It depends on who is healthy! Three MFs went off yesterday with injuries though van de Beek may have been a precaution. I haven't seen anything about whether Martinez suffered anything more than a bad knock and Alvarez took a hard elbow to the face. "If" everyone is healthy, the lineup will be the same as yesterday with Dest coming in for Mazraoui. Veltman will have the same problem as the other two options at RB as he's not nearly quick enough against the Chelsea wingers.
Anyone else get a feeling that unless Ajax goes for a big buy in the winter (fat chance) Gravenberch is the solution to the the midfield issues? I think the biggest problem for Ajax is the disconnect between the front 4 and back 4. Frankie did an incredible job bringing the two together. I think they thought Marin could do the same but he can't cover enough space. Gravenberch IMO is poised for a break out and almost ready. Let's see if ten Hag will give him a chance at 17 a la Bosz with de Ligt in '17.
Gravenberch is a box to box MF and I cannot see him playing much as long as the others are healthy. He is not quick enough on the ball the way de Jong is and is not a direct replacement. de Jong is really like Andrea Pirlo if you are looking for a direct comparison. the only other player who 'might' fill that position is Eiting and remember that ETH was starting him over de Jong at the beginning of last season. Trouble is Eiting is not good enough on defense.
He only started Eiting instead of de Jong last year because de Jong kept on getting hurt. But I do love Eiting although I consider him a much deeper type player. A guy you'd play next to Donny or Gravenberch. IMO -- A box to box MF is exactly what Ajax needs. They need someone to connect the front and back. I think Donny does a nice job of it and quite honestly I like Promes as the 10 better: when he is there all of the front 4 (Tadic, QP, Ziyech, Neres) can play the 10, false 9 or on the wing vs. Donny really can't play on the wing. It allows for more interchanging. But if they want Donny combining and in the box, Gravenberch IMO is better than Alvarez.
ETH has pretty much decide that he is playing Ziyech at 10 with Promes, Tadic and Neres up front. That leaves van de Beek and Martinez in the MF. Gravenberch is not going to beat either of those players out. I think Marin will come off the bench before Gravenberch. I just don't think he is quite ready but I am often wrong about lots of things.
Looks like it. But until the summer though: https://www.veronicainside.nl/nieuws/ten-hag-belangrijkste-kandidaat-bij-bayern-muenchen
ETH may move to Bayern but I think its the wrong move. Dortmund would be a better choice for him as there is less palace intrigue there. I wonder if there is a buyout clause in his contract as he extended to 2022. Ajax received €5M when Bosz left after one season.
Mazraoui gets the call for tonight's match against Chelsea. Same starting 11 as this past weekend. Ziyech at 10 with Neres, Promes and Tadic up front. This is probably the best lineup ETH can field against Chelsea.
Can we keep this lineup please? Much better! Looks almost like last year minus the beast De Ligt. Defensively both teams are looking risky though. And man, I was feeling some dejavu on that Promes goal! Thank god the VAR didnt ******** us over this time.
Why on earth is Lampard putting Abraham on as a backline defender on these set pieces?? He's gonna cough up 3 or 4 OG's if he keeps this up
What an unbelievable free kick! If Ziyech meant that it was absolutely immense! Bit of luck on the bounce back but well deserved. After the bad luck we had last game (bad var call, bad offside to penalty call, post hit and late chelsea goal off the crossbar) I’ll consider this karma. Its not over yet though... this game still has some goals in it and Chelsea is threatening.
Lol I feel like poor Tagliafico always takes hits in every CL game. Chelsea blasting us at the moment... need a moment from Ajax. Losing possession everywhere.