Where is the Magic? Ajax 2020-21 Season

Discussion in 'The Netherlands' started by Orange14, Jul 29, 2020.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    A draw was a fair result in this game which was stretched from the beginning. I don't know why Blind was so out of position on the second Zapata goal. Both teams had chances and Ajax tried too many cute dummies in the box which did not connect. Given all the space on the pitch I am surprised that more goals were not scored. Atalanta had a couple of good chances that were skied over the crossbar. Ajax now face the Danish team for home and away matches and need to win both to at least assure third in the group. It will be an interesting return match with this Italian team in Amsterdam.

    Player Ratings:

    Onana (6.5) - had a couple of saves to make and did so
    Tagliafico (7) - he had a good match and had to make some plays on defense which he did
    Blind (6) - to me he was way out of position on the 2nd goal
    Schuurs (7) - brought the ball forward with authority and did as well as he could against Zapata
    Mazraoui (6) - pretty quiet match and was subbed off for Klaiber maybe because he was on a Yellow
    Klaassen (7) - worked really hard all game defending well and other than two poor passes set things up well
    Gravenberch (7) - very nice match on both ends
    Tadic (7) - worked really hard but couldn't get a shot off; cooly dispatched the PK
    Antony (7) - played a very good game and tracked back well; I hope he is not seriously injured
    Traore (7.5) - great hold up play and shielded his man very well
    Neres (6) - worked hard but was not a factor
    Klaiber (6) - decent coming on for Mazraoui
    Promes (5.5) - had some touches and that was it coming in for Neres
    Labyad (NR)

    Credit to the club for working hard all match long!!!!
     
  2. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Agreed on most marks, except for:

    Onana solid!! 8
    Taglia 9
    Blind 7
    Schuurs 8 (Mikey Owen called him the next deLigt. (exaggerated maybe, but hes not that far off).
    Mazra 7
    Gravenberch 8 Ajax future attacking/creative midfielder??
    Neres 6 Average
    Traore 8 Excellent follow-up on the PK call. He needs to starts every game
     
  3. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Klaassen an 8

    Good midfield interceptions and a nice job of spraying the ball around
     
  4. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    de Ligt was always dangerous on corner kicks. Has Schuurs ever scored for Ajax on a free kick?
     
  5. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    I had a couple of jenevers btw :thumbsup:
     
  6. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    How on earth can you judge a 20-year old on just a couple of games??
     
  7. richsavare

    richsavare Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Jan 28, 2003
    New Jersey
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Tough result blowing 2-0 nil lead.
    Really impressed by Antony, Gravenberch, and Traore up top.
    Unhappy again with Tadic tonight.
     
    Brilliant Dutch repped this.
  8. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    Corner kicks since de Ligt have become more dangerous for opponents. I was scared every time we had one.

    I thought Granvebersch was outstanding. However, I think Ajax really left the middle of the field wide open at times. I have no clue why Martinez didn't play. He would have been important.
     
    Brilliant Dutch repped this.
  9. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Especially with Gravenberch.

    Our next Kluivert?????
     
  10. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    The only thing they have in common is that Raiola is their agent. Kluivert's current trajectory will make him a solid candidate for the Freddy Adu award in two years.:eek:
     
  11. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    LOL......you really hate Raiola, don't you :D

    He is a bit of a jerk though, from what I hear
     
    Orange14 repped this.
  12. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    It started back when he was Zlatan's agent and forced a move away. Ajax have always had problems with players of his. I think that was one reason they let Bakker go.
     
  13. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    The Swiss Ramble has a Twitter thread on Ajax finances:


    It is sobering to note that even the worst EPL team gets more in TV money than the entire Ajax player wage bill.
     
  14. To the clubs he is, but for his players he's very caring. He really watches where a young talent has the best opportunity to develop and if necesary advices against a move to a top club if it's not in the interest of a youngster at that moment.
     
  15. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Disappointing defending and this type of play would get really punished in the Champions League. The scoreline flattered Ajax on the day. Three penalty calls against Fortuna certainly helped Ajax who had the major share of possession in the game.

    Player Ratings:

    Onana (6.5) - didn't have much to do and was helpless on the two goals
    Martinez (7) - decent enough game deputizing for Tagliafico
    Blind (6.5) - some good passing and some poor defending
    Schuurs (6.5) - pretty much the same kind of game as Blind
    Mazraoui (6) - don't know where he was on the first goal and came off in the 2nd half with an ankle injury
    Klaassen (7) - good game with two goals but his passing was a bit suspect
    Gravenberch (7) - put in a good shift again
    Ekkelenkamp (5) - had two good chances to score and fluffed the chance each time
    Antony (6.5) - had some good passes and good to see that he was not injured against Atalanta
    Traore (7) - pretty good match in tight spaces
    Neres (7) - unlucky not to have scored
    Promes (7) - good half of football and cool with the penalty kick
    Brobbey (6) - in the right place and made sure of the goal in his first performance
    Klaiber (6) - on for Mazraoui
    Tadic (6) - good play coming on for the final 20 minutes
    Martinez (NR) - on late

    Trip to Denmark for a CL match that is a must win game if Ajax want to stay alive
     
  16. Did Ajax get their money already from Barcelona for Dest? If not and Barca goes belly up, Ajax can say goodbye to their money and Dest is a free agent.
     
  17. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
  18. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    Right after the trip to Atalanta.... shocking.

    So only 1 GK on the trip. Defense should be fine but midfield is a total mess without Klassen, Gravenbersch. This match just got a lot tougher. And no guarantee they are available for the return match next week.

    Why always Ajax?
     
  19. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    #269 Orange14, Nov 2, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2020
    Return match is not until later in the month because of the International break. Lots of clubs have been hit by COVID-19, not just Ajax and there has been a big outbreak in the country so I don't think it was because of the Atalanta trip.

    It could also be false positive tests and those players are being retested.

    EDIT: Ajax test their players three times a week but this was a different test that was used because of UEFA requirements. Onana and Gravenberch both had COVID-19 and one would think that they should not have tested positive. I've been doing a daily newsletter since mid-March and false positives are not uncommon.
     
  20. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    ^^^ as are false negatives
     
  21. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    Onana, Gravenberch, and Tadic are in Denmark and it appears have been cleared to play by UEFA. Only Klaassen and Steks have stayed behind.
     
    DutchFanatic repped this.
  22. DutchFanatic

    DutchFanatic Member

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Dec 23, 2013
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    That's awesome news! We'll miss Klaassen for sure but Martinez is a more than capable replacement.
     
  23. wynaldaisagod

    wynaldaisagod Member+

    Ajax
    United States
    Aug 9, 2019
    #273 wynaldaisagod, Nov 3, 2020
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2020


    WTF... this whole thing is so strange.

    I like the lineup

    Onana; Mazraoui, Schuurs, Blind, Tagliafico; Martínez, Gravenberch, Ekkelenkamp; Promes, Tadic, Antony.

    Klassen is on the bench. So is Neres, Brobbey.
     
  24. Orange14

    Orange14 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 27, 2007
    Bethesda, MD
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    this is just weird. I've been reading papers since mid-March and if one is to believe this UEFA test, the error rate was 20%. Not only that, but three Ajax players had COVID-19 before and they tested positive. Something was wrong big-time.
     
  25. Brilliant Dutch

    Brilliant Dutch Member+

    Ajax
    Netherlands
    Oct 14, 2013
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Nat'l Team:
    Netherlands
    They say a 2-0 lead is one of the hardest to defend :(
     

Share This Page