Personal Introductions Thread

[Ajax Rules]

I have a background in both economics and psychology. I currently work for the national government. I used to write books and work for the university. I have a (Jewish ;-) girlfriend, and am very close to my parents and family. I feel very passionately about the issue of liberty. It has become almost like a personal obsession to delegitimatize the role of the government in our lives, and I try to make this world a more just, tolerant, safe and free place.

When I was very small, I used to think that Ajax referred to the referee. Although incorrect, it was even at that point clear to me that Ajax was very special. I remember asking my father wheter Lerby was playing when watching the Dutch national team.

I vividly remember the 8-2 against Feyenoord. At that point, my mood was not yet truly influenced by the results of Ajax. That kind of developped gradually. I was very happy winning the cup winners cup in 1987, but it didn't change my life or anything. I think my first season of being a passionate supporter was the 1989 - 1990 season (the one with the ugly away-jersey). Ajax became champions in a thrilling end to the season. I was there at one of the most exciting matches ever (the 2-2 against Roda JC, with the crucial equilizer 1 minute before the end).

The next season, I had my first season pass (on the P-side). When I was old enough to go with my best friend, I changed sides to G (which had a reputation of being the F-side for people not from Amsterdam). At this point, I did not miss a single game at home.

Shit, I'll continue later.

[Khraa]

I'm Sascha, 33 years old and I've been following Ajax since the years of Lerby and Olsen. My first game was at the Olympic Stadium. A friendly vs Barcelona (with Romario at that time, but 'ey we had Alfons Groenendijk).

Due to my own sporting "career" I didn't have much time to visit games, but since 3 years I regularly go to games.

Best moment of Ajax: The "we are the champions" in the UEFA cup away in Genoa. The worst moment, the quarter finals in the Champions League against AC Milan in 2003.

I'm a lecturer and I live in Heerhugowaard. I might be one of the quietest members of AT, but read a lot. I've been lurking these forums since Thierry's Ajaxmania.

[martinkohout]

Jeez, I’m kind of behind the curve here.

My name is Martin. I'm turning 50 this year, and I live in Austin, though I was born in San Francisco and went to college in Massachusetts (where I fell hard for a girl from Texas). I have an undergraduate degree in English lit and a master's in American studies. I'm pretty liberal politically, and while Austin is sort of an island of progressivism in an overwhelmingly conservative state, I still get defensive when people bring up George W. Bush. (I never voted for him!) I’m a writer and editor, currently freelancing, though I worked for many years for the Texas State Historical Association and then for Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

That Texas gal and I are going to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks, and we have three kids. (Also two dogs and - not my fault - six cats.) Our older daughter graduated from our alma mater in Massachusetts last year and is currently living in San Francisco, where she works for a very cool nonprofit writing center for lower-income minority kids. Our son spent a year and a half at a little college in North Carolina but is now at the local community college, hoping to transfer to the Enormous State University. He played soccer and American football in high school, but has given them both up to play rugby with a local club called the Huns; he is a pretty serious Fiorentina fan, though. And our younger daughter is finishing her junior year of high school and just starting to think about college; she's very into singing and acting and languages.

Tracing the family tree in the other direction, my father was born and grew up in Rio de Janeiro (though his father was Austrian and his mother Scottish), and my mother was born in Italy (though she grew up in West Virginia), so I’m technically a first-generation American. I played soccer as a child – in fact, my high school didn’t even have an American football team, but we were pretty good in soccer, even though we lined up in the good ol’ 2-3-5. (I played left fullback.)

I’ve been a casual Ajax fan since the J.C. era of the early ‘70s, but my passion and curiosity were reignited a few years ago by David Winner’s book Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football, which I loved. I began poking around online and stumbled across this site, which is fantastic. I think I’m safe in saying I probably know less about the club than everyone else on here, but I’m working on becoming as much of a fanatic as my ignorance and distance from Amsterdam will allow.

I’ve never been to the Netherlands (sadly, the wife and kids have always insisted on vacationing in places like Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, etc., instead ), but it remains a fantasy. In the meantime, I proudly wear my Ajax shirts around Austin, where nobody seems to recognize them. (Austin has a new team in the USL First Division, but shamefully I haven’t been to see them yet.)

I’m also a big baseball fan, and (warning: shameless self-promotion dead ahead) in 2001 McFarland published my book Hal Chase: The Defiant Life and Turbulent Times of Baseball’s Biggest Crook, which actually won an award from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) as the best book of the year on early baseball. The steroid revelations of the last decade or so (Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, McGwire, Tejada, Sheffield, Palmeiro, Ramirez, et al.) kind of soured me on baseball, though, and Ajax has helped fill the void.

[aveslacker]

A fellow Texan and a sabermetrician! Very nice indeed!

[Orange14]

A fellow Texan and a sabermetrician! Very nice indeed!

I've been a member of SABR since 1982! It's the one sport that is amenable to good statistical analyses.

[Over Pasanens Head]

Newcastle United for me as my Dad came from there and he used to take me to the games (first one versus Wolves in 1960) + used to spend a lot of time up there. Crystal Palace comes next as my eldest son got me to go in the late 80's and 90's and it was a really great safe (unless Millwall or Cantona was there) to taKe my young sons at the time. Really got into them especially when Wright & Bright was there. Local team is Braintree Town but hardly ever go now as very expensive for poor football. In fact have started to go to rugby at Northampton Saints this year when not at Ajax as the rugby is good and it is a great atmosphere without it having a nasty edge as you seem to have now at football.
At least the Saints have made it to a European final this year

[martinkohout]

I've always had sort of a sneaking fondness for the Magpies - not sure why, since I've never been to the Toon. And having Newcastle Brown as their shirt sponsor? That was the best match of club and sponsor EVER.

(Going off-topic again....) In September my buddy Bruce and I are planning to backpack from Ravenglass (on the Irish Sea) to Scarborough, about 200 miles or so all told, via Coniston, Windermere, Sedbergh, Thirsk, etc. (We're basically following the route set forth in David Maughan's book On Foot from Coast to Coast, though in deference to our advanced ages we're staying in inns rather than the youth hostels he recommends.) Not sure I can convince Bruce to extend our route to Newcastle, though. Any of you Brits on here live anywhere along the way?

[Over Pasanens Head]

I've always had sort of a sneaking fondness for the Magpies - not sure why, since I've never been to the Toon. And having Newcastle Brown as their shirt sponsor? That was the best match of club and sponsor EVER.

(Going off-topic again....) In September my buddy Bruce and I are planning to backpack from Ravenglass (on the Irish Sea) to Scarborough, about 200 miles or so all told, via Coniston, Windermere, Sedbergh, Thirsk, etc. (We're basically following the route set forth in David Maughan's book On Foot from Coast to Coast, though in deference to our advanced ages we're staying in inns rather than the youth hostels he recommends.) Not sure I can convince Bruce to extend our route to Newcastle, though. Any of you Brits on here live anywhere along the way?

Fraid not Mako, but sounds a great walk. Just been reading a chapter on this very same walk in Mark Radcliffe's latest book (UK DJ on Radio 2). Just make sure you don't stay at the same place as him at the end of the walk !!!!!!!

[Kowalczyk]

Re-posting...

Hi,
I just wanted to introduce myself to the English portion of the board. If there's a separate thread for that already you may move this and I apologize. My name is Dave I'm from Connecticut and I'm a long time Ajaz sympathizer. I also follow a few other teams chiefly Tottenham. I'm a little bummed about the USA result today but I've been meaning to join over here for a bit. I'm considering making my first trip over to Amsterdam to see Ajax this season and I hoped some of you folks could be so kind as to give me some advice.

Thanks,
Davo

Hi Dave, no reason to apologize, but I moved your post to this thread anyways...

Welcome to Ajax Talk!

K.

[Davo15]

Thanks. I've been having some trouble with the Ajax travel site. Does anyone know are they booking trips for the upcoming season yet? I understand there is no longer a yearly US supporters group trip? I'm considering going in November since that is when my work is slow and it's before the holidays. Any advice or info on a trip and using Ajax travel would be greatly appreciated.

[Van basten]

Thanks. I've been having some trouble with the Ajax travel site. Does anyone know are they booking trips for the upcoming season yet? I understand there is no longer a yearly US supporters group trip? I'm considering going in November since that is when my work is slow and it's before the holidays. Any advice or info on a trip and using Ajax travel would be greatly appreciated.

I myself considering going this year to finally see Ajax in life action,so i wrote an email a week ago to Ajax travel site. Now you can book just packages to Amsterdam tournament games (http://www.atp.nl/ate/page.php?id=169). Packages to Eredivisie will apear in two weeks. That's what they said to me.

[BTV802]

Hello Ajaxtalk!

My name is Drew, I am a regular over on the Ajax board on Bigsoccer. I recognize a few posters here from over there. Looking forward to exercising my obsession over here as well!

Cheers,


Drew

[Amol]

Hello Ajaxtalk!

My name is Drew, I am a regular over on the Ajax board on Bigsoccer. I recognize a few posters here from over there. Looking forward to exercising my obsession over here as well!

Cheers,


Drew

Lets just hope Johan doesn't follow you from there

[Davo15]

Welcome drew and thanks Van Basten for the info....I tried emailing twice and got no reply....maybe I have the wrong email?

[Van basten]

Welcome drew and thanks Van Basten for the info....I tried emailing twice and got no reply....maybe I have the wrong email?

[email protected] is the email, that i send to.

[aveslacker]

Hello Ajaxtalk!

My name is Drew, I am a regular over on the Ajax board on Bigsoccer. I recognize a few posters here from over there. Looking forward to exercising my obsession over here as well!

Cheers,


Drew

Welcome!

[afcajax73]

Well, i've been coming here for a fair old while now, even before my big soccer days.. but i rarely post, just read.. but having lots more time on my hands at work now, i'm going start posting more.

Im Andy and im 23, from Stoke-on-Trent in England, been a life long Ajax fan since the age of 2-3 years. I work on the railway in an office (busy busy) I have recently left university where i gained a Degree in Forensic Engineering, and have also recently had a baby boy (just 5months nearly), he has his first Ajax shirt in the post from a friend in Leiden.

I first became interested in Ajax around the age of 2-3when my dad founded a company in Holland and he would bring me a shirt back, then as i got older i would go with him and get a game when iw as there. I still now go with him every year, a few times a year to get a game or two. I generally go as often as i can but sadly with things how they are right now its harder and harder to get over for a game.

[SPL]

Welcome to our new friend.

[Snyde]

Hi, I'm sorta new here. I was on this forum the season before last and followed Ajax the whole season. But the reality is that I'm a cule and my heart belongs to Barca. I was very interested to see that Van Basten was coming back to Ajax and that Cruyff was getting an official position with Ajax to enhance your setup at all levels.

Unfortunately, as we all know things didn't work out so well and Cruyff quit over disagreements with MVB. Personally I'm a big Cruyffista and I firmly believe you made a mistake. Cruyff was the one who recommended Pep to Laporta (our president) and has constantly given advice to our Board. And look how well that has turned out for us. Anyways, since Cruyff quit from his position at Ajax, I became really pissed with Ajax and refused to watch their matches. (I'm prejudiced that way ) However I did catch a few highlights here and there.

Anyhow that's all the history and now I talk of the present: I am very happy for Ajax that they have got Martin Jol. He is a fantastic manager and I respect him alot. I have really enjoyed watching his teams play whether it was his Spurs team specially with the Berbatov and Keane partnership or it was last year's HSV team that did very well. (What a crazy year it was in Bundesliga!) I hope he is successful with your team as well. I look forward to watching Ajax again.

Finally there is the issue of players and transfers, and perhaps most important to me right now is Jan Vertonghen. How good would you guys say, he is? I remember him playing at LB the season before last (correct?) but I know for a fact that he was a DM. What I remember of him was that he was very solid and got the job done. How has he played last season and I've read he was injured a bit too? How much do you think it'll cost Barca to get him? Do you think he is good enough and that he will fit our system?

Other than that the few big news are Vermaelen and Luque. Your opinions on both? IMO Vermaelen is quality, I've always rated him and Arsenal are the kind of team that should really suit him. I hope he's up for the challenge.How was his last season?
Luque, as far as I understand has left the Ajaccied with a bitter taste which is unfortunate. However coming back to Liga should be good for him. Malaga could do well with him IMO.

Relating to Barca you may have heard about Ibra and Maxwell?
I'm really happy about both those buys. I have always like the three of Ibra, Chivu and Maxwell. But I didn't see them for Ajax (only started watching Eredivisie 3 years ago...though I had seen many videos of KJH in Hereenveen)
What are your opinions on these buys by Barca?

I'd like to ask you guys about Madrid's dutchies: they are probably all going out this summer so Madrid can salvage some amount of the insane money they spent. So where do you see them go and how do you rate them?

And finally I'll be really greatful if you guys could give me an update on what happened last season/how the players played and your thoughts and expectations for the new season. Really hoping to be able to follow Ajax once more!

[aveslacker]

Hi, I'm sorta new here. I was on this forum the season before last and followed Ajax the whole season. But the reality is that I'm a cule and my heart belongs to Barca. I was very interested to see that Van Basten was coming back to Ajax and that Cruyff was getting an official position with Ajax to enhance your setup at all levels.

Unfortunately, as we all know things didn't work out so well and Cruyff quit over disagreements with MVB. Personally I'm a big Cruyffista and I firmly believe you made a mistake. Cruyff was the one who recommended Pep to Laporta (our president) and has constantly given advice to our Board. And look how well that has turned out for us. Anyways, since Cruyff quit from his position at Ajax, I became really pissed with Ajax and refused to watch their matches. (I'm prejudiced that way ) However I did catch a few highlights here and there.

Anyhow that's all the history and now I talk of the present: I am very happy for Ajax that they have got Martin Jol. He is a fantastic manager and I respect him alot. I have really enjoyed watching his teams play whether it was his Spurs team specially with the Berbatov and Keane partnership or it was last year's HSV team that did very well. (What a crazy year it was in Bundesliga!) I hope he is successful with your team as well. I look forward to watching Ajax again.

Finally there is the issue of players and transfers, and perhaps most important to me right now is Jan Vertonghen. How good would you guys say, he is? I remember him playing at LB the season before last (correct?) but I know for a fact that he was a DM. What I remember of him was that he was very solid and got the job done. How has he played last season and I've read he was injured a bit too? How much do you think it'll cost Barca to get him? Do you think he is good enough and that he will fit our system?

Other than that the few big news are Vermaelen and Luque. Your opinions on both? IMO Vermaelen is quality, I've always rated him and Arsenal are the kind of team that should really suit him. I hope he's up for the challenge.How was his last season?
Luque, as far as I understand has left the Ajaccied with a bitter taste which is unfortunate. However coming back to Liga should be good for him. Malaga could do well with him IMO.

Relating to Barca you may have heard about Ibra and Maxwell?
I'm really happy about both those buys. I have always like the three of Ibra, Chivu and Maxwell. But I didn't see them for Ajax (only started watching Eredivisie 3 years ago...though I had seen many videos of KJH in Hereenveen)
What are your opinions on these buys by Barca?

I'd like to ask you guys about Madrid's dutchies: they are probably all going out this summer so Madrid can salvage some amount of the insane money they spent. So where do you see them go and how do you rate them?

And finally I'll be really greatful if you guys could give me an update on what happened last season/how the players played and your thoughts and expectations for the new season. Really hoping to be able to follow Ajax once more!

Welcome (back) to the boards. It's cool that you are a Cruijff supporter but be advised that there are several of us here who don't share the same opinion of him as a boardroom presence. Obviously we all love him as a player, but Cruijff the bureaucrat has gotten on the nerves of many of us, myself included.

Vertonghen is a DM, but considering we have a ton of DMs and very few LBs, he's had to deputize there on a few occasions. I really liked Vermaelen and think he'll do well in England, but Luque has a lot of skill and potential that he never really lived up to here at Ajax.

Last season was in the end a disappointment but it did provide a few highlights, namely our UEFA cup campaign, which could have gone on longer had it not been for a goalkeeping blunder by Vermeer. Van Basten was able to instill a fighting spirit in the team (until the last three or so games) but was not much of a tactician. In the end we may well have been the most talented team in the eredivisie but we we not the best because we didn't play as a team. So the season has to go down as a disappointment by our standards.

There's hope this season but we still haven't addressed our most pressing weakness (although at least the club seems to be trying by throwing their hat in the ring for the likes of Ownyewu and that Argentinian defender). At least we have a real, proven coach, not some development project or Ajax old boy, for the first time since Co Adriaanse left. Will he be able to get us playing well defensively? Who knows. We shouldn't have a problem scoring, that's for sure. And we'll likely play attractive ball, too. But I'd trade all of that for a goddamn eredivisie title and a deep run in Europe.

[SPL]

Well put Aveslacker.We all want that title this season more than anything.

[Vic_TO]

Hello all.

After a couple of attempts trying to join this board I'm finally in! Since I don't speak Dutch, I've always been looking for a good English site where I can get official/unofficial news on the team before it gets to regular outlets. I remember Ajax USA back in the day... used to love that site.

So how did a guy in his early 30s, born and raised in Toronto, of Portuguese descent come to follow Ajax?

It all started as a young child in the mid 80s and seeing a spotlight on Ajax and being mesmerized by the images of De Meer Stadion and their famous towers. And then they started talking about a player named Marco van Basten and I was hooked! (An aside, did Ajax ever play the Toronto Blizzard in a friendly?)

But this being the mid 80s I could only follow through some press reports and the tables in the paper. I remember Ajax winning the Cup Winners Cup. Started reading up on the history of Ajax, Cruijff and the 70s.

Marco left but I still followed Ajax. By extension, I even started following the Dutch national team and still remember that volley that Marco struck to win Euro '88.

Then I got my first official team jersey - of any team. The '89-90 away kit! I was in heaven. If I wasn't a supporter yet, I was now. By the way, I still have it!

Marco was replaced by Bergkamp and then along came the next generation. My happiest moment as a supporter was watching Kluivert put in that goal for Ajax to beat Milan in Vienna and seeing them hoist the Champions Cup aloft!

I continued to follow - with the help of Ajax USA, amongst other sites - and when I got married in October of 2002, I made sure that Amsterdam was a stop on my honeymoon. Unfortunately Ajax was not playing in Amsterdam during the 3-4 days I was there but I got to visit Amsterdam Arena and see the trophy room!

Well that marriage ended but not my love of Ajax. I have a new girl now and hopefully one day I can return to Amsterdam so I can live out my dream of seeing Ajax play live. She loves football and has promised me a football honeymoon. LOL

So I am glad to be here!

P.S. How many supporters are there in Toronto/Canada? I've always wanted to get together with fellow supporters but have found them to be few and far between in Toronto.

[aveslacker]

Welcome aboard!

[aztattooedsean777]

Hello my name is Sean. I have lived in Chandler Arizona since late 1995 when I moved here after college graduation to start working at Intel. I have been here since. I grew up in Michigan up through my high school graduation in 1988. I went into the army and lived in Germany for 3 of my 4 years.

I had watched what football I could up to that point with what limited matches they showed where I lived in the US. I loved the sport though having played it since 1980. I really started to pick it up while in Germany during the 1990 World Cup.

I have always enjoyed the Dutch national team with it's style of play. It fascinated me with how many came from Ajax.

I guess I didn't research as much as I could due to what I thought was limited chance to see them even on tv. That is until last few years when I finally had a cable tv system that provided me with ESPN Deportes where I get to see some Dutch league action.

I know I have alot of catching up to do in finding out everything about the history, every thing there is to know about the current players,etc. I love their style of play. I do agree that they should improve their defense. I really wish Onyewu had come to Amsterdam as he would get more playing time with Ajax and he really could have helped on the back line.


I have only been to Amsterdam once. I didn't get to take a tour of the stadium though. I will change that on next visit. I will definitely have many questions on how to get tickets and what not when I eventually come to visit to see a match.


It is nice to meet every one of you!!

[aztattooedsean777]

I forgot to mention that I am about just left of center politically. I really don't dig those on the far left and far right when it comes to US politics.

If I didn't mention, I still work at Intel here in Arizona although I have had some close calls with lay offs.