To the Future: Ajax, 2018-19

It's a long season! Props to FC Emmem, the Eibar of the Eredivisie!!

 

Naci Unuvar who turned 15 this past June is doing well with the U17 team. I know he is a real talent but will he break into the first team when he is 17? The only MF that I can remember doing this was van der Vaart who was a prodigy.

He also was named to the CL Youth team!!! Several Jong Ajax players are also on this team so it looks like Ajax want to make a real statement in this competition.

Bekijk hieronder de volledige spelerslijst:

Keepers: Calvin Raatsie, Daan Reiziger, Issam El Maach, Dominik Kotarski, Mateusz Gorski.

Verdedigers: Mitchel Bakker, Abdallah Aberkane, Jasper Ter Heide, Sven Botman, Navajo Bakboord, Nordin Musampa, Elgero King, Boy Kemper, Terrence Douglas, Sergino Dest, Liam van Gelderen, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Devyne Rensch, Jurriën Timber.

Middenvelders: Enric Llansana, Max de Waal, Naci Unuvar, Ryan Gravenberch, Quinten Timber, Anass Salah-Eddine, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Kenneth Taylor, Victor Jensen, Noa Lang, Noah Abid.

Aanvallers: Jaymillio Pinas, Eros Maddy, Venitchio Sint, Sontje Hansen, Ché Nunnely, Nicolas Kuhn, Dillon Hoogewerf, Brian Brobbey, Szabolcs Schön, Damjan Dostanic.

 

What a wonderful present on arriving home from a day in the synagogue!!! I was worried when I heard that de Ligt suffered an injury in training yesterday and what this would do to the defense. No worries, we have the Amsterdam version of Javier Mascherano aka Frenkie de Jong; just drop him into a role on the pitch and he performs. Next stop #9. AEK really were quite limited because of three starters being suspended for this match so it is difficult to judge their true quality but on this night it was quite poor. No real clue on offense and Ajax ramped up the pressure in the 2nd half and were able to create some nice scoring opportunities. ten Hag is molding this team into a very flexible squad. Tonight he played a double pivot 4-2-3-1 with three advance MFs moving all over the pitch.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6) - you have to rate everyone above a five but it's a stretch for Onana who did not have to make a single save and maybe only had a couple of goal kicks when the ball went past the end line
Tagliafico (9) - were it not for a great save by the AEK keeper it would have been a hat trick
Blind (7.5) - defended well when he had to
de Jong (8) - made a real good block on the AEK striker who seemed to be clear in on goal
Mazraoui (7.5) - some very good interventions where he stripped the ball from the AEK attacker
Schöne (7) - solid as one of the double pivot MFs
Eiting (7.5) - some really incisive passing in the 2nd half
Ziyech (7) - major quibble about his shot selection but otherwise a good match
Tadic (7.5) - his enthusiasm on the pitch is something we have not seen a long time
Neres (6.5) - maybe deserved a penalty when he was bundled over in the box
Huntelaar (6) - couldn't get much started and then came off with a leg complaint; maybe all the minutes he is logging are catching up
van de Beek (7) - instant energy and only an off side prevented him from notching a brace
Dolberg (5.5) - surprising substitute and his first match since way back last season

PSV in Eindhoven on Sunday with a chance to move into first place!!!



BTW - Naci Unuvar became the youngest player in UEFA history to score in the youth CL competition, slotting home a penalty as the Ajax U19s run over AEK, 6-0.

 

Here are the highlights of the 6-0 win. It could have been much worse as Ajax U19 missed some easy chances. AEK youth were very poor.

 

My mistake. Here is the link.

 

After Ajax win the Champions League next spring most of the top players will have very high valuations. They are likely to stay at Ajax to see if they can become a repeat champion.

 

I expect my team to win every match, don't you??

 

Absolutely, but as you well know I am often disappointed.

 

de Ligt, Huntelaar and Neres all have been reported to be fit for today's match but I expect it will be a game time decision by ten Hag whether one or more of them start against PSV.