The Future is Now! Ajax 2021-22 Season

I have a scheduled meeting and will miss the first half of today's game. It's my own fault as I didn't block off the time on my calendar so that a meeting could not be scheduled. I did not know that Ajax would play in the early match. I'll post on the match sometime tonight.

 

I just finished watching the replay. Ajax put on a clinic on how to run a high press game. Other than the two decent chances Besiktas had in each half they really never threatened, often surrendering possession in their own defensive half. Ajax were wasteful in front of goal and one of these days that will come back to bite them. Great teams are ruthless and this team is not yet at that level. Dortmund should provide a stern test for this club. EtH is molding a fine team here.

Player Ratings:
Pasveer (6) - really had little to do and he couldn't do much on the two chances Besiktas had
Blind (7) - interesting how he moves all around his half of the pitch, sometimes he is out wide like a traditional FB and then he will be more towards the center of pitch
Martinez (7.5) - really sound match
Timber (7.5) - equal to Martinez
Mazraoui (7) - did not have much defending to do and wasn't the threat to score as he was at the weekend
Alvarez (7.5) - again he was winning almost every duel and had consecutive headed clearances from the penalty area on free kicks
Gravenberch (8) - I thought this was a fine match from him, he was solid on the ball and created a couple of shots out of almost nothing
Berghuis (7.5) - has displaced Klaassen from the lineup and is a much needed creative force who can also score
Tadic (7) - decent game from the Captain
Haller (6.5) - would have liked to see him score rather than heading the ball over the cross bar
Antony (6.5) - good possessions but the crosses were just a bit off
Neres (NR) - on for Antony but had little impact
Klaassen (NR) - on for Berghuis but as with Neres did not do much

Utrecht coming up on the weekend and then another stupid FIFA break which will cause havoc for EtH. It is unlikely he will have Martinez, Tagliafico, Antony and Alvarez for the Heerenveen match because of travel back from their NT games.

 

Full credit to Utrecht today and Paes made about as fine a triple save as one will see.

 

Ajax had the better play on the day but one error led to a 4 on 2 break by Utrecht and a well taken goal from Warmerdam that sealed the points for the visitors. The last 12 minutes plus stoppage time following the goal saw Ajax in a bit of panic mode trying to get the tying goal but it wasn't to come. Ajax had enough good chances to score but some good goal keeping and two poor shots that should have been scores saw the home team blanked. There were some very poor performances that you can see reflected in the ratings:

Pasveer (6.5) - had almost nothing to do but he came out quickly to intercept what might have been a man in on goal
Tagliafico (5) - average and nothing more
Martinez (6.5) - looked frustrated when he had the ball with few passing options
Timber (6.5) - reunited with his twin and that was the highlight of the match for him
Mazraoui (6) - had some good interplay with the winger on his side but nothing much came of it
Alvarez (7) - probably the best player on the pitch winning every duel and passing well
Gravenberch (4.5) - exceptionally poor and a weak back pass was inexcusable, appropriately subbed off
Berghuis (5.5) - found everything in the middle clogged with Utrecht players
Tadic (5.5) - sadly he could rarely beat any defender on the day
Haller (4.5) - honestly should have scored in the first half rather than seeing the ball sail over the crossbar
Neres (5) - had a couple of good moves on offense but that was it; I think his transfer value is very low right now
Klaassen (5.5) - had a chance to score but the ball was not optimally placed for him
Antony (6) - had some good crosses and was far better than Neres
Blind (5.5) - OK in his sub roll but as with others could not impact the game
Daramy (5.5) - very lively on the left wing but couldn't get a shot off when it was needed; he really should get a start to give Tadic some rest but that won't happen
Danilo (NR) - on late in desperation time

Off for the WC qualifying break and then face Heerenveen without Antony, Alvarez, Tagliafico and Martinez who won't make it back in time for training prior to the match

 

No he wanted to leave. He did not see a path forward to the first team as the MF is too crowded. The most comparable player to him is Kenneth Taylor and Taylor is much better. Also Youri Reeger will likely move up pretty quickly and is two years younger than Timber.

 

I just watched the highlights from yesterday's match. One of the key problems regarding playing a high press is that if you don't win the ball, the other team can counter if they are alert. Timber was past the halfway line when he lost the duel and Utrecht recovered the ball and quickly headed up field. Only Mazraoui and Martinez were deep enough to defend. Mazraoui did enough in defending two men and took part of the angle away from Warmerdam when the pass came over. Pasveer was too slow in reacting to the shot which I think was savable. If Ajax are not going to use Onana, they need to give Gorter some matches. He is with Jong Oranje during the International break but I don't know if he will be favored over Scherpen as first choice keeper.

 

YIKES!!! We have one antique GK and a bunch of youth GKs. I wonder if they will play Onana despite the lack of a new contract.