The Future is Now! Ajax 2021-22 Season

Discussion in 'The Netherlands' started by Orange14, May 24, 2021.

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  1. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I could buy your argument about a one man MF if Klaassen plays but not with Berghuis who does a lot in terms of ball movement. It is not Alvarez's job to go forward but to be the big block in front of the back four. Yes, his ball handling last season was not up to Ajax standards but this year he has spent 15-30 minutes after practice working with Witschge and other trainers on improving this aspect of his game. I think he is 80% of the way there in terms of passing. Also, he is a very real threat on corner kicks and short free kicks into the box.
     
  2. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    The Swiss Ramble has a Twitter thread on Ajax finances:

     
  3. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    From the thread:

    Furthermore, #Ajax €8m post-tax loss is dwarfed by the massive losses reported by other leading European clubs for the COVID impacted 2020/21 season, including Barcelona €481m, Inter €246m, Juventus €210m, #MUFC €105m, Milan €96m and Borussia Dortmund €73m.
     
  4. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
     
  5. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
     
  6. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Full credit to Pasveer who came up with some big saves and gets the MOTM award from me. Ajax were cruelly exposed on a number of counters but Heerenveen could not find the net on the night. Maybe some of this was because of the absence of Alvarez in the MF. Blind looked to be lost on defense, too often up the field leaving Schuurs to defend attackers and he did a very good job of that. Tadic had two nice assists but otherwise was ordinary and he has difficulty beating defenders these days. IMO, Daramy who has great speed needs to get more playing time on the left side. Dortmund won today with Haaland back in the lineup. Ajax will face a stern test on Tuesday and their hopes of making it to the knock out round may well depend on a good result.

    Player Ratings:

    Pasveer (8) - some very good saves kept Heerenveen from scoring
    Blind (6) - just above ordinary for him
    Schuurs (7.5) - made some crucial interventions when dealing with a speedy winger one on one
    Timber (7) - was better in the MF than on the back line
    Mazraoui (7) - nice match playing much of the time in the Heerenveen half
    Gravenberch (6) - started off as the holding MF and saw little of the ball
    Klaassen (6.5) - worked hard as usual but his touch let him down more than I like
    Kudus (6) - had some good plays but some sloppy give aways
    Tadic (6.5) - the assists were there and that was about it
    Haller (6.5) - put away the match winner early on but didn't have much of a chance later on
    Berghuis (6) - above average but didn't influence things
    Neres (6.5) - came on as a sub and was lively getting a nice goal on an open header
    Martinez (6.5) - defense markedly improved with his entry
    Rensch (5.5) - on for Mazraoui and had a couple of touches
    Daramy (5.5) - speed to burn and almost combined with Taylor for a goal
    Taylor (5.5) - on late
     
  7. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    So I just got home and didnt watch the game, but I hope this ends the Berghuis as CAM experiment. I want Klaassen back in that position from here on out, and looking at the todays lineup thats what Ten Hag thinks too :thumbsup:
     
  8. BaritoPutra

    BaritoPutra Member+

    Jan 26, 2007
    Timber was really, really good with ball on his feet… quick, smooth and confidence. Couple highlight moments for me… that one sharp pass, a flick by Berghuis to Tadic (who couldn’t get the ball wrapped around his feet). And that one time he dribbled with ease to the penalty box. Maybe he should be indeed tried as a DM…

    Defensively, he had a huge relief… beaten squarely in the air by Van Beek, only saved by the bar.

    Blind was overwhelmed by the speed of Heerenveen RB (Van Ewijk) and RW (Musaba)… but, lucky to Blind, both youngsters were very inexperienced, and they kept messing up and losing the ball unnecessarily.
     
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  9. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Berghuis played only on the RW until he was subbed off for Neres. Kudus was the attacking MF most of the time until he also was taken off. Klaassen was just average.
     
  10. wilson00

    wilson00 Member

    Oct 14, 2015
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Watched up till neres goal and agree.
    Again for me Timber at CB is not a good investment. In eredivisie it maybe accomdated but on big stage his ariel weakness will become his downfall. His on the ball skills is exceptional but that doesnt covers his vulnerability in other areas.

    That Musba guy is a good talent in making. I think he is on loan there from Monaco.
     
  11. wilson00

    wilson00 Member

    Oct 14, 2015
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    There is a reason why he flopped at epl. He cant handle the high intensity of the game as an when it requires him to come back and go forward simultaneously.

    He will also diminish in NT vs big teams. It has mainly being soft schedules so far and this is where the tempo suits him.When this changes, you will see how he fades out.
     
    richsavare repped this.
  12. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Cannavaro was shorter than Timber and a world class CB.
     
  13. wilson00

    wilson00 Member

    Oct 14, 2015
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    You really wanna use that argument here when he was good in air even though with his short frame.

    Schuurs for me is a more complete defender than Timber.
     
  14. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    But he was the exception to the rule though
     
  15. gabrielguilarte

    Feb 23, 2016
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    I think Timber is a must tray as a defensive midfield with his speed, good positioning, marking and passing. I mean, it’s not like we have any solid defensive midfielder anyway, and we seem to be well stack up on the central defenders department.
     
    DutchFanatic repped this.
  16. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Schuurs is also good for at least one major blunder every match. Timber is not.
     
  17. Plus we're talking about a guy who had tons of experience when he became a star and thus knew from that experience what was needed to compensate his physical limitations.
    Timber has shit experience.
    Koeman was slow, but his tactical astuteness and experience made him know what to do to not get into trouble.
    Timber in the long run may become great, but for now lacks the needed experience that made other CD's able to overcome their physical shortcomings.
    And we had in the Orange shirt much hyped Ajax defenders who in the end were not that good.
     
  18. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Cannavaro was outstanding at the youth level as has been Timber.

    you get experience from playing and Timber beat out Schuurs for a starting position last season because he was mentally a better defender. You're hatred for Timber is because he plays for Ajax and was called up to the NT and maybe that wasn't a good idea but neither you nor I are the trainer of the Oranje squad.

    Joris Mathijsen is exactly the same height as Timber and he was a starter on a World Cup team that made it to the finals. He was not as quick as Timber.

    .... and exactly the same thing can be said about all the Feyenoord defenders of recent years who were no better and at least one, van Beek was let go by Feyenoord.

    We know where you stand on this matter and these posts are getting tiresome. If you wish to continue, put it in the NT or Defender's thread and not this one that is 'supposed' to only be about the current Ajax season. I will more or delete any future post like this in this thread. You have been warned!
     
  19. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I dont know how much they played in their qualifiers, but Nico, Antony and Alvarez are all questionable for tomorrow
     
  20. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Antony came off the bench in both matches. Alvarez did not play in the final Mexico match and Tagliafico did not either. ten Hag stated that Alvarez will start tomorrow in the press conference today.
     
    Brilliant Dutch repped this.
  21. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands

    Attached Files:

  22. BaritoPutra

    BaritoPutra Member+

    Jan 26, 2007
    Huge test for Timber today playing against arguably one of the hottest strikers at the moment (Haaland… 13 goals in 9 games so far this season).

    Obviously one game doesn’t define anything - but wow, what a massive opportunity to gain valuable experience at the highest level. Going from marking a light pole Henk Veerman to Haaland… that’s a nice step up :p
     
  23. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Henk Veerman is much taller than Haaland!:D
     
  24. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
  25. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I hope they do better than the U-18 team which was crushed by Dortmund earlier today 1-5!
     

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