Ajax Reborn - the Farioli Edition; Ajax 2024-25

Full credit to Pasveer for the saves during the shootout. No credit to Brobbey and Traore for not even putting the ball on frame and forcing a save. If you have four chances to win the match on penalties, YOU SHOULD NOT MISS. Ajax were the better team during regulation but some good saves from the Pathinaikos keeper kept Ajax off the board. I don't know if there was a hand ball by Villhena on their goal, but the CR thought not and that was that. Henderson should have done better on the play and cleared the ball but it was one of those scramble situations. Other than that the defense is pretty solid. The team is well positioned and even when it looked like Pathinaikos was going to have a break away after a turnover, there was someone covering and the CBs stayed in position. Big props to Farioli for getting this team positionally aware. Lots of tired players from tonight and there will likely be squad rotation in Breda on Sunday.

On to the final qualifier for the Europa League. Ajax like to take that hard road!!!

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (9) - made some good saves in regulation and stopped five penalties in the shootout and took his kick like a striker;; cannot ask for anything more
Rensch (5.5) - had a really dumb turnover with a weak pass to Henderson but was above average otherwise; had to come off with a muscle injury late
Sutalo (7.5) - difference is night and day over last season, he's showing real promise as a solid backline player; I hope he does not leave
Baas (5) - three really bad plays early on and showed his nerves on the PK, but was otherwise decent
Hato (6.5) - though he had a decent game but came off for Brobbey late
Henderson (6.5) - other than the scramble on the goal, he had a good game; maybe I'm being harsh on that play but in the last minute of a match an experience player needs to step up
Taylor (7.5) - next to Pasveer he was the best player on the pitch for me, rock solid defensively had some good attacks on goal and took two nice penalties
Fitz-Jim (6.5) - had an early shot on goal that was saved and played well in the MF, I cannot remember a single bad pass
Berghuis (7) - solid game before coming off in the 2nd half, it may be that he is no longer a 90 minute player
Akpom (6.5) - much better a target man tonight with some good headers and was decent with the ball
Forbs (6) - a baffling player with great speed but it's sometimes to much for him to handle
Godts (7) - solid coming on for Forbs with some blazing speed; took his penalties well
Traore (4.5) - if you cannot put the penalty kick on frame, you have no right to be taking them
van den Boomen (7) - limited player but his freekicks and penalties are great
Gaaei (7) - on for Berghuis at wing and then moved to RB when Hato was subbed off; had a great match with no errors and got the MATCH WINNER
Brobbey (3) - on for the final 30 minutes and had a chance to win the game TWICE and FAILED each time; not good
Bergwijn (7) - on very late but gets a plus point for each made PK

Back to the league on Sunday and Ajax play some team I've never heard of and can't remember the name in the final qualifier.

EDIT: We play Polish team Jagiellonia Bialystok who lost to Bodo/Glimt in a Champions League playoff match.

 

Ajax wanted to keep him and offered him a good extension. Misehouy wanted the salary of a starting player and Ajax was in no position to offer that. The final offer was made late in 2023 and when he declined to sign, Ajax told him to get lost. I cannot blame Ajax at all on this.

 

He is getting over an injury which is why he was not on the bench.

 

I think it was 2007 when Jong Oranje defeated England in the Euros. IIRC they went through two full squad rounds. Huntelaar was on that team but I cannot remember the others.