There was a week in which in three matches the lights went out in the EPL. At the third match they caught a Chinese in the spark plugs room yanking them out. It turned out that a Chinese gambling syndicate was behind it to get the matches frozen, which in the rules of that gambling bunch ment it was a draw.
What is the issue here? I tried finding something but couldn't; is there a link? EDIT: Never mind, I found the Der Spiegel article though it was just a one line statement with no further details. It seems as though those issues are for the Portugal FA to address. Given the popularity of Benfica they might be covered up.
In the Der Spiegel article it was mentioned that based on the leaked documents Benfica is being scrutinized by the authorities for iirc from that article money laundering, match fixing etc. But look it up in that article I posted.
I screwed up big time and ended up paying for the October Benfica match replay. I thought something looked funny and then I figured out at the half that it was deja vu all over again. I missed the Benfica goal where Onana messed up but he came up big in the second half. Defense did just enough to hold on but things need to really be tightened up. I don't think Schöne was helpful at all in the second half and maybe ten Hag should consider subbing him off and moving Blind up to holding MF. No player ratings as I only saw the 2nd half!!!
The different scenarios: https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/2780...ons-league-scenario-s-voor-ajax-op-een-rijtje
This is gonna cost us. Uefa is looking into it: https://www.telegraaf.nl/video/2776998/hier-bekogelen-ajax-fans-de-me-met-stoelen
Training ground football for much of the 2nd half and Ajax end up with an easy 1-7 win. de Ligt had a chance to be the first field player to start ten straight matches where Ajax kept a clean sheet (injured for the PSV debacle) and would have joined Edgar Davids and Marc Overmars who did it in the historic 1985 season. It wasn't to be as he messed up with his challenge allowing the Excelsior player to get in on Onana's goal. There was some more sloppy defending later in the match and maybe ten Hag's habit of not rotating players is having an effect. No match next week because of the international break. Player Ratings: Onana (6.5) - didn't have much to do and the conceded goal was well taken Tagliafico (7) - did some good offensive work going forward Blind (7) - decent enough on the day de Ligt (6.5) - good other than the one poor challenge Mazraoui (6) - just above average in the one half of football he played Schöne (7) - very nice free kick and the pace of this match suited him well de Jong (7) - looks like he hurt the same hip he injured mid week against Benfica van de Beek (7.5) - two well taken goals for my MOTM Tadic (7) - solid game again Dolberg (7) - looked very good up front Ziyech (7) - nice match Kristensen (6.5) - still not convinced he is a good defender but he is more than decent going forward Neres (6.5) - good to see him on the scoreboard for the first time in league competition Huntelaar (6) - did everything right in his short stint at the end of the match Away to NAC in a fortnight and then the big away CL game with AEK with an opportunity to lock up a knock out match place, something we have not seen in over a decade.
It was ridicilous how Excelsior managed/was given the chance to score 4 more times and thanks to bad aiming and Onana they only had one goal against.
This happens in almost every Eredivisie match I watch. There is a lot of sketch defense from every team.
Frenkie De Jong and Donny Vd Beek... that's my dream pairing in the engine room! Two boys that should have a good understanding in each other, and are complementary from skillset standpoints. FDJ can orchestra the attack from deep in his own half, and VDB can supply the goals upfront. It wasn't feasible early in the season because Vd Beek was rusty and out of form, but now that he's firing in all cylinders, this is becoming real! Add a tenacious, energetic and experienced Gino Wijnaldum, I think Koeman will have a solid midfield!! Problem solved.
I couldnt agree more. Once the midfield is set in stone all we need is maybe a winger and a world-class striker to complement Depay
74% possession and some stretches with some very good passing but in the end just an average performance in front of goal. A couple of shots off the post or crossbar and two right at van Leer. Defense was sketchy in the last ten minutes of the match and needs to tighten up for the trip to Athens. Ajax draw within two points of PSV who host Heerenveen later on. Player Ratings: Onana (6.5) - two really nice saves Tagliafico (6.5) - really nice cross for the Huntelaar to put away but maybe should have been subbed off so Wöber would have more game time Blind (6.5) - solid defending and good distribution of the ball de Ligt (6.5) - sloppy on the ball one time but otherwise very good Mazraoui (5.5) - almost called for a penalty but the VAR fortunately didn't see anything in it Schöne (6.5) - good match and took all the free kicks in the absence of Ziyech de Jong (6.5) - very good passing match van de Beek (5.5) - active in the first half and subbed off because of a leg injury Tadic (6) - tried to create danger on the left wing with variable success Dolberg (6) - had a couple of chance but shot right at van Leer Neres (6.5) - clanged a hard one off the crossbar Labyad (6.5) - really nice volley for goal 2 and had a good half of football Huntelaar (6) - nicely taken goal but had a decent chance for a hat trick in only 10 or so minutes of football Wöber (NR) Off to Athens and with a win Ajax move on to the knockout round of the Champions League
538 has us 49% to win and 29% to draw. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/champions-league/ ... and has us as the 10th best club in Europe: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/global-club-soccer-rankings/
No because everything depends on the Benfica-Bayern match. A Benfica loss away to Bayern sends Ajax into the knock out stage regardless of of the result since they cannot make up the four point differential. I think the only path forward for Benfica is a win at Bayern and Ajax losing to AEK and Bayern. Ajax still have a chance to top the group.
Ajax U-19 thrashed AEK in the Youth CL today 1-8. Nicolas Kuhn had a hat trick and Che Nunnely a brace. Top striker Brobbey was out injured. U-16 players and top talents Naci Unuvar and Dillion Hoogwerf came on as subs in the 2nd half. Ajax are top of the table with 11 points on three wins and two draws.
C'mon guys, wake up. It's time for some CL football. In the second half I'd like to see Huntelaar, Cerny and Labyad. Dolgerg, Donny and Neres aren't convincing so far.