22 May 2011: DC United - Ajax

[Amol]

Sorry, man, I never been to RFK. I hear it's a dump, and that from people with season tickets. Hopefully, it's a good venue for one night.

Well that sucks. Yeah hopefully it's great for one night.

[Orange14]

Yes it is pretty much of a dump. You can read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/st ... story.html. The team has wanted a new stadium but have not had much luck in getting it off the ground. I suspect if one is not underway in a year that the team will move which will be a shame.

[aveslacker]

It's a huge dump.

[666]

We're flying all the way to DC to play Feyenoord again?!?

RFK has also been a refuge for animals: feral cats, raccoons and oversize rats and cockroaches.

After the Christmas-New Year’s break this past winter, Olsen arrived at the stadium, headed down into the musty tunnel and walked toward his office adjacent to the locker room.

“Who greets me in the hallway?" he said. “A cockroach, the biggest one I've ever seen.

[Blind3]

Having been to RFK for several matches before, trust me when I tell you that some of the Kakkerlakken are near big enough for a saddle. Come to think of it , this sounds like Rottendam actually.

P.S. Speaking of Ajax USA vets , I talked to Ray Ngiau tonight. He and I will be in section 230 . He said he's been in contact with Mystery Bob also. Any scuttlebutt on a meet up ? Also, anyone catch wind of any pre-match training sessions ?

[Kowalczyk]

P.S. Speaking of Ajax USA vets , I talked to Ray Ngiau tonight. He and I will be in section 230 . He said he's been in contact with Mystery Bob also. Any scuttlebutt on a meet up ? Also, anyone catch wind of any pre-match training sessions ?

Now I'm really sorry I can't make it to D.C. for this one...

K.

[Amol]

Having been to RFK for several matches before, trust me when I tell you that some of the Kakkerlakken are near big enough for a saddle. Come to think of it , this sounds like Rottendam actually.

P.S. Speaking of Ajax USA vets , I talked to Ray Ngiau tonight. He and I will be in section 230 . He said he's been in contact with Mystery Bob also. Any scuttlebutt on a meet up ? Also, anyone catch wind of any pre-match training sessions ?

I'm in section 230 as well. Haven't heard of any pre-match training sessions yet.

[ajaxusa]

This is nice. DC United, Ajax and John O’Brien are combining for a youth clinic on Friday.

D.C. United, AFC Ajax and the Royal Netherlands Embassy to host United Soccer Club clinic

[ajaxusa]

Having been to RFK for several matches before, trust me when I tell you that some of the Kakkerlakken are near big enough for a saddle. Come to think of it , this sounds like Rottendam actually.

P.S. Speaking of Ajax USA vets , I talked to Ray Ngiau tonight. He and I will be in section 230 . He said he's been in contact with Mystery Bob also. Any scuttlebutt on a meet up ? Also, anyone catch wind of any pre-match training sessions ?

I'm in section 230 as well. Haven't heard of any pre-match training sessions yet.

I will be tailgating at RFK with some friends. I don't know the time/location yet, but would LOVE it if the old guard (and I say that as the oldest of the bunch, though Mystery Bob must be close) could stop by and have a beer or three. I will post tailgate details here as soon as I know them, but feel free to call/txt me on the day for real-time meet-up. (Ben et al: PM me if you don't have my cell.)

[Orange14]

This is nice. DC United, Ajax and John O’Brien are combining for a youth clinic on Friday.

D.C. United, AFC Ajax and the Royal Netherlands Embassy to host United Soccer Club clinic

At least we know that van der Wiel, de Zeeuw and Steks are making the trip. I wonder if the whole first team will be coming over.

[ajaxusa]

Current plan is for me and my friends to join a larger tailgate of DCU fans in Lot 8, "at the back of the lot by the woods." That's all I know, having never been to RFK before. Oh, if you show up thirsty, please bring some beer or what have you. I'll be (probably) the (only) one in the current (Aegon) Ajax home shirt.

[SydAjax]

I live about 5 blocks from RFK and have been there hundreds of times...yes its a bit dilapidated....BUT it has a certain charm that only a stadium built in the 60's can have. Its one of the few stadiums of its kind still around that is actually used for anything. And United fans are the best and one of the original supporters groups in MLS...I expect a great turnout and atmosphere for this match. RFK is right off the Stadium Armory oranje line metro stop too, so its easy to get to if you are staying downtown.

The area surrounding the RFK is totally residential, and you will not be able to get a cab, so you are best off just having some Amstels in the parking lot or metroing back to the Eastern Market area on the Oranje line for some post game suds (its about 11 blocks to walk). The H Street NE area is close as well and has a ton of bars, but the area may be a little rough around the edges for some people. Actually now that I think about it, seeing thousands of Ajax fans marching down East Capitol street from RFK down to Tunnicliffs Tavern would be an amazing sight!

Wow, i can't believe Ajax is coming to my town...I'll be posting pics of the game here http://ajaciedinamerica.blogspot.com/ if I am sober enough to remember to take any :)

[m BZ]

Hello, I'm in Section 204 and I hope to track my former Ajax USA travelers down and have a few before the match. Glad to hear some of you are coming to DC!

RFK - Yes it is a dump!

[ajaxusa]

Hello, I'm in Section 204 and I hope to track my former Ajax USA travelers down and have a few before the match. Glad to hear some of you are coming to DC!

RFK - Yes it is a dump!

Mystery Bob! Hola amigo.

See my note above about tailgating in Lot 8, "at the back of the lot by the woods." We'll get there sometime between 2 and 3. We're the guests of someone else's tailgate, so I don't have the official authority to invite you guys. But if you show up with beer, I strongly doubt you'll be turned away.

We might even get a visit from the guys from Ajax.tv, so wear your Ajax shirts, gentlemen.

[Blind3]

From Ajax.nl

No Dynamic Danish Duo , but a strong squad :

Selectie voor oefentrip Amerika
Maarten Stekelenburg
Jeroen Verhoeven
Kenneth Vermeer
Gregory van der Wiel
Toby Alderweireld
Jan Vertonghen
Vurnon Anita
Eyong Enoh
Miralem Sulejmani
Siem de Jong
André Ooijer
Daley Blind
Nicolas Lodeiro
Demy de Zeeuw
Oleguer
Dario Cvitanich
Aras Özbiliz
Lorenzo Ebecilio

De geblesseerde Rasmus Lindgren (knie) en Mounir El Hamdaoui (hamstring) blijven in Amsterdam achter. Ook Christian Eriksen en Nicolai Boilesen zijn er niet bij. De twee Denen bereiden zich voor op het EK U-21 met Denemarken. Nicolas Lodeiro maakt alleen het eerste deel van de trip mee. Na de oefenwedstrijd tegen DC United vliegt hij terug naar Amsterdam. Enkele dagen later speelt hij met Uruguay een oefeninterland in en tegen Duitsland ter voorbereiding op de Copa America.

[aveslacker]

That is a strong squad. Very exciting. Shame I can't be there.

[Orange14]

Too bad that U-21 Euros are so soon and we won't see them on Sunday!! Maybe we will Lodeiro at the attacking midfield position. Interesting that Oleguer is making the trip given that he is out of contract and won't be renewed.

[souras84]

Too bad that U-21 Euros are so soon and we won't see them on Sunday!! Maybe we will Lodeiro at the attacking midfield position. Interesting that Oleguer is making the trip given that he is out of contract and won't be renewed.

I think its a farewell trip and of course no need for us to pay him to travel to the states

[Orange14]

Given my home town club's woeful performance in the league so far this season there could be a lot of goals scored by the team in Red and White on Sunday.

[Orange14]

Our local DC United writer for the Washington Post reports that ticket sales are only 10,000 for Sunday's match.

[ajaxusa]

Our local DC United writer for the Washington Post reports that ticket sales are only 10,000 for Sunday's match.

that's a bummer
but it'll still be 1000x better than the Gotham Cup. :-P

[Orange14]

Our local DC United writer for the Washington Post reports that ticket sales are only 10,000 for Sunday's match.

that's a bummer
but it'll still be 1000x better than the Gotham Cup. :-P

There really has been nothing in the newspaper about this yet, only a couple of mentions on the blog: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider

[ajaxusa]

Our local DC United writer for the Washington Post reports that ticket sales are only 10,000 for Sunday's match.

that's a bummer
but it'll still be 1000x better than the Gotham Cup. :-P

There really has been nothing in the newspaper about this yet, only a couple of mentions on the blog: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider

Well that's a bummer. You can't expect people to show up if you don't market it.

[ajaxusa]

Ajax are on American soil, first time this CENTURY, (not since Gotham Cup in '99), according to this tweet from Ajax:

Ajax is zojuist op luchthaven Dulles van Washington DC aangekomen. De bus gaat zo richting het spelershotel.

[Blind3]

I read that Charlie Davies and Josh Wolff are injured for DCU . It was on their web page two days ago.