17 Apr 2011: NEC - Ajax

[bluedaddy19]

de graafschap have tied it

[rjf1]

DeGraf tied it 1 - 1

[ofey]

The dream continues... .

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

We're in second people and PSV better watch their backs !!!

[Tom_]

Phew. That was no fun at all. Horrible, horrible game. Gonna have to do better against Twente or we're gone

[bluedaddy19]

psv 65 +46
twente 65 +28
AJAX 64 +36

next up:
FRI
den haag v twente
SUN
AJAX v excelsior
f-word v psv

[kezme44]

vermeer saved our ass big time

[Tom_]

vermeer saved our ass big time

I thought Anita and Vertonghen were good, too. Other than that... hmm

[Orange14]

Hard fought victory that in the end was deserved. Vermeer came up big time with some great saves. Defense was adequate and nothing more, Boilesen was not convincing today and I suspect that teams will continue to attack down our left side. Eriksen and Sulejmani had good solid matches on offense. Ebecilio was average at best. Ozbiliz was not on long enough to pass judgement on (though he perhaps should have done better on a couple of the chances he had). El Hamdaoui played much better in the 2nd half, looking for the pass more rather than dribbling. I agree with Bluedaddy that he is trying to hard out there. If he would try pass and cut more he might see some good return balls. The whistles are totally undeserved. Anita was solid in the midfield. de Jong as usual was not a factor at all.

Twente drop points today so things will continue to be tight right down to the end. I suspect that the only match PSV will have trouble with is their trip to Rotterdam. Groningen's form is poor at present and it is hard to see them taking any points in the final match day. I'm glad we got through this one and we still have the hardest road ahead of the top three. I think the away match with Heerenveen will be difficult.

[kezme44]

i agree

we'll see what happens with f-word next week. don't think they will bend over and let psv take them from behind. they already got that treatment in the fall so they might have something to prove. also, twente is in the race and its not us vs psv.

still sad though that i have to find reasons why the roaches won't throw away the game

[Kowalczyk]

I absolutely can not believe the way Ajax started this match... So aloof, so uninspired, so poorly concentrated. Amazing. Absolutely unbelievable. We could have been 3-0 down after half an hour. Vermeer saved our a##es today.

Second half was alright. Not great, but there was pressure and Ajax wanted to win (finally).

It was only just good enough today.

Heracles vs PSV:
Too bad, quite disappointing. Heracles went down to ten men, but still got a penalty... and missed it.

Graafschap vs Twente:
Good news. Twente seem to have lost it a little bit.

Feyenoord vs Willem II:
It is very important for Ajax that Feyenoord win today. They must stay in the race for 8th place (which means: play-offs and the possibility of qualification for the Europa League). If they win today they will want to beat PSV.

K.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

psv 65 +46
twente 65 +28
AJAX 64 +36

next up:
FRI
den haag v twente
SUN
AJAX v excelsior
f-word v psv

This year is looking a lot like 2006–07, this should be exciting !!!

[acab]

i agree

we'll see what happens with f-word next week. don't think they will bend over and let psv take them from behind. they already got that treatment in the fall so they might have something to prove. also, twente is in the race and its not us vs psv.

still sad though that i have to find reasons why the roaches won't throw away the game

They are fiting for the spot in the playoffs! And even they weren't, i don't see why they sould lose again, after this "hardcore porno" in Eindhoven...

[Orange14]

Heracles vs PSV:
Too bad, quite disappointing. Heracles went down to ten men, but still got a penalty... and missed it.

K.

How many times this season has PSV played against 10 in the second half of matches? If I have some time I'll look and see but it seems to be a rather high number!

[kezme44]

you should have seen the second yellow card on fledderus. an absolute joke

[SPL]

Just watching that penalty incident with Sulejmani in slow motion ,clear penalty but thankfully we won . Agree we were poor in the first half and but for Vermeer we would have let in 3.It should have been a yellow for that elbow on Siem. A lovely pass from Eriksen and well taken by Sulejmani .
A much better second half and good goal from Toby . El H is trying too hard but has lost it with the crowd and is too slow and wont pass.

Vermeer was superb today and saved us. The defence was ok although Boilesen does look like someone who until 2 weeks ago was a youth player. Ozbilz and El H should never have been yellow carded.

Great that Twente dropped points today as I expected both them and PSV to win. I still think PSV will win and we will finish 2nd but lets just win our last 3 games and hope PSV get a draw somewhere.
Anything less than 3 wins by us will not be enough imo.

One last point 9 starters from our youth and when Ozbiliz came on that was 10 . We are a very young team just a shame some of them will be leaving this summer although I hope this weeks rumours Toby to Arsenal and Anita is being watched by Spurs and Manu come to nothing.

[Orange14]

Heracles vs PSV:
Too bad, quite disappointing. Heracles went down to ten men, but still got a penalty... and missed it.

K.

How many times this season has PSV played against 10 in the second half of matches? If I have some time I'll look and see but it seems to be a rather high number!

Here is the answer:
Twice against Graafschap and Twice against Heracles. Once against Feynoord, Ajax, and Willem II. Once against NAC but they lost the match. Once against Utrecht but both teams were down to 10. Grand total is 10 which is about 1/3 of all the matches played.

[ofey]

Big games last night from Vermeer, Vertonghen and Anita.
El-Ham as usual was VERY disappointing but the whistles DO NOT HELP.
I think Ebecilio has lost his way a little. Was really bad.

We need to just concentrate on winning our own games. IF we win the remaining matches and lose the title, I won't be disappointed as we kept our side of the bargain and put pressure on the eventual winner.

Next weekend will be decisive.

[bluedaddy19]

Here is the answer:
Twice against Graafschap and Twice against Heracles. Once against Feynoord, Ajax, and Willem II. Once against NAC but they lost the match. Once against Utrecht but both teams were down to 10. Grand total is 10 which is about 1/3 of all the matches played.

IN. CREDIBLE!!

and remember, this is the same club that can also be handed four penalties in a game

[qezu]

@Tom_: Been in Melbourne 4 yrs in Doncaster. Moved here from London where I used to go to De Hems in Leicester Sq to watch emm.
Been an Ajacied for 20 yrs now. Only watched them for about 12 yrs.

Mickey needs to hold off shooting. Take it some more... .

Hi to both of you. Count me in as another Melbournian Ajax supporter. reside nearby Carlton. Wonder how many Ajax supporters in Melbourne itself??

[aveslacker]

Here is the answer:
Twice against Graafschap and Twice against Heracles. Once against Feynoord, Ajax, and Willem II. Once against NAC but they lost the match. Once against Utrecht but both teams were down to 10. Grand total is 10 which is about 1/3 of all the matches played.

IN. CREDIBLE!!

and remember, this is the same club that can also be handed four penalties in a game

And if Ajax and PSV should somehow go into the last game level on points, you just know that whoever PSV plays will make sure that they concede just enough points to allow PSV to win. Just like happened a few years ago.

[qezu]

Here is the answer:
Twice against Graafschap and Twice against Heracles. Once against Feynoord, Ajax, and Willem II. Once against NAC but they lost the match. Once against Utrecht but both teams were down to 10. Grand total is 10 which is about 1/3 of all the matches played.

IN. CREDIBLE!!

and remember, this is the same club that can also be handed four penalties in a game

And if Ajax and PSV should somehow go into the last game level on points, you just know that whoever PSV plays will make sure that they concede just enough points to allow PSV to win. Just like happened a few years ago.

They are already ahead in goal difference by 10. How many more do they want? Then again, I will be more piss off if they are allowed to score the winning goal in injury time to deny us the title. Does Groningen has anything against us recently?

[Monkey Tonk]

Here is the answer:
Twice against Graafschap and Twice against Heracles. Once against Feynoord, Ajax, and Willem II. Once against NAC but they lost the match. Once against Utrecht but both teams were down to 10. Grand total is 10 which is about 1/3 of all the matches played.

IN. CREDIBLE!!

and remember, this is the same club that can also be handed four penalties in a game

Most people in Holland don't believe 'Italian' corruption is possible in their own country. I doubt that will ever change.

[Orange14]

Here are the final three matches for the top three:

PSV:
Feyenoord (a)
Vitesse
Groningen (a)

Twente:
ADO den Haag (a)
Willem II
Ajax (a)

Ajax:
Excelsior
Heerenveen (a)
Twente

A couple of weeks ago I would have said that PSV had the easiest path forward and we had the most difficult given the fixtures. Now, I am not too sure. I think we have the easiest with only the Heerenveen match a potential stumbling block (the final match against Twente will be difficult for sure but it is at home which will make a bid difference). I actually think PSV now have the most difficult of the fixtures with two away matches against teams with something to prove. While we all suspect Feyenoord of doing dastardly things to bring us down, I really think they will be out to avenge the shellacking they got in Eindhoven. I hope those who go into De Kuip next weekend don't let their team forget what happened. What an exciting way to end the season (look at all the other Euro leagues where the championship is pretty much already decided!!).

[Van basten]

Does Groningen has anything against us recently?

The problem is, that the game against psv wouldn't matter for them. They will think about play-offs and can rest some of their best players.