Proof if proof was needed that the injuries are killing our season. Brave effort in second half...everyone gave their all but final ball missing all night. Crowd have been great throughout. Over the course of the game they deserved the win imho. Need to pick ourselves up and win on Saturday to give us confidence for the 2nd leg. COYS
In what other universe did this occur? He had a go but always ended up going to ground or being fouled. No end product or pass when it was most needed.
If we can get Sissoko and Son starting next week and the rest of the lads can get themselves up for it properly then I have no doubt they can be turned over at home. Am I right in thinking Ajax have been better away from home in the CL knockouts?
Foyth played well for the short time he was on. Has to be a starter on Saturday and next Wednesday. He always seems happy to have the ball ay his feet
He ended up going to ground or being fouled because his only out-ball was Llorente who is statuesque at the best of times. Name one occasion Alli or Eriksen linked up with Lucas' attacks and showed for the ball? I can recall 2. And therein lies the problem. He ran himself into the ground, which is more than can be said for either of them.
Llorente far to slow for this lot.. needs to sharpen up if he intends to play centre forward in these games. Not closing down and fighting back when he's lost the ball., whilst others are running their heart out all over the final third.
After a truly awful start, somehow we're still in the tie. I feared we'd lose by 2 or 3 in that opening half an hour. Trippier needs to give way to Foyth. I was surprised that we didn't play him tonight. Currently, he's the best right back we have. He has to play from now on. Preferably Dier comes in for Big Vic, who just isn't at this level any more. Finally, we get Sonny back and this isn't over. When Lucas and Moussa ran at them, they were much more open.
Eriksen in post match interview looks and sounds like a bloke that doesn’t really care that much. His face says whatever and his remarks and tone are disinterested.
I understand people are disappointed so, sorry if this sounds rude but thank god the crowd stayed with the team throughout and at the end. COYS
The main thing is that you're still in the tie. After 30 minutes, it looked like Ajax were going to cruise to victory, but weirdly enough, Vertonghen going off (I hope he will be ok) and Sissoko coming on gave you more power and penetration through midfield. Ajax struggled to control it from thereon in. Moura worked extremely hard and was probably your MotM. Trippier...I'm sorry, but this guy is dreadful. His crossing was abysmal. I don't know why he kept taking your set-pieces because they all sailed over everyone or the Ajax goalkeeper/defence dealt with it easily. Also, not only was he partly responsible for Ajax's goal, he gave the ball away in a very dangerous area which Ajax could have scored a second from! I think Tadic took the shot and Alderweireld blocked it comfortably in the end, but still. He has no awareness of what's around him. The guy isn't good enough to be starting for you. Eriksen was non-existent. I didn't really notice him much at all. Expected him to provide real guile and creativity, but he may as well have not been on the field. Alli is either unfit or in poor form because he was terrible again today. Surely he will be dropped for the return leg? Llorente was too static in the second half. Kane's missing influence becomes obvious when Llorente deputises for him. Ajax defence were comfortable. On the whole, a loss at home isn't ideal, but it's only a one goal deficit. Ajax have won all 3 of their away games in the knockout stages. However, they have drawn 1 and lost 1 at home, so I'm sure you will take encouragement from that.
Says a lot about our squad depth and injuries problems when Poch makes a double substitution in the last 10 minutes by replacing two defenders, with another two defenders! But as others say, Spurs still have a chance.
The second half must give us some hope for the second leg, but not to take anything away from Ajax who were quite special in the first half an hour. Wanjama you cannot blame IMO he is coming back from a very long layoff, I am confident he will be better in the second leg if played. Dele suffered because Eriksen was so poor. His invention and touch were just not there and his best moments were in defence. I'd rather Foyth started than Trippier who was a complete negative influence. We were much better in the second half and showed enough to make me think that we still have a chance. Sissoko was superb and Pochettino always had faith in him when we all thought he was ****. our best player AGAIN.
Yes I agree full marks to him (Lucas) for effort but he achieved nothing and his decision making was very poor.
We have to make history in the second leg having never won when we've lost the first leg. Let's see. I hope Poch has learnt from the formation change because he was wrong to start the way he did.
The last hour was a very even match, we got more of the ball and stifled them, but created very little. Sissoko excellent when he came on and I thought both Llorente and Lucas battled well considering they were given very little quality ball to feed off. Rose was good too and at times was the only player who looked like he was playing in a semi final and that it mattered to him, been a big turn around in him last couple of months close to recovering both his best form and his place in my affections. Trippier, Alli and Eriksen all need a huge kick up the ass and if they all play next week our chances of reaching the final will be very slim indeed. We now have 2 huge matches in the next 8 days, but at least we will have Sonny back and hopefully the night off will have done him some good. Would keep Llorente for the return and start Janssen at Bournemouth.
