Juanfran

[AjaxThailand]

Greene.. well not sure yet, what about the Swede, that arab, the american, belgium .........................Haa, good scouting you guys have... ooops, arent you part of that, ha

[Kowalczyk]

Okay, as you may or may not know Ajax have a legal option to sign Juanfran on a permanent deal. They must take a decision before 01 April.

Here's the archived news report on the loan deal Ajax and Besiktas agreed on:
http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2005-2006/ ... -loan.html

What will Ajax do...? At the moment my feeling is that it doesn't look good for Juanfran. He had a difficult start at Ajax (it took ages before he finally got his chance). He was a sort of revelation at first and had a string of great games in Ajax-1. I am not sure what happened to him after that, but he lost his spot and for some reason it also seems like he's lost interest or something. He's been crap as a sub a few times. Absolutely failed to impress after the return of Urby Emanuelson.

Right now, I think Ajax will not land him on a permanent deal, but we'll find out soon enough...

K.

[Kowalczyk]

After a period of about a month and a half in which Juanfran was crap and didn't seem interested, he had a really good game at left fullback yesterday. That's good news. It's a safe bet that Blind will keep the left flank intact for Tuesday: Juanfran left back, Urby left midfield. It would be ridiculous if Boukhari returned to the team for the Inter game.

K.

[Kowalczyk]

He will be suspended against Groningen, though. The yellow card he got yesterday was his fourth.

I guess the Inter game will be decisive for Juanfran: before 01 April Ajax have to decide whether or not they want to land him permanently. It doesn't feel like Ajax have already made up their minds.

K.

[ozzerdibazio]

does juanfran want to stay do you know?

[Kowalczyk]

does juanfran want to stay do you know?

Yeah. By all accounts he's very happy here. And he's also become a popular guy in the team. Everybody seems to like him as a person.

K.

[dws]

Ajax should keep Juanfran if he continues to perform as in the P$V game.
Let's face it, there aren't too many decent left backs out there.

[Blind3]

Keep him. Our backline is scheduled to undergo enough change without losing his wealth of experience.

[SPL]

With Urby's form at leftback this season Juanfran has only played when Urby was unfit( either side of Christmas) and now when we are down to about 14 fit first teamers . He only played v PSV due to Bouhkari's suspension and the fact that the only alternative was to play Sarpong, who is not ready to play the likes of PSV or Inter.

Not saying he is not a good player but he has not had so much playing time this season and will things be any better next season??. If he wants regular games he will probably have to look elsewhere.

I do not think we can afford to pay for an experienced reserve left back.

[ozzerdibazio]

spl, i thought we were ok financially. I dont see the point of letting Juanfran go. He's got experience, he wants to stay and he mostly performs well. I dont think it's going to break the bank to have both Urby and Juanfran at the club next season. Every ambitious team needs (quality) depth in the team, and with a team like Ajax ambition is synonomous. So keep him!! please

[ferry]

spl, i thought we were ok financially. I dont see the point of letting Juanfran go. He's got experience, he wants to stay and he mostly performs well. I dont think it's going to break the bank to have both Urby and Juanfran at the club next season. Every ambitious team needs (quality) depth in the team, and with a team like Ajax ambition is synonomous. So keep him!! please

Have you seen him play tonight? In defense he wasn't what I would call solid. And when he had the ball all players from Inter just let him go because he never did anything useful with the given opportunities.

I expected a lot of him when he joined Ajax, but now I'm in favor of letting him go.

[DanK]

spl, i thought we were ok financially. I dont see the point of letting Juanfran go. He's got experience, he wants to stay and he mostly performs well. I dont think it's going to break the bank to have both Urby and Juanfran at the club next season. Every ambitious team needs (quality) depth in the team, and with a team like Ajax ambition is synonomous. So keep him!! please

Have you seen him play tonight? In defense he wasn't what I would call solid. And when he had the ball all players from Inter just let him go because he never did anything useful with the given opportunities.

I expected a lot of him when he joined Ajax, but now I'm in favor of letting him go.

Actually, I feel Juanfran didn't have a poor game. Infact, I think his last few games have been fairly solid. For me Vermaelen was one of the weaker points in defense. He was shown up for speed and positioning again against Inter...anyway just my 2cents.

[ozzerdibazio]

I didnt see him tonight tv, and i take your point. But he looked good against PSV and i think he can only improve. He hasnt had a decent run in the team and isnt what you would call properly settled. You cant dimiss him just becasue of the Inter game. It was the same with Escude and Grygera, they didnt have great first seasons.

[ferry]

spl, i thought we were ok financially. I dont see the point of letting Juanfran go. He's got experience, he wants to stay and he mostly performs well. I dont think it's going to break the bank to have both Urby and Juanfran at the club next season. Every ambitious team needs (quality) depth in the team, and with a team like Ajax ambition is synonomous. So keep him!! please

Have you seen him play tonight? In defense he wasn't what I would call solid. And when he had the ball all players from Inter just let him go because he never did anything useful with the given opportunities.

I expected a lot of him when he joined Ajax, but now I'm in favor of letting him go.

Actually, I feel Juanfran didn't have a poor game. Infact, I think his last few games have been fairly solid. For me Vermaelen was one of the weaker points in defense. He was shown up for speed and positioning again against Inter...anyway just my 2cents.

Maybe it's not fair comparing Juanfran with Emanuelson. Maybe that's how I am judging whether JF plays well or not. He wasn't playing bad against psv, that's true, but he also didn't add anything extra to the game.
Against Inter it was a bit embarrassing to see how easy it was for Figo to reach the back line or to deliver a pass in front of the goal. It could be possible, perhaps you're right and will he get better, but I expect more from a former Spanish International. Emauelson is my favorite for the left winger position.

[SPL]

Hi Fv

I totally agree with you and have put my comments on the Inter posting.


If Juanfran stays it will be as a reserve for Urby. Juanfran is ok but nothing special, whereas Urby will be special.

On Vermaelen I think he will gain a lot next season with Stam next to him.

[SPL]

Skysports match report and ratings gives Juanfran 5, only KJH got a 5 everyone else 6 and 7. Thus their reporter must have been seeing the same Juanfran as me.

[ferry]

I just hope that Emanuelson will be back soon. :eusa_pray: Together with Vermaelen and Stam in the center that should be a pretty solid defense. Still have to fill in the right winger position, though. What a shame that Trabelsi will leave. (when he's playing like he did against Inter and PSV)

[jamcocteau]

Skysports match report and ratings gives Juanfran 5, only KJH got a 5 everyone else 6 and 7. Thus their reporter must have been seeing the same Juanfran as me.

Ratings from the media count for nothing - Gazetta Dela Sport gave the Ajax man of the match to Boukhari - says it all for me with regard to the media.

Thought Juanfran was actually not too bad last evening, not brilliant but not a disaster - in the first 20 minutes Figo did skin him but at that time Figo was on fire. At that particular time from what i could see there was a huge gap in the Ajax left side between Juanfran and Rosenberg which IMO left juanfran totally alone to be attacked from the Inter right hand side, Boukhari supposed to be playing on left but a lot of the time drifted into centre. Blind must have noticed something as after 20 minutes Piennar and Boukhari shifted positions completely with Piennar to left of Boukhari for most of the remainder of the half. Piennar and Lindy both seemed to be doing a lot of the tackling in the midfield area.

[dws]

If a goalkeeper has nothing to do the entire game is his rating: (a) zero; (b) not applicable. :D :eusa_dance:

[dws]

I just hope that Emanuelson will be back soon. :eusa_pray: Together with Vermaelen and Stam in the center that should be a pretty solid defense. Still have to fill in the right winger position, though. What a shame that Trabelsi will leave. (when he's playing like he did against Inter and PSV)

Jenner for the right wing, but Van Geel has said Ajax are not interested.
It looks as though we may start next season with Rosales or de Mul on the right.

[ajaxperu]

Honestly I expected a lot more from Juanfran. He hasn't been great defending and he hasn't given that extra power we need when we attack. But, considering the fact that our man in the left is Emanuelson (I think we all agree on this one) Juanfran can be a good backup just as he has been all this season. I'm more worried about the other side, the right side, who is going to replace Trabelsi, will it be Heitinga?...
I'd say stick with Juanfran, he has the experience our defense needs and he already knows the team. Juanfran has played just as the whole Ajax team this season, not too good, not so bad. Our team will change completly next season, so if we can stay with those mature players that are already used to Ajax then I'd say go for it.

[Frans]

I just hope that Emanuelson will be back soon. :eusa_pray: Together with Vermaelen and Stam in the center that should be a pretty solid defense. Still have to fill in the right winger position, though. What a shame that Trabelsi will leave. (when he's playing like he did against Inter and PSV)

Jenner for the right wing, but Van Geel has said Ajax are not interested.
It looks as though we may start next season with Rosales or de Mul on the right.

What about the forgotten man - Krohn-Dehli? Although I think Fv was talking about right-back.

Although, with the players Ajax has already got for next year, I think they could look at 3-4-3 and not need to sign an attacking right defender. They could field a team something like:

Mitea--------KJH---------De Mul

Urby--Sneijder---Maduro---Krohn-D

---Vermaelen--Stam---Heitinga

-----------Steek-----------------

And with possible subs, Rosenberg, Manucharyan. Sarpong, Babel, Lindenbergh, Rosales, Perez etc

If Grygera stays the back 3 would be even stronger.

Anyway, It's probably not really feasible, but the mind tends to wander when you're stuck in a 2 hour quantum mechanics lecture........

[DanK]

...Although, with the players Ajax has already got for next year, I think they could look at 3-4-3 and not need to sign an attacking right defender. They could field a team something like:

Mitea--------KJH---------De Mul

Urby--Sneijder---Maduro---Krohn-D

---Vermaelen--Stam---Heitinga

-----------Steek-----------------

And with possible subs, Rosenberg, Manucharyan. Sarpong, Babel, Lindenbergh, Rosales, Perez etc

If Grygera stays the back 3 would be even stronger.

Anyway, It's probably not really feasible, but the mind tends to wander when you're stuck in a 2 hour quantum mechanics lecture........

I don't understand why we want De Mul back in the first team. IMO (which doesn't count for much), he's OK, but nothing special. I can't see the squad being better for his return.

[Cedric]

I have to say I really liked Juanfran against Inter : he seemed to be cooler than the rest of the defense, he battled hard, was more or less in control and never really made nervous. I can't say the same about Maduro for example...

[Frans]

I don't understand why we want De Mul back in the first team. IMO (which doesn't count for much), he's OK, but nothing special. I can't see the squad being better for his return.

I feel the same way about Krohn-Dehli. Mind you, De Mul was still very young when he got his chance at Ajax, but he did show some potential. From what (very little) I've seen of him in highlights packages this season he's shown some form for Vitesse, especially in the last couple of months, though he appeared to be out of the starting lineup last game. Injury maybe? Anyway, I think he deserves his chance, not necessarily as the first choice though.