In a weird way Bodo and/or Glimt getting their goal might be a positive for us, as that prevents the players strolling up to their place thinking the job's already been done and another Dinamo Zagreb happening The word might is doing some heavy lifting there
I agree. I think this was the problem last night, once we went 3-0 up there was a feeling of 'job done' and I think Ange's subs reflected that. Far too casual and when we should have gone for the jugular and killed the tie, we went to sleep and paid the price.
Sorry, and I get all this "small intimidating ground" stuff but having seem them "live" I'd be more than a tad disappointed if we don't get at least a draw out there.... There I've said it.
If that same team had completed the 90 I suspect it would have been 4 - 0. Ok there may have been a few minor knocks but it was hardly a vicious game...
I know what you're saying and from what we saw for 60 mins last night was a decent Championship level opponent , but I would counter... 1. Their results, particularly at home are bloody impressive, against some good (better than us?) opposition 2. They are playing on an artificial pitch, which right or wrong, always seems to favour the home side. And most importantly... 3. This is Spurs you are talking about!
100% agree. Possibly Bentancurs best game I think and I believe the 2nd goal came about when Maddison actually went into that number 10 role. We are a very maddening side to watch at the moment, there are some glimpses when you think yes, it's all finally clicking and then you have passages of play that would not look out of place on Hackney Marshes..
Totally agree with you but in my humble opinion Tottenham Hotspur should be now in pole position to get to that final. Shame about their goal, well worked that it was, but still believe that. Plastic pitch and all!!! That's as optimistic as I get but there were actually people around me looking at flights to Spain last night in the 2nd half......
Also, as was demonstrated by Utd last night I think we some times "over egg" some European teams, aside from the obvious big money clubs off course.....
It’s what’s made me so firmly in the “Ange Out” camp, simple things like playing players in their natural roles or positions have seemed foreign to Ange and it’s massively hurt us these last 12-18 months with performances and results. I seriously hope these last few games he does similar to last night and just make logical decisions based on our players’ best positions and/or roles, we’ll be so much better for it. This group of players really aren’t bad at all.
Agreed, although there are one or two duds in the mix that hopefully can be shifted and replaced in the summer....
Yeah I’d imagine we’ll see a few leave or certainly put up for sale anyway, some expected/ wanted, some not so much. Safe to say Bissouma will be off. I can see Richarlison going back to Everton, exact type of signing they’ll love to open Bramley Moore Dock with. Werner back to Leipzig. Forster out of contract. Romero unfortunately likely to leave. Outside shot of Sarr going too I reckon, seems to have really lost favour with Ange. Hopefully we can keep Kulu, may depend on how Europa pans out though.
I would expect a decent coach to be able to create a system of play that exploits the club's strengths and minimises it's weaknesses. For a coach at a club of our size, with our MO and ethos, that's the minimum we should expect. For our coach, for the best part of 2 seasons, that has been beyond him or beneath him. The fact that, in the last 2 EL games, he has seen fit to try and do this, is bloody maddening. We're no great shakes, but finally, we're not a comedy act. I don't trust that he won't be back to his old tricks, though. No matter what happens, even if we win this EL, I want him gone...and someone to appoint a sensible replacement. In the meantime. I shall hope that he can keep himself from doing something stupid in the away leg and that the players are properly prepared and ready for the conditions that await them. This is no easy task and we are well capable of losing this tie, if not properly ready and motivated. COYS!!
Sarr picked up an knock at the end of January, though looking at the drop in minutes and some of his performances since then you have to wonder if it might have been more serious than thinking he'd be fine after being rested for a game or two
I'm not sure about that. From what I've heard, Bilbao were by far the better team in the opening stages, United score against the run of play and then five minutes later get a penalty and a red card in their favour. It was downhill from there for the Basque club.
IF we do make the final, what will everyone’s plans be to watch it? Going to Bilbao (with or without match ticket?) Going to the Stadium assuming the club put in on the big screens like they did for the CL final? Finding an open square/ box park? Pub? Home?
Tamworth had a plastic pitch didn’t they? Early goal for Bodo and Spurs will be up against it. This tie is far from over.
