The bit I'm worried about is the trajectory of Blind's preformance. Up till now nobody in the team has shown the ability to pass like him and looking at how he was passing in the PEC match.....
I think this is his last season as a semi-regular. Even the Ajax pundits have stated this. Martinez is a much better CB and Alvarez whose ball skills have markedly improved is a far better DM which really leaves only the LB position for him. We will see if he gets exposed in the CL matches.
Ajax U-18 team drew with Sporting in the Youth League today 1-1. I watched the final 15 minutes and Ajax had a goal by Axel Dongen called back because of a very close off sides. No VAR at this level and the camera angle was inconclusive. They had another decent chance a minute later but two shots were blocked by defenders. Ajax have a very young team with only three players dropping down from Jong Ajax to help out.
Unfortunately, I will miss the game today as we have a very early choir call at the Synagogue. I'll catch up with the replay tomorrow night.
Damn, I didnt know you were Jewish. Shabbat Shalom. I'm going to miss the game too. Might be able to catch it on my cellphone though, we'll see what happens
Good luck to you guys ahead of tonight's game, may the best team win (Hopefully my team Will be a competitive game but should be enjoyable to watch between 2 clubs with similar philosophies.
Not the ideal XI but they'll need to get the job done... Pasveer; Blind, Martinez, Timber, Mazraouai; Alvarez, Gravenbersch; Tadic, Berghuis, Antony; Haller Subs: Schuurs, Neres, Danilo, Rensch, Gorter, Taylor, Daramy, Tagliafico, Setford Pretty insane how Nico and Neres have fallen out of the preferred XI. I don't know how to feel about the lineup. I am curious if the Tadic/Antony/Berghuis 3 will change positions a bit. I do prefer Martinez in these CL matches at CB though.
Yeah, Pasveer looked way out of his element. Will not complain about Haller for a bit now. Haha pretty nice evening.
I watched the replay last night. Ajax were flattered by the score from a combination of some of the worst defending by a top flight club and two favorable VAR calls. Passveer does not instill confidence and Ajax do need Onana to extend his contract but that probably won't happen (Inter Milan is rumored to be after him for January). Antony toyed with the Sporting LB all evening and Haller showed that he is indeed a goal scorer. Soren Lerby is the only Ajax player with more goals in a Euro game with 5 back in 1979. The young Spanish match official in his first Champions League game did not call a particularly good game. He whistled some high boot calls that I didn't think were correct and he should have disciplined players earlier before the match got too chippy. Still a 5-1 win is a great start to the campaign and Ajax need to maintain focus and particularly tighten up the defense. Three players picked up silly YCs which is not good in the first match. EtH got the tactics right on the mark. Player Ratings: Passveer (4.5) - he did make a couple of good saves but was awful on the first goal and had a high ball that he punched rather than caught Blind (6) - woefully slow defending but his passing was good Martinez (6.5) - looked a little rusty as he did not have a match at the weekend to get back in the flow, badly beaten on a header Timber (6.5) - decent but not outstanding, another who picked up a YC Mazraoui (7) - solid game at both ends Alvarez (6.5) - he made one ball handling error but filled defensive gaps quite well Gravenberch (7) - very good on the ball and was active all over the pitch Berghuis (7) - great goal but seemed not to be heavily involved otherwise Tadic (7) - solid play from the captain Haller (8) - did what a striker is supposed to do, find the spaces, get the ball , and put it in the net Antony (8.5) - clearly MOTM with some outstanding assists and unstoppable Neres (5) - on for Antony and not much of a factor Rensch (6) - on for Mazraoui and then switched to LB when Blind was subbed off had a couple of interventions Schuurs (NR) - on for the final 10 minutes Taylor (NR) - on late for Berghuis Beskitas are up next in the CL. Cambuur are next in the League. there was an earlier question about UEFA Coefficient Points. Wikipedia is the most up to date: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient Dutch are still behind Portugal but if all the teams keep winning, they can close the gap
After last night's game, 538 gives Ajax over a 60% chance to win the group and over 90% to advance to the next round. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/champions-league/
Pasaveer is a very bad joke. Absolutely not of this standard. How did VG have him in original Oranje squad recently. Totally absurd. Need Onana badly. Antony was on fire and really enjoying himself. Haller’s 4th goal was magnificent touch then finished superbly. Berghuis goal was fantastic combination play.
We are starting tonight's game with only three players born and bred in Ajax and that is not good at all. Throughout the years Ajax's strength has always been rooted in its youth development system. Lately we are too eager dismissing decent young players and buying mercenaries ranging from average to mediocre. I'm not sure this will end well at all.
Adviced by Blind/Ajax lobby. LvG has been out of touch with Dutch football/players for too long, so he had to rely on advice from his staff who to select. I expect to see more rational choices in line with his own views after the second nat. team window. Rench for intance is in blatant contrast to his opning claim he will have to select first of all players who play and are in form at their clubs. Rench smells like Blind influence. With an Orange match on his cv you can add 10 million on his asking price.
You nicked a quality player from our youth and then did nothin with him, Noa Lang. He's superior to what you have on the wings now.
Seems to be the trend these days, sadly PSV, Feyenoord and AZ can only start 3 or 4 Dutch players max (and not necessarily from their own academies). Looks depressing tbh.
Holy crap, I was out golfing all day today, just got home and saw the score How is Danilo gonna fit into our system with all the players we got??
Another goal festival against a very weak opponent. Ajax had little defending to do and did not let up in the offensive half of the field with lots of good passing and quickness. the scoring was spread out with only Neres getting a brace and my MOTM for his outstanding wing play. Too bad no other Euro team stepped up for him during the summer transfer window. Timber was also outstanding splitting halves between the center and right fullback position. Cambuur didn't bunker down and tried to play but were overmatched. Player Ratings: Pasveer (6) - routine saves and a quiet day at the office Tagliafico (6.5) - OK match but it seems like he wonders why no other team came after him this summer Martinez (7) - had a couple of good interventions and had little defending to do Timber (7.5) - another good game with a cracking goal and some great runs from both the center and right side Mazraoui (7) - solid half of football before being rested Alvarez (7) - had one woeful pass that should have led to a goal but the rest of his game was solid Gravenberch (7.5) - really good on the ball all match long and almost got the 10th goal with hard shot that hit the upright Berghuis (7.5) - all over the pitch tonight and when he got the ball he made the right decision quickly Tadic (7) - good match from the Captain Haller (7) - saw everyone around him score and then he netted one Neres (8) - wonderful wing play with two good scores and a nice assist Schuurs (6.5) - didn't have to defend and had a good half with some good passing Taylor (6) - played well coming on for Alvarez Daramy (6.5) - really nice goal and he has great speed on the left side Blind (6) - didn't think he was going to play but he did and was just fine Danilo (6) - good goal when he came on for Haller Fortuna Sittard coming up on Tuesday.
I'm thinking they can win the Champions League quite easily. Revenge for the late Lucas Mora goal back in 2019.
Lang is a good player who had a real attitude problem at Ajax. It's a shame that they could not work it out.
I bought a few 4 packs of Duvel, because these came with a special design edition glass with each pack.
Yeah, with him on the left and Berghuis on the right you would have a Dutch winger combination, so you could sell those Brasilians.