We are up in Hudson, New York for a wedding ( just got back to the inn after a fun evening. I missed today's game so no player ratings.
Huntelaar and Dolberg should not play at the same time but without a European season there are simply not enough games to keep them both happy. I fear this system with two attackers is more down to locker room politics and financial concerns than the prefered option of the coach. Keizer does not seem in control.
It should be just a rotation between both of them, with Frenkie De Jong starting with De Beek in the midfield. They are both a joy to watch. Same goes with Neres and Kluivert as both play really well and create chances. I prefer Kluivert though.
It was amazing to see how many opportunities to shoot that awful playing PEC still managed to get. With Bosz the shaky start was due to getting players out of the straightjacket system they played in for 4 years. With Keizer there is something else going on. The youth coming in are used to play the way Bosz did under the guidance of Keizer, so should fit in without a hitch.
Thing is all four of those players should be starters this season. Sell Dolberg while he still has value, use Huntelaar/Sierhuis and bench Younes for Neres/Kluivert.
Serhuis is still recovering from both shoulder and knee injuries and is only now back in training. No word on when he will be playing in matches. Meanwhile, Casseria is lighting up the goal for Jong Ajax; two goals yesterday and also hit the post. Kluivert may not be with Ajax past this season as his agent is Raiola and we know what happens to players under him.
Some great runs and passes from Frenkie. Ziyech is trying hard too, but unfortunately at things he's not good at - dribbling and taking free kicks. Not sure at all about Kluivert. Huntelaar could and should give more. Hope we'll score at least one more to avoid a nail-biting final.
How did the ball not go into the net in the first minute of extra time? Ajax created chances galore but could not find the finishing touch. Before going any further, let's hope that Ricardo Kishna is OK. It would be a shame if he has yet another knee injury. What was Dijks doing on the long cross that ended up with an ADO goal. It looked to me that he thought it was going out into touch and just stood there ball watching, letting the ADO player get the ball (I think it was our former youth player Sheraldo Beker who saved it). Just awful!!! Cannot complain about the number of chances that were created; Ajax should have had at least four goals given the openings that they had. Player Ratings: Onana (6) - some very erratic decision making today and almost got caught out twice Dijks (4) - very poor performance Viergever (7) - solid match both defensively and bringing the ball forward de Ligt (6.5) - really bad error early on getting turned too far up the pitch but solid after that Veltman (7) - fine match for a change de Jong (7) - good enough to start the next match van de Beek (6) - just a bit above average Ziyech (6.5) - equally outstanding and disappointing; some great passing and some awful passing Younes (6.5) - played decently not trying to force the ball when he didn't have an opening Huntelaar (6) - looked tired after the 60th minute and perhaps Dolberg should have come on Kluivert (6) - deserved Yellow card for diving but otherwise OK Neres (6) - flip a coin about whether he or Kluivert should start; I see little difference between the two Schöne (5.5) - didn't create much coming on for the final 10 minutes Dolberg (NR) - not on long enough though he did have a half try on goal. Cup match mid-week against SVV Shevenigen and then home to Vitesse in the league. Club needs to score goals plain and simple.
Ajax cup match against SVV Shevenigen, scheduled for tomorrow, will be played at ADO's stadium with no away supporters permitted. The concern is that the potential for problems at railway stations as ADO supporters will be traveling to Rotterdam for their match against Feyenoord. Weird stuff happening.
It wouldnot be a good idea if those two met at the station. It's a beautiful historic building. The ADO supporters/hooligans havenot forgotten how Ajax hooligans years ago attacked their supporters home, when there were only kids and geriatrics present, but still beat up those in that home.
Easy Beker win against Schevenigen. 1-5 is the final score though some poor finishing from Ajax kept the visitor's score down. Dolberg ended with a hat trick and played some nice football. Neres drew a penalty in the box and was denied a goal as he didn't quite beat his marker who slid the ball into the net for an OG. Player ratings: van Leer (6) - had hardly anything to do and the goal conceded was another one resulting from poor defending Viergever (6) - spent most of his time in the offensive end Wöber (6) - don't know if he is a LB or central defender, had a decent game Veltman (6) - played in the middle for the first time in over a year Orejuela (6) - OK match but the quality of the opponent was poor so we don't know how well he can defend Schöne (6) - decent enough going the full 90 Eiting (6) - got a good run out in the MF S de Jong (6.5) - nice headed in goal and some decent passing in the MF Cerny (5) - weakest player on the pitch for Ajax, missed on a golden chance to score and his passing was sub par Dolberg (7) - nice game despite getting hacked every time the ball came to him Neres (6) - a little too lackadaisical on the ball for me Zeefuik (NR) - on late for Veltman and I can't remember him getting a touch Back to the league on Sunday hosting Vitesse
You need to consider the opponent. ADO is not a particularly quick team and beating their players is not the same thing is playing against France and doing the same thing. time will tell about de Jong, van de Beek, Kluivert, and de Ligt. Right now one cannot say that they are world class players.
Think people grosly underestimate the impact of Nouri's situation has on his youth team mates. Think it will take a long part of the season for the young kids to come to terms with it.
That's certainly a factor. I only saw the first half as we had a party to attend this morning. Worst half of football that I've seen in some time. It looks like de Ligt will be out for some weeks now with a bad concussion (he was particular poor before the injury) so I imagine Veltman will move back to the middle. What was more troubling is the passing and positioning was just awful. Dijks was at fault on both goals that I saw and Overmars should take the heat for not finding a LB during the transfer period. Today it looked like nobody wanted to play football.
Why? He has Dortmund at top of the Bundesliga!!!! I guess it was a smart move to leave Ajax last spring.