Ajax wouldve easily won this game 4-1 if it wasnt for AZ's keeper and their defender clearing a few balls off the goalline
You probably should worry more about the state of your own mid-table club than Ajax. I think most of the AZ shots were not on frame whereas the Ajax shots were; big difference.
AZ – Ajax 1-2 AZ: Bizot 6,5; Svensson 6, Hatzidiakos 6,5 (77. Friday -), S. Wuytens 7, Ouwejan 6,5; Koopmeiners 6, Midtsjø 6,5, Til 5; Jahanbakhsh 6, Weghorst 6,5, Seuntjens 5,5 (65. Helmer -). Ajax: Onana 6,5; Zeefuik 4,5 (46. Orejuela 6,5), De Ligt 6,5, F. de Jong 6,5, Dijks 6; Van de Beek 6,5, Schöne 7, Ziyech 7; Neres 7 (80. S. de Jong -), Huntelaar 7, Kluivert 6 (90. Dolberg -). Arbiter: Makkelie 5. Man of the Match: Zeker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had tegen AZ vaker kunnen scoren. Maar de keuze van Marcel Keizer voor hem in de punt van de aanval ten faveure van Kasper Dolberg pakte in Alkmaar absoluut niet slecht uit. Dankzij een knappe gelijkmaker en een versierde strafschop die door Lasse Schöne werd benut, blijft Ajax voorlopig in het spoor van koploper PSV. Zijn goal in het AFAS Stadion betekende Huntelaars 82ste voor Ajax in de eredivisie. Daarmee is hij de Uruguayaan Luis Suárez voorbij en bezet hij nu de elfde plek op de all-time topscorerslijst van de Amsterdammers.
It makes sense to me... FIFA=corruption and corruption=poor officiating therefore FIFA=poor officiating
Yup, if your guys arenot cold blooded enough (Friday miss should be on youtube) donot blame the opponent for taking the platter served (well, with a penalty give away) win. And it's disgusting if your only creativity to mock the opponent is singing bigotted texts.
One player stands out in ignominy and his name is Hakim Ziyech. Playing against his old team yet again, and yet again he comes up disastrously short. Games such as this one bring tears to my eye and a heaviness to my soul because of what could have been but for the terrible event in the alps in August. I still don't understand the rationale behind Keizer's substitutions but maybe F de Jong was tired and with such a weak bench his namesake was "maybe" a good substitution (but why not Orjuela instead and move to a back four at the start of the 2nd half?). But I don't get paid the big €s to make game time decisions and it's always easier to be an armchair commenter after the fact. Player Ratings: Onana (7.5) - quite a nice game with some tough saves during regulation play; yes he was rightfully angry at himself for not saving the scuffed PK Dijks (7) - not many complaints from me and he did have a good intervention when a Twente player was about to strike at Onana's goal de Ligt (8) - just a stellar job of marshalling the defense all game long and convincing on all balls in the air Veltman (7.5) - I thought he did a good job at shutting down Asaiddi when Ajax were playing a back three F de Jong (6.5) - not as commanding as in previous games and came off after a half played Schöne (7) - most time he's played in maybe three years going the full 120 and didn't seem winded van de Beek (6.5) - good pressing in the MF Ziyech (2) - one point for a good shot on goal, one point for a great free kick, zero points for 120 minutes of mediocre play - it's all on his shoulders and I won't cry if he is sold in January Kluivert (7) - great goal on what was the match winner until the 91st minute Dolberg (6) - thought he was better than decent on the ball Neres (6.5) - pretty silent in the first half as everything went down Kluivert's side of the field but came alive in the second half S de Jong (5.5) - nailed a PK in the shootout but how did he miss an open net by skying the ball over the cross bar in OT? I don't fault him for the slip on the goal as the pitch was slick and better players than he slipped Orjuela (5.5) - a bit all over the place on defense Huntelaar (6) - had a chance on a rebound but shot right at the keeper Another season without a cup win. The second half of the season starts this Sunday against Willem II.
Michael Reiziger appointed as interim manager. Interesting that they finally jettisoned the eternal assistant
No question that Neres is the MOTM for his really fine play in the 2nd half. Ajax finally came to life after conceding the goal on the fine counter attack by Willem II and put three goals in the net for what was a pretty flattering score. The first half was very disappointing with a lot of turnovers and poor passing. The club goes into the winter break in second place with a steep hill still to climb to get back into the title chase. Let's hope that Dolberg just got a slight ankle sprain in the final minute of the match and recovers quickly as Ajax don't need any more injuries. It will be interesting to see what happens with the manager position in the new year. Player Ratings: Onana (7) - made one fine save but had very little to do as Willem II pretty much gave up with ten minutes left Dijks (6.5) - quite a nice match until coming off after Ajax went down by a goal de Ligt (7) - solid and not afraid to maraud up the field with the ball when the space is open Veltman (7) - decent enough F de Jong (7) - forced to play LB when Dijks went out and didn't miss a beat; still want him in a more advanced role Schöne (6.5) - OK match for me Ziyech (6.5) - a couple of nice passes and a stinging shot that was well saved; definitely better than in the cup match van de Beek (5.5) - really should have put the shot away early in the match Kluivert (6) - great goal but surprisingly mediocre the rest of the time with lots of turnovers Huntelaar (5.5) - seldom involved and came off with a calf injury Neres (7.5) - just a fine match and for me still the best field vision of any player on the squad Dolberg (6.5) - made sure of goal on the Neres pass but shot wildly a couple of other times S de Jong (7) - good diving header that was saved and then the great hold up and slide pass to Neres for goal #3 Johnsen (NR) - on late for Neres and had one touch but that was it Open up with Feyenoord after the winter break which should be interesting. Let's hope that all the players carrying injuries recover and that the management situation is resolved. This is our club and we watch because we have to!!!! Happy holidays to all and I guess we will be posting a little more than normal during the break about the management
Ajax – Willem II 3-1 Ajax: Onana 6,5; Veltman 6, De Ligt 6,5, F. de Jong 6,5, Dijks 5 (61. S. de Jong -); Van de Beek 6,5, Schöne 6,5, Ziyech 7; Neres 7,5 (89. Johnsen-), Huntelaar 6 (39. Dolberg 6,5), Kluivert 7. Willem II: Branderhorst 7,5; Lewis 7 (57. Lieftink 5), Lachman 6, Heerkens 6,5, Van der Linden 5,5, Tsimikas 6; Haye 6,5, El Hankouri 5,5 (78. Croux -), Rienstra 7; Azzaoui 5,5 (46. Crowley 6), Sol 6. Arbiter: Manschot 6. Man of the Match: Het was bij vlagen weer smullen van de Braziliaanse samba-acties van David Neres. Na een moeizame eerste en een uitstekende tweede helft kon de man van twaalf miljoen wederom een assist en doelpunt bijschrijven. Het was voor Neres alweer voor de zesde wedstrijd op rij waarin hij goed was voor een assist, waarmee hij de eerste speler sinds Finidi George in 1993 werd die dat presteerde. Met name zijn actie waarmee hij Willem II-verdediger Jop van der Linden in de luren legde, zorgde voor luid gejuich in Amsterdam.