New Players for Ajax

[Orange14]

According to de Telegraaf, Ajax have made a one year contract offer to van der Vaart similar to the one that Babel received a couple of years ago. He still can score goals but what position does he play? I'm worried that he takes up a spot from one of our promising youngsters.

[SPL]

Maybe a shadow striker sort of role Siem de Jong played.

[rjf1]

You can't play only youngsters and be successful over a season. You need to mix in some some older hands to provide experience, steadiness, and on-field leadership.

[Orange14]

You can't play only youngsters and be successful over a season. You need to mix in some some older hands to provide experience, steadiness, and on-field leadership.

I agree but I suspect vdV would expect to start. Who would he replace as a starter?

[rjf1]

I guess I was thinking of him being used in spot situations -- kind of like the way Poulson was used.

[Ayman]

You can have a midfield of Van der Vaart - Sinkgravand - Klaassen with Bazour, van der Beek and Andersen as back up.

[aveslacker]

Gudelj is having a medical today and will sign for 6m euros. His 17 year old brother Dragi,a left back with NAC is also set to join and their father ex NAC coach will join as a scout.

Both Stam and Davids had moments of very good play when they returned to Ajax.

[Manneken Pis]

First things first, his attitude has to be perfect ... the old pro that's there to help the young 'uns develop ... no ego.

If that's the case, I think VdV provides a wealth of experience, and quality as an attacking midfielder, particularly when we play in Europe.

We can't do it just with youngsters, we need a blend, and the inexperienced players will learn from having him in the squad.

[Orange14]

It looks like we won't know until the end of the month about Raffie, particularly if Hamburg finish 16 and need to play a relegation playoff. Club has two matches remaining, away to Stuttgart (currently bottom of the table) and home to Schalke. Both will be difficult matches. While they stand 14th they are only a point out of the drop zone with a less favorable GD than Hannover and Freiburg. Hamburg are the only club in the Bundesliga that have never dropped out of the first division.

[Ayman]

Mitchell Dijks has had a fine season. He is linked with AZ and F'noord. Ajax should sign him, since Boilesen is set to leave, and Viergever is just a squad player, and Riedewald is very young, both seem uncomfortable at the left back position.

[Dave the mac]

I too would love to get Dijks. Rumored that Celtic is looking at him also. I've been able to see him play several times this season and am impressed. Thought it was rash of Ajax to let him go. There would be no shame to admit a mistake and get him back.

[SPL]

Boilesen may well be staying as he is talking about a contract extension with Overmars.We do need another LB and Dijks has done well at Willem this season but Kuipers at aged 20 has played for Excelsior on loan , also done well and we do not want him back even though he is in Dutch U20 squad for Toulon tournament this month.

We were linked with Simon Poulsen LB of AZ but he has joined PSV

[SPL]

You lads wanting Dijks back may well get your way .Fword were hoping to sign him but Ajax have now come in for him. If Boilesen stays we have him and Dijks for LB which is adequate. Just need to get an experienced CD to partner Veltman .Riedewald will make it as a CD but at 18 should not be rushed.

[Ayman]

Reidewald is a versatile player. He is better suited to midfield, left side or anchor man. Mitchell Dijks will soar like an eagle at left back

[Tom_]

Haven't seen a lot of him this season. I seem to remember him getting sent off a couple of times in a short time period... but anyway we could use some toughness for sure.

[rjf1]

You lads wanting Dijks back may well get your way .Fword were hoping to sign him but Ajax have now come in for him...

Not clear as to what this means -- are you saying that we have first dibs on his services?

[Dave the mac]

There is a 'resale' clause that was in his contract when he went to Willem II and that Ajax would receive part of the transfer fee if Willem II sells him. That makes Dijks move to any other club more expensive.

I watched Willem II play this last weekend and again Dijks was solid. The commentator was even impressed how he could stay with the other teams speedy winger. He's fast and can also play in the center of defense.

Looks as if Dijks is meeting with de Boer today. Would be great to get him back!

[Orange14]

We sold him to early and should have kept him. I guess we will lose some €s in the repurchase. Such is football..

[SPL]

I thought we sold him for nothing.His transfer fee is 1.25m so with a 50% resale clause we pay 600k.
Very strange way to do business, tell a lad in August we don't want you and 9 months later we have to pay for him to return.

[Orange14]

Let's count it as a semi-expensive loan.

[Amol]

We sold him to early and should have kept him. I guess we will lose some €s in the repurchase. Such is football..

I thought so too myself. Dijks was always quick and is a much better defender than last year's version of Boilessen. I think they wanted to experiment with Viergever and Riedewald at LB last year. Both experiments failed according to me.

I would like to see Dijks back with us.

[rjf1]

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but another player that we let go that may have been a mistake was Lukoki. The way he was able to continually beat our defenders down the wing in the last game vs Zwolle was what got me thinking. His big drawback when playing for us, was once he had beaten the defender he was lost as to what to do next. But in the Zwolle game, he often turned his runs into dangerous attacking chances. You have to wonder if we didn't decide he wasn't good enough for us too soon.

[Ayman]

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but another player that we let go that may have been a mistake was Lukoki. The way he was able to continually beat our defenders down the wing in the last game vs Zwolle was what got me thinking. His big drawback when playing for us, was once he had beaten the defender he was lost as to what to do next. But in the Zwolle game, he often turned his runs into dangerous attacking chances. You have to wonder if we didn't decide he wasn't good enough for us too soon.

Never mind that! What about Moses Simon! The Nigerian winger at KAA Gent? That guy is doing well and I think Ajax better start to act soon before bigger teams start poaching him!

[SPL]

Dijks has evidently agreed to sign for us.

[Ayman]

van der Vaart won't be returning to Ajax http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer ... 12071742/- we will have to look elsewhere, maybe Luc Castaignos from Twente?