Thursday 7 November 2013

Spurs v Sheriff is more important than some think

TONIGHT is the very reason many folk question the size and worth of the Europa League. 

Spurs host not-quite-Moldovan FC Sheriff in their fourth consecutive game against European minnows having already clocked up three straightforward victories and heaven knows how many air miles.

The crowds will start dwindling as fans realise they only need to work out the channel number for ITV4 in order to watch it at home with a beer (UEFA rules prevent sale of alcohol in the ground for Euro games).

But, regardless of your take on Europe's second tier, it's nights like this that can ultimately help us towards sustaining a Premier League challenge.

That sounds bonkers, but bare with us... after the 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham, Mousa Dembele highlighted the importance of raising our performances for the "small games".

Bad choice of words, but he's right.

It's all very well if we can go out and hold Chelsea to a draw or beat Manchester United but if the first team is not motivated for every single game, no matter how easy it is on paper, then there is no point in fighting on four fronts for trophies.

Even the Champions League can be a squad-juggling exercise as clubs play a similar number of games to us.

So if that is our aspiration, we need to be well used to the workload. 

But most importantly, our football is nothing like the finished article just yet. Any chance to refine it in a real-match scenario should be welcomed.

While AVB tries to get the new players used to his ideas, it is vital that games like tonight are treated the same as any others, so that his controlling style becomes second nature.

There is also a fair bit at stake tonight. Jermain Defoe can break Martin Chicers' Euro goals record and we can make the knockout stage with a win - and that should all be ample motivation to see off Sheriff.

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