Well, read my comment on JC14's post. We obviously differ from the valuing of Tete's position in the lead up to the goal, but I'm very impressed by his direct defensive qualities. I actually did have remarks on his offensive abilities as I stated he lacks that for playing 4-3-3. The tactic could also be part of recognition by FdB that it is fruitless to use him in that way!
Ajax have never used the right FB to attack as long as FdB has been manager. Perhaps it's because he is left footed himself and doesn't trust right footed players! van der Wiel and van Rhijn were never used much at all and van Rhijn actually had a pretty decent cross.
Here you go. Kuijt is closer to the line than Tete and he's leaning forward. So I'm pretty sure he's offside. And a split second before that he was even more offside. So there are definitely 3 Ajax players who made bigger mistakes than Tete in that situation (if Tete even made a mistake, which I do not think he did). I even think it's more cm offside than that ball from Younes was wide. Those offside lines that Fox draws are a joke. They should stop using that if they can't draw a straight line.
And that he cost a goal against PSV is just clear BS. Pereiro wasn't even close to offside. There were 4 Ajax players between him and the goal.
It also has to do with wingers staying wide. El Ghazi for example likes to stay wide most of the time, and then there is little use for a back to overlap. However, in the rare occasions that Tete does get in that position he does not show any added qualities or even an inkling of an idea of what to do next. He definitely needs to work on that. But it's not that difficult to learn in my opinion. So I hope that he does. Van Rhijn and Van der Wiel had more attacking intentions than Tete for sure. But when they give crappy crosses when they are still 30 meters from the achterlijn than that hasn't got much added value either. And most "attacking backs" cost more points than they win I think.
I take your opinion on that as I donot have any knowledge on that matter. I did put a ruler along the line on the pitch and still I get Kuyt not off side, but I guess we will not meet each other on this and the PSV situation. That's okay, we can have different opinions on situations on the pitch, especially with thight ones like we are discussing. I hope you have reread my post and conclude I have only had critic on two actions, but for the rest was quite positive about him.
You do realize that every part of the body, excluding the arms, count for offside right? Either way, I don't blame the linesman for not seeing it. So I'm fine with the goal counting. I just think it's ridiculous to blame Tete for it. He's practically in line with Veltman. I will post a picture of the PSV situation to show you're wrong. Because that is just not up for discussion. Tete's position wasn't good but he played nobody onside. Riedewalds positioning in that situation is far worse. If these two situations are the only "mistakes" you can find of him since his debut than I'd say that's pretty damn impressive.
The problem with any pictures such as this one is that they are from an angle and not perpendicular to the line of the players. In addition you cannot see the position of the linesman very well at all in the picture. It looks like he is a little ahead of Kuyt in which case he really cannot judge an offside very well at all.
I think it was the Roda game where he delivered a really nice cross in to the box with his left foot! At any rate, he's a young player learning the ropes. I think he knows what he needs to work on and will do so. The fact that he can shut down attacks on his side is a big plus for Ajax!!
This picture actually shows I'm right. The two close to the penetrating PSV attackers shuold be closer to them but couldnot set them off side because Tete is standing about 1.5 meters behind them. The goal wouldnot have been scored if Tete was where he should have been, covering the wingman body to body. The two were surprised when the linesman didnot put his flag up. You can bend it any way you want, but this picture totally support what I claim. By the way, last season I was equally critical on Kongolo, that one of the posters (cannot recall who it was) in the forum came to the defense of him with about the same arguments you use for Tete. So there is no bias from my side, but a constant measure I apply to all defenders.
Blind is forcing Bazoer to play these meaningless matches despite the fact that he's been struggling with a knee injure lately. Similar situation to that of De Vrij, who now is out for the rest of the season. I would recommend Bazoer to talk to Strootman. Knees are something you don't want to mess with!.
I can top that........Dutch to win it 3-0 and begin the march up the FIFA world table to their rightful place of World Champions 2018, which will be held in the USA!
A draw will be a realistic expectation for me. I am just afraid that we win 3-0 and many begin to forget that we failed to qualify for Euro.
I don't refer EU as Euro and I do not mean the currency. It is just a habit of everyone using Euro for the tournament where I came from. It will be status quo as NT will be on cruise mode to next year friendlies before Euro. There will be no change in KNVB, coaching staff. On the other hand, I wonder how Euro may be affected next year? If there is a threat then will the match be postponed/delayed? How disruption this will be and how this may affect teams/players mentally preparations? For WC 2018, Russia did a good security job for the Winter Olympics so I think they will be ready. Putin's quote: To forgive the terrorists is up to god, to send them to him is up to me. Putin probably reworded Denzel Washington's Man On Fire. Creasy: Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting. Not sure about how safe the WC in Qatar will be after these latest events.
Van Oostveen extended his contract with the KNVB till 2019. Does look like they want to assign a technical director in the future.