18 DEC 2014 Ajax-Vitesse KNVB Beker Cup

[Orange14]

Andersen for Serero or Klaassen is the only substitution that makes sense

[saddlerian]

Sorry, but I've got to switch this rubbish off!!!

I've got a cactus on the same table as the TV...it's too distracting as it's working harder and more interesting than the Ajax team!!!

[Orange14]

Maybe Veltman's worst game ever in an Ajax shirt!

[saddlerian]

FDB...Take the f**king Liverpool job....PLEASE!!!!!!!

[Orange14]

And the rout is on. This could end up very ugly.

[Orange14]

FDB...Take the f**king Liverpool job....PLEASE!!!!!!!

He's got my vote as well!!!!

[Tom_]

Me too. We rode our luck a long way with his one-dimensional tactics; he's been found out tonight just like against Salzburg.

[saddlerian]

In the true spirit of ANY cup or league match, you are supposed to put out your STRONGEST TEAM TO WIN THE MATCH!!!

Surely FDB could be classed as being guilty of a fraudulent act when he gave the teamsheet to the match referee!!

Maybe your time is up, FDB.....tonight has made Ajax a laughing stock!!!!! Join your brother on TV or at Liverpool...make it a Christmas present to us....NOW!!!!

Get rid of his contract!!!

[King Litti]

We're better than this. Hate to see this kind of attitude problem. No matter is your roster better, you've got to prove yourself in every game. We have failed to do so. The cup is the only thing Vitesse can win this season. Of course they are going to come out fighting. We were not ready for them. Mistake by de Boer or were the players just hoping to get something for free?

[Orange14]

I think that free kick by Milik was the first shot on frame all match!

[King Litti]

I don't get pissed off if our guys play their hearts out and lose, but this...what a spineless performance. Vitesse wanted it more and deserve to win. Ajax, bow your head in shame. Feel bad for the fans in the Arena who payed to see this crap. Nice to hear them still cheering to the bitter end, but I expect some whistles after it's over.

[King Litti]

Maybe your time is up, FDB.....tonight has made Ajax a laughing stock!!!!! Join your brother on TV or at Liverpool...make it a Christmas present to us....NOW!!!!
Get rid of his contract!!!

Maybe FdB's tactics were questionable, but you can't win a football game without passion and movement no matter what the tactics are. Though I guess it's down to the coach at the end to make sure that there is passion, but I wouldn't blame solely de Boer. Rookie mistakes by Veltman and so on. The players didn't show up tonight. Can't believe I stayed up to see this.

[Orange14]

A well deserved thrashing for a team that was just horrible and showed no inclination to play football this evening. Maybe a couple of players were ready to play but that was about it. Every flaw that we have seen and commented on this season was exposed by Vitesse and duly punished. Maybe the strategy is to go out of the cup and then Europa League and scramble to win a fifth Eredivisie championship, if so this will be quite a hollow victory. I'm increasingly of the belief that FdB has outlived his usefulness as an Ajax trainer as the team is tactically just poorly prepared.

Player Ratings:

Boer (4.5) - made one save and should have done better on the Labyad strike, kicked poorly
Viergever (4) - poor ball control and looked disinterested
Denswil (5) - had a couple of good interventions but slow looping upfield passes just don't work
Veltman (3.5) - did have one good intervention after Riedewald gave the ball away but the rest of the match was just awful
van Rhijn (4) - content to sit around and watch things go from bad to worse
Riedewald (5) - seemed to have a clue about what to do but cannot be loose with the ball as a DM
Serero (5) - drew lots of fouls and his passing was poor, better as a DM
Klaassen (3.5) - in contention with Veltman as worst MOTM, stood around a lot wondering why he didn't get the ball
Kishna (4) - couldn't make any play at all
Milik (5) - had the lone shot on goal from a free kick which gets him an average rating though he did hold the ball up and suffered from poor play from his teammates
el Ghazi (4.5) - gets a half point for beating his man once
Andersen (5.5) - showed some gumption by pushing a couple of Vitesse players out of the way; should have started
Ligeon (3.5) - clearly not an upgrade from van Rhijn
Zivkovic (NR) - to short an appearance to make any judgement

I hope this team is better than they played tonight but without some spirit there's no way that they contend for the championship. They are fortunate to have some separation between the third place team. FdB needs to look long and hard at how he gets this team prepared to play. I hope the Excelsior match is better.

[Tom_]

What annoys me is that the problem was obvious after about 15 minutes but nothing was done about it. Sure, tonight's team sucks, so a change in tactics may not have changed the result, but surely we had to at least try something different?

We've been looking awful at the Eredivisie level for about 1.5 years now. I understand the mentality of "we're Ajax, we dictate the play", but the problem with Frank/Johann's "hold onto the ball at all costs" tactic is that it doesn't work when you don't have a top quality squad. Credit to Bosz for doing his homework and getting his tactic right, but our squad is not top quality and has gotten weaker in each of the past two seasons.

[SPL]

Watched most of the game in the end but wish I hadn't bothered. A dreadful game and nothing positive to say.On this form we are going to struggle for title no 5 in a row.Have to agree our squad is not top quality.

[rjf1]

This was another one of those dead of night (0345) matches for me. I went to bed disappointed that I wouldn't be able to watch -- judging from the score and the remarks I'm glad I didn't. What is it with Ajax playing the wimp for cup matches -- Vitesse coach must have watched video of how Zwolle humiliated us last time and copied the pages from their playbook.

[SPL]

On the subject of not putting out our strongest team I would say Serero is out after the winter break for African Cup and Riedewald will replace him hence last night was chance for him to play 90 mins.

Moisander ,if not sold,should be benched according to our policy thus Denswil was given 90 mins .

Schone had a minor groin injury and should be fit for Sunday. He has not played that great recently and most fans called for 2 proper wingers. Well thats what we got last night shame they never turned up.

Finally Cillessen maybe no 1 but he and Boer are our only fit contracted goalies and playing Boer in a cup should not be a problem.Cannot say I was too impressed.

Our big problem is the squad does not have enough quality in depth. Zimling Duarte Sana are not good enough and should all go next month, Ligeon should go also, he is no better than 19 year old Tete. Viegever is not much better either.

Most people including me want Siggy out but Zivkovic as our no 2 striker is not ready to play 90mins if Milik were injured.

Last night we did indeed rest 4 regulars and our lack of quality in depth showed.Think we need to spend a bit of money on some better class players.We cry for youth but luckily for the future we have 3 or 4 outstanding 17 year olds but that is for the future.