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

[King of Otters]

Rose and Davies' crossing let us down last night night. It was an off night.

Thought Llorente had a good game truth be told.

Good by his lamentably low standards, perhaps, but by any other measure he was at best a passenger.

 

[Sir Henry]

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.

 

[Seafordian Spurs]

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.

????

 

[vuzp]

believe it or not couldn't see the game last night, but it seems to be the same story every game now,
yes injuries and down to the bare bones of the squad, but for a game of this magnitude its the usual suspects again not putting the shift in. I hate to say it but for the last couple of months besides the odd game we have been very poor and I am hoping against hope that we will turn up for these last 3 games and hopefully get a 4th but haven't really not seen anything to get my hopes up.

 

[waresy]

Poch said he understood he’d made a mistake, but he’s made that same mistake numerous times this season.

It tells me the coaching team were either under prepared for what was facing them so got it wrong or just didn’t know what to do.

To give them credit they did swap it up inside the first 20 minutes with JV going to left back and rose into midfield but that wasn’t enough.

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.

 

[shelfboy68]

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.

I have to agree I would love to see them win it they fully deserve to fluid one touch was a joy to watch compared to them we look quite pedestrian.

 

[cjbyid]

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.

Thought barca at Wembley were more impressive than ajax.

 

[nicdic]

We made it incredibly easy for them.

 

[shelfboy68]

believe it or not couldn't see the game last night, but it seems to be the same story every game now,
yes injuries and down to the bare bones of the squad, but for a game of this magnitude its the usual suspects again not putting the shift in. I hate to say it but for the last couple of months besides the odd game we have been very poor and I am hoping against hope that we will turn up for these last 3 games and hopefully get a 4th but haven't really not seen anything to get my hopes up.

I sort of expected to team to not turn up against the hammers it was a given for me but to see how lacking in spark and energy for a CL semi final that some may never experience again was quite disturbing, and along with poch trying his weird and wonderful formations that rarely work it was a disappointing night but at least we can say we have reached a game of this magnitude even if we don't progress.

 

[Lifelong]

This Ajax team are good...but that’s all...nothing more. We are still in this and now it’s an all or nothing one off game. If we turn up next Wednesday from minute one, a big if I know, we have a very good chance of coming out on top. We are still in the semi finals of the top club competition in the world and I’ll take that all day long. COYS!!!

 

[MarkyP]

We’ll do them in the second leg. Sissoko starting with Son. Different game entirely. Chin up lads. COYS

 

[Sir Henry]

Thought barca at Wembley were more impressive than ajax.

Arguably, but I did not expect Ajax to be at that kind of level.

 

[Sir Henry]

We’ll do them in the second leg. Sissoko starting with Son. Different game entirely. Chin up lads. COYS

They will pick us off, like we try to do to other teams.

I often say, if they come at us we'll pick them off. This is what Ajax will be saying about us just now.

 

[dirtyh]

we can still win this. somehow i'm still very confident we'll get through.

eriksen and alli HAVE to show up though and drag us through, moussa can't do it all on his own.

 

[Mr Pink]

I was really disappointed with our collective effort yesterday.

I dreaded starting 3 cbs and Llorente up front. I cant understand why Poch did that, even allowing for injuries, I still can't get my head around it.

Just awful preparations from a tactical point of view.

Even allowing for that, there was just no intensity until the much needed Sissoko came on.

We're so fortunate they hit the post as we still have a chance.

And that's the big positive, because surely we'll be proactive out there, and attack with purpose and show some real fight.

Sissoko and Son in the team will make a huge difference but our mentality must be right if we're to pull it off.

 

[slartibartfast]

We’ll do them in the second leg. Sissoko starting with Son. Different game entirely. Chin up lads. COYS

I want to give a winner and an agree rating.
This was a CL semi final. Think of the teams you normally associate with being cl semi finalists and then try and imagine them starting with Llorente up front!!!
Then take their 2 biggest goal threats out of the team.
Thats how thread bare we are.
To come out of a cl semi only 1.0 down is an achievement given the state we are in.
We are still in this game and, as you said, we'll be a different proposition in the 2nd leg.
The second we went 4 at the back and Sissoko came on the tide of that game changed and Ajax looked very average.
With Son back, Sissoko on from the start and a few more tweaks here and there I'm confident we can beat them. Not saying we will. But we can.
The reasons the squad is in the position we are is another debate entirely.

 

[slartibartfast]

On a side note, I'm convinced something is going on with Trippier. He's all over the place. He's a far better player than he has shown this season no matter how shit you rate him.
Maybe his personal life or a physical/mental problem but something.is definitely not right.
Got to drop him.

Also I'm now convinced Foyth should start in midfield. He takes the ball forward, goes past players and can defend to boot. He did more in 5min in the last 2 games than some others put together. I'd try it against Bournemouth.

 

[andy00900]

Why aren't the defenders using him as a ladder like they do in our games?

 

[Primativ]

I have to say I am still confident of progression.

I see many people elsewhere saying Ajax have this in the bag. I disagree, if we an go to the Etihad and score 3, we can go to Ajax and win. Ajax are there for the taking, and are eminently beatable.

It will require us to play far better than we did last night, but again, we are capable of that.

Over coming just a one nil scoreline, after putting in such a poor performance, really doesn't feel that bad.

All we need is Son, Eriksen to put in a great game next week, and we have every chance.

 

[wadewill]

Everton would have ripped us apart like that if we had played that badly and given them that much space.

The first half hour was more to do with our poor shape and application than them being out of this world

Barca would have put 4/5 past us

We can definitely win this if we play well