Exit Michael Bradley, Enter Danny Blind

By: Matt | May 6th, 2008

J Sarpong v Heer 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..

The good news is that we got to see what life without Dennis Rommedahl might look like, at least for 40 minutes until Suarez got hurt (see bad news below). Jeffrey Sarpong made the start and looked terrific on the left wing. Gotta love seeing youngsters appear in the playoffs and excelling, but I do want to know why this decision was made so late in the year. Did Sarpong just become mature enough? Why has he been on the bench all season (if he was even there for most matches)? Also, Perez is scoring goals from midfield. Last season, our attack was in full swing when Wes was in goal-scoring form. A 433 really benefits from a goal scoring mid (see F. Lampard, Chelsea). Perez is banging them in, and this makes everyone more dangerous. And Heitinga was a good boy: no cards=no suspension.

The bad news could be terrible. Suarez left with what looked like a pretty bad injury to the left ankle. X-rays were negative, but he may not be ready on Thursday to face Twente. Also, Stekelenburg left at halftime. Koster claims it was precautionary (Steks may have been bored, after all). The first leg this Saturday may make it hard to get ready from an injury, but the second leg next weekend is a possiblity. This first leg, of course, will not be played on Twente’s grounds. The morons started construction after the season (somebody may not have expected to be in playoffs, hmmm). So the “away” leg will really be at a quasi-neutral site. This did not bother Twente last round, but neither did NAC Breda.

And now back to Blind. I feel a whole post devoted to this issue may be forthcoming. But hasn’t there been a strong voice against bringing old Ajax stars? Won’t this encourage more of that behind-the-scenes backbiting that already poisoned a few seasons? (I am looking at you, Cruijff). And isn’t van Basten “The Man”? I did not expect them to really hire a van Geel replacement, much less a guy who used to manage Ajax himself! I am terribly puzzled.

Oh, and tell me what you thought about Bradley’s double yellow. Outta time.