28 Jul 2010: Ajax - PAOK FC

[bryan]

Henk ten Cate's half time analysis on TV:

"Ajax can only keep this kind of pace up for about 60 minutes. Then they better pray it is 2-0 by then, because PAOK will start to get chances after that."

[dws]

Henk ten Cate's half time analysis on TV:

"Ajax can only keep this kind of pace up for about 60 minutes. Then they better pray it is 2-0 by then, because PAOK will start to get chances after that."

We gifted them a couple before the hour mark.

It's the usual mix of squandered chances and lax defending.

[bryan]

Well, why don't we EVER buy defenders...

[saddlerian]

Distincctly third rate.....What the Hell's wrong with them? Don't they want to win?

OK, so it might have been a penalty....but they deserve FUCK ALL!!!!!

[Julius]

this was bad, bad, bad, bad.... :( .

Ajax should have finished the game in the first half. Put two and then stay back. Not again damn it!!!

[Amol]

Well wasn't that just fucking awesome? Sometimes I wonder why do we even bother.

They better show up next week and finish the chances they get.

[Orange14]

I guess the match official took some lessons from the WC officials and ignored a hand ball in the box. Not that we deserved it mind you. 2nd rate performance and maybe it was all due to the uncertainties going on around the club. They better come out and play this weekend to get untracked.

[saddlerian]

...and I've fucking booked for next week!!!!! MONEY BACK!!!!

[paladinby]

How come that handball is not a penalty??? WTF

Need to convert our chances better and buy some striker before second leg.

[Amol]

I guess the match official took some lessons from the WC officials and ignored a hand ball in the box. Not that we deserved it mind you. 2nd rate performance and maybe it was all due to the uncertainties going on around the club. They better come out and play this weekend to get untracked.

I didn't even want to bring up that handball. The other team installed a new coach last week and this was their first game under him. We can't keep complaining about uncertainties at our club.

[Van basten]

Well, today we made one huge step of becoming joke in europe once more. What a surprise!

[Amol]

Ajax in the CL qualifiers is a re-occuring nightmare. Period.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Just read my signature....i'm tired of the same old bullshit...fuck it.

[Monkey Tonk]

"Strange, I've seen this game before..."

A fortress of Greeks, and their f*cking brand of anti-soccer, and an Ajax that, especially this early in the season, lacks the flow and creativity to find a way through. One of those games that you could even lose if you don't play with 100% concentration for the full 90 minutes.

Definition of a fool is to do the same thing over and over again, and expect a different outcome.

The ref cost us a goal at the end (penalty for sure), but unacceptable nonchalance in defense cost us the game.

[Orange14]

We give up one stupid chance to them and fail on three good chances we created; not a recipe for success. One other observation, I don't think we need to worry about losing van der Wiel. Any prospective suitor for him upon seeing this match will realize that their €s are better spent somewhere else.

[Monkey Tonk]

We give up one stupid chance to them and fail on three good chances we created; not a recipe for success. One other observation, I don't think we need to worry about losing van der Wiel. Any prospective suitor for him upon seeing this match will realize that their €s are better spent somewhere else.

You would be right about van der Wiel if this wasn't van Gaal. When he left Ajax for Barca he would have taken the whole Ajax team with him, if it had been possible.

[bluedaddy19]

relax, fellas... it's one game and the first at that

[SPL]

a bad start , lets hope we can perform next week.

[Think14]

disappointing indeed lads. a very under-whelming performance. bumpy start to the season, hopefully it changes soon.
read my match summary here
www.think14.squarespace.com
heads up and lets finish this next week, eh!?

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Thats one kick ass blog you got there think14, nice read and good match report. I love the way you put Suarez into perspective and i quote "I have to say, I get sick to death of Luis Suarez moaning to the referee about everything and flopping around like a fish every match. It really becomes old after awhile, no matter how much he does for us. Of course, every time he goes and erases my memory by scoring anywhere between 1-4 goals a match. So yes, it is a love-hate relationship.". That is exactly how i feel about him, i just hope he can once again erase our memory with a hat trick in Greece. Cheers and keep up the good work my friend.

[ofey]

Please God, don't let lightning strike twice (or is it trice now?)... Please... .

[acab]

Relax, we'll beat them in the second leg 3-0. Sure of that. So it was 1 not really good game, but hey it's the first game for the season, so calm down. I don't want to make any conclusions. Do you remember 1996 and the game against Panathinaikos? 0-1 loss at home, then 3-0 in Greece. We have a very good squad and i'm sure, we'll lern the lesson for the second game.

[cdnajaxfan]

You would be right about van der Wiel if this wasn't van Gaal. When he left Ajax for Barca he would have taken the whole Ajax team with him, if it had been possible.

Yes but that was the best team in Europe at the time, I would have also!

[cdnajaxfan]

Please God, don't let lightning strike twice (or is it trice now?)... Please... .

I have lost count as well! This was always a given that we would be in the CL.

[orange goblin]

there is only one way to see ajax in the CL again, and it's to win the Eredivisie. I still believe we can do it in Greece, but then we'll have another and more difficult qualifier.
What makes me sad is that from two years till now this team plays moments of great football. well, you have to play good 90 minutes, and after all Ajax is definitely and finally developing under MJ. Problem is that if we fail CL football also this year, another exodus will start (already in august? or otherwise we'll have demotivated players until may) and we'll have to rebuilt everything. once again. this drives me crazy.