Michael Dawson's Tottenham Hotspur strip hangs on the wall of his home game room.
As much as I approached the guy all night on August 18, 2011, I forgot to change jerseys at the end of what was the biggest match of my life at the time. It's an unforgettable memory. Just me. Dawson and his superstar Spurs teammates were slammed into the wall in a Euro lesson that all my Hearts teammates will never forget.
Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Jermaine His Defoe chasing him around Gorgey for 90 minutes The memory of him still breaks into a cold sweat. Europa League Playoffs Battle of Britain was supposed to be a dream come true under the ferocious lights of Tynecastle. Unfortunately, the 5-0 win was a complete nightmare. He will be 11 years old on live TV when Hearts take on Zurich tomorrow night. Thankfully, this Jumbos side is far better positioned for their first Euro playoff appearance in a decade. People still tell me, 'I remember the excitement from the Spurs that night. It's definitely a missed opportunity and with so many regrets it makes me feel bad.
I will never forget standing in the tunnel and glimpsing the side with Bale, Dafoe, Lennon, Rafael van der Vaart, Kyle Walker, and Nico Cruncher. It's the Premier League Razmataz, and if it doesn't excite you, nothing.
Our locker room was bustling and from the first 20 minutes he was slammed into not admitting anything for 25 minutes. Obviously he needed a bigger drum as he lost 3-0 after 28 games. I was up front against John Sutton and Dawson and Younes Kabul. All I was thinking was to put a drum on someone's early his door as a marker to upset them and do a few things. damage.
I wanted him to remember my name and come back to London, because Dawson might be, but he changed shirts at the end of the game. In fact, when I slammed into Kabul in utter frustration, it took me until the last few minutes to get close to any of their central defenders. I was. No big time from him. Class oozed out of all of them.
Second leg goes well, goalless It's now a draw. One Harry Kane made his debut that night and missed a penalty.
A year later, it was Liverpool on the same stage of the competition. It was a game he missed in 24 hours as he re-signed with Ipswich the next day. On their way to Liverpool, I was on my way to Edinburgh.
This time it was a proper contest with his 88th minute winner of Luis Suarez at Anfield.
The defeat at this stage was his third in three years.
To be honest, there was a time when I thought his PO in the Europa League stood for 'pup out' rather than the playoffs.
But the Jumbos won't be playing the Spurs tomorrow. Or Liverpool. Or Dinamo Zagreb.
The reigning Swiss team from Zurich are bottom of the table with just one goal and two points from five league games.
Considering the fact that he lost last season's top scorer and had to make this draw at a neutral St Gallen, one would think that this draw could have been worse for his Hearts. prize.
This is your chance. That's all I can ask for.
If you're not paying attention, you can't take your eyes off the ball for a single moment just by looking back atDundee United's result against Alkmaar last week.
What is punishable in the Scottish Premiership is completely suppressed in Europe.
They will definitely be on the positive side.
But I'm kind of excited to see Hearts take it to the next level.
There's real quality to this team with Craig Gordon, Craig Halkett, Barry McKay and Lawrence Shankland.
Players must seize the chance to become an even greater hero in the eyes of Hearts his fans.
People still talk about David Templeton's goal at Anfield ten years ago, but it was the worst goal I've ever seen.
Imagine picking a winner and securing European League group stage football.
No regrets this time. This is your chance to make a legend.
