Sustain the Excellence: Ajax, 2019-20

The forearm block on Tadic should have been a RC. Malicious intent.

 

I got the score correct but it certainly was not nice or quiet. It took a while for Ajax to break down the stout APOEL defense but the delightful free kick by Ziyech and the thumping header from Alvarez proved to be the match winner. Tadic had a stunning goal to cap of the night and make it 2-0. The VAR decision taking away Huntelaar's goal was weird. The commentators on our feed said it was an off side against Veltman. OK, he stated off in an offsides position but I don't think he moved at all during the play. Certainly the players that figured were all on sides. APOEL showed no attacking prowess and Onana had only the one weak cross that he caught which maybe counts as a save. Champions League draw is tomorrow and Ajax will be in Pot 2. The club will certainly not surprise as last year's club did but I think they have a good bit of depth and with some more league matches before the first CL game ETH can get things sorted out.

A lot of YCs for APOEL and a couple of them were reckless and could have been Red.

Player Ratings:

Onana (5.5) - almost nothing to do in the match except for some back passes and kicks up field
Tagliafico (7.5) - fine night and always a danger going forward
Blind (7) - steady as a center back
Veltman (7) - reckless in the first half and quite good in the second
Dest (7.5) - he might have just made ETH make him the top pick for RB; defended decently and made some great runs forward
Alvarez (7.5) - great goal and he seems quite poised on the ball
Martinez (6.5) - played good position football but some passing was poor
Ziyech (8.5) - absolutely top rate for the night; free kicks were good and he was popping up all over the pitch to cause problems
Tadic (7.5) - great strike for the second goal and aggressive both on offense and defense
Huntelaar (7) - don't know why the goal was taken away but he played well going the whole 90
Neres (6.5) - some strange forced plays which he didn't use to make
de Wit (5.5) - on late for Ziyech and managed a looping shot on goal that almost went in
Marin (NR) - on very late

Away to Sparta on Sunday.

 

^^ They also think MLS is a great league and very underrated.

 

Veltman extended his contract by one year so he will not leave on a Bosman next summer. Dani de Wit moves to AZ for €2M.

 

Just drawn into Group H with Chelsea. Not a bad start.

EDIT: Get Valencia from Pot 3 and our former keeper Jasper Cillessen!!

EDIT: Get Lille from Pot 4

We can win this group!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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