Are we there yet?
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 1:00PM Had you asked most THFC fanatics yesterday, what would be their ideal draw for the qualifying game required to pass through in order to gain access to the Champions League proper, they (much like Jermain Defoe) would have chosen Arsenal. Unfortunately thanks to them ducking out of the challenge (a technicality apparently) they were not a viable and realistic option. Pesky UEFA rules, it's a conspiracy I tells ya.
Instead, we faced the potential for some fairly tricky opposition. And got the supposed weakest of the lot. Not to say we should be dismissing the Young Boys Bern. But I can't help feeling content we are not travelling to Kiev or facing Sampdoria. Although I'm not going to jig until we bring back our Swiss opposition to WHL with a couple of away goals in tow (do they still play on astroturf?). It's the choice draw. Tottenham pull Young Boys apart. And so forth.
So, what do I know about them? Not a lot, other than the fact their stadium is in Wankdorf. Oh the hilarity that will no doubt be had with that one also. They finished second in the Swiss Super League last season and they caused a ickle upset by defeating Fenerbache in the 3rd qualifying round (winning 1-0 in Turkey). At the time of writing they have two points from three games in their domestic league. Not quite Ramosesque there. No doubt being tagged the underdogs will inspire them. Whether that's actually going to be enough for them, is more to our advantage.
Honestly, quality wise, I don’t know if they are capable of finding a different level and causing us grief. I know I don't know that much about them but I know enough to know that they are clearly not on the level of one or two other clubs who might have had us nervously biting our nails.
The way I see it is, if we freeze and go out to this lot, then I'll be standing outside the West Stand entrance with a basket of rotten fruit. All season long. A good, solid professional performance, and we'll be looking forward to some majestic travelling across Europe with some dream ties (hopefully). Barca away anyone?
Anyways, thanks to UEFA and the warm balls for the decent draw. Over to you Harry and co.
Additional:
Memo to Spurs players. Be confident, be proud of your confidence. But talk on the pitch, not off it. Ta.
Reader Comments (36)
as I've mentioned elsewhere, fernebache had to play the second half of both legs with 10 men, we should beat em.
It's the draw we wanted, and second leg at the lane to boot. Please lads don't mess it up, treat this lot with respect and hammer them. And why on earth do our players set themselves up for a fall so regularly? Defoe - button it.
Fantastic draw. Long-awaited chance to stock up on some king-size bars of Toblerone and buy a fondue set.
Was that a UEFA punishment (Fenerbache's 10 men 2nd halves)?
If Spurs go out to this lot, may i recommend 36000 fans mooning at players from the stands? I think this draw will trigger Spurs to complete a couple of quality signings, If we know Levy, he will not leave this to chance..
We are gonna fuck those young boys from Bern right up. In wankdorf.
Hmmmmmm
Anyway I'm confident, not arrogantly overconfident, but confident. Saw them play stuggart a few weeks ago and looked decent. Remember it being a decent game.
Should be ok though. Hopefully now we can invest in a couple of players to add to the squad and a decent striker and get rid of Hutton and keane. JJ can stay if when he plays he plays a blinder like he did against benfica. Now I don't remember him being that good but others and quite a few others at that were happy with him. Not potential fulfilling stuff but decent well if so keep him.
BIOYMFC
Agree Ben, last year it was Keane saying we are better than Arsenal now its Defoe. Just get on with it on the pitch and shut it. Delighted with the draw, i can see us progressing with relative ease. Cant wait to hear that champions league music at the Lane, bring it on.
ITK - I have heard @rsene is going on a scouting mission on 17/18 August, i have heard he is going to see some young boys and wankdorf
Apparently this lot play a 3-4-3 formation only two teams in the world who can play that way properly Barca & Brazil and both of them they ain't, take a point minimum at their place then take them apart at the Lane. Watched the highlights of the Fernebache game and its quite obvious that if you break fast against them they are easily caught out, constantly a free man at the back post tis overlap heaven. Im thinking Bale & Lennon will have a field day against this lot. If we hold our nerve and play are game we are as good as there. Bring it fukcing on.
COYS
I think a reality check is needed for some spurs fans if they think this is going to be a quick trip for a cuckoo clock, some of em seem to believing everything kieran dyer tells them!! as a neutral and lover of all things football this is just as much a test for spurs as it is for harry to gain some much needed euro experience, fenerbache are no muppets on the euro scene and after a very poor shout from the referee's in both legs fell only to a 1-0 defeat, thats defending constantly for 90 + mins with 10 men.Bsc young boys play very much the waiting game and will defend solidly with 10 men behind the ball hitting back on the counter with pace not too dissimilar from yourselves, remember fc basle antics a few years ago Dont do an everton or an arsenal trake your chances and finish the tie first leg you have the players with some talent just hope your injuries stay behind you and a euro run doesnt end up with spurs lying midtable with man city's mis firing millionaires.
I am very fucking aroused at the thought of spreading some lilywhite magic over a couple of legs of young boys. Should be child's play... But I don't understand where all this sick sexual innuendo is coming from. What's funny about Wankdorf?
Has anyone noticed their away kit looks remarkably similar to our new home kit.
http://webshop.bscyb.ch/catalog/images/trikot-away-2010.jpg
Happy days, although this could always be a very embarrassing banana skin
Always lilywhite : very droll!
There is an important issue here, which can even the game up at the away leg..Young Boys play at home on Astro Turf.
Lovely draw, no complaints. We'll win comfortably at home. No disrespect to them.
professional performance?????? fuck that...ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!
Sure its a game the players must take serious BUT they are ranked 165 in Europe, they were second in the bloody Swiss league! It should be like taking candy from young boys
By professional, I mean focused. I know, I'm guilty of that old Tottingham disease where I can't get my head around us being a more than decent side and 'oh noes, Spurs slip up again' mares are just a sleep away for me.
By professional, I mean focused and CLINICAL.
LOL @ warm balls.
Best draw we could hope for i cheered like we`d won it when i seen it was straight on the phone to my arse fans asking them how much they like spurs in the champions league. Not much at all.
PS best spurs site around at the mo, no shite, no lies and pretty much on the ball thanks
165 in the world?
Where are we ranked?
Spooky, "Barca away anyone?".....how embarrassing do you think that would be?
Pagie said that they play 10-man defence and hit on the break...remember Wolves, Stoke etc?
Add the fact that only Bale seems to be able to score and no-one should feel comfortable just yet. As for DeFoe, if he started scoring on a regular basis his opinions might carry more weight. As it is he should be lucky to make the starting 11 at the moment.
Ignore pre-season. We'll awake when it all kicks off proper. I think those games v Wolves/Stoke - well, they will have served a purpose now, no?
We couldnt have asked for a better draw (YBB and at the Lane 2nd leg). We should fear these at all, if we cannot beat them over two legs we don't deserve to be anywhere near the CL.
Barca away, I'll take that, we would do better than Le'Arse did, they are awful without the ball as they are used to having it. Think WP will eat at few of their midfilders for breakfast!
Is that a new logo and caption Spooks? Not sure I like that bit of red on your site. It's not even a dot.
Oh I see. Rotating captions...very good. Still don't like the red one though.
Fix, it's a fix !
Talk about dream tie. Fudge this up and we don't deserve to be in the same position this time next season.
Young boys ripe for the picking ehhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why has everyone got a downer on Defoe stating what we all know SPURS ARE BETTER THAN ARSE!
We got into the champions league after a run of horendous matches at the back end of the season playing in effect the top 4. We came we saw, we held our own and destroyed a few demons.
I agree with Jermain and think we should start to use the same positive mental tactics that Arsene has been using over us for years.
Arse are shitting themselves.... New stadium, not much money, owners drifting and Spurs, Man City both looking to join the big three (plus Liverpool) something has to give and my bums not squeaking.....
COYS
To be honest I'm not sure why people feared the other teams in the pot. They are not to EPL standard. Maybe only Sampdoria.
Wenger jealous cos we're playing with young boys?
Good news, 2 solid performances will do. Strong away legs takes a little pressure of us and gives us a chance to really push on at the start of the PL season
And they sold Doumbia, a more than useful striker, in the close season.
They have a 24 yr old English man by the name of scott sutter, who was born in Enfield and lived in potters Bar, and played for Charlton youths.Then at 16 yrs old left to play in switzerland, but the problem is he is a massive spurs fan, who plays very similar to Bale, overlapping from right back, who knows if he shines he could end up a spurs player.
Young Boys.....sounds like a B side Duran Duran song.
We couldn't of asked for a better team. Its make or break now... all of last seasons efforts have come down to this final match. Personally, I feel this game can be a walk in the park OR a bitter 90 minutes of frustrating football. I hope to arrive at the ground, oozing with confidence; taking my seat with pride.. and then of course leaving with a big smile on my face. WAIT, who am i kidding?.. this is Tottenham! Harry needs to keep himself and the dressing room calm; as i expect him to do, its his game! COYS! ONE GAME AWAY...
no question that we'll beat them. looking forward to the start of the new season and us come up against our old foes Arsenal. They have a stadium called wankdorf? haha.
WTF
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6299122,00.html
As soon as the draw was made, Harry asked all the other Premier League managers for footage of young boys in action. The next morning, Arsene was at the head of the queue with his box-set.
Not mine. :)