Borussia Dortmund Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[luka loopy]

It was pretty tough watching that. Struggled against the press and intensity and couldn't really any foothold in the game. Makes me almost feel sorry for the teams that have had to play us this season...

 

[dagraham]

Outclassed tonight unfortunately. No shame in that as they are a top class team.

We'd probably still have lost if we'd played our strongest team, but at least we'd have still been in the tie.

Highlighted that we still have some gaping holes in the squad. We simply don't have anyone who can do a job in Kane or Dier's absence.

We had no one to hold the ball up and no protection for the back four in midfield. We also had no threat on the counter attack against a top class team who were dominating us. Not a good combination really. Tbh, the only players who didn't really look out of their depth was the two CB's and Eriksen. Although Onamah did ok tbf, considering his age.

As for the team selection, we're hearing talk from Poch now of the inevitable tiredness of players and it makes you wonder why some players have been run into the ground so when they are needed for such games as tonight they can't be called upon. I mean Kane played against Colchester for fucks sake. Why?

The only positives I can take are a) our young squad will hopefully learn some lessons about what it takes to play away at this level of opposition and b) when we get knocked out we can just concentrate on the remaining league games and hopefully run Leicester close.

 

[UncleBuck]

Just seen the highlights and that wasn't pretty.
What is the point of resting players when we bring them on for half an hour as they are more likely to pick up a muscular injury, might as well start them.

 

[Spurs 1961]

Was out at work so have recorded the game to watch sometime. Hoped we could hold them to one or two goals but always knew this was a tough game. Dortmund are only just behind Bayern Munich and we can't beat Leicester ... to put things in context. We need to try to finish top three so no complaints except we seem to be making losing a habit right now, a trend we need to reverse very quickly

 

[UncleBuck]

Sorry, who is this random bird that ITV have decided to host a football programme?
I get the impression that it would be a complete waste of time that I send my cv in for any lead host roles for any male sport coverage on any of the terrestrial channels!

 

[Nynorsk]

I watched Dortmund play against Bayern this weekend, and I was very impressed, I'm not sure everyone realise how good a side Dortmund is. I'm not very surprised by the result, and I'm not very disappointed, cause I can't see how we could have won the Europa-league without it ruining every chance we might have to compete for the title, or at least secure a top 4 finish.

 

[sim0n]

just watched the game,... Poch doing his best 'arry imitation tonight.... a bit frustrating for me.

if they do not want to compete for this cup, then stop entering the fuqing tournament...

I bet any Spurs fans who spent good money to travel to this one have a legitimate claim to be reimbursed by the club in full. of course Dortmund outclassed them tonight, they are a class team. but with the 11 Poch put out there it was a forgone conclusion the second the ink dried on the line up card

oh well, many SC faithful got their wish, Spurs dumped out of EUROPA... let's hope this attitude is not contagious

 

[TheChosenOne]

Just seen the highlights and that wasn't pretty.
What is the point of resting players when we bring them on for half an hour as they are more likely to pick up a muscular injury, might as well start them.

You might be right there - I thought HK was going for a 50/50 with their keeper and he seemed to stutter a bit, a slight hammy pull and it was like "Oh shit"

 

[Imnotacticalgenius]

MoPo did put out an interesting team to play against Dortmund. Somehow IMHO i feel that MoPo is putting pressure and responsibility on some of the players to prove themselves playing a top class side like Dortmund (i guess he did a "risk assessments" on this game, and came out with what is best for the long term vs performing for the night). If what i think is correct based on last season awarding of Captaincy to Kaboul and V Captaincy to Ade (plus some games that players like Capoue and Chiriches played, when they had been performing inconsistently), i do think that 2-3 players in this game's first 11 will be shipped out in the summer. I feel that although this is a seemingly important tie for many, MoPo sees it like an ideal test to "see" who can "slug it out" when the going gets really tough. MoPo does not see this as a short term gained thingy (hence i think why this team was put out), but rather a longer term project; which can only be good for the club sustainability in the top flight for the futures. COYS!!!

 

[Geyzer Soze]

I watched Dortmund play against Bayern this weekend, and I was very impressed, I'm not sure everyone realise how good a side Dortmund is. I'm not very surprised by the result, and I'm not very disappointed, cause I can't see how we could have won the Europa-league without it ruining every chance we might have to compete for the title, or at least secure a top 4 finish.

I think most of us realised how good they are

Sadly I'm not sure poch did, & he's kind of the one that counts

 

[THX2208]

Watched the game live on Television and once I seen that line up I feared the worst but watched anyway. Completely out worked out passed and ultimately out classed, but I watched until the end in the hope we would get an away goal. I'm not sure if Pochettino just abominates the Europa League competition or if it's simply because of remarkable success in the Premier League this season. Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester United and Stoke will give us a better picture where we are in regards to winning the Premier League or qualification for next season's Champions League.

Mauricio Pochettino has done a truely remarkable job and I do think we will improve, but there can be no excuses for that performance or team selection, if we win the next five League games, then the Borussia Dortmund result will simply be
consigned to history, never spoken of again.

On a personal level I really wanted us to win the trophy, 1984 was the last time we won it. I stupidity thought this was our year. I just hope we don't run out of gas towards the end of the season!

COYS
The game is all about glory

 

[Geyzer Soze]

The game is all about glory

thats an odd quote to pull out after a match like that

 

[TheChosenOne]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/r...-1st-half-commentary-dortmund-v-spurs-tweets/

 

[THX2208]

thats an odd quote to pull out after a match like that

Winning the Europa League would only be second to the Premier League, go for the Europa League, full team chase the glory of winning a European title. Football has to be more than just getting inside the top four. Trophy's in the cabinet!

 

[Jimmypearce7]

I wanted us to win of course but Pich prioritised the league. He knows we must win at Villa to have any chance of winning it. I think that was the right thing to do.
Only three players who will start against Villa played 90 mins last night. Good.

 

[lillywhites61]

I am actually quite angry with Poch here tonight, i understand why he has done this but its not like we are playing a too four side next in theleague?? And why has he played stronger teams earlier in the competition onky to rest half the team today? They were like a lamb to the slaughter tonight and we looked a bit foolish.. I am usually very pisitive but find it hard to pick any up from this. A little disrespecful to the fans who have bought tickets for both legs. I genuinely thought we could give them a game, very frustrating

 

[glacierSpurs]

waking up still feeling sad.. I for one feel Poch is a guy always trying very hard to hide his emotions, especially frustration.. I don't think he like to lose AT ALL.. last night selection will no doubt needs to be vindicated by results against Villa.. let's hope his risk-taking and forward-thinking approaches are all paid off in the coming 2 league games..

 

[cliff jones]

Lets face it. It was a lose lose. Had we beaten Dortmund and lost to Villa. This place would be melting through the floor. It still may be. It's a tough choice and I would have liked to have been in this game for no other selfish reason than I had tickets To the home leg. But come May. If I am standing on the high road. With my son on my shoulders as the bus slowly winds its way past. I will not give a shit. But yes at the moment. It stinks.

Losing to both and it will be justifiably much worse.

You can feel really confident in the bus scenario, but it will be a 149 unfortunately.

 

[sunnydelight786]

First opportunity to post since the night before. I'm sat here at Düsseldorf airport waiting for my 7am flight still baffled at that team selection. We are playing one of the top 5 teams in Europe this season away from home yet go and pick a severely weakened side to face them. Why did we even bother with this comp if we were going to do this when the comp comes alive? How can you player stronger sides away from home in the group stages and the last ko round then play this team?

Thousands of THFC fans have paid a lot of money to be here, taken time off work and purchased tickets for the home game to then be mugged off like this! For those of you not out here I can assure you the bvb fans were as flabbergasted as we were with that team selection. Everyone I spoke to after the game were shaking their heads at our decision. Just thank our lucky stars it wasn't 5 or 6 like it should or could have been.

No doubt the armchair lot of you will point to our league position and quote the "the bigger picture" but how can getting dicked in Europe help our confidence with our upcoming fixtures? Yet again we throw away our cup spot, like we always do, as winning cups doesn't matter to our club. Getting/having a winning attitude comes from winning cups! MUFC under SAF won the FA, ECWC and LC before they won the league, CFC won the LC under JM before the title and MCFC won the FA before eventually winning the league!!!

 

[Jody]

On reflection, I think it makes sense to prioritise the league. The cup is a once in a generation opportunity. Winning the league is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's less about the games and more about what we can do with a weeks uninterrupted rest between matches.