Today was the draw for the UEFA Champions League Playoff Round and Tottenham Hotspur got the best draw they could have hoped for, getting matched up against BSC Young Boys of Switzerland. Young Boys finished second in the Swiss Super League last season, but that was only after allowing a 13 point lead to collapse as they finished three points behind the champions FC Basel.
Drawing Young Boys was great news when compared to the alternatives: Auxerre, Braga, Dynamo Kiev, and Sampdoria. All four of those teams compete in leagues much stronger than the Swiss Super League and unlike Young Boys, they all have a little bit of star power.
Last year's great stretch run to finish in fourth place in the league hasn't really stuck with me yet. I've been a Spurs supporter since I was in middle school, so I've seen my fair share of epic disappointments. The expectations of failure have been hammered into me as I explained in a piece for All Things Footy a few months back. Last night before I went to bed, I saw stunning goals by Giampaolo Pazzini and Artem Milievskiy flash before my eyes. I saw Valter Birsa dribbling circles around Corluka. I saw us failing to break down Braga. But even I can't be pessimistic about a tie against Young Boys.
They have nothing particularly dangerous. No one on their team has a wealth of international or European experience. No one on their team has an outstanding goal scoring record. They blew a 13 point lead in the league. They're off to an awful start domestically this season. Even Spurs can't screw this up.
I hope.
Drawing Young Boys was great news when compared to the alternatives: Auxerre, Braga, Dynamo Kiev, and Sampdoria. All four of those teams compete in leagues much stronger than the Swiss Super League and unlike Young Boys, they all have a little bit of star power.
Last year's great stretch run to finish in fourth place in the league hasn't really stuck with me yet. I've been a Spurs supporter since I was in middle school, so I've seen my fair share of epic disappointments. The expectations of failure have been hammered into me as I explained in a piece for All Things Footy a few months back. Last night before I went to bed, I saw stunning goals by Giampaolo Pazzini and Artem Milievskiy flash before my eyes. I saw Valter Birsa dribbling circles around Corluka. I saw us failing to break down Braga. But even I can't be pessimistic about a tie against Young Boys.
They have nothing particularly dangerous. No one on their team has a wealth of international or European experience. No one on their team has an outstanding goal scoring record. They blew a 13 point lead in the league. They're off to an awful start domestically this season. Even Spurs can't screw this up.
I hope.