Europa-less

The race is on again for that treasured place in Europe.
Managers are pressurising chairmen to spend a 'little' more for those 2-3 players more which will see them push on for a top 4, top 7 finish.
Supporters, even at this early stage, are looking at the league table and doubting if this season is the one where they will acheive European qualification.
Is it really worth it?

Aston Villa for the 2nd year in succession have exited the competition at the first hurdle having given blood, sweat and tears the previous season in qualifying for this Holy Grail.
They did this by spending a substantial sum of money and in playing a style of football that was criticised in some quarters as merely a 'long ball' game that was not very attractive to watch and merely emphasised the speed of Young and Agbhonlahor.
Liverpool played in the qualifying stages of a competition they have derided for years, but are now recognising as one that is possibly more difficult than the Champions League.
This will entail them playing a lot more games this year against some teams that are unknown, even to students of the game, which will undoubtebly impact on their level of performances.
Tottenham have already realised how difficult this season is going to be playing on several fronts and have been booed off the field after a memorable week in the club's history?
Barcelona play football that everyone loves to watch. Arsenal play football that everyone loves to watch.If these two teams are not successful in Europe, does their support wane? Do supporters not enjoy watching them play anymore? The answer in NO! The likeleyhood is that they will be successful, but it is not the be all and end all of their season.
There are now more and more sides whose style of play is to stifle the opposition; survive at all costs; play on the break or rely on 'set pieces' to snatch a result even playing at home.
This will eventually drive fans away fdrom the game. They will put up with it for a while if the media spin tells them they are successful but fans are not fools, they want to be entertained as well as as being successful.
Entertainment is the name of the game,that is the industry football is in, and the sooner more clubs realise it the better.European football is only 'attractive' at the top level and it is only at the top level where the 'real money' is.
The Champions League does not contain only 'champions' like the European Cup in the past and has been watered down to be a 'money cow'.
Let's get back to basics.