31 AUG 2014 Groningen-Ajax Match Day 4

[Orange14]

Slip up last Sunday but some exciting offensive football. Let's hope things get ironed out for the visit to Groningen.

[aveslacker]

Since this is a Sunday match, is it earlier in the day?

[Orange14]

Since this is a Sunday match, is it earlier in the day?

I believe it's at 14.30 CET

[King Litti]

So, obviously no Blind today as he's off to Manchester. Huge loss as he is a versatile player. Though we have lots of midfielders, not many can play that important defensive role. Suppose Viergever will start today. Other than him, well Serero is not physically strong enough and too weak on the ball. Schöne could maybe pull it off with his technique and vision, but his talent would be wasted in the bottom of the midfield. It's likely that at some point Viergever will get either suspended or injured and then someone will have to step in. Someone of the defenders? Denswill? Bazoer?

In attack it seems we're stuck with Siggy. Clock ticking down on the transfer window. Don't think Siggy will be ever more than a decent eredivisie class striker. I suppose he will be starting today. Haven't seen much Milik, but haven't been that impressed with the little I've seen. Where's Zivkovic?

Even though there doesn't seem to be any reinforcements coming in, we still have a squad that can handle it's business in the Eredivisie at least, so let's get back to winning ways today!

[SPL]

I'm having to go out today but like the AZ game its on sky so I am tapping it and will watch it later as if its live. Will make my comments later on and hope we will be celebrating a win.

[Tom_]

Looks like de Boer had called up Duarte as cover for Viergever.

[Cruijff]

Interesting match! Looking forward to it!

[Cruijff]

Line-up: Cillessen; vRhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Boilesen; Klaassen, Viergever, Serero; El Ghazi, Sigthórsson, Schöne.

Subs: Vermeer, Ligeon, Van der Hoorn, Duarte, Andersen, Milik, Kishna.

[Dave the mac]

Up early here... Groningen has had most of the ball so far. Why is Serero in there?
Best chance yet would have been and own goal. Better play now.

[aveslacker]

Anybody got any streams?

[King Litti]

. Why is Serero in there?

Not sure. Too often the passes go in the wrong direction and when he tries to play forward we end up losing the ball. Why did we ever extend his contract?

Maybe Schöne should drop to midfield replacing him and throw Kishna to the left side.

[Orange14]

50/50 first half. We had some half chances and so did Groningen. Serero has been quite decent; Boilesen not so good. I think 1/2 the players on Groningen have Ajax ties. The way this one is going we will be lucky to get out with a 1-0 win.

[Orange14]

Anybody got any streams?

There is a Russian Sopcast feed that is pretty good - Channel 139689

[Amol]

I'm watching it here - http://www.janlul.com/stream1.html ...although it has started buffering recently.

There is a list of streams for this game here - http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?mat ... art=sports


Also - how did we miss that opportunity in the 40th minute? Klassen had to take a step to his left and pass to Serero who was open and in front of the goal. Ridiculous.

[Dave the mac]

Half-time. 0-0 Ajax has had the better opportunities.... Let's hope for a breakthrough in the 2nd. El Ghazi is very active, fun to watch.

[rjf1]

Boilesen has been rather poor. Siggy, a lot worse than poor. I look at the good game Hoesen is having, then look at Siggy, and all I can do is shake my head at the decision to let him go. Mediocre play is the best we can say about the half so far. Don't see much to make me think things will improve. Maybe we will get lucky and get a goal from somewhere. We also have to hope they don't nip it on a counterattack.

[rjf1]

If you can do AceStream, there is a terrific stream in English to be found on Wiziwig.

[Orange14]

Massive defensive breakdown there. everyone too far up and not reading the situation at all.

[souras84]

It's gonna be a long, hard season

[Orange14]

When you leave a man unmarked 2 meters from the goal they usually score every single time.

[Amol]

When you leave a man unmarked 2 meters from the goal they usually score every single time.

except if they're Sigthorrson of course.

[King Litti]

Thought we lacked creativity from midfield. Still looking at Serero. In my book he didn't contribute anything to our attack. Duarte had immediately more determination to go forward. El Ghazi is going to have a wonderful brake through season in his debut season. Great talent. Classic winger stuff.

Why take Moisander off? What was the point. Veltman and van der Hoorn clueless on the second goal.

[Orange14]

A well deserved 2-0 defeat that exhibited execrable play that was a bad as any of the horrible matches of last season. Passes that were too slow and predictable, terrible first touches by virtually every player on the pitch. Other than el Ghazi who seemed to have a clue that this was a football match there were no players deserving of any attention except bad. While we continue to hope that some of them will show flashes of brilliance it's a fools errand to continue in this belief.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (5.5) - had no difficult saves to make and you cannot fault him when an unmarked man 2 meters from the goal slots it home
Boilesen (3.5) - poor passing, bad positioning, and clueless on offense
Moisander (4) - one of those at fault on the first goal
Veltman (5) - average and no better
van Rhijn (5.5) - semi-decent and mildly above average
Viergever (4) - supposed to mop things up in the middle and didn't accomplish the task
Serero (3.5) - reverted to the worst of last season; with open space ahead of him he plays the ball back
Klaassen (4.5) - some poor passes and couldn't control the ball in the box when it was necessary to do so
Schöne (4) - surprisingly bad, poor first touch and ball control; he really cannot play the wing
Sigthorrsson (3.5) - another plodding effort marked by little or no ball control
el Ghazi (5.5) - can't give him a 6 in a match like this but he really deserved better from his team mates
Kishna (4.5) - few touches if any as a sub; if he is the future he deserves to start
van der Hoorn (4.5) - did little to impress
Duarte (4) - dispossessed a little too easily

No match next week because of the international break. Next up Heracles followed by PSG in CL and then the first Klassiker away in Rotterdam. Two weeks to right a ship that appears to have a rotting hull.

We supporters deserve better than this type of disappointing play. Enough said.

[Orange14]

Why take Moisander off? What was the point. Veltman and van der Hoorn clueless on the second goal.

Moisander was horrible and has not played well all season to date. Maybe FdB is sending a message. van der Hoorn is good in the air and maybe they thought he could head in a goal. Problem is that we were so poor in the offensive end he can wait for 10 years and not get a ball on his head.

[zeux]

Why take Moisander off? What was the point. Veltman and van der Hoorn clueless on the second goal.

Moisander was horrible and has not played well all season to date.

Demotivated?