What Are Our Chances?

Today is a day of cool calm and rationality, while tomorrow will be single-minded madness. Ask me today who will win the title, and I will respond with the following post. Ask me tomorrow, and I’ll start drooling and perhaps chanting while telling you that PSV will get karma from last season. Since that post would not be terribly entertaining, nor would it figure to be literate, I will write a brief preview today of the only two matches that matter tomorrow.

First, our chances against Heracles are good. Our first encounter was at Heracles back in September. You remember Septermber? Henk Ten Cate was our manager, we were still alive in Europe, Albert Luque was playing regularly, Jurgen Colin came on at halftime, Stam played and got hurt, and KJH scored the only goal on a sublime bicycle kick. (That is the picture ) In short, we were an entirely different team back then, except for that last part. I would say that we have improved. They have not. They are letting their captain, Rob Maas, go this summer. Heracles has languished near the bottom for most of the season but has avoided the relegation zone. A win over Ajax would ensure their survival, but anything short of a de Graafschap win would keep Heracles in the Eredivisie next year anyway. Both the Super Farmers and Heracles have scored a measly 33 goals this season. That is one goal per match. Ouch.

Of course, everything could flip on Sunday. But Koster claims Davids and Vermaelen will both play, shoring up our defense. And the nerves are in Eindhoven, not Amsterdam. Ajax can play like they have nothing to lose. So…

Ajax 4 – 1 Heracles
12′ KJH
25′ KJH
41′ da Silva
53′ Suarez
63′ Suarez

As for PSV, Vitesse really has little to play for. There have secured their spot in the EURO Vase/Intertoto Cup (stupid, ridiculous, scandalous, mind-boggling) playoffs. At this point, they may be interested in a show of spirit, a healthy side, and a respectable loss. They are playing at home, where Vitesse has a positive goal differential and a decent record. PSV has stumbled a bit down the stretch, winning only two of their last six. But PSV has not lost a match outside of the UEFA Cup since March 2. Since there is no PSV blog, and Philips has not bought them a blogger yet, I am going to predict a final.

PSV 1 – 1 Vitesse
39′ Farfan
42′ Kolk

I expect lots of nerves in the second half, but no goals. PSV’s guys are grinders, not assassins. They will do what is necessary. Unless Kolk has another one hidden away somewhere…

The match tomorrow will also be the final match featuring kits sponsored by ABN-AMRO. Since they do not own us, like some filthy electronics company owns some other Dutch team, they have called time on the relationship. To commemorate the day, they have donated the space on Ajax’s shirts to a charity: Dance4Life. The group educates youg people about HIV and AIDS. Should the unthinkable happen tomorrow, Dance4Life will immediately become the hottest charity in Amsterdam.

Category: Team News

Tags: match preview, Team News

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