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

[brendanb50]

We made it incredibly easy for them.

In a nutshell, this is it for me. When they were good they were definitely the better team but we were so lethargic at that early spell in the game, it made them look far far better.

The shift up in team/formation and the 2nd half we showed a lot more of what we can do however, we suffered as we did at the weekend for our lack of clear chance creation and goalscorers.

With Son back we have a better chance but only if we play well above this current level (i include our 2nd half from last night in this). I have faith that we can but it may be heart ruling head at the moment.

 

[Drink!Drink!]

Such a weird, weird moment for us as supporters and the club

To have the achievement of being 50-50 for the champions league final, and yet in the build up to the game, the game itself, and after the atmosphere around us is so flat.

Same for me, before the game I just couldn't see how we were going to score goals, knew the best outcome was a draw so we could hope to do them on the break in the 2nd leg.

We knew in the last transfer windows - with our ambitions - we needed more and better options for central midfield. My word not filling that need has come back to hurt us now. We all worried about what would happen if Kane was injured...we got out of jail with Son's form this season...but my word didn't that come back to hurt us now. It was all completely predictable.

We were in a champions league semi final and had literally zero creative or attacking options on the bench...that has to be a first in European football.

We have done amazing things this season, bearing in mind the disruption of the world cup, injuries and being exiled at soul less wembley. Sadly, we are just too banged up to get over the final hurdle.

 

[spursfan77]

It is good to admit when you get it wrong and fair play to Poch in doing that. I'm sure that what he set out also wasnt fully executed either. Seeing Wanyama sat in front of a back 3 like he was and the game passing him by was baffling.

A lack of options for the midfield forward certainly doesn't help and hasn't for the past month but just having Sissoko in the middle for the remaining games brings the energy and movement that can give the space for the likes of Eriksen, Lucas and of course the return of Son.

We're definitely not out of this, Ajax know it as well based on their awful timewasting and play acting. When we will learn that concede first in Europe and the tactics will be to waste and frustrate. It's a shame the ref's allow it to be gotten away with. Same with the lack of allowing a tackle.

Not penalising the goalie for his timewasting was PL officiating levels of bad.

 

[midoshairband]

having slept on it, I’m not as disappointed as I was last night.

First off, it’s a total joke that we get to CL semi final with the number of injuries we’ve had. utterly ridiculous bad luck. no other team in the semi’s has near the injuries we’ve got.

there is a serious issue arising with Dele and Eriksen. they’ve been piss poor for the majority of the season. saying ‘they need a rocket up their arse’ for the second leg isn’t going to work. if that’s all it needed, that would have happened yesterday, at home, in front of our fans. Dele in particular has been terrible for a while.

i still hold out hope for the second leg. in fact, i think we have a decent chance. hoping Sonny can make the difference, but thats all we have, a bit of hope. can’t see many of the other injuries clearing up in a weeks time.

but first, we need to win on saturday. if we don’t, and then we lose in the second leg, i find it really hard to believe we can drag ourselves up for a good performance v Everton.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Still don't get what Poch was thinking yesterday. Considering they play 3 in midfield with a false 9 it's amazing that Poch thought starting with just Eriksen and Wanyama in the middle was the way forward. Wanyama was not sprinting around much anyway but he was totally dead by 50 mins.

 

[JCRD]

I've not seen a 1st half gimping on us for a very long time. They are slick, fast, awesome to watch and I don't think it was that we didnt try, we were just nowhere near their level. They are awesome and when they get to the final I hope they win, they deserve it. They are so good as a team.

They were good and bloody slick but what's with the defeatist attitude on here?

We are acting as if we lost 3 0 with our best team and no hope of turning it around...

I don't think Poch and the players are thinking it's over and rightly so. The second leg will be different, for starters they wouldn't have had a ten day rest and secondly I suspect we will have son back, kane maybe on bench and Sissoko in midfield with verts also returning.

 

[Stavrogin]

We can definitely win this if we play well

Yesterday showed that very clearly.

We just need to get the midfield right. Which we haven't done all season. Pochettino seems to want to try Rose but we'd probably be best going back to basics and using Sissoko and Dier as a physically strong base that will be compact in front of the defense.

 

[mil1lion]

It felt a bit like the Arsenal performance for me but without the goal. No play through the midfield, just relying on being physical and fighting for a result. Far too many long balls for us to really show what we can do. The formation change actually helped (I hope Vertonghen is ok) and we were more competitive in centre midfield. Ajax played beautiful football at times, where we tried to rough them up. We're still in it though thanks largely to them hitting the post because a 2nd would have been a massive one.

What an amazing experience though. When the crowd sung it was deafening. The opening was amazing, full voice 'oh when the Spurs go marching in' and flags waving. It was a special occassion regardless of the performance and result. We shouldn't really be this far in the competition but we have never given up. We were dead and buried at one point but grinded our way back. So 1-0 down in the first leg should not get us down.

Big decisions need to be made next week. Do we continue to fight and try to win ugly or do we play the way we can. If we want any chance to play nice football we need to start Dier over Wanyama. When Winks is out we only really have Dier who can play the passing game from deep (Skipp is still too raw for the big games). That will be the key to how we play and whether we pass it in midfield or not.

 

[Yakflange]

I had lots of weird dreams last night. In one part I was outside a fish and chip shop. The police were inside looking for Kieran Trippier for a crime he'd committed in last night's match. Presumably either criminal inaccuracy or missing person.

 

[Mr Pink]

The team for next week, although I'm undecided about RB, but think Foyth should get the nod.

But we need goals, and if Llorente starts I'll be horrified. Son must play through the middle.

Lloris

Foyth
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Rose

Dier
Sissoko
Eriksen

Lucas
Dele

Son

 

[Gbspurs]

I've always felt this tie will be decided in the 2nd leg.

That's generally how 2 legged ties work

 

[gerishep]

The team for next week, although I'm undecided about RB, but think Foyth should get the nod.

But we need goals, and if Llorente starts I'll be horrified. Son must play through the middle.

Lloris

Foyth
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Rose

Dier
Sissoko
Eriksen

Lucas
Dele

Son

The thing is if this lot come out like they are on a day trip to Bangor, then we are sunk.

 

[Mr Pink]

The thing is if this lot come out like they are on a day trip to Bangor, then we are sunk.

Yep, whoever plays our mentality and intensity has to be vastly different.

 

[wrd]

Came away from the stadium not too downbeat because we are still in the tie, was a awful performance there was 4 players below 4/5 for me and only sissoko above a 6. It's interesting to me that their players who have had a fearless attitude thus far now have 1 foot in the final and have to ruminate on that, felt they got nervous in the final hour and if we turn up then I think we will make it through.

I was flicking through a few comments and saw some of the whiniest shit last night, saying we don't deserve to be here or top4, you can be fucked off at the performance and criticise that all you like but stick by the team otherwise don't revel in it when we achieve great things you self entitled fucks.

 

[Mate]

Hoddle & co. on BT Sport saying we were awful after the match. I didn't think so. Ajax sat off us and we found some rhythm. They actually defended very well and like their lives depended on it. If you actually watch the Ajax players' tracking and tackling back, it's amongst the best I've seen this season.

Yet when Utd lost 1-0 at home to Barca they were heralded for a good performance, despite having a fully fit squad and playing ten times worse than us.

 

[tototoner]

Did well to only lose 1-0, tie not over though as Ajax have been a better side away from home in the CL this season

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

Of course I know that "if" is one of the biggest words in the English language, but if we can get a narrow win over there, then last night's result could suddenly become an important part of one of the biggest results in the club's history.

After a dreadful start, keeping it down to the one goal could turn out to be massively important.

Obviously I’d have preferred us to have won it, but 0-1 isn’t beyond redemption.

 

[hughy]

Can't see Vertonghen back for the away leg. How long do symptoms of concussion usually last? Or does it vary?

 

[sunnydelight786]

Let’s put this into context. Our biggest top level European game since 84 against a side, let’s be honest, everyone was desperate to draw in the QF let alone SF and our team peppered with supposed elite players puts in a performance like that...... GUTTED!

What is it with this team that when it matters most it shrinks? I said a few months ago to a mate that, ‘I’m beginning to hate this team. Hate the fact they were good enough to win a trophy but lacked the balls to do so’. Last night is exactly the reason why so.

If I’m honest come the summer I couldn’t care less if the lot of them leave bar Kane, Winks, Son & Alli (if he focuses fully on football). Sick to death of seeing the rest of them continually let us down. It’s one thing for Eriksen to say after the game ‘We made Ajax look better than they are’ yet then do nothing during the game to change it.

From the first few minutes it was clear our players weren’t ‘up’ for it yet continued in their casual laboured way. Only the introduction of Sissoko changed the attitude of some. Why? This is the biggest club game ever for most of this side, probably ever for the likes of Trippier, and they perform like that ?????

MP isn’t blameless either. Starting with 3 CB against a false 9, wtf is that all about? We were getting overrun after a few minutes, so clear to see, yet he done nothing to change it. We then deservedly go a goal down, make the change then. Have the balls to admit you’ve made a mistake and make the sub. Bring on Sissoko/Dier for Sanchez but again he does nothing. Instead he moves Rose to midfield with Jan at LB ?

The injury to Jan forced his hand and possibly the tie for us. We improved slightly after that and ended up with only a narrow defeat. Ajax really should have buried us last night, the fact we’re still in this is a minor miracle.

Can we go through? YES

Will we go through? Perform like we have of late then no chance. We need the away performance of the season for us next week to progress. I just don’t see it coming from this present squad of players as ultimately when it matters most they let us down ?

 

[mil1lion]

Can't see Vertonghen back for the away leg. How long do symptoms of concussion usually last? Or does it vary?

He's not concussed