade A first teamers. I never want to see us lose and I always want to see us win. Let's hope we win then.
Don't forget to wrap up nice and snug and get comfortable on the sofa.
Love the shirt.
Reader Comments (20)
Not sure what to make of this competition or our attitude towards it.
One cup win in the last decade and we (club and supporters) are not too big for Europe's second biggest cup competition? Why bother playing in any games apart from the League these days.
I thought Gio looked good against Shamrock, as he should of, so be interested to see how he plays tonight, sure he can be better at right midfield than anybody else who has played there this year.
And attendance of 25k tonight? Maybe less? It's the main reason I haven't been taking the piss out of gooners I know for the ever decreasing Emirates attendances. They still got 44k for Shrewsbury in the CC, although I think the away support was a large percentage of that.
Makes me wonder what will happen if we go up to 56k stadium and instant success doesn't follow. No CL no sell out??
I find it amazing that people don't want to go to the game. I get the reason why but if I didn't have to go to a work dinner - I wish I didn't have to go for more reasons than missing this game - I would be there without doubt. I went to the Hearts game and although it was poor it was good to watch Spurs with a viewpoint to scouting out the next generation. I would love to have gone tonight - instead I'll be waiting for 15 seconds of highlights in an hour long programme that starts at about midnight on ITV4 or ITV or something... I have a great idea to revamp this whole competition but it would require an article on it's own to discuss... anyway - we are nothing without Europe and I'd rather be playing Rubin kazan with our kids tonight than waiting up for the highlights of Fulham or Stoke game!
I don't really get all the negativity towards the Europa it's a trophy at the end of the day isn't it? And a trophy that we have a decent shot at winning, Yes I know that CL football is where we should have our sights set however we're not in Cl this year and as long as we're not taking big risks to key players I'm just glad that I can watch Spurs during the week plus Thursday is a good night for a few beers in front of the telly. Success breeds success so, Lets win this fucking thing. COYS!
@mick_nolan_81
Take it your not going tonight then Spooky?
I decided a little while back that I would make the effort for the Europa home games. It's my form of a protest against all the Champions League glory hunters who prevented me and my Dad getting any tickets last season.
What I find strange is that on the TFC podcast a few week back the question was asked if we'd prefer to finsh fourth or win a couple of trophies. Trophies was fairly unanimous; which I'm guessing is the same opinion as most of us. But then the majority can't be arsed to make the effort.
I know it doesn't have the Champions League glamour, I know it's a Thursday night and I know it's Rubin Kazan. But it's also another step on the road to one of those Cups we want... I think it's shame that we can't get the lane at least 80% full for a European Game.
Good point about the bigger stadium as well Spooky, the place would be deserted.
COYS!
Easiest way to re-vamp this trophy, even a little is to give the winner a place in the CL (not a qualifying place, a real one). Teams will then see this as genuine alternative. Same with the FA Cup.
slightly off topic but i've been questioning the need for a new stadium recently
other than the few high-profile glamour ties when is whl ever 100% sold out?
have to admit, at first i was slightly envious of the arse with their nice shiny new stadium, but, having been there a few times, ive totally changed my mind
there's little to no atmosphere and the place is full of tourists. and i dont mean the glory hunting new fans, i mean tourists of the foreign stand in front of you with maps variety.
yes its big and impressive but you just dont get the same feeling - almost all the arse fans i know long for the highbury days
im hoping we stay at whl as long as possible - i understand the financial implications and all that but, to be honest, its not my problem and i dont really care - as long as we win on the pitch im happy where we are thanks.
A new stadium has nothing to do with the fans - it's all about boosting club income. None of the bigger stadia (OT, Emirates etc) have improved the atmosphere, in fact it's the reverse. The smaller grounds such as Stoke are much better. Historically us and the Arse could always draw upwards of 50k for the very big games and/or when we had really great sides, but the core has always been around 30-35k, and in bad times numbers have fallen below that. I even wonder whether we have missed the boat on increasing capacity from a financial standpoint , and that increasing TV coverage coupled with the continuing recession may herald a trend of lower attendances across the board.
Make first refusal of final tickets to fans that attended the group games and make the prize, a CL place. Simples.
@ yiddogray, give winners CL place i would agree with, but give those who went to group games 1st chance of final tickets, no way, season ticket holders come 1st as they are the one's who give the club there money up front, and if they choose not to go to a couple of games that they have to pay for then so be it, im not going tonight because i see it that if saggy face cant take it seriously then why should the rest of us.
I agree with previous comments regarding the EL and I also cannot understand why it is so frowned upon, I accept the fact that it's the second tier cup competition in Europe, but imo it's still a trophy worth winning. A cup is a cup at the end of the day and I think that we should view the EL as a precursor to full CL participation next season. BTW Spooky, I really liked your reference to Keyser Söze, let's hope that one of our 'Usual Suspects' (Pav) puts in a good shift tonight, I enjoy reading your posts my friend keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to the match later, here's to a good result for us. COYS!!
I don't think it is us Spurs fans who are undervaluing the Europa League it is more that everyone else does. Some of the games don't get televised or are on some mysterious channel and few players want to play in it and few journalists or pundits or media outlets treat the competition as anything better than the hideous ugly sister to the beautiful CL and it is UEFA who have so destroyed the value of the old UEFA Cup that used to see us playing Barcelona and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and Ajax and even seeing Cruyff at WHL. So it is more just acknowledging reality than any snobbishness imo.
I think the club should offer the Europa League home games as a bundle for a reduced price overall, kind of like a mini-season ticket.
I think the reason it won't be full this evening is in part due to it being a midweek game and being live on TV, neither of those help attendances.
I don't think a CL place to the Europa League winner is the answer, it would be better to increase the prize money for the Europa League (I know it has been increasing but it needs to go further than that). And also raise the profile of the European Super Cup, by doubling the prize money for both participants.
@Yiddogray
Agree with that. I'd say all semi finalists get a CL place the following year and have a couple of thousand final tickets in a ballot for those who paid on the gate for the group games. That would boost the prestige of the competition and add to the people wanting to go to the earlier games.
"Your Ground's Too Big For You/Your Ground's Too Big For You..."
The best thing that could happen to us is to get knocked out of this cup. That was the biggest load of crap ive seen for a long while. Every Spurs player played as if they wanted to be elsewhere. A disgrace really!!
Spurs win. No reported injuries. Carrol looking class. Gadaffi pushing up daisys. All in all a good night.
Phew, that was hard work. Modric can go and join Chelsea, just so long as young Carrol signs a 10 year contract. He's the real thing.
I've avoided coming to this conclusion as long as possible, because I'm an optimist and because I dislike hysterics, but the reason the Europa League doesn't matter to us this year is because getting Champions League is truly all that matters. As much as we want to romanticize winning every cup or players who pledge their life to the club, the simple fact is CL, from a pragmatic standpoint, dwarfs those concerns. And this is our window. Levy and co. put all the eggs in the basket for this run. Get CL, and keep Modric, Bale, VDV. Don't get it, and in all likelihood lose them. Adebayor is on a one-year deal; he could be gone, too. The monetary pay-offs are extraordinary. I would love to win every cup. I would love to stay at the Lane. I would love more players like Ledley. But in an age of free agents going to the highest bidder/can offer trophies on multiple fronts, those dreams are luxuries.
Daniel, you are the first one in a while that i agree with. Ive said it all along, nothing but nothing matters more than getting a top 4 spot and we should be putting everything to one side to simply focus on this every league games there is.
Problem is some of our guys simply dont get it!! We dont play the long game, its all about tomorrow!
@hotspurs Problem is some of our guys simply dont get it!! We dont play the long game, its all about tomorrow!
What's the long game? Top4 every year. City have effectively bought a place, United are ahead of everyone else when it comes to their stadium and appeal to players wanting to sign for them. That leaves 2 places for the rest of the League.
You could take it one step further and say 3rd is out of our reach and we are trying to get 4th. Which means 3 teams aiming for 1 spot.
The long view for me is more likely that some of our players will want to win titles and even CL will not be enough. CL football is just a bargaining chip for replacing them when they go.