The Schreuder Era Starts and Ends: 2022-23 Ajax Season

Next season is upon us now as far as I am concerned, and many unknowns & questions to be ultimately answered over the next couple of months.
Badly in need of GK of higher quality.
Hoping Antony stays and grows up with his stupid playacting.
Quite frankly it would be a big mistake for him to go at this stage as he is rather immature, but he’s a potential World Class player with dynamic flair, skill, and ability.
I also hope they bring in Bergwijn and Brobbey stays, and if that happens I’m all for selling Haller which has been mentioned at 40 million would be a good return.
Haller has done pretty well but for me he’s very limited in his mobility and skill.
Rumors of Owen Wijndal at 10 million does not make me warm and fuzzy, but Leftback is a huge hole to improve.
Midfield needs upgrades badly in my opinion.
Does Alvarez leave and if so who plays the holding role?
Gravenberch who has been inconsistent and disappointing at times will be missed as he appears to be of a higher class and certainly Bayern Munich thinks just that.
Hoping Ajax gets good money for him.
Klaassen and Taylor don’t do it for me. Kudus injured a lot has not shown all that much when he’s played.
Berghuis will be here and he plays better as 10 then as a Winger but he’s rather limited and frustrating to watch often as well.
Mo Ihattaren? Will it all come together for him? I certainly hope so, but let’s be real in that he’s been outrageously overrated and overhyped to this point. It’s now or never.
Defensively I’m tired of Blind and it goes without saying that he’s incredibly limited so I really cannot see him playing in the back with his limitations.
As a holding midfielder he is not strong either as he cannot cover any ground.
In the big games of serious consequences he’s useless.
Hopefully Martinez stays and Timber too, but both are small and quite vulnerable against bigger, stronger, and more physical opposition. If they go there are huge positions to fill.
Schuurs is too slow and has clearly shown his weaknesses at times when he’s played which led to him losing his position.
Rensch looks like he’s not going to be the answer at right back.
Leftback with Nico leaving and Blind around (unless he retires) is in very bad shape too.
Jong Oranje prospects seem small and physically weak to me will always get an opportunity but again there are many unknowns regarding them.
Last few years with Ten Hag have been pretty good so new Boss Alfred Schreuder will definitely have some areas of concern and work to be done to keep things moving forward.

 

Subbed!

 

Totally fascinated by this off-season. Before you even factor in a new manager, I was expecting tons of movement.

Wijndal is an interesting discussion. 10m is a fair price to me. He's still only 22. The fact that he's gotten full team caps makes me think Ajax could get a very good return for him in 2 years. I'd be fine making the deal but understand the desire to go with academy guys. But Owen isn't that old. The other factor is with RB unsettled too, let's just nail down LB.

I'm hoping to see less Berghius/Klaassen next year. That is for sure. Blind looks finished to me as well.

The key will be holding onto Timber, Martinez and Antony. Those 3 are all fantastic, huge parts of the team and I hope we can hold onto them another year.

It feels like since the 18/19 team, the off-seasons have been quite tame and boring. This year is different. Guaranteed CL should help. I'm hoping for a shock transfer (ZIYECH!!!!)

 

Any idea what will happen to Reiziger and Bogarde? I don’t believe they’re going to ManU.

 

Strange as they were on the bench.
Would appear they’re quite valuable to Ten Hag and Ajax certainly.

 

Lots of very interesting points...

Antony is probably the key. If Ajax lose him, we are in serious, serious trouble. Unfortunately I can see a situation where it comes down to the end of the window and he wants out/tries to force a transfer. We've been there before. I hope I am wrong.

I think Gravenbserch got lots of unfair criticism. He just turned 20. He's been basically a one man midfield most matches (Alvarez can't pass or progress the ball, Klaassen/Berghuis just don't aren't good). I agree he is of a higher class than the rest of the team. Bayern doesn't go after bums. I think he's going to kill it there and end up at Real/Barca. I'd love to see him and FdJ together.

Agreed on GK. They just need to buy someone. No Cillessen.

Midfield is (by far) #1 issue-- is Taylor good enough? I'm not sure. Kudus has been awful in his cameos (just gives the ball away constantly). But maybe he needs to play consistently to get comfortable. The start of 20/21 (against awful teams) by him has been overblown. Alvarez works in a MF with a creative 10 but we don't have that.

Relying on Berghuis/Klaasen = no chance in CL. None.

The more I think about it re: Winjdal... This team has so many unknowns-- that is part of why I just want to just buy Winjdal. Solve LB. He's only 22. He'll sell for a profit in 2 years.

I think they may need to buy 1-2 more vets as well.

Suarez come back if Haller goes? I'd love that. Save him for big matches, late match cameos. It might be the best option at the 9.

 

The task ahead at ManU is different from what they were doing at Ajax. My guess is that they're not equipped with the needed skills for change management.

 

Ajax are going for Koop, Flekken and Bergwijn

https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/371293/poging-4-ajax-voor-bergwijn-flirt-met-flekken-en-koopmeiners

 

I agree -- Timber moving to Man U would be a massive mistake by him. I am betting that he stays. I don't think they want to pay 50m Euro for him and it's just too soon. Unfortunately, I think Antony will force his way out.

Koopmeiners is rumored to be an Ajax target. I really like him and think he'd fit great. A no-brainer really if he's available. I don't think he wants to play for a club that isn't in Europe. Him would really compliment Alvarez.

I'm not really a huge Bergwijn fan unless it's a major discount AND Antony is gone. But both of those might be in the cards.

 

What do you all think the success rate for Ajax players that move to "big" clubs is? I can't imagine it's even 50%. Yet the club has to take the transfer fee and the player is happy to make the move. It's a sad indictment of modern football.

 

Dortmund are after Haller now

https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...n-haller-ajax-wimpelt-eerste-bod-af~ab3a59eb/

 

He turns 28 this week. Thats still fairly young in todays age.
He's probably got at least another 4 years left before he's over the hill.

I wish Ajax would hold on to him, but you can't really stop a player from leaving if he wants to

 

33+ million? Take the money and throw Brobbey in the line up.

 

Evidently Ajax want ~38m for him. I bet they'll split the difference with something like 35+bonuses.

I'd sell but he just had a year with 34 goals and led the CL in goals per game (I think at least). Going to be 28 next year. There's a serious market for forwards who score goals. Ajax paid a ton for him considering his record with West Ham.

Lots of other rumors out there:

* Timber will wait another year-- van Gaal basically told him he needs to play every week to make the WC team. Going to Man U would be a mistake for him.
* Martinez is a target of Arsenal. I'm sure they can offer him a ton more money-- but I'm not sure he'd want to go. These days players seem to care more about CL than league. He's also in mix for Argentina so moving to the PL might not be a great idea.
* Bergwijn seems like it's going to happen. That tells me Antony is out.
* Lots of Schuurs rumors-- I assume he's out too. Just not good enough to play for Ajax.

 

No guarantee he will have the same streak coming season, so sell.

LvG isnot paying him millions more for the risk staying and going to Qatar with the risk being kicked silly.
Remember we have an African country in our group and although not as violent as Cameroun, they're not tenderfoot guys.

 

Smart move by BD because he's hitting his prime.

Who's gonna replace him though?? Brobbey??
I'm not saying he cant do the job, but there's still a lot of question marks around him