Yes, but he’s literally the only change in the squad. Guess I’ll just have to work the entire day and not stream the game. Bummer.
Mazraouai back at RB... Dest was horrific v Chelsea and Ajax couldn't afford to play him in London against them.
Quite the opposite. CP destroyed Dest. They're seeing if Mazraoui is finally 100% fit and in form. Maz has been shockingly bad this season so this is probably his chance to show he can play.
? I posted before the lineup came out today he was so bad v Chelsea that I didn't think he'd get another start vs. them. If people think this has to do with him picking the US... you understand the guy replacing him did the same exact thing last year? Picked another country over the Netherlands and it had zero effect on his playing time. Or are facts totally ignored?
Will you also keep track and publicize all of your spectacularly wrong predictions? Thank you in advance.
dest couldve done better against chelsea, but acting like that match was a disaster seems completely untrue
Since the opening whistle of the Shield final on 7/27 Dest has: Started 12 matches. Gone 90 in 9. Appeared in 16. For a total of 1166 minutes. (this doesn't include his trip to the US) In just over 3 months. I'm going to suggest a rest is not a terrible thing.
L’Equipe had him the lowest rated player on the field. Him and Alvarez were just flat out awful (and Alvarez was dropped). He was beaten badly on the goal. Chelsea had constant attacks on his side all night especially when he caught way upfield. CHO had about 2-3 massive chances that he flubbed. Pulisic made him look like a youth player. I mean... I'm honestly not sure what match people watched if they thought he wasn't terrible? It was his worst match, sure. And he is 18. But the fact is Ajax is trying to advance in CL. They can't afford to have him out there. In terms of timing, ten Hag said the other day Maz hasn't been fit all season and finally is.
And, if Maz really is going to be sold this winter, they need to display the wares a bit for buyers to see. Of course, risk is that he plays really well again . . . but no body buys him.
There is no way Ajax is selling Maz by the winter. Only situation is if he becomes unruly during training or refuses to play. I don't think he's that type of guy. Makes zero sense for them to sell him.
Zwolle 1-3 Ajax @ HT 2 quick goals from Promes, then one from Neres (@ just 20'), before Zwolle brought their Hamer* down. * In my mind pronounced Haaammmer. Edit: and the 'flat out awful' Alvarez came on at 28' for Martinez, not sure why (as I'm not watching the game).
The guy is crazy. He literally sees any argument against Dest as some kind of anti US conspiracy. And when you provide well supported arguments he replies with one-liner Trump rebuttals. No support for his arguments at all. Your point is obvious and correct. Mazraoui also chose another country over the Netherlands. Why the ******** would Dest be benched for Mazraoui as some kind of punishment for choosing the US? LOL! The guy is delusional, truly. Your point is correct, Dest simply wasn't strong against Chelsea. That's not to say he wont still start against Chelsea.... but I definitely think Ten Hag is considering his options (maybe even Veltman at RB?). Truth is Mazraoui was an important player last year and these are the perfect games to get him back in form. Personally I would have liked to see Schuurs over Veltman as well, but I think Ten Hag is using this as a test game for his Chelsea lineup. As you correctly mentioned, Dest isn't the only change. Alvarez also started on the bench (with Neres in the starting-11) which was a welcome change that many people were calling for. Let me be clear that i'm not arguing that I don't want Dest to start against Chelsea. It's a tough choice and I trust Ten Hag on whatever decision he makes. I fully understand if he chooses to sacrifice Dest in this game for a more stable defensive option. But if that option is necessarily Mazraoui... that's tough to say.
Martinez had a small 'injury moment'. It's probably nothing big but since Ajax was already 3-0 up Ten Hag chose to sub him as a precaution.
2-3 now. do we think mazraoui has looked good against a bottom half of the table side? he just got dusted for a dangerous cross that couldve easily been the equalizer and was a half step slow in challenging a very dangerous shot that went wide from just outside the 18
I think winter is probably too soon. If he doesn't fight his way back into the line-up I could see it in the summer.
NO ONE has said at any point Mazraoui has been good this year. He's been god awful. I'm not sure who you are arguing with.
Problem is CB really. Veltman at RB makes sense but Shuurs and Alvarez have not shown enough at CB to start a match like that. Dest has been better than Mazraoui this year. There is absolutely zero debate on that. The question is: was Maz 18/19 better than 19/20 Dest? I think 18/19 Maz is clearly the better player. ten Hag was looking to see if that Maz could come back now he's healthy... and he's still not close to that level.
FWIW everything I've seen ten Hag say has been pretty tepid on Mazaroui's performance so far this season. I did not see today, but my guess is Dest was being rested for mid-week - or, as you note, Veltman will be slid to RB again. I think Maz will brought back slowly in the less competitive league matches (or when injuries/suspensions force the hand) until he has a few great showings. Schurr, while also young, has been pretty erratic so far this season. He's gotten some minutes but it seems like 10H is not totally down with him yet either.