Onana back training with the first team... I've said a bunch of times on here but he will be starting matches by the end of the year. This team is too special to let a grudge get in the way of a major CL run. Pasveer was excellent this week so the timing might be weird with the squad. But Onana is just a lot better player.
I have to admit myself: I don't love Alvarez and was skeptical about Haller. But I actually believe introducing some almost anti-Ajax, result driven players has been huge. Haller's obviously not very technically good but he is constantly in dangerous positions. He can score off a corner which we haven't had since de Ligt left. Seriously, anyone else remember when corners were more dangerous for the OTHER team on the counter? He's going to flub chances but the fact is he is in positions to actually GET chances all of the time. Alvarez I was just straight up wrong about. As you said, he's raised his game to another level. Having a CB at the CDM really, really helps Gravenbserch as well as Timber. Blind at LB was a really bold choice by ten Hag. I thought for the last 2 years, ten Hag needed to figure out a way to get Martinez on the field. His fight was desperately needed. But Blind is too good to sit so that was then issue. Benching Nico was a risky move but it's turned out to be 100% correct.
Onana can rot in hell!!!!! Ajax stuck by him when he was banned and helped him challenge it and get it shortened. He wants to leave on a free at the end of the season; fine let him do so but the fact that he showed no gratitude to the team is a total joke.
I dunno, modern football is a business and if he helps Ajax hoist the Champions League trophy, I'd be ok with it.
If Ajax had a decent GK or wasn't in the hunt for CL, I'd agree. But this team is probably the deepest Ajax team ever. We've got guys on the bench who are starting for major national teams. I'm fine with it. The stakes are incredibly high.
He hasnot played or trained for a very long time as he was banned from both playing and training. I wonder if it's not a risk to put him in the goal?
He trained with U21s for a bit and I'm assuming will train with first team for at least a couple weeks before playing.
Just watched that shitshow in Almelo. This and the Utrecht match I think demonstrate a bit of a worrying trend. As dynamic as the side is… it is maybe a bit too dynamic? Like the inability to force through a goal when just *one* is needed. Don’t know if that makes sense… just hope this sort of thing doesn’t bite us later in the campaign…
The only thing worse than watching a football match on an artificial surface is watching one on an artificial surface in a rainstorm. Both keeper made critical saves to keep it a scoreless draw and Schuurs had a nice intervention to prevent a goal as well. Not too many good performances from Ajax other than Pasveer and PSV now creep two points closer to the leaders. Heracles continue to be a tough opponent for Ajax in Alemo Player Ratings: Pasveer (7.5) - did not have much to do in the first half but made some outstanding saves to keep yet another clean sheet. Blind (6) - had some good passes but was otherwise ordinary Martinez (4.5) - forget about this game, it was bad and he is capable of much better Timber (5.5) - above average is all Rensch (5.5) - came off late with a hamstring problem Alvarez (6) - defended well Gravenberch (6.5) - did well with the ball at his feet Berghuis (5) - poor on the night Tadic (6) - slick surface impacted his ability to be any kind of playmaker on the left side Haller (6) - OK and nothing more Antony (5) - average and no better Klaassen (5.5) - came on for Berghuis but had little impact Neres (6) - wonderful pass that Tadic headed right at the keeper Schuurs (6) - had a saving intervention in a 2 on 1 situation Off to Dortmund to take on an injury riddled side in the Champions League. Ajax will have to play much better than tonight if they want to get a result.
I wonder if, on top of the environmental factors you mentioned, they had one eye on the Dortmund match. If my math is correct, a win should guarantee passage to the next round.
Ajax have won only once in the past five years away to Heracles so it's not a surprising result. Yes, a win sends them through to the knock out round and a draw in one of the two final matches puts them top of the group.
Ajax can earn €65 million if they beat Dortmund on wednesday: https://www.ad.nl/buitenlands-voetbal/ajax-kan-met-primeur-in-dortmund-flink-cashen~a1f1ed29/
Congratulations to @AFCAjax on topping the @CIES_Football annual rankings of most productive training clubs for players in 3⃣1⃣ European top divisions 👏 8⃣1⃣ #Ajax-trained players currently active in these leagues 🥳 Top 💯 in today Weekly Post ➡️ https://t.co/2on58dlurL pic.twitter.com/5X54SGAn8t— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) October 25, 2021 Best training clubs for goalkeepers: @AFCAjax at the 🔝 for current 3⃣1⃣ European top division players 👏 @Arsenal & @FCBarcelona also in the top 🔟 Full training club rankings in last @CIES_Football Weekly Post 👉 https://t.co/2on58dD5Ql pic.twitter.com/cwRdjadYYj— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) October 28, 2021 What if Ajax can actually keep all their youth players? Rather than the best being hijacked/blackmailed away before they turn 18. Foreign journalists now like to write those 2018-19 players aren't actually very good: 🔺 Watertight defence but also 2nd highest xG in #UCL so far, behind #MCFC🔺 Viewed as a future manager of #BayernFC🔺 #Ajax have picked up under-utilised players such as Tadic & Haller🔺 High profile players they have sold have struggled elsewhere📝 @honigstein @Worville— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) November 2, 2021
I'm not expecting a 4-0 cakewalk like last time, even without Haaland. I predict a hard fought 1-0 or 2-1 win for Ajax. Even the bookies have us pretty much even
2 mistakes by Ajax would have been punished by a better team, and we'd be down 2-0 already Hummels red card looked like it was for intent
Hmm bad penalty call in my opinion. But also the red was perhaps harsh (although a very risky tackle by Hummels if Anthony hadn't dodged it). Ajax playing badly at the moment.
Kujit just said on RTL7 that once you launch two legs into the air it's an automatic red card. Sneijder apparently doesn't know the rules
A flattering win marred by a questionable RC (go to the Referee Forum where nobody supported the call). Ratings to come; I have to cook dinner.
Even though without Haaland, Ajax still has to perform to take care of business and they did. Let's hope that they can get an easy draw and go deep!
For sure, although I would say the penalty was at least as soft as the RC. The RC was harsh but it was a ridiculously reckless & dangerous tackle. Had Antony not dodged that could have been a horror injury, so I understand the decision.
To be fair, Ajax was already improving before that red card. After 15 minutes or so. In the home game there were many calls going against them, including blatantly wrong yellow cards. The penalty was soft (and arguably not a "clear and obvious error").
That's right. If you want to cut out diving by players, you have to punish this stuff (with a yellow).