Yogi Berra, don't get me started. "Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours."
Full credit to this team that was so bad this year and that they came within two points of winning the championship is amazing. I am not one of those who moaned about dropping all the points in the past four games. Look at how bad PSV were in the first six weeks after the new year. Ajax really was surprised to be ahead going into the final stretch. Farioli helped make this team defensively solid and while they lacked the attacking football of past Ajax teams, they managed to win matches that in the past two seasons would have been dropped. Henderson is MOTM for me. I don't think he made a bad move all match and ended up scoring his first goal for Ajax that was the match winner. Pasveer had a couple of clutch saves to keep a clean sheet. It's the point now that Kroes needs to make some difficult decisions about who will stay and who will go. He still has to contend with a lot players coming back from loan and whether Farioli decides to move on after one season. There are some very promising players up from the youth ranks and more to come. I am encouraged about the future!!! Player Ratings: Pasveer (7.5) - made some critical saves and was good at making sure free kicks were well defended Rosa (7) - had a good game before coming off in the second half Sutalo (7) - no mistakes today Hato (7) - good in the center of defense Wijndal (7) - defended pretty well and had a couple of good moments going forward Henderson (8) - rock solid in what was probably his final game for Ajax Regeer (7) - good match before cramping up and had the free kick that Henderson put away Klaassen (6.5) - decent enough but IMO he needs to either retire or move on, just too limited these days Berghuis (6.5) - had a good shift but another on the downward side of his career Brobbey (6) - worked hard but didn't get the ball in a shooting situation, overall a very disappointing season and maybe he moves on Tayolr (7) - started on the wing and had some decent touches, hope he stays for another season Weghorst (7) - had one called back for offsides but got the second goal late in the game after PSV already went up 1-3 against Sparta Mokio (6.5)- played LB, MF, and RB in the space of 35 or so minutes, we need to remember that he is still just 17 years old Godts (6) - very active but needs to work on his decision-making if he is to move up a tier Janse (NR) - on late and another one of the kids who has a bright future Traore (NR) - scuffed a shot he should have done better with
In my book squandering 9 points lead in the last 4 games of the season, thus losing the title by 2 points, is a massive f*ck up whichever way you look at it. That PSV did a similar thing a couple of months ago is no consolation at all. Plus we played dull, uninspired football throughout the entire season. Hope next season we'll come closer to playing the football we all want to see Ajax playing. What is worrying me though is the huge amount of deadwood the club has to offload, don't see many buyers for most of it. No matter what I believe next season will be a step up. Good luck!
Rough end to an ugly season of Ajax football today. As a long time fan of the club, and having watched countless matches over a few decades it’s hard to find the proper words about my exact feelings at the moment, but I’m just disappointed at the Club. Disappointed at its hierarchy, most of the players, and the horrible football being played currently. Lots of decisions to be made by Kroes, and I believe that no one is untouchable regarding any possible move out of the club, which is very sad because there is no special player in this squad which is unfortunately true. I never expected a championship title this year, and it’s amazing to a degree at how close this team was to winning the title, despite all of the problems/issues this team has, but my immediate hope is for a change in fortunes going forward. Moving forward in a positive direction is my hope and dream coming sooner rather than later. Ajax 100% Always!
Here are the players on Loan: Alders (FC Twente) - maybe had one first team game Avila (Foralenza -BRA) - until December Goojier (PEC Zwolle) - got hurt right away but saw significant action at RB for Ajax last year Medic (Bochum) - his team was relegated and likely won't keep him Sosa (Torino) - he has been in and out of the lineup Hlynsson (Sparta) - would be good if Sparta buy him as I don't think Farioli likes him Mannswerk (Cardiff City) - club was relegated; he certainly is not the next coming of Henderson Forbs (Wolves) - did not impress either at Ajax or this past season, maybe the biggest waste of money by Mislintat Akpom (Lille) - was decent in France but they don't want to keep him; could be useful at Ajax but only if either Brobbey or Weghorst leave
Well, we got no help from Rotterdam between squandering the lead a couple weeks back in the last moment and then Sparta getting run over today. I watched both together at the same time and Sparta was lucky to be in it and not behind 0-3 or so at the half. lets not kid ourselves, psv was deserved champions this season - but still, that colossal collapse is still hard to stomach.
According to US ESPN, no other Euro league has had a team up by 9 points with five matches left fail to win the championship. This is one Ajax record I never want to see broken!!
Farioli has left - guess all the reports about him being concerned about the lack of squad quality especially going into next season were right. Either that or he’s getting a nice Serie A job that he’d already agreed to. Good luck to him. Much appreciated how he turned many things around for our side, even if the football was hard to watch most of the time! also, glad he did this happened right away to give maximum time for recruiting the next coach. I imagine it’ll be someone like Simonis of Go Ahead or Ten Hag.
I can't say I'm surprised, considering that his family was still in Italy and he is rumored to be sought after by Serie A clubs. I won't speak about the style of play, but I will say that I really liked him and, in spite of the massive choke job, he did a really good job with a very limited squad. I wish him luck wherever he ends up. I suppose that makes ten Hag the favorite? Honestly, I would prefer someone else. He had a good run at Ajax, but I'm not sure he can catch lightning in a bottle again, especially considering how many question marks there are around the squad.
I agree - just look at the goal difference. PSV really lost form when Tillman got injured and hit their stride when he came back. Still, just think - had Ajax not conceded in the 100th minute against Groningen, they'd be hoisting the trophy. Ugh.
Lots of wisdom there. Even if ten Hag were a potential replacement for Farioli, would he want to come back to a club with as many snakes in the boardroom as the one he got sacked from a few months ago?
I think that is the most disheartening part. The boardroom/hierarchy feels so soulless at the moment. Maybe that’s just a reality of life in 2025 in the sporting world, too? It’s sad to see a club with the mystique of Ajax in such a place. It’s almost like you need a grassroots revolution or something.
My thoughts is that young teams are unpredictable. Sometimes you get lucky and they are so young, they don't recognize pressure or big moments. While other times they do and it makes them cease up. They over think things. On Farioli leaving, fair play to him. Despite all the challenges this season he almost pulled off the title. He made half decent chicken soup out of chicken kaak. He had earned his reward. I think he goes back to Serie A!! Ten Haag goes to Leverkusen or a German side. I say go for Simonis of Go Ahead Eagles.
Simonis makes me nervous. His side gave up 55 goals. Just a plus 2 in differential. Are we going to go back to more “offensive” and start giving up goals by the bucketload once again? Although - I’m not gonna claim to be any kind of expert on go ahead or Simonis, just looking at stats and all
I know Ajax is poor by Top 5 standards but in the eredivisie they are rich. They can afford to plunder the likes of Sparta, Herenveen, and Groningen for talent and buy some De Haag youth or other 2nd division kids to upgrade Jong Ajax which has been barren.
This reminds me of how Chicago Bulls owner and GM Jerry Reinsdorf was jealous of Michael Jordan and all the success doing him and the Bulls and feeling he wasn't good enough to credit as the GM for putting the team together. I just feel a lot of the people in The Boardroom think they can make the team into or when are they deserve some credit for a success. A bit like how a lot of credit was given to Overmars for helping them put together. They want that affection and to be wanted in Europe.
Or Reinsdorf with the Sox, or Jerry Jones with Jimmy Johnson. I am willing to give Alex Kroes the benefit of the doubt, but he does seem to be surrounded by a bunch of people with agendas.
There are still a lot of loanees on the books that won't be able to contribute, i.e. there's a lot of dead money to account for. The Mislintat regime was a disaster. CL money will help, but they're probably still a year away from being past the worst of it.
I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Milan. As a USMNT fan, I think he could get the most out of Pulisic but, even more importantly, Musah.
ten Hag very well may replace Alonso at Leverkusen. My choice is Michael Reiziger who is now managing Jong Oranje. He won the 2nd division with Jong Ajax several years ago, the only Jong team to win the league (of course they were ineligible for promotion), I think he would be a good choice and I still don't know why he wasn't considered after ten Hag left. I do not share other's opinion of the new Board. It's far too early to say how they are coming out. Danny Blind was very supportive of Farioli in public remarks. Kroes does have money issues to deal with given some of the players on the books. We have some great and exciting young players almost ready to step into the first team. Thanks to Faraioli, a number of them already got their first taste of action!! The only thing we are really lacking is a proper striker. Rijkoff doesn't seem to be the one and Konadu only recently moved into that position from the wing. Otherwise, outstanding youth at all the other positions. The U-16 team has won the Future's Cup twice in a row and those players have skipped at least one age group (Steur and Bouwman from last year saw first team action in training).