07 Dec 2013: Ajax - NAC Breda

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2013-2014. Matchday 16.

Kick-off time at the Amsterdam ArenA is 18:45 CET. A rather unusual kick-off time.

Interesting fixtures this weekend: AZ vs Twente and PSV vs Vitesse (!) on Saturday evening, followed by Heerenveen vs Feyenoord on Sunday.

K.

[King Litti]

The last game before the Milan clash. I'd like to see FdB consider this game to be a kind of a dress rehearsal for the Milan game. The same defensive line up should play against NAC that will play agains Milan at least at some point. There's going to be some changes to the line up we have had recently due to suspension (Veltman (Milan) and due to injury (Boilesen, Duarte, Siggy, de Jong).

Ligeon will replace Duarte in the squad. If FdB really wants Blind to play as holding midfielder I guess he is another option for left back even though he is right footed. it's a real puzzle for FdB to sort out. If Ligeon, van der Hoorn, Denwil or Poulsen will get a start against Milan, I would really like to see them get some playing time against NAC as some of them really don't have much game rhythm.

Of course our focus should not be too much on the Milan game yet. Let's take care of business first against NAC. We don't want to spill points at home as it looks like it will be a really interesting and tight battle for the title this year with lots of teams still in the race.

[Blind3]

Excuse the clichés , but time to keep the heads out of the clouds and put these bastards to the sword . Another demolition of a lesser opponent , a la ADO , would be just the ticket !!!

[Tom_]

These Saturday matches are a real bummer, I can't watch this one. I have to choose between playing football and watching on Wednesday, too...

[Orange14]

These Saturday matches are a real bummer, I can't watch this one. I have to choose between playing football and watching on Wednesday, too...

This is why it's great being retired. I can arrange my schedule around Ajax matches!!!

[Van basten]

Will watch this again on tv

[Van basten]

Line-up?

[Amol]

Cillessen, Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Ligeon, Klaassen, Blind, Serero, Schöne, Hoesen, Fischer

Liegeon at LB and Blind at DM

[SPL]

livesport.sx.en has english streams

[rjf1]

These Saturday matches are a real bummer, I can't watch this one. I have to choose between playing football and watching on Wednesday, too...

I hear you -- this one starts at 1:45 in the morning around here. Don't know why they are scheduling so many of them this year -- I wish who ever is responsible would find a different job.

[Amol]

How is that damn ball not going in?

[Orange14]

Wow was that ever pretty!! Davy Klaassen.

[rjf1]

It went in that time! And about time!

[Amol]

Finally!! I was starting to get slightly worried!!

Also, if I haven't said this earlier, I really like Klassen compared to De Jong at that position.

[Van basten]

[King Litti]

NIce. Elegant finnish by Klaassen.

[Amol]

Sarpong seems to have put on a lot of muscle since he left us. I remember him being as small as Serrero.

[Amol]

OMG. I really really like Klassen.

2-0!!!

[Orange14]

Even better for number 2. Great pass Viktor Fischer dynamite finish Davy Klaassen.

[Van basten]

Klaasen is on fire or what!? i was so pesimistic about him, thinking that he can't add anything in the midfield, but boy was i wrong! he's 5 times better than de jong in that position.

[King Litti]

A good clean hit on the ball from the air. That is not as easy as it looks. De Jong will have a hard time trying to replace Klaassen in midfield (not that he should even try. He should be a striker).

[Orange14]

NAC are really fortunate not to be down 5-0 the way we are shredding their defense. Two well taken goals by Klaassen and now there is absolutely no question that de Jong will never (certainly should never) play in the midfield again. Tremendous pressure from Ajax all over the field. Only one troubling moment early on when a cross through the box didn't find any NAC players but otherwise no trouble at all for Cillessen. I expect 2-3 more goals in the second half.

[rjf1]

What a nice - and well-deserved - ending to a well-played half. Well -- enjoyable as it has been, I'm off to bed -- it's way past bedtime already. What with Vitesse playing PSV later, we could possibly be in 1st place come the end of the day.

[Amol]

Klaasen is on fire or what!? i was so pesimistic about him, thinking that he can't add anything in the midfield, but boy was i wrong! he's 5 times better than de jong in that position.

Same here. I thought he was going to be a De Jong clone. But I'm glad to have been proved completely wrong.

His movement off the ball, speed and ball handling (to an extent) are much faster than De Jong.

[SPL]

2 well taken goals by Klaassen and we are dominating . This could well be a 4-0 again.Ligeon doing well at LB and even uses his left foot and put in a couple of good crosses.