Ajax scratched out a 0-1 win away to Sparta on a very cold and damp artificial pitch. Tadic got the match winner off a snap shot/pass from Danilo for the only goal of the match. Some very fine defending by Alvarez in the MF kept things under control and Sparta only had one shot on goal courtesy of a Gravenberch error. Ajax had better luck against a 5-4-1 defense today and did have some decent attempts on goal that were all saved. Another compressed schedule awaits in December with league matches, the final CL group game against Sporting and the first Beker match of the season against lowly Barendrecht. Willem II at home next Thursday. Player Ratings: Pasveer (6) - had hardly anything to do but did distribute the ball well Blind (5.5) - poor passing on the day but had little defending to do Martinez (6.5) - solid in the back Timber (6.5) - solid game and did move forward on occasion with Alvarez dropping into coverage Mazraoui (6) - better than average on the day Alavarez (7) - solid defensively with some very good interventions to disrupt play Gravenberch (6) - had a bad error in the first half but played much better in the second Berghuis (6) - had a good shot on target late in the match Tadic (6.5) - got the match winner Danilo (6.5) - had several shots on goal subbing for an ill Haller Neres (6) - in for Antony and was above average Klaassen (NR) - in for Danilo Tagliafico (NR) - in late for Blind and had a very good try on goal
Has anyone heard about Bergwijn and Brobbey moving to Ajax during the winter transfer window? I think this would be excellent moves for Ajax.
Easy match for Ajax tonight and Pasveer now has seven straight clean sheets in the league. Five nice goals and they could have had a couple of more with some better finishing but I'll take it. Alvarez totally controlled the MF and I don't think he had a bad pass on the night. Antony with two goals that were might fine. Ajax are off on the weekend and finish up their Champions League group against second place Sporting who are finally getting all their players back to fitness. Player Ratings: Pasveer (6) - pretty much a spectator Blind (6.5) - didn't have much defending to do Marinez (7.5) - nicely taken goal and great defending when he had to Timber (7) - roamed all over the field with little to do on defense Mazraoui (6.5) - decent enough Alvarez (7.5) - solid match with a nice assist on an Antony goal Gravenberch (7) - best match in some time Klaassen (7) - popped up to get a nice goal going the full 90 Tadic (6.5) - decent game from the captain Haller (6) - off sides on the one chance he had Antony (7,5) - to great goals and solid game all around Rensch (6) - nice play as a sub for Mazraoui Berghuis (6) - good wing play Danilo (6) - got one goal but should have had a second Schuurs (NR) - on late Neres (NR) - on late
Would Bergewijn and Brobbey be loan moves? I can’t imagine Ajax would pay a transfer fee for the latter after letting him leave for free so recently.
I just finished watching the full replay. Ajax played quite well against a Sporting team that made a lot of substitutions and had some very young players on the pitch. Ajax passing was solid in the first half with a lot of quickness. Ajax conceded two goals for the first time since the Cruyff Shield match against PSV that opened the official season. It was difficult to figure out who was at fault on the second Sporting goal which was a great strike but one of the MFs should have been even with him. This was the first CL match Tadic did not play in since he came over several years ago. Player Ratings: Pasveer (6.5) - OK match and really had not chance on either goal Blind (6.5) - decent in the half he played Martinez (7.5) - another classic example of great defending Schuurs (6) - was not aware of the danger behind him on the first Sporting goal and then had a sloppy tackle that resulted in a YC Mazraoui (7) - another solid game Alvarez (7) - bossed the MF again today but the YC was really weird as he hardly touched the Sporting player Gravenberch (7.5) - had one of his best games of the season for me Berghuis (7) - rock solid and took his goal nicely Neres (7) - very nice game and rewarded by a goal just before coming off Haller (7) - cool on the PK and his ball handling was very good Antony (7.5) - really unstoppable if he gets the ball in space Tagliafico (6.5) - good game in the 2nd half Klaassen (6) - couple of poor plays on defense but worked hard as always Rensch (5.5) - decent coming on late as a central defender and then moving to RB Timber (NR) - on late when Mazraoui had to come off Home to AZ on Sunday which should be a cracker of a match but Ajax should be well rested as AZ have a Thursday Euro match
€70 million the club made from just the CL this year alone https://www.ad.nl/buitenlands-voetb...-perfecte-reeks-in-champions-league~ac4cb79e/
We have moved past Chelsea and Real Madrid https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/champions-league/
I thought it was a spotty performance. Some slack marking and allowing too much space on more then a few occasions. Couple of notes Blind was awful last night and Ten Hag rightfully subbed him off at the half. I can only hope LVG is watching Daley’s level continue to drop. Schuurs looks slow and lumbering and for me short on confidence. Not sure what he and Pasaveer were up to on the first goal. David Neres needs to go soon I hope. Just very sloppy and risk taking in his own end cannot make Ten Hag happy. Timber responsible for 2nd goal by not closing down his man needs to clean that up. The times I’ve watched Kenneth Taylor I just don’t see any real quality. Gravenberch and Antony were very good last night. I just think the overall play needs to get better. The necessity of keeping their shape defensively and staying connected is very important. I also wonder if Onana takes over in goal and if some new blood arrives to spice up the attack. Neres goes Bergwijn and Brobbey arrive?
It's kind of surreal how easy this group stage has been. Very pleasing to see in this era of super clubs.
I must say... When we were up 3-1 and kept attacking I was reminded why I am an Ajax fan. Everyone else in that position starts to go to bullshit time wasting. We continue to attack.
I don't either. I know he's had lots of hype but I've never watched him for the First Team and noticed anything good. Maybe he needs to play from the start? But it's a little concerning. Same with Unuvar -- but he's at least a little younger and seems to be playing well for Jong this year.
Agreed. Until we give away a lucky counter goal, followed by another lucky goal, and then fly out of the tournament in the last second.
@feyenoordsoccerfan - what is it about the salary numbers that can't be true. Most of this stuff is publicly available and can easily be sourced. The Swiss Ramble has been doing this for some years now, mainly for English teams but also top teams outside of England. Maybe one number might not be wrong such as in the case of Sinistera but even so there are a lot of players who don't have Raiola as their agent and don't make really big money. If you look at the Barcelona salary line it looks pretty much correct in terms of what I have read.
I read the Ajax financials every year when they are released and follow the player signings also. I think the salaries are pretty much in line. I know that the total salary line is correct as The Swiss Ramble did a financial analysis of Ajax about six months ago and that is what he reported. I cannot comment about the other two Dutch clubs you posted and as I noted, the Barca numbers seem to be pretty solid as well.
Another mediocre match and when you may only score a goal or two, the defense better be solid. On this day, the defense gave up two very cheap goals and almost a third which was ruled out by off sides. I'll need to take another look at the replays to figure out who was at fault. Ajax had 2/3 the possession and enough shots on goal to have done better but some good goal keeping and clearances kept victory at bay. AZ did the same thing other teams have done against Ajax dropping five to the back and staying compact. They did try to press early but once the ball crossed the midway line, did a good job of choking off the middle. Too many average performances by a team that cannot rest on it's run in the Champions League if they hope to win the league. PSV can still move to the top of the table with a win later today. Player Ratings: Pasveer (5.5) - had nothing to do in terms of making any kind of save and was undone by poor defending Blind (5) - just ordinary with some poor passing, Tagliafico should have come on at the half and I think warrants a start against Feyenoord Martinez (6) - decent Timber (6) - decent and had to move to the RB as Rensch was quite poor Rensch (4) - had one nice intervention and then seemed clueless about what to do; Mazraoui was missed Alvarez (6) - had some good interventions but this was not the kind of game for him to shine Gravenberch (6) - had some good movement on the ball but really needs to put his stamp on the game Berghuis (6) - had a couple of chances that were saved in the end Tadic (6) - had the nice assist with the pass to Haller but then lost an easy ball when he beat his man Haller (6.5) - had the chances to score which is what you ask of a striker Antony (6.5) - again a nice match with some very good defending as well Klaassen (5.5) - had a couple of deep runs into the box but not a good shot on goal Schuurs (5.5) - OK coming on for Rensch Danilo (NR) - did have a weak shot on goal off a deflection Cup match in mid week and then Feynoord next Sunday. Ajax need to figure out how to solve these defend at any cost teams.
Schuurs seemed like he was in non-man’s land wandering on the second goal from what I remember from the one time I saw it. I really don’t have much confidence in his play. Agreed with your rating on Rensch. He’s been a disappointment.
I just watched the highlights and there were multiple players at fault on both goals. Timber was caught upfield ok the first one forcing Martinez to come all the way over and there was no coverage when the ball deflected. On the second one three players failed to see the danger Wijndal posed. Berghuis just stood still and watched him run right by. I think Schuurs was ok
Not good enough today as the slack marking continues. Blind holding his hand up “begging” for offsides on the first AZ goal continues to make me sick. Haller with the equalizer from close range off a pass from Tadic was a bit fortunate as the original service into the box was badly misjudged by the AZ defender. Second AZ goal was just defended poorly allowing runners to get in the box and behind the defense needs to be cleaned up. Disappointing match.