09 Feb 2014: PEC Zwolle - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

Eredivisie 2013-2014. Matchday 23.

Kick-off time at the IJsseldelta Stadium in Zwolle is 14:30 CET.

Tough one, this... We will have to be better than against Cambuur, Eagles, Utrecht, etc. Something tells me this won't be easy.

K.

[Dave the mac]

Since the winter break Ajax has had no easy matches, having scored only 4 goals in those four matches. The game will be a great opportunity to put some distance between Ajax and our closest rivals. An amazing position considering how badly we've played of late. Will be interesting to see the line-up tomorrow.

PEC doesn't score many goals, but they are difficult to score against as well. Just like Ajax, at the moment.

The game will be shown on ESPN 3 here in the States.

[Orange14]

Boilesen is again out for this match so it will be interesting to see who FdB puts in at left back. Could be Ligeon, Duarte, or Riederwald or perhaps he goes with a three man back line with four midfielders. It's going to be a tough match and a likely one goal victory. Ron Jans is a highly underrated manager.

[saddlerian]

Frank should put Ligeon at LB as Blind's doing so well in midfield....couldn't take another match where the heart shakes when the ball is on the left side of defence!!!

I see Fischer's fit...he's a MUST as we need wide men, Schoner the other, with enthusiasm...might as well do Sigthorrson or Bojan in attack to start as de Jong looked well out of sorts on Thursday....Klassen and Poulsen in MF to start as a goal needed.....

Beginning to look like a limited squad as Duarte, Denswil, Serero & Reidewald not the most encouraging back up from the bench!!!

[Amol]

Ajax: Vermeer; Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Riedewald; Klaassen, Blind, Serero; Schöne, De Jong, Bojan.

Wissels: Van der Hart, Ligeon, Denswil, Poulsen, Duarte, Fischer, Sigthórsson.

[SPL]

Same starting line up that struggled on Thursday. Still cannot see how deJong starts and Fischer is benched.OK Fischer is
struggling but I am a fan and he can make things happen.

Another struggle ahead and I see a 2-1 win with a winner approx 85 mins.

[saddlerian]

Oh dear !!! Fischer benched and Reidewald starting!!!! Wrong line up...time to get on your knees!!!

(but I will apologise if I'm wrong)

[aveslacker]

Same starting line up that struggled on Thursday. Still cannot see how deJong starts and Fischer is benched.OK Fischer is
struggling but I am a fan and he can make things happen.

Another struggle ahead and I see a 2-1 win with a winner approx 85 mins.

Which would put us seven points clear at the top of the table. It may not be pretty, but it would be effective.

[saddlerian]

Same starting line up that struggled on Thursday. Still cannot see how deJong starts and Fischer is benched.OK Fischer is
struggling but I am a fan and he can make things happen.

Another struggle ahead and I see a 2-1 win with a winner approx 85 mins.

Which would put us seven points clear at the top of the table. It may not be pretty, but it would be effective.

True...and I'm ready to say sorry.....but my money is staying firmly in my pocket!!!

[Orange14]

It's on the big screen here in Spanish. Agree with my mates that Fischer should be in the starting lineup!!!!!

[Tom_]

I'm going to stick to my guns and say on recent form Fischer vs. Bojan on the left is marginal. But honestly nothing would make me happier than seeing Fischer on fire for the rest of the season ;)

Similar story for Kolbeinn vs. Siem at CF although I'd prefer Siggy, I think. Riedewald at LB is a gamble but worth it if we want to see attacking football.

[Tom_]

Nice, Schöne's been doing good things with free kicks, that was a great delivery.

[rjf1]

That was a total (and pleasant) surprise after the couple of scares down at our end.

[Cedric]

That was the easy part. It has been 2 months now since Ajax has had a 2 goals lead during a game (doesn't sound really english but I guess you see what I mean).

[Tom_]

That's just appalling defending by Moisander and Veltman to let Fernandez get between them like that.

[Rooie]

Same pattern.... Chance after chance, result: 1-1

[saddlerian]

Ok, bad defending....BUT....who played him onside????...and Tom, he was already past them in what would have been an offside position!!!!


Fischer & Poulsen MUST come on 2nd half!!!

[Tom_]

OK, didn't see that. And I agree about Fischer as well, seen enough from Bojan already...

[rjf1]

Typical -- they went into pitty pat mode -- as soon as I saw that I knew we were going to get burned. When are they going to wake up to the negative results that come from pitty pat.

[rjf1]

Don't know why you are knocking Bojan -- he's the only one making runs at them.

[saddlerian]

I'm not going to apologise yet....but de Jong...missed 2 sitters....Reidewald....bad position cost the equaliser!!!!

[Tom_]

Our playing style is designed around holding on to possession, not charging into defenders and giving the ball away (which is also exactly why they play the ball backwards a lot. The idea is to recycle the ball and start a new attack).

[Orange14]

The Good: Schöne (great cross), Klaassen (great header and good all around play)
The Bad: Veltman (poor passing and defending), Serero (poor offensively), Bojan (not as good as Fischer)
The Ugly: de Jong (two clear chances to score; I suspect he's just not physically fit)

Everyone else is about average though Blind is doing a good job of cleaning things up. 80% possession and just nothing to show for it and then poor positioning by Veltman lets them back in the match. This is really just disgusting as the team should be doing much better than this!

de Jong needs to come off and maybe it's time for Fischer and Sigthorrson up front.

[SPL]

Oh dear a good goal , Siem misses 2 sitters and then just like last week v Utrecht a long ball straight down the middle beats our 2 CD ,although Riedewald's inexperience defending put the Zwolle guy on side. Another 2-1 with a late goal is what I predict.

[saddlerian]

Our playing style is designed around holding on to possession, not charging into defenders and giving the ball away (which is also exactly why they play the ball backwards a lot. The idea is to recycle the ball and start a new attack).

Ok, Tom, I agree with the recycling to keep posession...but you can only recycle so much!!! Unless you make a positive attempt to use your recycled material, the quality of it is diminished...