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

[worcestersauce]

I can't get over the fear in this thread, Ajax are good but we could have beaten Madrid and Juventus and we did beat Dortmund and Manchester City which Ajax wouldn't have so let's have some belief, we got this.
As a wise man once said:-
"ALL IS POSSIBLE"

 

[L-man]

This'll be easier than Huddersfield. Never been so calm

Book your flights to Madrid, boys

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I dont think they have got any results that we wouldnt have

We had a harder group, harder last 16 (in reality), much harder qf. Our league is infinitely stronger, we really should have wiped the floor with PSV in the two games but took them a little lightly.

I'm probably being naive but I just think there shouldnt be as much fear as there is in here

They arent City, they arent Liverpool, they arent Barca

I can't get over the fear in this thread, Ajax are good but we could have beaten Madrid and Juventus and we did beat Dortmund and Manchester City which Ajax wouldn't have so let's have some belief, we got this.
As a wise man once said:-
"ALL IS POSSIBLE"

I agree with you, I think Ajax and Totteham is a great semi-final match and we've done some pretty amazing stuff, too. Put the poster I responded to asked whether it was all about one singular result for Ajax lately, and clearly it is not. They have taken the next step up. Also keep in mind, this is the last season this specific crop of Ajax players will play together, before loads are sold off. The last shot at doing something spectacular. But that can be said about Tottenham too. However, fundamentally I truly believe in, although not taking for granted, the possibility of us edging it.

 

[Super Tottenham]

I think we would all have a lot more confidence if we had a fit and firing team, but we don't and you can't blame people for being nervous.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

All of their good results Bayern real juventus came away from home when really they had nothing to lose and could be cavalier. I’m hoping it’s a similar scenario to what we are now seeing with Fulham. With no real pressure teams can throw caution to the wind. Tonight will be very different. Pochettino will know exactly what to expect. I might be wrong but I’ve a feeling they are being overrated. A decent side yes but one we should be able to handle with our greater experience.

You might be on to something. I don't think we are overrating them at all. I think that are THAT good. But it will come down to the team that will provide the opponent with the biggest surprise. We could be rather predictable too.

 

[Fredo]

Toby seems like he really loves Ajax, best not be giving out pens and shit for fun boi

 

[spurs mental]

Toby seems like he really loves Ajax, best not be giving out pens and shit for fun boi

All the Ajax boys have a love of Ajax. Own goals galore tonight.

Must have been something in the air in Amsterdam....

 

[spurs mental]

My grandmother, a massive Spurs fan, sadly left us yesterday morning after 91 years.

An absolutely remarkable woman in every sense of the word, still making jokes up until her last moments.

She was in love with Ossie Ardiles and even named one of her dogs after him.

We will be celebrating her life tomorrow but I hope she's looking down on the boys tonight and bringing us all the luck we need for a good result. COYS

 

[shelfboy68]

A chance for the club to go one step further than the great double side tonight so wishing team, management and fan's all the best and what ever happens I'm Tottenham til I die.

 

[mil1lion]

Whatever happens what an amazing moment this is for the club. Everyone should just enjoy it while it's here.

 

[shelfboy68]

Whatever happens what an amazing moment this is for the club. Everyone should just enjoy it while it's here.

Exactly I might not be around to see another opportunity like this so hopefully the club seizes the chance, and I might just go out to Madrid regardless of having a ticket or not should we get through.

 

[midoshairband]

no point in me trying to work today. all I'm doing is watching highlights etc of all our CL games so far. nerves are building, excitement is building. just hope we put in a good performance tonight, and give ourselves a good chance going into the second leg.

i still can't really believe i'm about to watch us in a CL semi final. having grown up watching the CL, it feels pretty bloody good.

COYS

 

[rez9000]

I can't get over the fear in this thread, Ajax are good but we could have beaten Madrid and Juventus and we did beat Dortmund and Manchester City which Ajax wouldn't have so let's have some belief, we got this.
As a wise man once said:-
"ALL IS POSSIBLE"

Spot on! Belief. Belief is key.

We don’t have to believe we WILL win, just that we CAN win.

Get behind our men and believe that we’re mighty!

Come.

On.

You.

SPURS!!!

 

[Saoirse]

What surprises me is that, despite all their record breaking stats, Ajax are still only joint top of the Dutch league.
It's actually not too dissimilar to the PL, with two teams miles away at the top while the next 4/5 battle for European spots.

I think this is one of those cases where the table does lie. Ajax and PSV are stupidly dominant - goal differences of 81 and 71 respectively from 32 games! The thing is that even if one of the two is better than the other, you're always likely to drop points at least once every couple of months just by getting unlucky, one of those games where you don't score from a dozen chances and get caught on a route one effort. So it comes down to the two head-to-heads and perhaps who has one or two fewer of those unlucky games out of 38, which really isn't a great indicator of who the better side would prove to be if they were both put in competitive leagues or, indeed, European competition.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Exciting, isn't it?

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I'm nervous as fuck already. Over 8 hours to go until KO. FUCK!

 

[Marty]

I hope nothing happens in this tie that makes me respect Ajax less than I do now. I've always had a soft spot for them but these last two weeks they have shown nothing but class in the build up.

I'm not even nervous, I'm just genuinely excited to see us go up against them. I just wish so much that we were closer to full strength.

 

[mpickard2087]

As many people have claimed we didn't try against West Ham because of an eye on this game, I'm going for an 8-0 win tonight. No excuses.

 

[Guntz]

Audere est Facere.

Let's ****ing do this boys

 

[nailsy]

People are making very simplistic comments about Llorente like "he was poor". What does that actually mean?

One person correctly observed that he has been very effective against opponents like Tranmere and Huddersfield, but then drew no conclusions from that. So I will, because other than that, no one has volunteered anything except unsupported statements of "opinion".

Llorente is a vastly experienced centre-forward who has played multiple times at the highest level for country and club, in the highest-pressure matches you can imagine. He knows what there is to know about playing as the classic big no. 9 and, when he plays against slow, inexperienced or disorganised defences such as Tranmere and Huddersfield, he finds space to work and he both scores and makes goals, because he has the knowledge and because they allow him space to play.

Put him up against a quick, disciplined, top-class defence, even against Man City before his Wonder Moment, and his slowing body no longer has the sharpness to find space and execute. He can hold the ball up effectively and he's an absolute nuisance at set pieces, as we saw against Man City. Other than that, he's unlikely to deliver very much end product from open play, unless the defence gets sloppy and gives him some space.

Ajax are quick and young and talented. Unless they are also naive, which I doubt, I don't think there's going to be a lot of space in the penalty box.

There was a Dutch journalist on The Totally Football show the other week and he was saying that Llorente is exactly the type of player that Daley Blind hates playing against. If we can get the ball to him he could make a huge difference in this game.

So how are you guys doing at the other side of the channel? Getting a bit nervous? I know I am...

Going to be a fantastic game tomorrow between two clubs that have managed to reach the semis against all odds. That alone is a historical performance.

Welcome to the site. Personally I'm as nervous and excited as I've been for any match in the last 20 years. It's going to be a very long day.