Ajax, the quiet outsider?

[AFCA]

I myself (and I think most other Ajax supporters) am really looking forward to see how the current squad will perform in Europe. On one hand I see chances for this (imo) great team. A lot of youth, a lot of talent... a squad that is absolutely worthy of wearing the white/red/white jersey!

I found this little txt on internet (www.voetbalonline.nl) and thought it was interesting. So I translated it into English.

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AJAX QUIET OUTSIDER FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The supporters dream about it, the players know it can be done: winning the Champions League. In 1995 Ajax was a big outsider for winning the title. Still, the cup with the big ears ended up in an Amsterdam prize-cabinet. Why not this year?

The team has a lot of things in common with Lousi van Gaals' team who won the Cup in 1995. On goal there was a talented and eager goalkeeper: Edwin vd Sar. Edwin vd Sar has a lot in common with Bogdan Lobont. Also a talented goalie who says winning the Champions League is a possibility.

The defense back then was: Winston Bogarde, Frank de Boer, Danny Blind and Michael Reiziger. Nowadays left-back is John o Brien. He's certainly not weaker then Winston Bogarde... he's better.
Frank de Boer and Christian Chivu could easily be twins. The experienced man those days was Danny Blind. Now it is Andre Bergdolmo.
This man has played dozens of CL matches already en came to Ajax from Rosenborg to get further in the tournament. He's got a perfect long ball, although he will get in trouble with players the likes of Raúl and Henry. For the simple reason he's not good at defending one man.
The 1995 right-back was Micheal Reiziger. He came forward a lot and caused a lot of danger on the right together with Finidi. In defense however, Reiziger wasn't exactly flawless. En what do you know? It looks like there is an exact copy of him on the right back position: Hatem Trabelsi.
He also comes forward a lot and makes a perfect duo with Holland's best winger. On defense he's not all that, but that is compensated by a defending right midfielder.

[AFCA]

The 1995 midfield was made up of:
Edgar Davids, Jari Litmanen and Frank Rijkaard. This is the porblem with nowadays Ajax. This is the weakest line. Edgar Davids is replaced by Maxwell or Witschge. Ronald Koeman will probably pick Maxwell with his fantastic shot and perfect awareness. But Mazwell is not a fighter like Davids was and he can't fire up the team like Davids can.
On the position of Jari Litmanen there is now a certain Rafael vd Vaart. Without a doubt the greatest talent from the Ajax school since Dennis Bergkamp. There is no doubt about the abilities of vd Vaart. Even if there would be a choice between Litmanen and vd Vaart.
The most defensive midfielder those days: Frank Rijkaard. No one can replace him. Ajax should have coverd this by getting Danny Landzaat (they still can).
Would Ajax have Landzaat on that position, the biggest problem would have been solved. Jan van Halst can play there, but he hasn't got a CL level of play. Tomas Galasek can also play there, he can play the CL level but his play is too attacking.

The 1995 attack was: Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert and Finidi George. It can be compared to the current situation.

On the left is a copy of Marc Overmars: Victor Sikora. Brought to Amsterdam with a lot of trouble. But I'm convinced he will be flaming this season.
The central attacker, Mido, is just as good as Kluivert back in 1995.
The right attacker is certainly better then Finidi. Without a doubt the best winger in the Eredivisie last season.
People say the strenght of a team is decided by the strenght on the bench. Back then it was Ronald de Boer, Peter Hoekstra, Fred Grim, Sonny Silooy, Nwanko Kanu who are certainly not better than this years bench. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a supertalent, but not yet a superfootballer. Nikos Machlas is a super sub who scores a lot as a substitute. Jan van Halst is there for pure battle. Wamberto is the stand in winger and the talents John Heitinga en Stefano Seedorf are pushing for a first team spot.


PRETTY LONG TXT I KNOW.

[appoo]

Can John O'Brien handle the worlds best at Left Back? I hope so but he is being put into a much greater defensive spotlight than the world cup. I'm curious to see how responds to the likes of Saviola, Raul, Morientes, Kluivert, and Rivaldo.

[AFCA]

I'm not too confident about the whole team. We have a good team, good players... but there's no telling just how good until we get to play some European matches.

I think the team as a whole can surprise Europe. But the lack of experience could break us up.

[Oscar]

I don't think they will win the Champion's League, but so far, the current incarnation of the team looks like it's the best version of Ajax for a long time now. Koeman has done a great job with this team.

Some weird things in the article though, saying that Bergdolmo has a great pass, when Koeman got riled up during one of the matches at the Amsterdam Tournament because he doesn't want him to give long passes. (i.e. they've got someone better to do that)

Ajax need Landzaat?........¿

Plus they didn't even mention Pienaar, the best player sitting on the Ajax bench in my opinion.

[AFCA]

Yeah the article has some minor flaws. But I guess you should take that up with the author (whoever the hell that my be).

I don't think they'll win it either. Maar de wonderen zijn de wereld nog niet uit! (Don't know how to say this in English).

[mr magoo]

yeah totaly agree Newcastle united will go far