Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
This is not perhaps the competition that Tottenham wanted to be playing in once European Football returned in February but unfortunately for Mauricio Pochettino and his men they will have to make do with an Europa League adventure in early 2017.
Should they manage to go all the way and win the competition then they will be awarded the prize of a return to the Champions League next season but there is still a lot of Football to be played between now and the final in May and first up they travel to Belgium to face Gent in the Round of 32 later Tonight.
They reason they find themselves in the Europa League is after only finishing 3rd in their Champions League group, a feat that was only secured on the final matchday when they beat CSKA Moscow at ‘home’ – I used the word ‘home’ in inverted commas as we all know by now that Wembley has been hosting Tottenham’s European exploits this season.
Not only does this arguably give Tottenham their best chance of a trophy this season especially after their defeat to Liverpool on Saturday in the Premier League but it will also give Spurs the perfect opportunity to bounce back from that same defeat.
Ben Davies had a torrid time up at Anfield thanks to Sadio Mane’s pace and with Danny Rose out injured until the end of the month, the Welsh international will have to once again deputise at Left Back. That will be one player who keeps his spot in the side but you do wonder just how many changes will be made going into this tie.
With another cup game to follow on Sunday in the shape of Fulham in the F.A. Cup at Craven Cottage, the balancing act for Mauricio Pochettino will be as to how strong he goes with Tonight’s lineup or vice versa. After Saturday’s defeat he may well feel that it makes sense to blow off the cobwebs in Belgium and get a comfortable win on the board.
And that may well need to be a necessity as with the jitters yet to be exorcised at Wembley a healthy advantage going to into the return tie next week may well make life a lot easier as Gent may look to take full advantage of the uncertainties of playing away from White Hart Lane.
Gent themselves come into the game currently sitting 8th in the Belgian First Division and some 12 points off of current league leaders Club Brugge and Anderlecht who share the lead at present. Gent’s unbeaten run of four matches was bought to an end at the weekend as they dealt somewhat of a surprise defeat to KAS Eupen.
Without giving detriment to Gent, the draw has been favourable to Spurs and they will look to take full advantage of this as their Europa League starts later on in the season this time around. Regardless of the side that Mauricio Pochettino puts out the visiting Londoners should have enough to see this one through.
After an abject performance last Saturday away at Anfield, I think this away trip will be a lot better for Spurs and as a solid victory should put them one step close to the Round of 16. Nothing else but a Spurs win for me, I’ll stick my neck out and go 2-0 to the visitors.
