02 Aug 2013: Ajax - Roda JC

[Amol]

Ladies and Gentlemen - our first league match of the 2013/14 season. Lets make sure that we get our first 3 points of the season tomorrow.

Squad for tomorrow -

Kenneth Vermeer
Ricardo van Rhijn
Toby Alderweireld
Niklas Moisander
Christian Poulsen
Mike van der Hoorn - Chosen over Veltman for this match.
Viktor Fischer
Christian Eriksen
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson
Siem de Jong
Bojan Krkic
Nicolai Boilesen
Daley Blind
Tobias Sana
Lasse Schöne
Jasper Cillessen
Danny Hoesen
Thulani Serero
Mickey van der Hart

[Ayman]

It really is time for Alderwiereld to leave for both Van der Hoorn and Veltman to get minutes split between them for the right centre back position

[Orange14]

Match is scheduled to be televised in the US on GolTV!!!!

EDIT: Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

[BTV802]

Match is scheduled to be televised in the US on GolTV!!!!

EDIT: Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

I second that question. Andersen or Klaassen should be on that list.

[Amol]

Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

I just noticed that too. Weird.

Maybe they're turning CIllessen into an outfield player to get him more minutes he's been asking for

[BTV802]

Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

I just noticed that too. Weird.

Maybe they're turning CIllessen into an outfield player to get him more minutes he's been asking for

I'm reading in the dutch section that Cillessen has a groin strain so van der Hart is a precautionary inclusion.

[Cruijff]

None of you international Ajax fans in town for this one?

[King Litti]

Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

This is kind of weird. I mean either Cillessen is injured or he is not. And if he is, the third choice keeper is van der Hart. We should have enough faith in him, to let him be a back up for Vermeer. Not very encouraging for the young man.

Excited that the season is starting. The first games can always be quite tricky, so let's hope we make a good start and keep it going (and avoid the usual fall/wintertime slump). Overall I'm quite confident. Now that we still have Eriksen and Toby and got a player of Bojans quality, I think we are the team to beat this season.

[Cruijff]

Why are three keepers in the selection???????????????????

This is kind of weird. I mean either Cillessen is injured or he is not. And if he is, the third choice keeper is van der Hart. We should have enough faith in him, to let him be a back up for Vermeer. Not very encouraging for the young man.

He is injured. Well, they say Jasper has a small injury, he will be doubtful for tonight.

The KNVB rules appear to allow us to put 3 goalkeepers in the selection when this is the case, I didn't know that yet. By the way, we will see Van der Hart more often on our bench because of the Jupiler League playing rules.

[souras84]

If you don't have any streams for tonight, I know that this Greek channel will broadcast the game http://www.sporttvnews.gr/

[Dave the mac]

Very much looking forward to the new season! Ajax will need to take Roda seriously, that said I hope they send a statement to the rest of the Eredivisie with a convincing win.
Roda has a couple old friends in Roly Bonevacia and Mitchell Donald.
Game time is 11 am here in Seattle.

[Dave the mac]

Great start, up 1-0. Ajax looks convincing!

[Dave the mac]

Most unusual: looks as if the ref stopped play so both teams could take on a refreshment.
A bit warm in Amsterdam today.

[Dave the mac]

What a pass from Eriksen, de Jong clinically slots it home for 2-0

[Orange14]

It's a real treat to watch the match on my 32 inch TV as opposed to a small Internet feed. Decent first half and the ball movement is much better than last year. Two well deserved goals and several other decent chances. Vermeer was good on cutting down the angle on Nemeth.

[Tom_]

Yep, we're looking good, Roda aren't much of a challenge though.

I've liked the look of Bojan so far (kiss of death)...

[Tom_]

... and no sooner do I say that than he's diving on the edge of the box. Hmm.

[Dave the mac]

Yeah Bojan is looking very dangerous. Just had another great run on goal.

[Van basten]

Can't remember last time saw Sana on the pitch. Welcome back!

[BTV802]

They look good to me.

[King Litti]

I think our guys were right to protest. It was a soft touch and the Roda guy was not even close to get to the ball anyway. Glad they missed. A goal for Roda could have gave them hope.

[SPL]

have watched the game but just catching up with you all. A good win although we were sloppy a bit around the hour mark and ended up with a soft penalty which thankfully they missed. Having had chances we had to wait for the 3rd which Fischer finally put away .

A good start to the season and just hope we can keep Christian Siem and even Toby .

[Orange14]

On a very warm evening in Amsterdam Ajax won the opener of the season despite not being totally convincing in the second half. A number of chances went begging and out two starting fullbacks were certainly poor defenders (though good attackers). Passing in the midfield was quite good and there was some good pressing in the first half. Good to see Boilesen come on even if only for five or so minutes at the end of the match.

Player Ratings:

Vermeer (7) - really not tested but did save everything that came his way; kicking was not too bad either
Blind (6.5) - good going forward and had a nice chance on goal, he had no complaints about the penalty call having a handfull of shirt
Moisander (7) - good pushing the ball up into the attacking half, not really pressured on defense
Alderwiereld (7) - same decent game as his central defense partner
van Rhijn (6.5) - got the garbage goal to get things started but seemed to zone out on defense, couldn't tell why he got carded
Poulsen (7) - solid in the center and his ball distribution was quicker than I've seen
Eriksen (7.5) - very dangerous on set pieces and with the ball during the run of play
de Jong (7) - worked hard all game and his movement was quite good
Fischer (7.5) - glad to see him get a goal, probably the most dangerous attacker tonight
Sigthorrson (6.5) - didn't get the ball in close but did a better job of controlling it than last year
Bojan (6.5) - should have passed to an open Sigthorrson when he was in on goal but looked like he will cause opponents trouble this season
Schöne (6.5) - stinging shot led to the third goal
Sana (6) - is he going to the the first winger off the bench?
Boilesen (6) - really motored forward on the break and will press Blind for a starting position

This was the easiest of the first three matches. Off to Alkmaar to play AZ and then home against Feyenoord. The team will need to do a better job of finishing chances to take the full six points.

[Blind3]

THANK YOU AJAX !!! Really needed a boost . Mom began home Hospice care today.

[Kowalczyk]

I thought Ajax were good, but not very passionate. They looked very confident. A bit too confident, perhaps.

The ArenA was like an oven (more than 30 degrees Celsius), which must have made it difficult. Ajax were okay, but it was a pretty boring game, I thought (slooooowww).

Oh well. It was easily good enough on the night.

K.