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Inter Toto Cup: The Back Door To Europe For NUFC? |
14th April 2005
By
Gaz Pearson
It's not the most glamorous of club competitions, yet alone European
club competitions but if the Inter Toto cup is the only route we have
let of playing European football next year then surely it’s a option
we have to take? Hopefully, following tonight's game with Lisbon and
the FA Cup Semi against Manchester United on Sunday we will be nearer
to cementing our place in the UEFA cup. However, if all does go wrong,
then the Inter Toto Cup must take our priority!
A lot of fans and players alike feel that the Inter Toto Cup is a
hindrance to their pre-season. Well I am sorry but if we have not
already secured a place in the UEFA Cup next season then our lads
will have to cut short their holidays in Mauritius, the Caribbean
or whatever luxurious places they go to and get out to little hostile
clubs in the far corners of Europe to get this club where it belongs,
in a European tournament. Its not often I agree with Freddy Shepherd
but his recent comments regarding the potential importance of entering
the Inter Toto cup were spot on:
"It's a lifeline the players won't deserve, but would have to
take for the fans of Newcastle United."
It's not like it has done us any harm in the past. Sir Bobby's first
full season saw us take our place in this tournament and we went from
strength to strength that season albeit losing out to Troyes in the
Final. It did no harm, and brought a lot of players' feet back on
the ground and got them hungry for the new season. History may well
repeat itself and Graeme Souness' first full season in charge could
see him march us through the Inter Toto Cup backdoor to Europe.
However, like I say, I hope this isn't to be the case. Tonight's game
with Lisbon is a must-win and if we do succeed I can see little stopping
us. The game against Manchester United is equally important for if
we are to get through the likelihood is that we will play Arsenal
and consequently get a UEFA Cup berth. However, nothing is certain
and Souness' old club Blackburn could cause an unlikely upset. They
are playing well at the moment, but then again so are Arsenal. It's
a bit of a cop out to get into Europe like that. If we get to the
final we have to win it to deserve our place in the UEFA Cup.
The Inter Toto Cup: Little, insignificant UEFA initiative to allow
lesser teams in Europe to get into the UEFA cup through the backdoor?
No, it could be the lifeline to what may be a thoroughly disappointing
season on and off the pitch. If it’s the route we need, and Souness
needs, to start a new era of success at this football club, then so
be it!
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