A Look Into the Crystal Ball: Urby & the 4231

With no news due to the Euro-inspired distraction, we must entertain ourselves, we intrepid Ajax fans. News of Sulejmani’s transfer and KJH’s departure to Real Juventus United will just have to keep waiting. But we can begin guessing, which is all the media usually does anyway. I am anxious to start my first rumor, anyway.

A commenter on a previous post mentioned Urby Emmanuelson’s possible placement on the pitch, and I have not been able to shake the question. First, we have the somewhat troubling fact that Marco dropped Urby from the Oranje side. I say somewhat troubling, because the move certainly made good sense. Urby is redundant to a GioVBrockhorst who is healthy and in fine form. And for a backup, someone who is more of a powerful defender is a good choice: Bouma. Besides, who wants to question anything Marco does right now? (Now, after tomorrow, he may be fair game again.)

Ditching Urby from the Oranje is one thing, casting him out of Ajax would be quite another. Look; Urby has his flaws, namely his defending, but what attack-minded fullback does not get caught out of position or overmatched in the air by a striker? He supports the attack with flair and precise passion, and I do not ever see his defensive miscues stemming from a lack of effort.

But, without a defensive-oriented midfielder to help clean up the messes, what does one do with Urby? He was manageable in a 433 with Davids doing some dirty-work, leaning a bit to his left when necessary. (You know he did this because they are twins, right? Separated at birth? Yeah.) But a two-man midfield like we have seen from Marco in SwissAustria requires something different, right? There is less room for error, less cover for a marauding fullback. Maybe Urby would be better suited to a position further up the pitch, as a winger or a midfielder himself?

While there is certainly some reason in this, I expect Urby to remain at left back. First, we can’t forget that MvB is currently watching an older, more experienced version of Urby play his position with dramatic and inspiring results in a 4231: Gio has been great. Urby brings a similar skill set, and I think he would work hard enough to overcome whatever defensive deficiencies remain in his game.

The problem with an Ajax 4231 is not at left back but in the midfield. It works for the Oranje because De Jong and Engelaar boss midfield and work the ball out quickly. Does Ajax have this type of midfielder? (Gabri? Lindgren?) I dunno. That is a topic for another crystal ball, assuming Marco even wants to keep playing this formation in Amsterdam.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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