<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">European candidates Portsmouth and Reading have snubbed the chance to take part in next season's Intertoto Cup. Eighth-placed Pompey and seventh-placed Reading were invited to be among the four English teams to register for the UEFA Cup qualifying tournament Portsmouth have chosen instead to fly to Hong Kong to compete alongside Liverpool and Fulham in the four-team Asia Cup, which carries a ?1 million pound prize for the winners. Reading boss Steve Coppell also opted out because he feels his side are not equipped to compete in Europe after only one year in the Premiership. Coppell said: "Europe is not even on our radar. It is not something we have ever talked about, our aim this year is simply to stay in the Premiership." Newcastle and Blackburn are among the teams competing for the one Intertoto place given to Premiership sides.</div>Seems abit silly as Id rather be in UEFA Cup/Intertoto then some silly tour in Hong Kong ffs. Haven't a clue have they these chairman. All he wants it money from it.
Okay whats more important to two up and coming sides? A European Inter-Toto competition which starts pre-season and makes it way through the season. Or.. a pre-season tour. Simple Answer, the TOUR!! Reading and Pompey dont have the squad or depth to enter Europe and they are smart for rejecting the offer. Pompey and Reading will want to continue their successful season onto next and to do that they need to keep their players fit for the new season. At least in the pre-season tour they can field weaker teams and not have to battle for something.
Pompey and Reading are right ot snub the intertoto. Westham entered a few years back and qualified into the uefa cup through it and although they had a great start to the league that season,they soon faded. You gotta have a biggish squad to do well in these competitions or you will be punished with injuries and tiredness
Yes both of them don't have a big squad and if they participate and get a gd run at the Intertoto I doubt they will get a high place finish in the Premiership. So gd decisions by both clubs
Coppells a fool, Reading have done so well this season you never no your luck, to say his teams not ready seems stupid to me they mite not get another chance, I wonder what the players think about that descision.
