UEFA can tinker with the format of this competition as much as they like but unfortunately certain English clubs/managers will not give it the credence it deserves. So what if it is the poor relation of the Champions League. If that attitude prevails then why do these certain clubs bother competing in the Premiership at all, as they (the manager) knows, the players know and the fans know that they haven't got a snowball in hell's chance of actually winning it. In all probability they also know that they have little more chance of qualifying for the Champions League at all. We have all heard managers and players bleating on about 'qualifying for Europe' as the be all and end all of a club's destiny but what happens the following season?
This is what happens..... a failure to take the competition seriously by fielding teams made up largely of reserves. Then they wonder why fans don't bother to turn up. The usual excuses are trotted out about too many games/saving players for the BIG match at the weekend/accumulating enough points to avoid relegation. I do realise, of course, that it must be very difficult having to play 2 games a week sometimes, notwithstanding the need to travel thousands of miles to compete in someones back garden with the threat of nuclear war lurking round the corner. It must be a real shock when actually doing what you are paid to do gets in the way of one's golf/taking the WAG out to buy yet another pair of shoes/completing the purchase of one's fifth sports car or luxury pad.
The answer to this perplexing conundrum is quite simple.
Simply juggle your players/formations etc (obviously without us fans realising the cunning ploy) to conveniently finish just below the magical 'European Spot'. Sorted.
You can hear the beleaguered manager now, can't you.....
'Oh, hang on a minute, I hadn't bargained for the InterToto place'.
'Oh, silly me, now I've got to tell the players that they will be playing in Georgia come July and not sunning themselves in Costa Packet. Now then, wasn't there a war there a while back'.
Regards,
Salamander,
Harrogate.

I thought this past summer's InterToto Cup was the last one, with even Uefa finally catching on that the competiton was utterly pointless. Having said that, I developed a singular affection for such an absurd competitive entity. I'm even proud to say I've been to two InterToto Cup ties in my life, including one that featured Ronaldinho and Roberto Baggio. It finished 0-0.

The Uefa Cup has also outlived its purpose. Merge it all into one European Cup, abolishing tedious group stages while we're at it. If anyone's interested, have the European equivalent of a Johnstone's Paint Trophy if teams are upset at getting knocked out too early. The Praline Super League or something, as it'd be Belgium and Swiss teams mostly in it. And Scottish ones. So better make it the Deep-Fried Praline Super League.