Giving Credit and Giving Thanks
By: Matt | November 26th, 2008
I am late with my post-match remarks following our loss to AZ, so I am gonna keep them concise.
> Full credit to AZ. We exposed PSV last week, and then we got exposed by AZ. I hate being right, but I think we did get outclassed by a savvy side. We had the ball enough, but they had an edge we could not match. I was impressed by the way they had an answer for nearly every attack we mustered.
> Many thanks to Kenny Vermeer. If there was any question about Vermeer’s status as heir apparent to Steks (should he choose to leave someday), it should be kept quiet now. He was the reason this did not get ugly. I don’t think Steks has anything to fear at Ajax right now, but I can see Vermeer challenging for a spot with the Oranje after a few years of regular playing time. Somebody is gonna be the next va der Saar. I am impressed with the youngster (and gushing too much, I expect).
> While Suarez was good last week, a snowy away match against a wily opponent is when you need a deadly clinical finisher to bag a half-chance or two. KJH does this. No one else on our roster even comes close. No credit here, and no thanks to Suarez as an out-and-out striker.
Now, we get a look at our UEFA Cup standings:
Group F Pld Pts
Aston Villa 2 6
Hamburg 1 3
Ajax 2 3
Slavia 1 0
Žilina 2 0
I would say that we need at least a result from one of our last two matches, maybe even two. Four points would remove all doubt. Three would be dicey. One or two would probably leave us in danger of getting bounced. We are in a good spot, but let’s not make our match against Slavia in December an elimination game, yeah?
The Hamburgers will be putting a good squad on the pitch, but injuries have hit them pretty hard, too. Their Dutch contingent, minus on Raphael van der Vart after his fiasco, will be missing Nigel de Jong, but Joris Mathijsen is healthy enough.
If you want a good, up-to-the-minute match preview, I am going to send you to Chris. He is sympathetic to Ajax, too, although he will undoubtedly by leaning the other way when the ball is kicked. I am off for the American holiday, set to eat turkey and watch American football (forgive me). Guilty pleasures all around.
Category: Team News
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