Looks like Stekelenberg has lengthened his contract with Ajax until 2012, it was due to run out in 2010. That, to me, is a very good sign. He's been very consistent and very good this year, building from last year. He's a player that could have easily chose to go elsewhere and I think it's a good sign that he is committing to the club, and hopefully will influence others.

very good news indeed

Brilliant. Now if Heitinga and Huntelaar can do the same it would the perfect start to next season.

I have a little hope that Heitinga can agree with a new contract, but KJH..
i don't think so

Good move. He's still young enough to be able to move on in several years. Glad he's willing to sign on to what will hopefully be a better side under the new regime. One less headache for the closed season. One out of four. Now it's down to improving the defense, midfield, and attack .

Sincere condolences to Maarten...

Of course, you can't be expected to focus on a match of football when you've just lost your father. I wish him all the strength in the world to cope with this loss.

And good luck to Dennis Gentenaar. Good goalkeeper. Experienced bloke. I have faith in him.

K.

Condolences to Martin.

Stekelenburg Not Confident Of Ajax Success

Ajax shot stopper Maarten Stekelenburg has expressed his worries about his side's defensive capabilities this season...
Ajax lost their season opener against Willem II 2-1 last Saturday and the shaky performance makes goalie Maarten Stekelenburg doubt Ajax’s title bid.

“The first Willem II goal was my fault,’ acknowledged the goalie. “In the past, I had problems accepting the fact that I can make a mistake, but I’m a lot more mature and can forget about things like this easier now.”

“However, a lot of teams are going to score against us if we continue to defend like this. And that’s exactly what has cost us the title in the last two seasons. The PSV defence is way more solid.

“The only change in our defence is the replacement of John Heitinga by Oleguer. So we could have defensive problems again. Nevertheless, we have excellent defenders with the likes of Bruno Silva, Oleguer, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen.

“It’s not important for me to keep a clean sheet, as long as we win the match. I just want to win the Eredivisie this year. However, I think it’s easier to win matches if you keep a clean sheet.”

The Holland international also spoke about the inheritance of Edwin van der Sar at Oranje. “It’s normal that people are comparing me to him, but it’s impossible to make people forget about Van der Sar.

“I’m not the new Van der Sar, but I hope to achieve the same things he achieved. He’s a great goalkeeper and won a lot of prizes at club level.”

I would have been so great to totally disagree with him...

K.

Sure beats the usual athlete spewed dribble about taking matches one at a time. Not sure his defenders will appreciate his comments, but Stek is right on target IMHO.

If i read right he got a direct red card against Australia.....anybody know what he did ???

Heitinga made a lazy back pass to Stek that was about to be intercepted by an Aussie. Steck charged out to the top of the box and tried to win the ball. It wasn't clear from the various angles whether he or the Aussie got there first but Stek came in with his studs up which was probably the reason for the red card. This was apparently the first red card in history for an Oranje goalkeeper. Stek misses the next friendly but can play against Macedonia on Wednesday.

Arguably it should have been a penalty kick (which was given) and only a yellow card.

Steks is just being honest. Our defence is not strong enough.

....and probably a hint of reputation saving in advance as well. If (when!) it does all go wrong he doesn't want to get all the blame - honest as well though

A clean sheet is a must against Roda next Sunday! Even a win with a goal conceded will rest heavy on the defender's minds! We need to start winning without conceding....although giving two away against WillemII doesn't look as though winning to zero is going to be easy!

When Maarten Stekelenburg went back in training, Marco van Basten stated that Kenneth Vermeer has done very well and that Stekelenburg was not automatically going to get his sport back. "They will have to battle it out," Van Basten said.

Reassuring news: Stekelenburg has won the 'battle', in Van Basten's eyes. He will be in goal against NEC this weekend.

K.

Although Vermeer did well, there shouldn't be any flapping at crosses now!!

Welcome back Maarten!!

Stekelenburg is quoted in the papers today saying that he has recovered from what appears to be gastroenteritis or an intestinal virus of some kind. He's well, but he lost 4.5 kilos in afew days' time, so he must be a bit weak. "I felt really horrible. Had to go to the toilet every ten minutes. Now it's all about returning to my normal weight in a responsible way. Regular training, power training. We'll have to wait and see."

I don't expect him back for the Den Haag match, but the key question is: would he really deserve his spot back anyway...?

That's a rather delicate question.

Stekelenburg started the season as the #1 goalkeeper. Then he picked up an injury, Vermeer replaced him for quite a while - and did well. Van Basten said: "Kenneth Vermeer is now very close to the starting line-up. The difference is not big and they will have to battle it out." Stekelenburg returned... and got his spot back, but I think we all agree he has not been great since his return from injury. He seemed to have made the final step to the top just before he got injured, but after his injury some of his old insecurities seemed to have returned: insecurity on high balls and in scrimmage situations. Van Basten protected him by saying: "He's a good goalkeeper and our captain. He deserves our support."

But then... Stekelenburg gets the flu, Vermeer kicks major arse against Fiorentina and does very well against Utrecht, too. Isn't it time for Van Basten to put his money where his mouth is and stick with Vermeer? If the difference between the two of them really is minimal, and if they have to 'battle it out', I reckon Vermeer has won the battle. Isn't that conclusion becoming inevitable?

There is also a 'politicial' thing to keep in mind. Just before he got injured Stekelenburg admitted that he was considering a transfer to a major, foreign league in the summer (2009).

Vermeer, in his turn, has said that he wants to play every game next year, if not at Ajax, then some place else...

Worst case scenario would be: Stekelenburg finishes the season as the #1 goalkeeper, Vermeer decides that he sees no future and wants to leave in the summer - and then we lose Stekelenburg, too, because his agent finds him a nice club in England or something.

Perhaps this is the moment to allow Stekelenburg to leave - and go for Vermeer. What do you say?

K.

Tough choice.

Maybe it's the opportunity to confirm Steks providing his commitment to stay two more years.

Both are excellent. But experience is on his side.

I would choose Vermeer.

1: Steks still is not a real "ruler of the 5 yard box" even after 3 years of being the number 1.

2: Steks doesn't show spirit.

Sure enough, Vermeer made his mistakes and he will make some in the future. But Vermeer shows joy in goalkeeping and he's active.

Stekelenburg is a good keeper, but he seemed to have stopped in his development.

Vermeer has been improving and these last 2 games has been superb.

I do not think we can afford to let Vermeer go this summer just to keep Steks for what would be one more season .

I think we should sell Steks and keep Vermeer.

Vermeer is a reaction keeper in the mold of Iker Casillas of Madrid. Outstanding relexes and much better than Stek. Unfortunately he is a little on the short side and at this point very poor on crosses (but Casillas isn't terribly good in that regard either). A good defensive back line can help out on the crosses but you can't coach reaction keeping which tips things in favor of Vermeer. Don't know anything about the youth keepers we have and if either Stek or Vermeer leave, who will be #2.

You are right about Vermeer as a "reaction keeper".
But it seems to me that Stekelenburg is better in the one-to-one actions, facing a striker. That's why he is better in the Ajax tactical system sometimes leading in situations where the goal keeper is the last defender.

That's basically my feeling. Stekelenberg is going to go, if not this summer, probably next summer. He's the Oranje #1 and it seems like it's about his time to move to a bigger league to play against stronger opposition every week. He's also 3 years older than Vermeer and has been with the club longer (joined in 2001, Vermeer in 2005).

It just makes sense to keep Vermeer as he's more likely to be the longer term solution at this point. The quality difference is close, but I also think Vermeer is the one who can improve most with Ajax over the next few years. Vermeer has done well this year, Stekelenberg has said he wants to move on, so it works out for all parties to let him go and make Vermeer first choice for next season.

As shaky as Steks is facing crosses, Vermeer is even worse. Vermeer is a better shot stopper, but Steks strikes me as a better organizer. Not much between them.

Given Steks's age, I would be more willing to let him go. It's not that he's old, it's just that we can get a few more relatively inexpensive years out of Vermeer. Plus, Steks has earned his right to ply his trade abroad.

I'd be happy with either one, though.