Match Threads Spurs vs Ajax - Match Thread - Semi-final 1st leg

[Franc]

If the same medical staff that sent Jan back on and most likely advised that Sissoko couldn't play the full 90 are the ones looking after Kane's ankle, he might as well retire.

 

[Flashspur]

I think people’s match reports will differ after some time.

If you look at our team, injury and suspension depleted, they held on against a vibrant young team which has blown big teams away previously in the tournament.

I think most people will agree the first half was not acceptable and we were by far second best. But the introduction of Sissoko provided us with a bit more threat in the second half, but we just did not have enough with the players on the night.

Ajax can be got at, with Son back, we are well and truly in this.

My gut says 2-1 away win - Son two goals - COYS!

@Krule why would you spam this. Fucking weird man.

 

[Clark28]

Not out of it, but I can't help thinking about what could have been if only we had our full squad to pick from.

 

[luptic]

so ajax have this weekend off as well?

 

[Krule]

@Krule why would you spam this. Fucking weird man.

Sincere apologies...thanks for telling me....duly amended. Not a clue how that happened...fat fingers I guess. That's the trouble using a mobile phone... sorry Goldman.

 

[cookiemonster]

If you said we just need to beat axax 1-2 in Amsterdam to reach the final we would all have taken that. We need to go there with the mentality to score 2 goals.

You are just being a revisionist or in denial

Sure you would have taken a 0-1 loss before the game LOL

Just look at the prediction pre match

Only 17% predicted a loss...are you one of them

 

[RickyVilla]

Ajax have a very good record at home, so is gonna be proper tough. Can’t wait to get to work today. All the glory hunters will be out in force. Marvellous.

 

[luptic]

Dortmund had a great record at home before we played them. At PSV we bossed the match, which no one in Holland has been able to do this season.
I didn't hold out any hope for us last night, but there is nothing to be afraid of now, even though we created nothing.

 

[shelfmonkey]

Clearly the back three didn't work and Pochettino admitted as much. He got the tactics spot on against City but got them wrong today. Having said that I still think they would have started with Sissoko if they were sure he was 100%. We started this season with 11 players in the WC semi's, it was never going to look too rosy by this stage and we are literally the walking wounded. Trippier was poor, but he has been suffering from a chronic groin issue since the WC. Fully fit and he is quality. Dele Alli was poor, but having to play in a position which doesn't really suit him, plus he is playing with a broken hand. I though Llorente put in a good shift, and in the second half he had some great moments. If Trippier or Rose had been better with their final delivery you play to Llorente's strengths and bring Moura into the game.

Stop defending Alli, the kid is a waster, he thinks he's made it when he's done fuck all!! I played Sunday football with a broken hand and still managed to deck someone, so don't give me that ' he's playing with a broken hand bollocks', he's actually playing with a broken attitude!!

 

[michaelden]

I think Alli already has his move agreed and is

1. Trying not to get injured
2. Not trying cos he doesn't care

Well that is what it feels like most of this season from him

 

[shelfboy68]

And this goes back to my problem with Poch and his tactics. I first brought it up in his 2nd year and posted in the tactics thread. Perhaps Dier wasn't fit for tonight but his value has always been proclaimed to be his versatility yet Poch doens't utilize a pendulating DM. If Dier started we could have begun with any formation and changed between them. If he is going to keep playing units instead of actual footballing MFers then why not utilize the flexibility? And by now our players should be able to flexibly switch on the fly without having to wait for fucking HT changes. It is ridiculous with such a settled squad. The fact we went a whole half getting murderlized by poor starting tactics is criminal.

Agree his tactics and formations this year have been shit and he takes so long to ever change anything.

 

[shelfmonkey]

Im annoyed too because apart from the 20 minutes they were there for the taking. They are a slick slick team going forward no doubt but we got through them on a number of occasions but just didnt have the attack without Son and Kane. Crossing aint going to work, their defence and keeper were lapping these up.

Second leg i think we will be a more attacking threat with Son... Ajax will score make no mistake about that but I think we will score a couple if not three.

This aint over by any means and if someone offered me 0-1 at HT to take back to Ajax I would have done it in a heart beat. We will have a fully fit Sissoko (who was magnificent tonight), Verts back, id play Foyth right back and have Son up front with Lucas Dele and Eriksen.

Just such a shame we didnt have Kane, Son, Winks, Lamela and Aurier tonight and available.

Are you sure you watched the game last night?!!

 

[shelfmonkey]

Stop defending Alli, the kid is a waster, he thinks he's made it when he's done fuck all!! I played Sunday football with a broken hand and still managed to deck someone, so don't give me that ' he's playing with a broken hand bollocks', he's actually playing with a broken attitude!!

Enlighten us @nicdic

 

[shelfboy68]

How many here think that if it hadn't been for poor Jan's injury and the need for his substitution we'd now be staring down the barrel of a 0-3 or 0-4 scoreline ?. Me for one.....

Probably mate the team was poor yet again I never thought we would score they look bereft of ideas that includes poch and totally flat they are shit through.

 

[nicdic]

Enlighten us @nicdic

I didn’t like your post and rated it thus.

 

[shelfboy68]

What I really do not understand is ajax are a watered down version of man city, yet tonight we changed our shape and formation . We also didn’t defend anywhere near as well In the opening stages

Positives are for me is that ajax isn’t an away day like Barcelona or Liverpool where it feels impossible.

We Should be going there an winning and at least scoring a couple , epscially If we get some firepower back.

As pep said against us he knew what his side needed to do and they were very close to doing it . This champions league is all about 2nd legs this year , utd won away at psg from a worse position

Oh and to further add ajax had a huge rest, they have a game on Sunday and there’s neck and neck with PSV

Let's be honest if we somehow got through to the final I doubt it now the form we are in but if so can you imagine the embarrassment pitching ourselves against a Barcelona with the shit tactics and formations it doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[Shadydan]

That 5-3-2 once again killed us, been saying it all season we don't have the midfield to withstand pressure to play it although injuries probably forced our hand this time so I'll give Poch the benefit of the doubt this time.

Sissoko coming on totally transformed the match so I'm hoping he starts next week, just a shame that we had key players missing because we would have won that match quite easily but it is what it is - still in the tie at least Son is back next week.

 

[shelfmonkey]

I didn’t like your post and rated it thus.

No argument for him then?!! Fair enough.

 

[Krule]

Agree his tactics and formations this year have been shit and he takes so long to ever change anything.

That's my one main criticism...it takes far too long for the alarm bells to ring with Poch. He seems oblivious at times when the game is clearly going against him and the team is getting battered.
I would love to see some stats regarding the timing of his substitutions that are made not through injury
To bring someone on with just ten minutes left and expect them to have an immediate impact is optimistic to say the least.

 

[shelfmonkey]

That 5-3-2 once again killed us, been saying it all season we don't have the midfield to withstand pressure to play it although injuries probably forced our hand this time so I'll give Poch the benefit of the doubt this time.

Sissoko coming on totally transformed the match so I'm hoping he starts next week, just a shame that we had key players missing because we would have won that match quite easily but it is what it is - still in the tie at least Son is back next week.

Oh, come on!!!