06 Oct 2013: Ajax - FC Utrecht

[rjf1]

Isn't it amazing what can happen when you actually try to attack the opponent's box. Think that maybe they will catch on from this?

[saddlerian]

Well, what can you say? Laboured, clueless....always looking backwards....let's hope the second half provides some entertainment!!!

[rjf1]

What a half -- outplayed by the likes of Utrecht at the arena -- no offense, no defense -- lucky not to be down by 3 goals -- and wind up finishing the half a goal up. Go figure.

[Ayman]

Who did Serero come on for as a sub?

[rjf1]

For Siem -- seem to go off with some kind of problem, but I'm not sure what -- maybe his ribs?

[Orange14]

Other than the moment of luck at the end of the half this was a very poor performance. No quickness on the field other than Fischer and Serero who came in for de Jong. Utrecht is playing a very cagey 4-4-2 on defense choking off any entry pass into the midifield. van der Hoorn and Denswil may set records today for most passes to one another. Cross field passes by Denswil have been very poor. Sigthorsson has no quickness at all and is a huge liability as he cannot hold the ball up or press once the ball is turned over. I suspect they are going to have to make this one goal hold up; fortunately Utrecht do not have much attacking quality (but Ajax are always good for at least one defensive blunder a half).

[SPL]

Not alot I can add we have looked poor and laboured but Serero pops up out of nowhere.

[paladinby]

Eredivisie clubs play poorly under pressure. Duarte's goal against GAE and this one today are examples.

Other than that we are slow and clueless. Sigthorsson can't even make a simple pass to involve someone else. Still no options provided when wingers receive the ball.

[King Litti]

Midfield seems extremely static to me.

It was. Serero maybe brought a little more speed. Good shot from him though like against eagles we needed a lot of help from their defence. Horrible clearence or was it a failed attempt to pass to the keeper.

The opening passes by Denswill and van der Hoorne lacked quality sometimes.

Not convincing so far.

[saddlerian]

get that effing no9 off....he's just a liability!!! Can't score and when he tries to defend, he's dangerous!!!

[Amol]

We are taking too long to regroup after a failed attack. Shouldn't be passing the ball all the way back to the CB who end up playing tiki taka between themsleves.

Wait - what do I know - 2-0!!!

[SPL]

well taken by Klaassen now get a 3rd

[Orange14]

Wicked strike by Denswil and nice follow by Klaasen!

[rjf1]

Actually, the are playing better this half -- trying to attack instead of just pitty patting the ball along the back line. It paid off with that second goal.

[rjf1]

Wouldn't mind seeing Hoesen come on for Sigthorssen.

[saddlerian]

For God's sake...I do hope that no-one buys Sigthorsson a drink....he wouldn't be able to hold it!!!

[saddlerian]

Thank God for that!!!!

[Orange14]

That's what a striker gets paid to do!!

[saddlerian]

3-0 win..iffy display.....3 points in the bag....ok until we come up against some stronger opposition.....Twente next!!!

[Amol]

Such a breath of fresh air at the end.

1. Serrero realeases Hoesen
2. who receives the ball in his run
3. then beats his marker and
4. shoots past the keeper.

Had forgotten that a CF can do steps 2, 3 & 4.

[rjf1]

Maybe the plan was to lull them to sleep with the pitty pat in the first half and come out swinging in the second. Whatever -- while maybe we were lucky to go into the half 1 goal up, the two second half goals were well deserved, and it was a justified win in the end.

[SPL]

Good goal by Hoesen and a better 2nd half by what was a very young team with Poulsen 10 years older than anyone else.
Not sure how they work out injury time as de Ridder wasted a minute going off and Klaassen's cramp another 1min plus subs .If they had only given 1 min 40 secs of injury v Milan !!!

At least we have beaten Utrecht again after 3 years and 6 games.

[Orange14]

In the end a comfortable win. No major screw ups on defense against a team that really did not possess much quality.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (7) - had to make one good save on a cross that could have found an open man but otherwise had little to do
Blind (6.5) - two or three poor plays when his man beat him badly but otherwise decent
Denswil (7) - gets a higher mark for the wicked shot on goal; cross field passes in the first half were quite poor
van der Hoorn (6.5) - missed a defensive header in the first half but otherwise kept his head in the match
van Rhijn (6) - pretty quiet match, no really good or bad plays
Poulsen (6) - really conservative play compared to the match against Milan
Klaasen (6.5) - nice awareness to attack the goal for the second score
de Jong (NR) - heard that it was a hamstring problem that forced him out of the match
Fischer (7) - most active of all the attackers and worked hard all match long
Sigthorrson (4) - really bad today, too slow and couldn't hold onto the ball at all
de Sa (5.5) - needs to figure out another aspect of his game when he cannot beat his man to get a cross in
Serero (7) - well played match and it's finally nice to see some speed in the midfield
Andersen (6.5) - some nice moments but like de Sa needs to understand what to do with the ball when the first option is closed down
Hoesen (6.5) - well taken goal and maybe should start the next match up front as he has quickness to press

Off next weekend for the international break and then a tough road game at Twente. We'll know whether this team is a contender at that match.

[saddlerian]

Hoesen (6.5) - well taken goal and maybe should start the next match up front as he has quickness to press

ok...as long as he doesn't drop too deep!! Three times in the short time he was on the field, ajax had the ball on the wing and had to turn and drop back because there was no-one in the centre!!!!

[paladinby]

We failed to beat Utrecht for the last 3 seasons in a league game so it's a nice win anyway. We've got 15 points after 5 home games and only 2 after 4 away.