I get it Orange14. I see Blind pushing up way high on the left...but so does van Rhijn sometimes so for me that's still a 4-3-3 with both fullbacks taking turns pushing up...So I guess that's it, it's just that the difference between 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 is such a slight adjustment and happens on both sides so it's not worth trying to put down on paper. But basically what you are saying kind of looks like this? Fischer-Sigi-CuencaBlind--Eriksen--De JongPoulsenMoisndr-Aldrwld-VanRhijn
^Yes, that's what they do a lot of. Trouble is that it leads to the crowding of Blind, Fischer and Eriksen and there is nobody to help out unless Schöne is playing instead of Poulsen or de Jong is up front as striker.
Got it sorry my brain cramp was happening just trying to think of a static 3-4-3 formation rather than just realizing that the real base is our regular 4-3-3 with the personel to be able to transition into a 3-4-3.
Fischer – Sigthórsson – CuencaEriksen – Schöne – De JongBlind – Moisander – Alderweireld – Van RhijnVermeer
If we end up not being able to recruit Maher maybe we can convince Praet to cross the border and play for a real club rather than make the same mistakes as some other Belgian youngsters who have begun bouncing around on loan under ownership of a talent hoarding club who I will not name but may or may not reside in London. Anybody have a beat on his pricetag? Comparable to Maher? They are both under contract through 2015.
Nice to see Dico playing first team football again. I thought he did well enough for us when got his chances he's just never going to be preferred over Blind/Boilesen in the long run.
@niklasmoisander - never ever make a blind pass back to your goal keeper; repeat - never ever make a blind pass back to your keeper. We had some pretty decent chances and maybe Sigthorsson's shot was across the line, difficult to tell from the replay angle. Fischer has been the best player on the pitch, really active and moving well with the ball. Still don't get de Jong - he had one good pass that almost led to a goal but other than that just stands around. There has been some big open spaces in the middle and he never moves into them. Maybe FdB understands something that I do not (wouldn't be the first time). Blind has played well going forward but seriously got caught up field once and made no attempt to really run back and cover, fortunately nothing came of it for ADO. I hope that we don't run out of gas in the second half, we just cannot leave points on the table today.
Really starting to feel strongly about Siem not being a first choice midfielder. Love the guy he has had big moments with this club but Schone does 2x as much work out there and I even think Serero might have a case to start getting more playing time.
Another opportunity to pull even and we don't capitalize. Several players looked a step too slow, probably because of the match on Thursday (FdB should have made some changes earlier rather than later). Another game with loads of possession and nothing to show for it. At least we salvaged a point which was always in doubt. That being said, at least there was some inspired passing against a team that was parking the bus from the get go. Player Ratings: Vermeer (7) - little to do really but did save a break away goal which kept the scoreline 1-0 Blind (7) - fine match today other than one time when he didn't really track back to cover his winger Moisander (4) - good match, BUT never make a blind pass to your keeper! Alderwiereld (6.5) - little to do defensively van Rhijn (7) - little to do defensively and some wicked crosses to middle but no one was able to capitalize Schöne (7) - got the needed goal and played a fine match in the midfield, probably the best of the three in terms of passing Eriksen (6.5) - controlled the ball well but a little sloppy on some passes de Jong (5.5) - really too slow today but did have two or three nice passes to free players up Fischer (7) - best of all the front line players, good on the ball and didn't dribble into trouble Sigthorsson (5.5) - another player who looked too slow and didn't hold the ball up well at all; probably scored in the first half Cuenca (6.5) - good match but did try to take on the right back unsuccessfully down the stretch when a pass would have been better Boerrigter (5.5) - few touches and that was it Serrero (5.5) - didn't provide the spark that was needed No let up for the weary with the mid-week cup tie against AZ.
I just wtched the high-lights---that should have been about 6-1 for Ajax no luck at all and a lack of touch around the ADO net
Nahh just that it's no longer just a feeling. It's a very strong feeling now. We all knew it was a going to be a problem to name him captain. When Babel is fit I wouldn't mind seeing Fischer or Serero in the midfield with Eriksen and Schone sitting deep. Won't happen though.
^I'm not convinced of Serero's quality. I don't think he's strong enough on the ball but that may be a result of lack of playing time.
It's hard to defend him with such a small body of work...but yeah to be fair to him he hasn't really had much of a chance either. Similar situation with Lodeiro who eventually just moved on. Unfortunately I think we'll probably see the same thing happen with Serero. Especially if this Meleg kid turns out to be any good.
No indication I can find that he is injured. Probably just rest and also giving Lukoki an opportunity to get a run out.
Yep. Or Derk on the left and Jody on the right with Fischer as a sub. We can't forget Cuenca is just making his comeback from a bad injury. He's an exciting player and has better close control then anybody we have under contract...Just don't want to push him too hard too soon.
Ok so perhaps we have already pushed him too hard too soon I've been meaning to say it concerned me how our strategy towards the end of the ADO match pretty much became feeding the ball to Cuenca and hoping he could pull off some magic (which he came pretty close to a few times).