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UEFA Champions League Quarter Final fixtures (9th - 10th, 16th - 17th April 2019)
- Thread starter Sandyman
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Ajax are possibly the best story of CL in the last 20 years. We’ve seen underdogs like Porto win the competition but none of the smaller teams that have done well did it in this fashion. Even two iterations of Monaco teams that did play offensive football (2004 and 2017) were not like this.
They do not only beat clubs far bigger, richer and heavily favored but they completely dominate them over two legs. There’s nothing lucky about their wins, they just go out there, dominate, grab goals and go home with a win without fuss. This is incredibly impressive.
They do not only beat clubs far bigger, richer and heavily favored but they completely dominate them over two legs. There’s nothing lucky about their wins, they just go out there, dominate, grab goals and go home with a win without fuss. This is incredibly impressive.
Meh... curious? Maybe, but hilarious? Just not even close. Its a very different Ajax.
Oh and Barcelona need either Busquets to play at his best and control the game, or of course they need to GOAT to do GOAT things. If neither of those two things happen then Barca is in trouble.
Very exciting match tomorrow. I fancy Tottenham winning again.
Underestimating Barcelona is out of this world. They have few gears to play with, they can take the ball and attack for minutes, they can fall back but be in control, they can break quickly. They do all this in a relaxing mode so it seems they're poor. And they have Messi. It's one thing to say Liverpool will progress but to act like they'll wipe the floor with feking Barcelona is laughable..
I’m very glad so many patrons here are in love with Ajax’s football in the European Cup as much as I am.
The look of absolute horror on many of the Juve players’ faces during the second half was a joy to behold...
The look of absolute horror on many of the Juve players’ faces during the second half was a joy to behold...
Ajax is the Monaco of 2016/17. We need to snap 3/4 of these players up. There's quality in everywhere.
On some PlayStation shit
Agreed. Would love to see their budget compared to Real’s or Juve’s. Let’s steal their technical director and sign about 8 of their team, I say!
I am worried about Liverpool as a Barcelona supporter. Dogverde has an uncanny ability to shit the bed in high stress situations (Roma) and there are plenty of times where Barcelona look poor and clueless, like we did for a good portion against you guys in the first leg.
Think it'll come down to whether Messi is playing well or not.
Think it'll come down to whether Messi is playing well or not.
Really?! Then, in context, what Ajax are doing is astonishing or that there maybe players that are being somewhat overpaid out there...
I bet Guardiola loves this.. City-Ajax tie in the semifinal would be glorious to watch.. Yes, i am biased but i fancy our chances against his team
Another great result and performance from Ajax tonight, to draw at home with Real and Juventus then go on and win the away games is pretty special. I get the feeling most United fans will be hoping they go all the way and win this competition.
I do.
I do.
Unfortunately I agree. My Barca supporting mate is trying to convince me Barca were wonderful, dominated United from start to finish and should have won 9-0 tonight but it wasn’t really the story of how the two games went. If you give Liverpool the sort of chances we had in the opening minutes they are going to be 2-0 up after 15 minutes. You need to play much, much better against them.
They actually lost to Real at home.
Yesss. Had a very good feeling about this in advance since the domination Ajax (61% possession, 16 vs 7 shots) had in Amsterdam.
Juve started strong in the first 30 minutes, but from then on they seemed to tire. The younger Ajax side has a definite stamina advantage over all these older “experienced” teams, making their pressing play that much more dangerous in the second part of the match at least, if not from the start.
It’s funny to see all the underestimating continuing though.
If you still claim they are nothing, not only have you just not watched any single game, but you realise you try to diminish the efforts of all teams taken out by Ajax? Because this is no conclusion anyone can draw if they watched any of those matches. None of those teams gave up, they all fought hard but got beaten fair and square. As for experience... You realise most these players are already internationals for years at their age and many of them played Man Utd in the Europa League final?
You are aware that Ajax’ youth team were champions in the second tier Dutch pro-league last season and get their experience playing older, more experienced players at a younger age than most players?
Regardless, you are also aware that this team scored by far most goals in their home league of all European teams at this time and are aiming for the Dutch record of ‘66-‘67? (Currently at 106 scored, four matches to go, record stands at 122). While being one of the top scoring teams this CL next to Barca and City?
Thankfully people still underestimate this Ajax on ageism arguments, because it helps a lot to win these knock out rounds when they think they can try for at most a draw away and finish it off at home.
Whatever the stats say about who is better on paper, or rather, was worth more paper, the game is still played on grass.
Can’t really take this post very serious, sorry. By “not very good”, you mean, “lost to Barca, but still very high up in La Liga”, right?
Sounds a bit like you predicted Ajax to lose in the group stages and cannot admit you were completely wrong and that we’re looking at quite the golden generation here.
Juve started strong in the first 30 minutes, but from then on they seemed to tire. The younger Ajax side has a definite stamina advantage over all these older “experienced” teams, making their pressing play that much more dangerous in the second part of the match at least, if not from the start.
It’s funny to see all the underestimating continuing though.
I just cannot believe that after 16 CL (incl. qual) matches in a row, in which Ajax dominated the game pretty much each and every single time and schooled some world class teams most other teams can’t even look in the eye, people still try to cling to any trivialising justification to themselves to underestimate them and talk about say... a “free pass”. Or as someone else said, that City, Liverpool and Barca are better than any team Ajax faced so far. (Real, Bayern, Juve in particular, next to ending the hopes of quite some other teams). Ajax’ season is actually longer than all of the others given both still being in the domestic cup, while being the only one in the final 8 who got there through any, let alone 3 series of qualification rounds.
If you still claim they are nothing, not only have you just not watched any single game, but you realise you try to diminish the efforts of all teams taken out by Ajax? Because this is no conclusion anyone can draw if they watched any of those matches. None of those teams gave up, they all fought hard but got beaten fair and square. As for experience... You realise most these players are already internationals for years at their age and many of them played Man Utd in the Europa League final?
You are aware that Ajax’ youth team were champions in the second tier Dutch pro-league last season and get their experience playing older, more experienced players at a younger age than most players?
Regardless, you are also aware that this team scored by far most goals in their home league of all European teams at this time and are aiming for the Dutch record of ‘66-‘67? (Currently at 106 scored, four matches to go, record stands at 122). While being one of the top scoring teams this CL next to Barca and City?
Thankfully people still underestimate this Ajax on ageism arguments, because it helps a lot to win these knock out rounds when they think they can try for at most a draw away and finish it off at home.
Whatever the stats say about who is better on paper, or rather, was worth more paper, the game is still played on grass.
That may all be but do you know Erik ten Hag at all?
Can’t really take this post very serious, sorry. By “not very good”, you mean, “lost to Barca, but still very high up in La Liga”, right?
Sounds a bit like you predicted Ajax to lose in the group stages and cannot admit you were completely wrong and that we’re looking at quite the golden generation here.
Should have seen Overmars perform a belly slide post-match.
Just wondering something.
If City win the league/FA cup, and it's us vs them in the final, what do you root for: City quadruple, or Liverpool to win a 6th?
How much of a pay rise does Marc want? Haha...Should have seen Overmars perform a belly slide post-match.
I honestly don’t care at that point. I think I wouldn’t even watch that final, that would be too much to take.
I have more respect for what you are doing and how you have got where you are but would never be able to cheer for you.
Brilliant off the ball movement always giving options for the pass.
Impressive how much the fanboy lens can alter one's perspective. As you say, we'll need to do better against Liverpool. I am holding my thumbs for a crazy Messi performance vs Liverpool and that Tottenham beats City. If we then lose vs Tottenham or Ajax in the finals, at least Dogverde would finally be sacked (hopefully).
Third time's the charm with this prediction?
Before the R16: Real have a free pass, Ajax lacks experience
Before QF: Juve have a free pass, Ajax lacks experience
That may all be but do you know Erik ten Hag at all?
Can’t really take this post very serious, sorry. By “not very good”, you mean, “lost to Barca, but still very high up in La Liga”, right?
Sounds a bit like you predicted Ajax to lose in the group stages and cannot admit you were completely wrong and that we’re looking at quite the golden generation here.
autocorrect. But, as you can see in my post history, he was in the top five of managers I wanted to replace Mourinho and I was criticized by fans on here that said he was a fraud and that he just had a good Ajax team. Regardless, I stood my ground and I m not surprised that he is doing well with Ajax.Yea, I stand by what I said when I stated that Real Madrid and Juventus weren’t that good this season. If Ajax get past Manchester City, I will admit that I was wrong and give [b{more[/b] credit to this Ajax team.
Barca fans cheering the Ajax second
True. Liverpool are a really bad match up for Barcelona. But they're concentrating on the league and probably won't go as high intensity and heavy metal in both games.
Maybe in the home return leg Klopp will do this.
Coutinho won’t start dembele will, and Liverpool have had plenty of bad moments themselves. Barca aren’t Chelsea, they’ll capitalize
I think Liverpool will advance but it’s hilarious seeing people think Liverpool will run all over this tie. That midfield is brutal
That midfield is top of the league. Football isn't won on paper with fancy names
Well done to Ajax. Beating the European champions, now the Italian champions. Fantastic spirit amongst the Ajax players.
Marc got fat. Time's a cruel mistress
How is it in the Ajax forum currently? probably delirium right ?I bet Guardiola loves this.. City-Ajax tie in the semifinal would be glorious to watch.. Yes, i am biased but i fancy our chances against his team
In my opinion, the biggest weapon of this Ajax in last two matches against aging squads was their fitness, confidence and positivity.
City is as fit if not more than ajax but their confidence and positivity will give them trouble. But i feel spurs are going through.
Ajax - Spurs should be a great semi-final.
A lot of people thinking Spurs will go through? Depleted Spurs squad, no Alli, Winks, Kane, but one away goal makes it really difficult for City as they were held goalless at Spurs. It can go either way, still fancy City to go through over Spurs though.
Dortmund as well in 12/13. Youth team graduates in Gotze, Schmelzer with a lot of players signed young at 18-20 for little money like Subotic, Hummels, Bender, Gundogan and Lewandowski. They topped a group with Real and Man City along with beating Real in the semi-final.
I really hope Ajax beat City, though I think that will be a step too far for them
That is a joy to watch.
I'm not saying that Ajax are worse or anything but it's not something new. There was Roma last year and Monaco the previous season. There's a recent trend in newcomers beating world class teams and then fading away in the semi-finals so it's understandable people have doubts.
I'd say Dortmund in 12/13 was more impressive.
It absolutely is not top league and comfortably their weakest area by a wide margin. That same midfield would get destroyed by literally any of Ajax, Barca, and Man City.
I fear Liverpool will knock you out. They're collectively a better team. This version of Suarez will struggle against VVD. Their intensity, mobility and pressing ability will cause a lot of problems and isolate Messi.
Hopefully you get the first goal to get momentum in the tie. I mean, you do have a top team that can hammer them as well, but I feel matchup is not great for your lot. They play for 60 minutes per game the way we did for 10 last night.
I said Liverpool should be favorites but to say Liverpool is in far far better form and shape is a hilarious over statement.
Chelsea were extremely close to making it to 2-2, Southampton pushed them, Liverpool aren't nearly as deadly in attack as they were last season and their midfield would get trampled.
They have excellent defense and should be very good on the counter attacks.