For decades I Love Ajax but this football under this Trainer has been mostly garbage. The pundits namely Sneijder & Van der Vaart are not wrong about the hideous football under Farioli. The fault of Farioli is that ugly football, his tactics, and selections. Obviously the individual players performance is on them. 2 matches left and 2 Wins from the Championship makes no sense whatsoever, but I hope it happens as a fan of Ajax.
Yeah, but if he (tried to) play beautiful football with this lot and got slaughtered like last season... Guess what they would talk about Just reread the comments by them about Steijn/JvhS/Heitinga.
I agree - the problem with Ajax is that expectations are always sky high and therefore often unrealistic. Again, if someone had said at the beginning of this season that Ajax were going to be in the CL and top of the table with two matches to play, every single person would have considered the season successful beyond their wildest dreams. It's important to keep that in perspective as they're busy throwing the title away.
Yeah, the best matches Ajax played were both home and away ones against Feyenoord and PSV. In those this creativity lacking bunch could sit back, absorp the pressure and hit on the break out. Perfect setting for this. Only team that overcame that was AZ. Ajax struggled against lesser opponents, as then the creativity tools had to be used One thing FC Twente absolutely shouldnot do in the Arena is to take the initiative, as than the Fariola way will hit Twente on the break out. I'm not sure if Oosting is tactically smart enough to understand that. He should allow Ajax to have the ball, while having 4 men in midfield to smother Ajax's attacking plans. Steijn on the break out or with a distance shot in that case would be lethal.
Clearly they lack the quality individually and collectively to play beautiful football We know this current Ajax cannot play beautiful football, and the media will always be ready to pounce. This current Ajax struggles badly in possession with a clear lack of creativity and cutting edge among other problems. Your correct about them being better without the ball as shown vs Feyenoord & PSV, and it would seem likely that Groningen today, and Twente on Sunday would be smart to follow those same defensive tactics. I also believe that Ajax lack pace and athleticism in Midfield and Defense and can be had because of these issues.
PSV gained 8 points on them with Ajax facing the 4th, 10th and 13th placed teams . I believe their title probability was about 99%. Now it's 50/50. Some of the xG stuff suggests some very bad luck. But I watched a lot of the last match -- it was putrid. Still -- just win today and I think we can still win the title. I'm (probably stupidly) hopeful for this match.
Ajax absolutely pathetic today once again. Groningen just better football. Valente class player Blokzijl and Resink also better than what Ajax showed. Both Keepers allowed bad goals. PSV should have won the League weeks ago to be honest, and this Ajax side again just not a very good team.
this team keeps finding new ways to drop points. The team has defended free kicks pretty well all season long but failed when it counted. Maybe Sutalo made a mistake in committing the foul that set up the kick. Maybe Pasveer didn't do enough to come out and parry the ball. In the end it doesn't matter as the team had two defensive lapses that led to goals and that is probably the season barring a major performance from Sparta. I cannot complain too much as PSV gave up so many points at the turn of the year to lesser competition that the reversion to the mean was likely. One thing I've noticed over the past four games is how passive Ajax have been. Virtually zero pressing and just dropping back to quickly, ceding too much space to the opponent. I'm not too encouraged for Sunday's match against Twente and won't be surprised if the team comes out flat. In order for this team to improve they need some better ball handlers in the MF. The loss of Baas really hurt the build up and maybe Farioli should have slotted Hato into the middle several games ago. That's just armchair FIFA football management. Finally, I really don't understand how Dutch match officials have become so terrible all of the sudden. Manschot missed at least three YCs on Groningen players for stomps on the foot and was equally bad on some Ajax challenges. A couple of players got hit in the face with no call as well. I don't want this league to be turning into the EPL but that looks like where it is headed. Player Ratings: Pasveer (6) - did not have a tough save to make but could he have been more aggressive on the 2nd goal Gaaei (6) - fantastic goal to put Ajax in the lead but the rest of his game was ordinary Sutalo (6.5) - decent enough until he fouled at the end of the game setting up the match winning play Hato (7) - solid in the middle but that was expected Mokio (4.5) - I know he has played LB for Jong Ajax but he made a rookie error in letting his man have a free shot on goal Henderson (6.5) - had some good defensive play but it was not enough Taylor (6) - OK match split between MF and LW Fitz-Jim (5.5) - above average but still doesn't get enough space to shine Traore (6) - got stomped on twice and hit in the face once with no call, did make a couple of good runs Brobbey (5.5) - nice lay off to Gaaei for the goal but absent the rest of the game, I think he needs to move on this summer Godts (4.5) - very disappointing, he needs to really look at how he can see the field better Weghorst (6) - nice goal but slack defending on free kicks Klaassen (5.5) - no major complaints other than I am afraid Ajax will sign him to a new contract Wijndal (5.5) - decent enough Berghuis (6) - great cross on the Weghorst goal and had a couple of other good moments but he's really on good for a half hour these days Regeer (NR) - on late for Godts Home to FC Twente to conclude the season on Sunday. Have to give the team credit for exceeding expectations. Beat PSV and Feyenoord both home and away which is always good in my book!
That was the worst collapse in all the years I have watched Ajax play. I soured on Klaassen that day. I'm too lazy to post a link to my match report but you can find it easily enough. 2nd from the bottom team and Ajax cannot get a victory.
I know, but its so disappointing that they keep missing obvious fouls. At least the call on the Henderson tackle was correct but even then, Groningen were protesting the call. I wonder if any cards were given for the fight at the end of the game.
Refereeing in the KNVB does need improving there is no doubt about that. Our friend Higler not great in Champions League on the VAR either in the recent Champions League Semi-Final, but I’ll leave that as it is. I think he stinks as a Referee but that’s all I will say about Higler. Regarding Valente, he actually got the ball first and his follow through was pretty rough, but Ajax just have no clue how to play or act this season, and they have become a very weak side mentally, and soft physically too.
Ajax 2015-16: What Will Frank Do? Link to the collapse in the final game of the season against De Grafschaap
You just knew the goal was coming after the stupid foul by Sutalo. My ticker can’t take much more of these collapses such as today, the infamous CL semifinal, or even watching Feyenoord blow it last Sunday. I don’t even know if I bother watching Sunday. You really think Steijn will have his side put up much of a fight against psv? I guess they could still get in the playoff places. what a disappointment.
Well, after the image of the table, occupying the last spot in last season, I guess this hope and while it lasted on top of the table was a lot better feeling than that of despair at the last spot
Most of us were hoping for 3rd place this season. That we are going to finish at least in 2nd is amazing. I'm astounded by all the pundits who are saying how Ajax gave this away when in fact PSV had a worse spell after the turn of the year. Farioli did what he could to make the team competitive and in that he succeeded. We will see if he sticks around to improve things even more. Ajax had a lot of breaks up to the last five matches or so and now things have reverted to the mean which is always what happens. I hope they can beat Twente on Sunday regardless of what happens in Rotterdam.
I don’t know guys, I’m feeling more optimistic today for some reason. Maybe Sparta pulls a draw on Sunday in Rotterdam. That’s not an unthinkable result. And maybe the boys come out and do the job on Sunday against Twente like they did in the last match many moons ago. It ain’t over yet! We’ve got an Italian coach after all - they are masters of pulling it off at last moment!