This guy could be the answer to our striker problem: https://sports.yahoo.com/report-porto-lyon-ajax-canada-001024190.html
Game is a little different now my friend. Game is really totally different than it was 5 years ago at this rate. I thought he was excellent at times last year early in those CL qualifiers. I think Eiting is more than capable in most matches. For instance against a Valencia that will bunker, he's so much better technically than Alvarez that I would prefer him. Pairing him with a guy like Martinez helps too. But I do agree if Ajax wants to get to the heights of last seasons, Eiting isn't good enough. But on this squad if Ziyech has to play RW, I think he deserves a shot.
Ten Hag pleased by Traore's development. https://www.ad.nl/dossier-trainings...-hag-traore-biedt-zich-aan-als-serieuze-optie Is he related to that other Traore we had some years ago here?
Noa Lang on loan to FC Twente for the second half of the season. With Babel coming in, playing time would be limited.
"De wedstrijd kabbelde in de slotfase richting het einde, totdat Sparta in de slotfase alsnog van zich afbeet. Sparta-aanvaller Abdou Harroui raakte de paal, maar een minuut later was het alsnog raak. Veltman en Mazraoui gaven te veel ruimte aan Sparta-invaller Joël Piroe, die een kwartier voor tijd diagonaal de aansluitingstreffer maakte. Zes minuten voor tijd redde Lisandro Martinez de koploper van groter leed. De Argentijn kopte een volley van Adil Auassar net voor de lijn op de buitenkant van de paal. Twee minuten later moest Veltman op de lijn redding brengen na een inzet van Ache, terwijl Onana in de slotseconde nog een inzet van Duarte pakte. Het fluitsignaal zorgde dan ook voor opluchting in de Johan Cruijff Arena. Zonder te imponeren en met enig fortuin was Ajax te sterk voor Sparta Rotterdam en verstevigt daarmee de koppositie." googtranslated (always funny): The match rippled towards the end in the final phase, until Sparta bite away in the final phase. Sparta attacker Abdou Harroui hit the post, but a minute later it was hit. Veltman and Mazraoui gave too much room to Sparta-substitute Joël Piroe, who made the connection goal diagonally fifteen minutes before time. Six minutes before time, Lisandro Martinez saved the frontrunner from greater suffering. The Argentinian headed a volley from Adil Auassar just before the line on the outside of the post. Two minutes later, Veltman had to save on the line after a bet from Ache, while Onana took another bet from Duarte in the final second. The whistle signal also provided relief in the Johan Cruijff Arena. Ajax was too strong for Sparta Rotterdam without impressing and with any fortune, thereby strengthening the lead
with help from the crossbar (twice), goal line clearance by the Center Back (twice) and a final solid save by Onana in the 93rd minute, Ajax just do escape. Tons of possession and a solid first half where a hot goalkeeper kept the ball out of the net, but loads of flaws defensively. Historically, Ajax seem to be troubled when facing 4-4-2 formations. They just don't seem to handle a two striker setup very well. Some very cheap give aways with too many players up front led to some solid attacks from Sparta. It all ends up with a 2-1 unconvincing win. Player Ratings: Onana (6) - absolutely mediocre until the great save at the end Tagliafico (6) - caught up field on occasion when the ball was cheaply given away Martinez (6.5) - great goal line clearance and very good defending but made a couple of blunders that would be punished by a better team Veltman (6.5) - also had a good goal line clearance but also didn't know how to deal with the two strikers Mazraoui (6.5) - good going forward but also out of position on several attacks Gravenberch (6.5) - ended up with the game winner and showed some good play though was one of the players who gave the ball away to easily van de Beek (6) - nice goal but that was about it Ziyech (7) - some incisive play before going off with what looked like a calf injury Babel (6) - still has a horrible first touch but had a nice header to set up a potential goal Tadic (6.5) - decent but not outstanding Promes (7) - good match from him Ekkelenkamp (5.5) - OK coming on but defensively needed to do better Traore (5.5) - had one shot on goal that was easily saved Eiting (NR) - on late Cup match coming up midweek.
Ryan Gravenberch vs Sparta Rotterdam 76 minutes 1 goal 80 passes 85% pass accuracy 2 key passes 1 dribble won 4 tackles won 2 interceptions 1 aerial won Looked like this young fella had a nice game... hope he keeps working hard and continues getting crucial minutes!! His eclipsing Ajax's summer big signings Alvarez and Marin could be quite a story this season.
Our midfield for the near future - Gravenberch, Ekkelenkamp,v.d. Beek. In case Donny leaves we have Quinten Timber and Eiting waiting. I'm still sitting on the fence about Marin. Of course EtH permitting.
Cup match against SV Spakenburg tonight. Naci Unuvar has been training with the first team and it's possible that he may see action. Eiting, Traore, and Ekkelenkamp may get starts. Ziyech has a torn calf muscle and will be sidelined for several weeks. Nicolas Kuhn has gone out on loan to Bayern Munich II for the remainder of the season and Hassan Bande (who never saw much action because of injury) is loaned for 18 months to FC Thun.
The Cup Lineup.... MEH Varela; Tagliafico, Alvarez, Martinez, Dest; Eiting, Marin; Tadic, de Jong, Babel; Trarore Bench does have Unuvar, Danilo, J. Timber. Hopefully we see them.
I get the argument that Babel needs to be integrated, Neres/Ziyech injuries mean that Siem will play, Tadic just doesn't like to sit... STILL this is an amateur side at home. Can we get some talents in the lineup?
Ajax had to do very little defending as Spakenburg could not keep the ball for any length of time. Unuvar got his first team debut and scored on a PK after he was brought down in the box. Hard to give any player more than a '7' as the opposition was not very good. For me Eiting was MOTM. Smooth on the ball and really orchestrated play as the holding MF. Player Ratings: Varela (5.5) - had one easy save to make and that was about the only time he touched the ball Tagliafico (6.5) - dynamic in the offensive end with little to worry about on the defensive side Martinez (6.5) - decent enough with little to do Alvarez (6.5) - full 90 in the center of the defense and had a couple of nice moves into the offensive zone Dest (7) - pushed up all day long and got back quickly on the rare occasion when he needed to Eiting (7) - really solid tonight Marin (7) - partnered Eiting very well de Jong (7) - first half hat trick on some nicely taken goals Babel (6) - a couple of poor touches but good otherwise Traore (7) - two goals and some nice play in tight spaces Tadic (7) - OK out on the wing with some good ball handling and passing Ekkelenkamp (6) - had a goal taken away with an off sides call Huntelaar (5.5) - had one half chance Unuvar (5.5) - on late and showed some flare with the ball Groningen on the weekend which should be a sterner test.