20 AUG 2017 Ajax - Groningen Match Day 2

[saddlerian]

Was VERY worried with the substitutions...but, Schone 3-1....a little relieved!!! still VERY worried with the substitutions...STRANGE!!!

[saddlerian]

Pleased, a good 3-1 win, plenty of confidence...but let's not get too over confident!!! The team showed mostly positive points...but must concentrate more on this passing....when going forwards, LOOK forwards!!!
Dijks, for me was the MOM...always wanting to attack..no mistakes defensibly.

6/10....could do better

[Orange14]

Despite the rubbish defending by Veltman on the goal, this was a decent enough performance by Ajax. Bulk of the possession was in the attacking area and Ajax did well to break down a Groningen team that was dropping back and hoping that some counter opportunities would come up. The defense still is losing focus too much for me and will have to figure out how to solve that issue. Passing in the midfield is so much better than last year and players are looking for quick combination plays.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - really didn't have anything to do and the Idrissi goal was a good strike that would beat any keeper
Dijks (7.5) - can't give him any higher since his crosses were only average
Viergever (7.5) - had a couple of good interventions to break up possible scoring opportunities
de LIgt (7) - one lack of focus but otherwise a good match
Veltman (5.5) - woeful defending on the goal and showed reluctance to cross the ball into the box
van de Beek (7) - solid shift as the holding midfielder
de Jong (7) - good match and a couple of passes could have been better weighted
Ziyech (8) - excellent match and let's hope he stays with the club
Cerny (7) - good to see him back in action and hope his hamstring is not injured
Huntelaar (7.5) - well taken goal and some nice hold up play as well
Kluivert (7.5) - strong match from the winger with more contained play
Dolberg (6) - strange substitution coming in on the wing
Schöne (7) - excellent goal to ice the game
Neres (6.5) - good play and knows his way around the box when he has the ball

Return match in Norway against Rosenborg this coming Thursday. Ajax need to strike quickly if they want to stay alive in Europe.

[SPL]

A good win,thought when Ziyech scored that would be it but Veltman dreadful as usual stood still for their goal.

Schone ,though with a beauty settled it.Sky commentators made Cerny our MOM with Ziyech behind. Both were very good. Defence is still in need of strengthening.

Main thing we played decent and won and gives us some hope for Thursday

[Ayman]

Great game, but I think this could have been used as a little experiment by bringing on Zeefuik, Veltman clearly is not a right back, he is a centre back, with Sanchez gone, I think it makes sense to partner de Ligt and Veltman in the heart of the defense, while giving Zeefuik a run at right back, and later of course the new Colombian kid (forgot his name).

[SPL]

sky commentators said who should we buy and said a quality LB and an experienced CD to replace Sanchez,but our poorest defender is Veltman. Lot depends on if we are in Europe but if we are not its just 1 game a week and at best we will buy another Cd ,probably left footed to cover Viergever Dijks.De Ligt Veltman and the Colombian cover the right.If in Europe we need to buy 2 more defenders

[souras84]

Are we ready for another Westerman purchase?

[Ayman]

Well Ajax are linked to Per Schuurs, 17 year old left sided centre back, and of course that Austrian right sided centre back, 19. However, I think Bakker in the Ajax youth should be seen as a cover for the left back position. He maybe 17, but so was de Ligt, and Bakker is just as outstanding as de Ligt was when he was his age.

[SPL]

19 year old Austrian Max Wober of Rapid Wien is wanted for 10m ,he is left footed but if we are out of europe he may not fancy us.

Having been pleased we played 2 wingers in normal positions he went back to inverted,but I thought they were better in the 1st half playing on their natural side.

If no europe how do we keep 6 forwards happy? Cerny and Kluivert both good enough to play 1 game a week but Neres and Younes need playing time. Same in the middle KJH had a good game but for 1 match a week Dolberg must start. Answer of course beat Rosenborg 2-0 and qualify

[SPL]

Wober is actually Rapid Wien(Vienna) ,Austria Vienna have Westermann. Wober is quoted on Ajaxshowtime as left sided defender.

Schuurs I read will be loaned back to Sittard for the season.

[Ayman]

So if Ajax complete the signing, the defense will look like this: - Zeefuik, Orejuela, Veltman, de Ligt, Woeber, Viergever, Dijks and Bakker? I can live with that.

[SPL]

Bakker is a very good talent and only 17 back in June but is staying with U19 at least until January break.At just 17 de LIgt debuted for Jong and looked too good for that level.Will be surprised if he breaks through to the first this season.Ex Volendammer Boy Kemper started at LB for Jong and he is still 18

[Ayman]

Rosbenborg lost 0-1 at home to a team called Haugesund. I know this doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things, and if anything it should pile more pressure on Ajax to win away. I don't remember Ajax turning around a home deficit ever since they lost to Panathinaikos 0-1 and won away 0-3 in the champions league semi finals in 1996.