Champions League Semi Finals (30th April - 8th May)
- Thread starter Samid
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Ajax deserve to win the CL more than any club this season. They started there CL campaign in fecking July! Have not lost away from home at all this CL and in the course of 2 legs have bested every single team they have played. Remarkable.
We're still in this tie.
Ajax are overrated. We got at them badly in that second half, and if players like Kane and Son were on the pitch I would back us to grab a couple.
Sissoko in from the start in the return leg and Son back leading the line and we will look far more threatening, easily capable of scoring a few against a shaky backline.
Tonight we had zero quality in the final third with Llorente leading the line. We'll obviously have to play a hell of a lot better to come in to it, but we are capable of that. Some of the deliveries by our fullbacks were criminal and Alli/Eriksen were totally below par.
Ajax are overrated. We got at them badly in that second half, and if players like Kane and Son were on the pitch I would back us to grab a couple.
Sissoko in from the start in the return leg and Son back leading the line and we will look far more threatening, easily capable of scoring a few against a shaky backline.
Tonight we had zero quality in the final third with Llorente leading the line. We'll obviously have to play a hell of a lot better to come in to it, but we are capable of that. Some of the deliveries by our fullbacks were criminal and Alli/Eriksen were totally below par.
They should have put it to bed to be honest. A 1 nil lead isn't much.
This. Unimpressive game for a CL semi. Hopefully the 2nd leg offers more quality and/or drama.
Would be nice if Spurs win 2-1 in Amsterdam. Timewasting is quite the turn off.
That's a very simplistic way too look at it. You can easily say with a more mobile striker they would be able to press more effectively, and win more second balls. Kane is not as big but I would think Spurs ball retention would be a lot better.
Hopefully Ajax finish it off without problems in second leg. They're really the team worth supporting out of the 4 for any neutral.
Lethal down the wings and very direct through the middle. Probably one of the worst opponents for Spurs style wise. Built to exploit their high standing midfield.
No disrespect to Ajax but if Liverpool win tomorrow it's going to be awful, awful, awful.
Great by Ajax, Spurs were poor. Son is back for the return leg so that will be a lift but it will be a tough job for them to go through. When was the time when Alli played a good game?
To only lose that 1 nil is a result on the back of what was a woeful first half performance. We could have lost that 2 or 3 nil it was that bad. I think we matched them in the second half and with Son back next game we have a chance of getting a result there. I'm relieved rather than disappointed.
Tottenham still very much in this, I can easily see them scoring in Amsterdam with Son up front.
Ajax are very impressive. I hope they win it.
Ajax definitely thrive against sides that attack them.
Can underdogs be overrated though?
Can underdogs be overrated though?
Has anyone ever won the Champions League winning all 3 away knockout games along the way? Probably, but it might be one of those weird facts.
Calling it now, final will be Barca vs Ajax and it will be like France vs Croatia where the stronger team (Barca) eventually takes control of the game, and it'll be a forgettable final.
You just know they will choke in the final, but really, really hope they don't. Especially if it's against Liverpool...
Well, definite advantage to Ajax, but we're not out of this tie yet. Son will be back 2nd leg and if we score first in Amsterdam then who knows.
Has been absolutely terrible all season. Really shit return in terms of goals/assists and his performances are even more of a disappointment.
I think he's lacking in a bit of confidence and needs more consistent game time, but he was terrible at the world cup too and his career really hasn't kicked on much recently. He's young so it's not the end of the world but he badly needs a good campaign next season or we'll have to start thinking that maybe he's not going to be the player we thought he would be.
Let's state facts. It was Spurs and not Ajax who forced the long ball game. When Spurs realised they couldn't outplay Ajax and Vertonghen came off they played shitehouse tactics with Alli, Llorente, Sissoko, and all the other big guys and just lumped it up to them in order to dominate the game physically. To their credit, it did nullify Ajax and stop them playing their game, but it forced them to play ping pong football in return.
Spurs just looked happy to be there, very limp.
Liverpool fans will still say they are plucky underdogs considering they only spent about 300m on transfers.
Bayern 12/13
Go Ajax!
They're behind so the losing 4-3 tactic won't work this time.
They just need the first goal like Man. United got in Paris. Got behind and they still need two but it will feel mentally probably beyond them.
Missed your edit, so that since-edited post is meaningless
Anyways, yeah, of fecking course they'd have been better off with Kane. My point is Llorente is a good player, who had a good game and was instrumental to spurs even being in the game after the first half hour and on
Sissoko coming on changed the match and maybe the tie. That was going to be 3-0 without him, Spurs stabilized and then controlled once he came on.
I'll back us to score in Amsterdam with Son up front and Llorente nowhere to be seen.
I'll back us to score in Amsterdam with Son up front and Llorente nowhere to be seen.
Tbf that's how we beat Ajax in the EL
he probably meant they should have scored more and rightfully soWUT
I thought that second half was played perfectly by Ajax. Sat off, and defended their box and Spurs didn’t create much. Unlucky not to get the second too. Looked very experienced and not giving Spurs a way back into the tie.
You are right but it worked. We had little other options out there.
Not great but I think Ajax were happy to play it simple/basic, take the fouls, wind down the clock, take the lead back.
Son will help (really like him) in second leg but still think they'll need to score three.
WUT
They are.
People creamed over them all game when really they just had an explosive 30 minutes where yeah, they were incredible. After that they were average to poor and we should have scored at least one from a set piece.
They're a good, energetic side but whoever gets them in the final (if they progress vs us) will win comfortable. Had we had more firepower tonight I think it's a totally different game.
They took advantage of our missing players and the tactical error Poch made by starting with 3atb. Soon as we shifted and Sissoko came on we had the better of proceedings but were unable to do feck all because Llorente/Lucas is the least threatening attacking duo ever.
They'll come back stronger next game Tottenham. They were without two of their best attacking forwards in Kane and Son so they were always going to struggle. Their only attacking option on the bench was fecking Sissoko for fecks sake.
With Son back they'll do better and provide more problems for Ajax, tie is still very tight.
With Son back they'll do better and provide more problems for Ajax, tie is still very tight.
When's the next time spurs will make it to a CL semi final, you think?