The Revolution Begins Next Week…
By: Matt | August 30th, 2008Willem II 2 - Ajax 1
I think we learned a lot here. Ajax dominated the first half, with tons of possession but few quality chances. KJH missed one before Sulejmani made the breakthrough, a nice shot from the top of the box into the top corner. But the half ended with the same score, and we soon realized what we may have tried to avoid admitting: this is a young side.
When Willem II pulled level in the 47th minute, the fans who had come out for the first match rose up. Very little when well for Ajax after that. Just before 70′, MvB pulled a hockey-style line change, bringing on van der Wiel, Cvitanich and Sarpong. All that change was mooted, however, when Sno was sent off with a straight red at 84′.
Sno started the match and was a dynamic presence, flying into challenges and even threatening going forward a few times. I liked his game. The red card was harsh for an offense that warranted a yellow. But it really would not have mattered. Only a wonder goal from one of our talented individuals would have helped, for the team was having difficulty getting together. And those individuals, like KJH and Suarez and Sulejmani, are going to need some time to learn to play together. Suarez in particular missed a 1v1 when he chose to pull it back and fire a pass instead. Surely, he had been told at halftime that he needed to find open players. He was tentative, and he did not recover. Sulejmani, save for his moment of brilliance, suffered the same problem in the second half.
All it might take is one match for things to mesh in Amsterdam. Or it might take a few months. Regardless, things are going to get hot and hotter in Amsterdam if the result is not better next weekend when Roda JC comes the the Arena.
> Now, will things be worse when we wake up Monday morning?
Category: Team News
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Thought the midfield was very poor going forward or providing the link to the front 3. Aissati and Sarpong are going to have to really step up this year b/c the others just don’t appear to have the quality breaking down defenses or making that searching pass to spring someone toward goal.
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Very true, dave. Though I liked Sno, he is going to be doing well to simply distribute to other midfielders. Urby could probably use some more time there, too. I think we will see Aissati next week.
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