29 Apr 2012: FC Twente - Ajax

[Orange14]

This was a very even match and it took a bit of luck and some really good goalkeeping from Vermeer to keep the scoreline at 2-1. Great awareness from Ebecilio to set the plate up for Van der Wiel who took his chance as well as any striker I've ever seen with the off foot. Despite having some issues with defensive shape, the team did enough and kept decent possession in the midfield. I really do question FdB's choice of substitutes in this match. If Sigthorsson is going to come on, don't take off the winger who has been relentlessly tracking back all match to help on defense. Why take off Anita for Enoh and leave Janssen on the pitch (I really don't get this one since if you are going to control the midfield keep your best player out on the pitch!)

Player ratings:

Vermeer (8) - very poor kicking but three incredible saves and good ball distribution
Blind (7) - very solid match on both sides of the pitch
Vertonghen (8) - excellent defensively and the one charge along the goal line in the Twente half was pretty
Alderwiereld (7) - good in the back yet again
Van der Wiel (8) - dicey against John in the opening 10 minutes and then was just superb, responsible for both Ajax goals and defensively pretty good down the stretch
Anita (8) - is there a better holding midfielder in the league during the 2nd half of the season? I think not
Eriksen (6) - surprisingly subdued match today
Janssen (7) - rating only because of the PK, otherwise not all that great and couldn't even keep the ball in the corner with 40 seconds to go
Boerrigter (7) - again solid on the left wing
de Jong (7) - good match
Aissati (7) - realized he had to give Van der Wiel help on Ola John and did just that
Ebecilio (8) - great assist on the 2nd goal and almost got #3 creating space for himself in the middle
Sigthorsson (NR) - maybe only got one touch as a substitute
Enoh (NR) - didn't see any touch as he came on late for Anita

This team has really come together and I think the two EL matches against ManU showed that even with young players if they play as a team they can win matches. Forza AJAX!!!

[ajaxcolombia]

Anita deserves a 9 in my opinion.

[Tom_]

Maybe Anita is carrying a slight injury? He's come off after about 60 minutes in at least the last couple of games.

[Orange14]

Anita deserves a 9 in my opinion.

If he scored on the chance he had, it would have been a 9!

[ajaxcolombia]

About the substitutions, I completely agree with you orange. Thank god we didn't pay for that bad decision making.

[ajaxcolombia]

Anita deserves a 9 in my opinion.

If he scored on the chance he had, it would have been a 9!

How about a symbolic 9??? for practically turning around our season???

[SPL]

great save by Vermeer would make them all MOM .That was a tough game and Twente gave their all still not sure how we hung on. Greg had a great game and what a beauty of a goal from him. Why was Anita taken off when we were hanging on the little fellow is superb .

Well we wont get the trophy until Weds or even next Sunday but the goal difference means we have to lose both games 6-0 and Fword have to win both theirs 7-0 .

I am going to play the great Freddie Mercury now singing WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

Glad Fword won I do hope they finish 2nd and stop PSV but who really cares we are the Champions.

PS I think the new away strip is awful . Ajax play in the most famous strip on the planet and we should wear that every game. At least when we get the trophy on Weds we will look normal in our iconic strip.

[Flipster81]

At one point a little before the change he was holding his hamstring and gesturing to the bench, so it was probably an injury.

FdB's subs we're questionable today, i thought Aissati was good all round today and Eriksen maybe should have made way. But great performance again by little Vurn, imo he along with Vertonghen have been our best players this season.

#31

[ajaxcolombia]

great save by Vermeer would make them all MOM .That was a tough game and Twente gave their all still not sure how we hung on. Greg had a great game and what a beauty of a goal from him. Why was Anita taken off when we were hanging on the little fellow is superb .

Well we wont get the trophy until Weds or even next Sunday but the goal difference means we have to lose both games 6-0 and Fword have to win both theirs 7-0 .

I am going to play the great Freddie Mercury now singing WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

Glad Fword won I do hope they finish 2nd and stop PSV but who really cares we are the Champions.

PS I think the new away strip is awful . Ajax play in the most famous strip on the planet and we should wear that every game. At least when we get the trophy on Weds we will look normal in our iconic strip.

The light blue one was beautiful, now we look like a Tron kind of nightmare, but whatever!!! as long as we win!!!

[SPL]

See you all agree on Anita yes he was superb again today and was my MOM . Evidently scouts from all the top teams were here today looking at Jan Greg, Christian plus de Jong ,John and maybe Douglas for them but I bet they all went away mighty impressed by the little man. Since he went into defensive MF we have looked a different team.

Will Oranje really pick V Bommel and N de Jong for Euros !! I would not swap either of these for the little man.

[Orange14]

Will Oranje really pick V Bommel and N de Jong for Euros !! I would not swap either of these for the little man.

If van Marwijk were really gutsy he would start Anita and Clasie as the two deep lying midfielders. Clasie was again MOTM in the Feyenoord win today.

[ajaxcolombia]

Will Oranje really pick V Bommel and N de Jong for Euros !! I would not swap either of these for the little man.

If van Marwijk were really gutsy he would start Anita and Clasie as the two deep lying midfielders. Clasie was again MOTM in the Feyenoord win today.

What a dynamic midfield that would be!!!!! Sadly, it is only something you can dream about, he will pick his son in law, or that crappy player who plays for PSV.

[King Litti]

Holy crap, What a comeback! I did my very first trip to Amsterdam for the home game against Utrecht (defeat and no goals for Ajax. I can't believe my luck). It was one of the crapiest performances I have ever seen from Ajax. I would have never believed then that we would be here now with two rounds to go. Hope we wont lose too many players from this group. A couple more good signings and we could make a mark in Europe.

Van Marwijk propably thinks Anita hasn't got enough experience from big games and now that they will face Portugal, Germany and Denmark he wil propablyl go with Van Bommel. In the world cup 2014 it will be another story. I really dislike Van Bommel with all of his shenanigans but I have to admit that he is effective in his role.

[ajaxcolombia]

http://11tegen11.net/?p=1724 match analysis!!!

[Rooie]

[Orange14]

Are they drinking Grolsch? I don't know what the cans look like.

[Rooie]

Amstel

Enjoying their bus trip:

[Blind3]

AJAX KAMPIOEN OLE, OLE . AJAX KAMPIOEN OLE , OLE . AJAX KAMPIOEN , AJAX KAMPIOEN . AJAX KAMPIOEN OLE , OLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a stunning turnaround . Never would've believed it.

[Rooie]

Emotion on the sidelines:

Mooie plaatjes!


(1-2)


(End of match)

[Blind3]

Benji, THANK YOU for the fantastic pictures !

[Blind3]

Love it when I can watch the replay over and over on ESPN3.

[SPL]

Thanks Benji for the great pictures

Cannot really believe after that loss at home to Utrecht we would then win 12 on the bounce and get the title.

[Rooie]

http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-TV/Feest-op-het-veld.htm

[Ajaciedjuh]

http://www.ajax.nl/Ajax-TV/Feest-op-het-veld.htm

Ajax moet toch echt iets gaan doen aan beschikbaarheid voor iPad.

[Blind3]

Brilliant link. I could watch it over and over. Heck, I will watch it over and over.