Source: Daily_Mail
Silver wear and tear: What's the point of the UEFA Cup? Villa join Spurs in devaluing tournament
What's the point of the UEFA Cup? [LNB]That's the question many fans of Tottenham Hotspur[LNB]and Aston Villa[LNB]will be asking themselves this week after Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill seemingly gave up on the competition. [LNB]Redknapp selected a weakened side for the trip to Shakhtar Donetsk last Thursday and with Sunday's Carling Cup final against Manchester United looming large, the Spurs boss has admitted he'll make even more changes for the Ukrainians' visit to White Hart Lane this week. [LNB] Toiling away: Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas (centre) battles for the ball in the Shakhtar penalty area during last week's UEFA Cup tie[LNB]I wouldn't be surprised if Harry gave coaches Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood a run out. [LNB]And now O'Neill's joined in on the act. [LNB] Managing expectations: Villa boss Martin O'Neill[LNB] Villa are level with CSKA at 1-1 in their tie and Tottenham trail Shakhtar 2-0.[LNB]With Villa's sights set firmly on breaking into the top four and a place in next season's Champions League, O'Neill has left eight first team regulars behind for the tricky second leg against CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital. [LNB]Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, Stiliyan Petrov, Brad Friedel, James Milner, Carlos Cuellar, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey have all been left behind, probably with Villa's hopes of progressing, to focus on Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at home to Stoke City. [LNB]Although many Tottenham supporters will disagree, Redknapp's indifference ahead of the second leg is more understandable. [LNB]He's already played an understrength team in this tie, has a Wembley date to look forward to three days later and most importantly of all, must keep Tottenham in the top flight. [LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... WHY DID SPURS AND VILLA BOTHER QUALIFYING FOR EUROPE ONLY TO GIVE UP ON THE UEFA CUP AT THE LAST-32 STAGE? Villa have flown out to Moscow without eight first-teamers as Martin O'Neill and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp abandon hopes of progressing in the UEFA Cup. Why bother qualifying for Europe in the first place?[LNB][LNB]TELL US WHAT YOU THINK[LNB] There are other factors behind Harry's attitude. [LNB]Tottenham's dismal league form has relegated the significance of their European campaign to the bottom of the list of priorities and their transfer failings in the summer have undermined their bid to win a third UEFA Cup. [LNB]The board's bunglings have ensured the club have played the entire competition with just two available strikers (one of whom doesn't belong to them anyway). They might as well have forfeited their place back in August. [LNB]But O'Neill's atttitude is harder to comprehend. Villa were more than a match for CSKA Moscow last week and could easily secure the result in Moscow to take them into the last 16 of the competition. But O'Neill now seems happy to surrender Villa's place in the competition in favour of a clear run at the top four. [LNB] Head boy: John Carew (right) of Aston Villa rises highest against CSKA Moscow last week[LNB]The allure of the Champions League is undeniable, but what's the point of the UEFA Cup if clubs aren't going to take it seriously? [LNB] It's top-four the best! Cautious Martin O'Neill leaves eight at home as Villa head for CSKA Moscow[LNB]Warrior Woodgate should be fit for Spurs' trip to Wembley [LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]ASTON VILLA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]What's the point of toiling all season to secure European football, only to give up as soon as the competition reaches the knockout stage? [LNB] Different priorities: Tottenham Hotspur's manager Harry Redknapp[LNB] What's the point of Tottenham retaining the Carling Cup this season if Redknapp doesn't want the extra games the UEFA Cup brings next season? [LNB]And finally, what exactly was the point of Villa kicking off their season in mid-July in the Intertoto Cup (essentially a UEFA Cup qualifying competition) if O'Neill was going to give up in February? [LNB]Surely the ultimate goal of top-level football is to win trophies and qualify for European football? [LNB]This is certainly true of the Champions League, but sadly, not the UEFA Cup anymore. [LNB]The competition has been devalued to the point that European football's desperate governing body have decided to 'rebrand' the competition from next season as the Europa League. [LNB]The final nail in the coffin of a fine old tournament. [LNB]The UEFA Cup has struggled for credibility ever since the Champions League admitted more than one club per country into the competition and as a direct result, the quality of entrants has gradually weakened. [LNB]The laughable loophole that allows third-placed teams from the Champions League group stages to drop into the UEFA Cup has also helped make a mockery of the competition. [LNB]Clubs that qualify from the UEFA Cup first round are placed into eight groups of five teams. Why? [LNB]Group stages were introduced into the Champions League to generate more money for the clubs involved. Understandable. But without the vast sums on offer in the Champions League, the UEFA Cup group stages are a complete waste of time.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB]Euro rout: Spurs players react as Shakhtar Donetsk score[LNB]Why do clubs have to play four group games to ultimately cut the number of teams left in the competition from 40 to 32? [LNB]Again, it would be understandable if there was money to be made from the extra games, but there isn't. [LNB]Simply turning up for a Champions League group match is financially worth 10 times a UEFA Cup group stages win - and that's before television rights have even been sold. [LNB]In 2007, Champions League winners AC Milan won 33million euros more than UEFA Cup winners Sevilla - again, that's before TV rights have been factored in. [LNB]The huge disparity in rewards for both competitions helps explain why the same old teams consistently quality for Europe's elite club competition - and why O'Neill is more interested in beating Stoke than CSKA.[LNB] It's top-four the best! Cautious Martin O'Neill leaves eight at home as Villa head for CSKA Moscow[LNB]Warrior Woodgate should be fit for Spurs' trip to Wembley [LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]ASTON VILLA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
