To the Future: Ajax, 2018-19

Ajax draw Madrid in the knockout stage of the CL. Recent history has not been kind to Ajax as they played them three straight seasons in the Group Stage beginning with the 2010-11 competition and lost all six matches. It's time for REVENGE.

 

Against a team such as de Graafschap, a player needs to score six goals to be considered for a '10'

 

Just be careful when you visit the Madrid forum on Big Soccer!!!

 

LOL, Madrid have to play Athletico away before traveling to Amsterdam and Barca at home TWO days before the return match (I expect the Spanish FA will move the date of that game to Saturday if they are able).

The starts are lining up correctly.

 

In a match filled with real fireworks, VAR decisions and hard play, Ajax go back to Amsterdam with a 3-1 victory. The curse of Utrecht is solved at least for know. The two Ajax goals from the run of play were quite pretty but questions have to be asked about the poor state of Utrecht defending. Kasper Dolberg, denied a penalty in the first half, gets the VAR decision in the second and Tadic doesn't miss from the spot. Other than the Utrecht goal, Ajax defending was quite decent with de Ligt getting to every ball in his area.

Ajax were poor on corners, maybe the slick surface bothered Schöne and Ziyech whose efforts were way wide of target men. Interesting that ten Hag did not have Schuurs on the game day bench and when Wöber picked up an early card, there was not an option to move Blind to the outside. Off until mid-January with some training and two friendlies in Florida coming up.

Player Ratings:

Onana (6.5) - had little to do in the first half and spend a couple of minutes dodging beer cups and a firework following the VAR penalty review; some poor kicking and one occasion where he seemed not to know what to do with a kick cross the goal

Wöber (6.5) - took a stupid Yellow Card in the first half on a late challenge but otherwise was OK filling in for an injured Tagliafico
Blind (7) - calm ball handling and decent defending marked his day
de Ligt (7.5) - don't know where he was on the Utrecht goal but otherwise was outstanding
Mazaoui (7) - good defending and managed to keep the right side open for attacking by Ajax
Schöne (6) - took some punishment on challenges but his free kicks were quite poor
de Jong (7.5) - great through pass to Dolberg to set up the first goal and a nice cap to the game with third goal
van de Beek (5.5) - seldom saw any of the ball
Tadic (7) - calmly slotted home the penalty after an interminable VAR decision
Thor (7) - solid match from our Marvel Superhero
Ziyech (7) - other than poor free kicks a very nice match
Sinkgraven (6) - on for a considerable period for the carded Wöber and played well at left back (his best position is still MF)

 

You have the schedule wrong. Games are Jan 10 & 12. Ajax took 30 players to Florida and will substitute freely in both matches. I'll be at the Jan 12 match and hope to get some pictures.

 

He does and I've sent him a PM about meeting up.

 

The last time Ajax were over here was after the first F de Boer championship season when they played some post-season friendlies. I went to the one in DC and IIRC Vurnon Anita scored the match winner.