Lets not be tasting our Emmental before its been baked yet huh? Basel are a lot, lot tougher to beat than some here are giving em credit for. They've been in the Champions League 3 out of the last four seasons They beat Man United 2-1 in the 2011-12 Champs League and sent Fergies mob down to the Europa. They then went on to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the knock out phase. They got a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 2008-9 and also secured draws with Liverpool at Anfield and Valencia away in previous Champs League seasons They've also won the Swiss Super League for the last 3 years in succession - and OK, so its Switzerland but to do it they had to put teams like Young Boys to the sword - and I seem to recall us having a spot of bother with that particular team not so long ago. Yes, we have to be favourites, yes its the draw that I (and probably most Spurs fans) wanted, but we sure as hell can take nothing for granted here - especially with the second leg being away. A score draw at WHL and a 0-0, or sickening last minute goal in Basel is by no means an outlandish scenario..... Concentration will be essential - something that was sorely lacking in the San Siro I fear...
Don't think anyone here is considering this an easy tie - just probably the best option. Will be tough, but cannot see fans or club taking anything for granted - especially after last night!!
I think I wanted Chelsea, on the grounds that we should play Chelsea. I also like playing famous clubs like Lyon and Inter because it adds to the atmosphere. But I like getting Basel not so much because I think our chances of beating them are better than beating anyone else (I wouldn't bet much on any of these last 8 outcomes) as the fact that they aren't racist thugs, nor are they 2000 miles away.
Alex Frei seems to be one to keep an eye on in particular. His senior goal scoring record is something like 3 goals in every 4 games, or thereabouts. 1 in 2 for internationals too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTuwSpCih8I
I think we should be confident of being able to beat most teams when we're at our best and not being at our best for me is the worry. Basel aren't crap, of course, but I don't think we should worry about them too much, if we can't beat them we wouldn't have a hope of winning the thing anyway. For me the most important thing is that we don't have too far to travel and don't have to play on astroturf so we've got every reason to be pleased with the draw.
Once you getting to the business end of UEFA tournaments, you have to treat every opponent as being a combo of Barca and Madrid. Yesterday hopefully reminds AVB and the boys of this.
I'm glad we scrapped through by the skin of our teeth, last night, playing probably the worst game of football I have seen us play in Europe for a long, long time. It will knock some of the complacency and arrogance that seems to have overtaken some of our players, and make them realise that we have to keep working hard, and must never take any team for granted. I'm glad we got Basle, if only because it increases the odds of an English-club final.
I don't think we will see a repeat of last night,AVB seem's to learn from out bad performances and drop's that system.our downfall was going all out to get an away goal instaed of playing our normal way and waiting for the goal to come,also we should be back to full strength
And some fans. Daddies of Europe? As for Basle, potential banana skin and that's what they are, you would expect to beat them and are right for thinking so, not that my endorsement is needed if you get me. A good performance will mean a win. They may get a goal or possibly 2 over both games but Spurs should meet this challenge and pass it with flying colours.
The squad should probably remember to watch this first... [video=vimeo;14221044]http://vimeo.com/14221044[/video]
If you really cannot see that I wrote that with my tongue firmly in my cheek, then you are a bigger fool than I had given you credit for.
HIAG, nothing wrong with a little tongue in cheek in reply either, but you seem to want to personally abuse me too, ain't that against the rules? Leave it out If you had quoted the whole post.. You should see it was quite obviously a positive post on Spurs. But then you couldn't moan about it so you took that little snippet to have a bitch at. Argumentalmuch. As I said, leave it out and have a moan at it on the Mouser thread. Stop derailing this thread
I know it's pronounces "Bahl", but I couldn't resist... [video=youtube_share;yfl6Lu3xQW0]http://youtu.be/yfl6Lu3xQW0[/video]
Brilliant,Human! Which makes me think about these racial chants by the Ities. I think they've been reading up on their history.....Mussolini trying to take over North Africa and those coloured gentleman kicking his butt. Today's lot must be having nightmares at school and frothing at the mouth at football matches......
I agree - we, more than most clubs, tend to go a bit rubbish when a loss-less streak gets to the point where people start noticing it. Now that it's over, hopefully we can go back to some good form!
Zenit missed a penalty in the last minute which would have made them level on aggregate so Basel were a tad lucky. I think we'll do it.
Basel, made me think of Christian Gross (he managed basel for 10 years after leaving us). please log in to view this image Sadly we can't change the headline to "beware of gross" but lets not forget our former manager!
