21 Aug 2011: VVV-Venlo - Ajax

[Amol]

wake up call, while twente ran all over heerenveen we struggle against vvv. it's still early but this points are costly!! All the time we have on the ball and all the shots we are creating amount to nothing if we don't score.

Just call us the Arsenal of the Eresdivisie.

Anything but that! I hate that team and their effing douche manager.

[Monkey Tonk]

They didn't want the win. It was there after the two quick goals, but they relaxed right back into their comfortable apathy. Typical case of doing no more than necessary against a weak opponent, and imagining that superior quality will decide things in the end. Two points dropped because of mental weakness. The lack of precision was everywhere. Passing, positioning, finishing. The fact is that they were no better than Venlo and didn't deserve the win. You don't get three points just for showing up in white and red.

[Orange14]

Maybe it was the heat and humidity on the pitch today but only a few players earned their paycheck. Sigthorsson was unlucky not to have scored another goal or two. He held the ball up well and was active in the middle creating openings on the wings. Sulejmani was absent for large stretches and a bit selfish with a couple of shots when there were better opportunities. Boerrigter was average, no major mistakes and a couple of decent breaks down the wing. Ebecilio did little coming on in the end. Serrero was average coming on and really didn't create anything when there were a lot of tired players from VVV. de Jong made us play 10 against 11 today; FdB must know something that none of us do. Eriksen was good in distributing the ball but his shot seems to have deserted him; good vision in the lay off for Janssen. Janssen got a nice goal but not much else; I still think we really miss not having Anita in the midfield (witness the second VVV goal where there was no holding midfielder to help out). Blind was average and cannot play left back at this level (is Boilesen injured?). Vertonghen and Alderweireld were fair though Toby needs to forget about shooting all the time (yes I know he scored a rocket or two but is more often wide of the mark). van der Wiel was good moving up and had a good game. Vermeer was not at fault on the goals, got lucky a couple of times, and otherwise was OK.

Frustrating club as always with defensive lapses and a lack of conviction on finishing opportunities (though Gentenaar came up big on some shots that should have gone in). It was always a winnable game given away by lapses in concentration and a player who really doesn't belong out on the pitch given some of the others who are on the bench.

[ajaxcolombia]

lessons we learned from today:

1. Eriken and de Jong are not providing the amount of creativity we need in midfield. De Jong in particular seems like a non-entity at times.

2. Janssen is being wasted in a deep role.

3. Despite having our captain back, we're still crappy defenders.

4. Blind should not be on the first team.

5. If mickey has an off game, we will struggle.

[SPL]

Inspite of a load of shots, some going near, this was a woeful performance and had they scored what should have been an easy 3rd we would have lost . Midfield only woke up when we were 2 down. Not sure why de Jong plays and as for Blind , he is extremely poor as a left back.If they are not going to over play Boilesen , and fair enough its early season, then play Anita there he can defend.

Sigthorsson and Boerrigter worked hard . In defence Greg was very good but imo Vertoghen was rusty having been out for some weeks .

[SPL]

Not for the first time we feel de Jong and Blind should not be playing big trouble at present we only have 20 players in our squad and only Ozbiliz and Enoh were missing , Not sure whether we will bring in any more outfielders( clearly we will get another goalie) but if we do not then one or 2 injuries, especailly to key defenders will see more dropped points against teams like VVV.

[aveslacker]

Everyone put on your helmets. The sky is falling.

Also, De Jong should not play. It should be Anita.

[Philippe]

Shameful performance. Van der Wiel was all right. He's about the only one. How many goal chances does it take for Sigthorsson to score ?

[gordonvandekamp]

Everyone put on your helmets. The sky is falling.

Also, De Jong should not play. It should be Anita.

Agree with the comments here.

I really don't see a place for de Jong in this team, he doesn't seem better than the other choices in the midfield or at striker. He can't distribute and can't finish. Blind has done little to impress either.

I'd replace him with Serrero or Enoh in midfield, possibly moving Janssen up and put Anita at left back for now (or Boilesen).

[Blind3]

My parents once, okay more than once, told me " If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all " . Nothing at all.