Ranking Tottenham's potential Europa League opponents

By finishing second in their group, Spurs are now set to face a seeded opponent in the round of 32 in the Europa League. Now, while this seems to be a disadvantage, there are plenty of teams in Spurs’ pool that at least from a historical and “name” perspective, would be much more difficult opponents. For example, I am glad to not have to play AS Roma, Ajax, or the current holders, Sevilla.

That being said, a traditional power is not the only team that can trip Tottenham up in this stage of the competition. After all, Spurs did look limp against Partizan Belgrade and Besiktas recently, so just because the crest on the shirt is that of a “smaller” opponent, it doesn’t mean that they can’t take down the mighty Spurs.

Here’s a ranking of opponents going from “I hope they get drawn against Spurs” down to “This is the last team I want to face at this stage”

14. Club Brugge

This is the ideal draw. It’s an easy plane ride, and Club Brugge are leaders in Belgium but not super powers. Perhaps this will motivate the Belgian contingent in the Tottenham team.

13. Legia Warsaw

If Warsaw were a closer destination, I would’ve ranked this as the ideal draw. They won their Europa League group but didn’t really beat a team that stands out.

12. Feyenoord

Their win against Sevilla was enough for them to top the group. The fact that they beat out the current holders is enough to worry me.

11. Borussia Monchengladbach

Here’s a team that is sitting in sixth place in the Bundesliga and they beat a spry Villarreal in their group to become outright winners. This is where the list starts to get a little scary for Spurs.

10. Inter Milan

Seems a little low for a team of Inter’s stature, right? But Internazionale have struggled mightily in Serie A this year, currently sitting in 12th place. A trip to the San Siro might be the tonic that rights Tottenham’s European hopes. Fans will certainly have fond memories of the place.

9. Sporting Lisbon

These guys were knocked out of the Champions League on Matchday 6 and will be looking for a nice cup run. Portuguese teams always take this competition seriously. Last year Benfica beat Spurs on their way to the final in Torino.

8. Athletic Bilbao

Although their form in La Liga is not up to their high standards (currently 10th), the Basque side would present many problems for Spurs and escaping San Mameś with a result is a tall task.

7. Dynamo Kiev

I want no part of Ukraine in the winter.

6. Dinamo Moscow

I want no part of Russia in the winter.

5. Red Bull Salzburg

This team scored a Europa League record 21 goals in the group stage. With Tottenham’s fragility in the back, I want no part of this Austrian outfit.

4. Olympiacos

The distance from London is enough for me to rank this team so high, but Olympiacos battled well in the Champions League, coming in third behind Atlético Madrid and Juventus. They took points from both and would probably beat Spurs over two legs.

3. Fiorentina

Sure, they are underperforming in Italy, but Fiorentina is a team that always battles and rarely gets blown away. Two-legs against La Viola would mean two very tightly contested games and possible extra time in Florence. No one wants that.

2. Napoli

While not the power that they have been in the past, Rafa Benitez’s men have displayed something nearly unheard of from a Benitez coached team and that’s scoring goals at a prolific rate. They have scored 26 in Serie A, good for third most in the league.

1. Zenit St. Petersburg

Three words: Andre Villas Boas. I want to see the former Spurs skipper succeed, but not at the expense of his former team. The media would have a field day with it and the distractions will be unbearable. It probably means that this will indeed be the draw. Oh, and I want no part of Russia in the winter.

 

Come on does anyone genuinely see us with any chance at all of winning this competition?

It doesn't matter who we draw even if we fumble through to the next round we won't win because our football is poor, our players don't play for the club, or with a winning mentality, we can't defend and we have no genuine quality reliable Goal Scorers.

This competition year after year has caused nothing but grief. League form has faltered, injuries have hit, we've felt the need to bloat the squad out to cope with it which has lowered actual quality and has stopped us finding any consistency in a first team, league, cup you name it because of the constant rotation of samey limited players all incoherent with each other.

I'd actually like us to draw Zenit it might give the game a valid reason to watch it. The Europa League is so dull every Thursday I think Spurs on the box and start off with the usual high hopes but 35 minutes in and barely a shot from our multi million pound squad and 2 missed sitters from a European powerhouse called something like Rapid Vienetta or Garlic Kiev and I'm all ready contemplating why I watch football at all.

Think we need to concentrate on the league and league cup, trim the squad, cut losses on some of these expensive flops and concentrate on building a spine in the side with the aim to add some genuine quality to it in the summer.

 

I think its about time Poch took this seriously and put out a decent team - this applies to the english cups too - we keep playing the reserves and they are not up to it!!

 

We have a decent team ?

Where have they been then ?

 

I did say decent which they are - I didn't say world beaters which they aint!

 

Tbh if they play with the attitude they did on Thursday they don't deserve to progress. Were disinterested from what i saw. Deserve to get knocked out after that performance. Would've liked to see a strong or even PL team selection to try and win it but now there are better sides than us in it - Liverpool being one of them!!

 

I will watch Sunday's game only because I am eternal optimist. The first time I see a polished performance for a full 90 minutes I will begin to think about our Europa opponent. I doubt any in the field fears us.

I liked Harry's tactics: Go out and play the Tottenham Way. Be crisp. Move forward. Be fluid. Don't play "half-court" basketball style that allows the defense to set up.

And let's hope the draw doesn't exile us to Russia!

 

We could be drawn against eleven trees and still lose. Lamela will constantly run into them and fall over, looking for a whistle. Soldado won't even hit the goalkeeping tree because it will doubtless be planted between the sticks. Every cross will soar over the tallest of the trees. And, as usual, Potchettino won't see the forest for the trees.

 

EPL is not a priority for Spurs this season, we just have to calm down the fans and not be ridiculed by media. As for UEL, there is no easy ones out there... Not only I see no chance of winning it all, I think we do not even deserve the advancement in this competition. But that doesn't mean we wont go to the next draw. Football is a game, not just a race. We should have somewhat different personnel after January. Let us see what will happen.

 

Fiorentina it is. Hmmm...