3-2 final and safely through. Couldn't watch, but I'll accept that today was a useful developmental exercise.
Dest wasn't beaten for the 3-2, but he was beaten for the shot before that hit off the post. Mostly uneventful time on the pitch from what I saw.
He wasn't good but not a disaster. Lost the ball a few times way too easily. Was trying to play too fast. Got bullied off the ball. Caught up field a couple of times. Nice passing. Great understanding in his movements in possession. How he played is pretty consistent with what he is: an extremely promising 18-year old who needs to learn how to play defense. Just great experience because that 2nd half was very intense.
He was outstanding. He's 31, much stronger than Dest and gave him problems. Had a nice finish. (EDIT: actually both). Really weird match overall but you just want to survive those. I hope you guys can get to the EL group stages. Would be good for the Eredivisie.
Ronald de Boer critical about Dest: https://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=356020 "De Boer kent Dest vanuit de jeugdopleiding van Ajax, zo geeft de oud-middenvelder en analist voorafgaand aan de aftrap aan bij FOX Sports. "Hij is een geweldige speler, maar vaak toch wel onbetrouwbaar. Hij moet betrouwbaarder worden, zeker in verdedigend opzicht. Hij schroomt niet om een actie te maken. Daardoor is het soms wel wat link achterin", aldus De Boer, die uitlegt dat Dest van nature 'een linksbuiten of middenvelder is'. De Boer knows Dest from Ajax's youth academy, the former midfielder and analyst reports to FOX Sports prior to the kick-off. "He is a great player, but often unreliable. He needs to become more reliable, certainly in a defensive sense. He doesn't hesitate to make an action. That is why it is sometimes a bit hazardous in the back", says De Boer, who explains that Dest is by nature 'a left winger or midfielder'. Edit: this was before the kick off for the JC Shield.
Yeah, well, maybe De Boer didn't assess Dest correctly. One of a number, apparently. Dest was allowed to drift away from the Dutch youth system, apparently because of preference for other young players. That's what allowed him to be picked up by the US and it sure appears that he is a much better player than he apparently was 2-3 yrs ago.
standard Ajax practice. de Ligt started a Europa League final against ManU as a 17 year old. Age matters not if the player is good enough. Dest has some good comments about yesterday's match (you need Google translate if you don't read Dutch): https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/articl...t-zelfkritisch-moet-leren-van-die-paar-fouten
Sergiño is definitely an eccentric, attack minded fullback. It's not surprising that he makes mistakes, leaves his position., or does something unpredictable The defensive understanding will come in time and I think he has the attitude to be a great fullback. He's got a lot to do in the gym in order to avoid being overpowered by forwards, but he's still just 18. I think those are pretty fair criticisms. It's remarkable for USA fans to see a young player performing at this level but it's par for the course for Ajax fans. They were a uncomfortably close to elimination in the Champions League preliminary stages and there are experienced players who are getting much harsher criticism than Dest.
Dest just found out European top matches are a different beast from an obligatory JCshield match van Bommel never takes serious and his reaction to be pondering between the USA and Orange after thinking he's an option for Koeman (probably after reading too many internet hype messages) needs adjustment. There were people questioning my asssessment he's at least two years from considering (some even went the stretch to declare him superior to established Orange players). Yesterday's match showed he's tactically, physically and technically still way out of his league in this kind of matches. Ten Hag improved the midfield a bit by moving Mazraoui there, but Dest didnot improve the defense at all. He was exposed major league. Ten Hag has seen that too and is going to take that in his team considerations.
I feel like a lot is being lost here picking apart his performance. He was brought in as a tactical switch to get a healthy underperforming player off of the pitch at halftime, in a must-win game. Major vote of confidence. He held up his end of the deal and the team played somewhat better, even if it wasn't a dream debut. This was a senior-level match against a league champion from a decent league desperately seeking the win. And he did fine. He's ready for the USMNT.
Last season Ajax had de Ligt at right center back and he was able to cover up for any problems the FB made. Dest and other Ajax FBs do not have that luxury this season and there is more of a premium on defending. He is faster than any other Ajax FB and that can make up for mistakes if he knows how to harness it. Dest is going to do just fine and will do well with Ajax.
From a big picture level, yes it was a great step forward. He's 18 and getting minutes at a very strong Ajax team. I'm excited about him as an Ajax/NT fan. But you can't say he's "ready for the USMNT" and not point out what he needs to do. If the attitude is he wants to play now, well then yes I am going to want to point out how he can get better. You have to actually watch soccer players play to evaluate them. You can't just look at a result and see someone played and say it was great. He was poor yesterday. It's not the end of the world and part of the process but that's just reality. The truth is people have been brainwashed by a) US Soccer media -- it's in their interest to just pump up every prospect as if they're world class. Better for clicks and excitement. and b) the comp videos that make guys look like gods. I'm so pumped up about Dest. I've been waiting for a US player on Ajax for a long time. But I'm not going to blindly just say "yeah, he should be starting" without pointing out any flaws or seeing how he fit. One thing to add:I do think it is massively important to call him up now and start getting him used to how the US defends. The way he defends is very specific to Ajax (man marking, high risk tackles, following runners vs. passing them off). His biggest mistakes in the U-20 WC were sticking to the Ajax defensive principals vs. how really the rest of the world is organized. The quicker he can learn how to operate in a less risky defensive system, the better.
There is a very reasonable chance that he is going to be a legit international level player by the time the next World Cup rolls around. Those types of guys don't grow on trees for the US. Get the kid capped, make him feel wanted. Very little downside to this and tremendous possible upside.
Thanks. Looking at the second half of August, Ajax plays: Saturday 8/17 @ VVV Tuesday 8/20 @ Nicosia {Gets the weekend off between CL matches} Wednesday 8/28 v Nicosia Sunday 9/1 @ Sparta Nicosia rests this weekend, then plays Tuesday 8/20 v Ajax Saturday 8/24 v Olympiakos Wednesday 8/28 @ Ajax Saturday 8/31 @ Ethnikos Achna