It’s All About Trust
By: Matt |
1 Comment
FC Twente must really be flying high. They have not lost to Ajax this season, and they stand with a 2-1 advantage after the first leg of the playoffs. Unlike a few teams in the Eredivisie, they do not seem intimidated by the Amsterdam giants. They are so bold right now, they might even publicly announce a move for Ajax’s manager. Which is exactly what they did.
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Category: Team News
Tags: Less Than Effective
By: Matt | Add Comments
I am going to try to stay as positive as possible here. A 2-1 away defeat in the first leg by no means is decisive, yet. The away goal from Suarez could be a tremendous aid. A 1-0 victory at the Arena will be enough. Looking at the highlights, however (I was out of town and unable to watch. Did I jinx us?) we may have something to worry about. As commented below, we did not create that much. I was not blown away by their attacking prowess, but N’Kufo can be deadly effective.
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Category: Team NewsShort Hop
By: Matt | 2 Comments
I am going to be gone all weekend and will not return until late Sunday night. I do not even expect to see the match this weekend against FC Twente, so I expect some comments here from you in lieu of a match report. Consider it a homework assignment from a guy who just finished his spring semester.
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Category: Team NewsIt Worked?! KJH To Stay?!
By: Matt | 3 Comments
Ajax may have caught the big one! Everybody knows the real reason Marco van Basten was hired to be the next manager at Ajax. And everybody knows why he asked Dennis Bergkamp to join his staff. It’s simple really: Klaas Jan Huntelaar, the second-coming of Ruud van Nistelrooy. And the gig might have worked. Speaking to Ajax Life mag, KJH said that he will certainly consider staying at Ajax to work with the two masters.
Read it here and here.
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Category: Team NewsGhosts of Ajax and Rumors
By: Matt | 3 Comments
So with the news that broke yesterday that Danny Blind will be joining the staff at Ajax as technical director, this makes a rather impressive lineup for a possible legends squad should the backroom staff ever decide to play a match.
Def: Frank de Boer, Blind (Koeman may need a job, does he want in?)
Mid: Aron Winter, Gerrie Muhren (scouting), Rob Witschge (coming with MvB)
Att: Bergkamp, van Basten, John van’t Schip (with MvB) sub: Adrie Koster (3 caps, how many have you won?)
Eight out of eleven, needing a true holding mid and some help on the backline. Sound familiar? Now maybe we know why…
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Category: Team NewsExit Michael Bradley, Enter Danny Blind
By: Matt | 5 Comments
No, this was not a substitution made in yesterday’s 3-1 trouncing of Heerenveen. I am merely referring to Bradley being sent off with two yellows in the first half(!) and Blind being hired by Ajax to replace Martin van Geel as technical director. Blind will supposedly focus on “youth, scouting, and buying and selling.” More to say on that in a bit, but first the match.
By now it should be clear to all comers that Heerenveen cannot defeat Ajax. This was their fifth loss this season. Heerenveen never maanaged a lead at home or away but yet could manage a few meaningless goals late. For some reason, the second-best attacking side in the Eredivisie brings our defenders out of their comfortable homes. Chances for Heerenveen were few in Frisia and perhaps fewer in Amsterdam. Ajax did not score until a penalty at 45′ by Perez, but the match was really never in doubt. But there is still good news and bad news..
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Category: Team NewsLiberation Day
By: Matt | Add Comments
All across Holland today they are celebrating the end of occupation during World War II. Let’s hope some of that celebration continues after today’s match in the Arena. Vertonghen is back from suspension, no word on Davids’ injury, Sulejmani is still hobbling around after surgery (not that I would wish ill health on the man), and the Frisians still gave up two goals at home last leg. Heitinga had better be on his best behavior lest he pick up a card and miss the next game. I doubt that would carry over to La Liga, though. So, if we are losing, expect to see him karate chop some poor forward to go out with a shout.
I don’t have much to say here. Do you realize this is the FIFTH time we have met Heerenveen this season? This is a yet another argument against the now lame-duck playoff system. It’s like the EPL or something where everytime you look up Liverpool is playing Chelsea in yet another competition. But I don’t have to complain anymore (unless we lose…) We have won them all so far, 4-1 3-1 4-2 2-1. I don’t like betting on streaks to end.
Ajax 3 - 0 Heerenveen
Suarez 21′
Suarez 38′
Huntelaar 55′
FC Twente’s got winnner. They finished off NAC Breda 5-1 (8-1) in a game that got ugly. Can you blame NAC fans for getting unruly watching their side get beaten 5-1 at home? A little playoff fatigue, perhaps. It’s been a long season. Regardless, Ajax or Heerenveen will encounter a side with a little confidence next round.
Category: Team NewsThe Verdict on ten Cate
By: Matt | 1 Comment
I just started this blog around a month ago, so I never got an out let to speak my mind about Henk ten Cate’s (disastrous?) tenure as manager at Ajax. And you, my readers, never got to tell me what you thought. So, I’ll go first. And I’ll try to keep this civil. You do not have to.
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Category: Team NewsA Positive First Leg: 2-1 Win Away
By: Matt | 2 Comments
So I predicted a bit of a goal-fest and was wrong, but it could have easily been one. Ajax had plenty of chances and thoroughly dominated the match. If Heitinga were an inch taller, or if he were slightly better in the air (He’s all yours, Atletico!), Heerenveen would have drawn a blank. On the attacking side of the pitch, we had plenty of possesion and nice passing. I am not sure why we did not score more. Perez missed an easy chance, and KJH was limited on the day, but If Heerenveen defends like that in Amsterdam, it might get ugly.
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Category: Team NewsPlayoff Preview
By: Matt | Add Comments
Let the silliest of seasons begin! I know the KNVB deserves all the criticism it gets for even having these end-of-year opportunities for mischief, mayhem and hijinx to corrupt the sanctity of the league table. But it also means we get to see Heitinga and Huntelaar for at least two more matches. And for that, I say bring on the playoffs one more time!
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Category: Team News
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