The king of backpassing is Hato - 9 out of 10 times he passes the ball it's to the keeper or to the nearest fellow defender. Obviously the coach has nothing against it as it's going match in match out.
I would like to see Rijkhoff start in the return leg. Even though his shot missed, he showed good athletic ability on that bicycle kick
Not enough proactive movement and far too slow in possession. Too many spaces between the lines defensively because of lack of movement off the ball. Not enough pressure on the ball. Ajax don’t appear very good from a fitness standpoint to play with a pressing style. Missed creativity and running of Bergwijn once again. Midfield creativity is lacking. Sutalo doesn’t like having the ball. Far too many backwards and sideways passes from him. Branco comes in and has ability to play the ball forward and progressive passes. Ramaj in goal sucks. Akpom can’t play football. Taylor needs to see the couch permanently. Brobbey needs better help and proper supply. Far too much long ball while he is getting mugged. Nothing special from Knutsen. No great football but excellent time wasting from the Norwegians.
Just when all is lost and the team is horrible once more, two late goals get a draw and send Ajax to the frozen wilds of Norway next week with a bit of a chance to advance in the Conference League. Van't Schip made a real bad decision on the starting lineup putting Akpom in at 10 where he was useless (he continued to be useless when he was moved out to the left wing in the 2nd half and Hlynsson slotted in MF). Now that Rijkoff is back in Amsterdam, I won't shed a tear if Akpom moves back to England. Goojier was awful in almost every aspect of the game. I could not figure out who was at fault on the first goal despite seeing the play from a bunch of angles. Ramaj was anchored and Hato and Henderson were converging on the G/G player. Brobbey agains needs to be singled out as one who is always putting top effort into the match. It is so hard to watch this team play!!!! Player Ratings: Ramaj (5) - stats said he made a save but I could not remember it Goojier (3) - absolute horror show Rensch (5) - played only the first half at CB Sutalo (6)- - decent enough for me Hato (6.5) - Cal Ripken streak continues and he was OK, starting at LB in the first half but staying home as Ajax were playing with 3 in the back to prevent counters (didn't really work all that well) Henderson (5) - average and no more Taylor (5) - didn't do anything major one way or the other with two relatively weak shots in the first half Akpom (4) - gets this 'high' score only because of the hard shot that required a good save in the first half Berghuis (5.5) - pretty bad game UNTIL the great chip to even the score in added time Brobbey (7) - had two headers he probably should have put away but his effort was double everyone else Hlynsson (5) - looked like an orphan boy on the LW in the first half, a little better in the second Sosa (5.5) - didn't need to do much defending and had some good crosses including the one that ended up at Berghuis for the tying goal Forbs (4.5) - on for Akpom and ran around a lot van den Boomen (5.5) - well taken penalty and had some good passes but he is really too slow to play as a starter Rijkoff (NR) - on late and he would have received a 10 had the overhead kick gone in Gaaei (NR) - on late Back to league play and then the rematch in Norway next week.
The weather wont be too bad, actually. Between 3 and 6 degrees Celsius https://www.accuweather.com/en/no/bodo/254368/weather-forecast/254368?city=bodo
They can't play with two strikers. With Bergwijn injured there is not threat from the left wing and Berghuis is not much a threat from the right. Only option would be 4-4-2 but that's against Ajax DNA
Hato has little help as Sutalo can’t play football. Sutalo with plenty of space often in front of him he rarely does anything but pass the ball back or sideways.
So it makes them two kings. Even if Baresi plays next to Hato nothing will change. His creativity is so limited that when not defending he has no idea what to do with the ball so he just gets rid of it. When defending his decision making is good and he overall is a very stable defender.
So he's a kind of Tete, who I judged to be the best defender of the Eredivisie at that time, but contributed next to nothing attacking wise to Ajax.
Wow you’re really down on Hato. The only problem I see for him is that he needs to greatly improve his aerial ability, and his physical strength and the latter will improve as he’s only 17. His reading of the game and hunting of the ball is very good. Look he’s going to make mistakes and certainly with the loads of garbage around him in this Ajax side that’s a given, but it’s not anywhere near his fellow defenders. Hato brings the ball forward and looks to play football while Sutalo is completely lost back there, and wants nothing to do with the ball while the guy to his left quite often Sosa has zero clue defensively, and is just too slow to get to the ball if he decides to run. It’s a bad Ajax team, and for most Ajax fans Hato’s been a rare positive in the mostly negative team and season.
Is that AZ guy starting in two weeks or was it at the end of march? He has some Augean stable to clean up.
Pathetic once again with so many inept players who don’t deserve to wear the shirt. Absolutely tired of the lack of running, defensive awareness, slow passing, and overall clueless play. Ramaj in goal is lost also
'm not sure that I can watch this team play any more this season. Just another flat performance with poor play from a number of individuals. IMO, Rensch was at fault on both NEC goals though others surely contributed as well. When you have a 2-1 lead with minutes to play, the game just has to be killed off. But as we suffering supporters well know this season, that is just not possible. Despite everyone on the coaching staff knowing what the key problem is, they cannot do anything about it as self-destruction is just a moment away. Why are the FBs always facing 2 on 1 situations??? Brobbey again with a great match and took a lot of punishment along the way. Hato was unfortunate to get the own goal. Ramaj was great but had two key bad plays. The less said about Tahirovic, the better. Hlynsson has to stay in the MF where he is dangerous. Despite having a chance to move up in the table, this club doesn't deserve to be any better the fifth place. They are just NOT good. Player Ratings: Ramaj (7) - made some great saves but had his kicking was poor Goojier (6) - twice he had to face two attackers which should never happen Rensch (4.5) - he had a couple of good plays but did poorly on the first goal and his man was right in front of him on the second that tied the game Sutalo (6.5) - thought he was decent Hato (6.5) - Cal Ripkent streak continues and the own goal was just unfortunate Tahirovic (4) - he needs to move to what ever club Frank de Boer is managing these days Henderson (6.5) - gives 100% but his best days are just a dream right now Taylor (5.5) - wasn't all that bad but also did not stand out at all, Hlynsson is a more dangerous attacker Hlynsson (6) - his pass to Brobbe on the second goal was good and he needs to stay in the MF Brobbey (7.5) - got credit for the first goal and was tireless in all aspects of the game; the rest of the team is letting him down Banel (6) - reaction to the Brobbey lay off was superb and that was it in terms of highlights; he is not ready for this level van den Boomen (6.5) - he is the only player on this team that has any field awareness, too bad he is a step too slow Forbs (6) - nice goal but almost lost it with a poor 2nd touch Martha (5.5) - worked hard on this cameo and added quickness on the right side Rijkoff (NR) - on late for a tired Brobbey and drew a foul at the end but Ajax did not have a play to score Bodo/Glimt in Norway and for once in a long time I am out of optimism for this team and with Thursday night football they will not be favored in Alkmaar next Sunday. A loss there will put an end to this dismal season.
I think Ramaj makes several errors and doesn’t command his box effectively, but our defensive behavior is pitiful. We allow runners inside our penalty area with no restrictions constantly & NO goal side marking is beyond horrendous. The continuous overall slow possession, and lack of creativity from most of these players has become normal. Add generally poor positional play, with an overall clueless mentality and this is what you get. I need to know what the Coaching Staff is talking about when reviewing the X rated video of these matches? I’m at 4 players at the club who can actually play and they are Bergwijn, Brobbey, Berghuis, and Hato while the others are way below acceptable.
Other than Hato, nobody on the club has the needed mentality to play defense. Wingers often times do not track back. Look how often the FBs face two attackers. Henerson is the only on of the holding MFs that seems to know what to do. In the past the club used a high press to compensate but they don't have the kind of team that can play that way. Neither Berghuis or Bergwijn can do it the way Antony and Tadic did.
watched ajax vs NEC and Bologna vs Lazio one after another. NEC simply were a better team with more ambitious going forward than ajax. in the first half especially after the ajax goal, ajax build up was limited to lateral and back passes while NEC pounced on any opportunity that came their way directly head on. the highlight for me though was the battle of Sandler and brobbey. both were having a micky mouse of a thing and again I will say sandler is a good defender and needs to be playing at a bigger club. was composed and defended well keeping brobbey at bay . for me this is something that we have talked about brobbey. workrate and perhaps holding the ball up is always his high point but this game again proves he will find it going tough vs good defenders. again the same old antics , tumbling to the ground and unable to hold himself in tackles and then complaining to the referee (yellow carded) the spectators were enjoying this though. also missed two good chances and I dont think its about the team letting him down. being critical of him here but it is what it is. if in contrast if I have to compare him to zirkzee, apart from aggressiveness, strength and ariel strength, zirkzee is ahead of him all other department, skills, technicality, clinical. his winner vs lazio was top notch. started it and ended it superbly. lets see which way koeman will bend towards. in the second half ajax picked did pick up the momentum with forbs and martha and van den bommen adding more attacking threat but again I would say NEC's were calm after ajax took the lead 2-1 and continued with their straight and direct attacking game and tied up the game late in extra time. like I said they looked more ambitious and were a better side. tjaronn chery also deserves to be mentioned here . at 35 he still looks like a player in top form on loan from maccabi haifa. its a pity how father blind overlooked him. i can only imagine what this guy could have brought to NT. was constantly a threat in the build up from the middde for NEC.
Isnot Baas on loan from Ajax at NEC? Given his fairly reasonable ratings compared to the Ajax defenders it might have been smarter to have kept him in Amsterdam.