6 MAR 2016 Willem II - Ajax Match Day 26

[Orange14]

We're in the final quarter of the Eredivisie title race and it's still tight at the top. Ajax have a Sunday fixture in Tilburg against Willem II while PSV travel to Groningen on Saturday. Ajax are 21 points up on third place teams Feynoord and AZ. Will PSV drop points at all going down the stretch run? It doesn't look likely and Ajax is still forced to run the table.

I won't be watching the match in real time on Sunday as I'm out of town celebrating my daughter's birthday. I'll catch up with the match on the NGSN replay that evening and 'hope' to post ratings later that evening or first thing on Monday.

[Ayman]

Oranje14, I doubt you would miss much, except for a few blunders by our players, I don't have faith in this team under Frank de Boer, I just wish he would announce that he is joining a new club, and take Marc Overmars with him.

[Dave the mac]

The last two matches, especially the last one, have been very entertaining. Played the way Ajax should play!

I watched most of the Vitesse/Willem II match and Willem we're lucky to come away with the win. They played very defensive and had maybe one shot on goal in the 1st half.
Ajax may just have to grind out a win this weekend as pleasing footie only happens if both teams come to play.

[Orange14]

Don't have a team sheet yet for the match. FdB expects to choose between Schöne and Murcic on the right wing in place of the suspended el Ghazi (my preference is for Murcic who has much better quickness). Sinkgraven still has not trained with the first team because of his foot injury and of course Tete and Riedewald are both out for the season.

[SPL]

v d Hoorn had a minor scare today but is likely fit.With el Ghazi suspended and Sinkgraven still injured either Cerny or Nouri should be in the squad

[SPL]

v Bruggen in the squad as cover for vd Hoorn who had an injury scare.

[SPL]

Good day to all ,hope for 3 points today as PSV just keeping winning comfortably.Schone for El Ghazi the only change from last week's starting lineup.

[Ayman]

Schone's time on the right flank is up. Play Cerny! Even though he is a left winger

[rjf1]

We did well the last two games by finally playing attacking football -- let's hope it continues and we get a nice win today.

[rjf1]

Younes doing well down the left side -- good move for a shot that hit the post, and a similar move for a perfect cross for Milik to head it home.

[SPL]

A nicely taken goal from Milik not a great first half but hopefully we get a 2nd and win it

[SPL]

Need to get Muric on and start attacking more down the right side,Younes is doing well down the left.

[SPL]

Oh boy what a beauty by Bazoer

[rjf1]

I was just thinking to myself that Bazoer was having a really mediocre day, when he turns and unleashes a cracker for our second goal.

[King Litti]

Great shot by Bazoer. Still not sure will he be world class, but still psv must be kicking themselves for letting him go. Nice potential, no doubt.

[rjf1]

Third goal was a gift -- attempt to chest the ball back to the keeper, but Schone was able to jump in and blast it into the net.

[rjf1]

Younes plays a give and go with Klaassen and rounds the keeper but his shot comes back off the bar -- not to worry, Klaassen follows up and volleys in goal #4.

[King Litti]

That should be enough. We're leaving Tillburg with three points. Damn, Younes would have deserved that goal and it would have been a beauty. Nice combo with Klaassen.

[SPL]

Bad mistake made it 3 and then Klaassen following up from Younes hitting the bar made it 4

[SPL]

An easy win in the end after a superb goal by Bazoer and then a mistake which Schone scored from.Still dont see us beating PSV on current form but lest just beat NEC next week

[Orange14]

Got back home just as the match was finishing up and was able to watch the replay on NGSN. What a poor opening 1/2 hour from an Ajax perspective. Willem II were creating some chances and pressing high up the field. The Milik goal just before the half seemed to take the air out of their sails and in the end it was a comfortable match at 0-4. Another wonder goal from Bazoer and a great kick by Cillessen to Dijks with a rocket of a cross that was woefully chested by the Willem II defender and Schöne pounced on the mistake to slot the ball in the back of the net.

Player Ratings:

Cillessen (8) - not a bad play all afternoon with excellent positioning and some very good saves to keep a clean sheet
Dijks (7) - a silly Yellow card marred what was a very decent performance; he and Younes threatened the Willem II right side all match long
Viergever (7) - quietly good and a lung busting run in the final minute of play almost got him on the scoresheet
van der Hoorn (6.5) - one clumsy turnover early on but otherwise solid
Veltman (4.5) - quite poor at times both defending and on the ball and committed several very silly fouls
Mr. Irreplaceable (6.5) - another better than average performance from the holding midfielder and is going forward much more now
The €50M Man (6.5) - another very average match with aimless passes and slow play marked by a Wonder Goal; unfortunately this type of play is not good enough for Barcelona
Klaassen (6.5) - below average in the first half with few if any touches but came alive in the final 35 minutes to play up to his potential
Younes (7) - toyed all match long with the right side of the Willem II defense; wonderful pass to Milik to open the scoring
Milik (7) - another good game from our striker; he got into good positions and was decent on the ball
Schöne (6) - really slowing down these days but still has good field sense and pounced on the error to get the third goal
Muric (5.5) - not much of a factor other than one decent posession
van Rhijn (5.5) - on late for van der Hoorn and had a couple of good defensive plays
Fischer (5) - on late and had a touch or two

Home to NEC next weekend before the big one in Eindhoven. The table has to be run and so far that strategy is working!!

Forza Ajax

[Orange14]

I was just thinking to myself that Bazoer was having a really mediocre day, when he turns and unleashes a cracker for our second goal.

It was an interesting play as Bazoer had Schöne wide open on the flank and at first I thought he was turning to pass to the open man; should have known better as Bazoer really likes to shoot from this position. We do need to acknowledge the truth that this was only the second successful shot of this sort with lots of shots that never came close to frame; still it was a beauty and he will probably get named to the team of the week just as with the earlier one.

[SPL]

Agree great goal by Bazoer but another very ordinary game overall by him. Not sure anyone will pay 30m at the present time,he needs to spend another year here at least.

Incidently Klaassen has said this week that he's not going anywhere this summer and will spend another year at Ajax.