16 FEB 2017 Legia - Ajax Europa League Knockout Round

[Tom_]

Two significant mistakes from the officials in Legia's favour. Unlucky but it happens...

Kluivert sacrificed for Westermann when he's been on the pitch less than 15 minutes, wouldn't it make more sense to take Younes off? Maybe because of SInkgraven's struggles on the left.

No goals against a team that conceded 24 in the CL group stage, now we have to win outright in Amsterdam.

[SPL]

Not a great 2nd half by us ,Tete had done ok but poor decision to get a red card. Ziyech Schone not good enough .

Sad that Kluivert gets taken off.Younes should have gone but I guess the coach went for experience to stay on. I dont rate Westermann and what does it say for Riedewald. Hopefully next week de Ligt will be sub he is already better than either of those other 2.

[Orange14]

Yet another disappointing Thursday night in the Europa League. Ajax went down to 10 men when Tete was called for a niggling grab that never gets called in England. His first foul was a good professional foul as he had to come across and defend for Schöne who was so far out of the play it wasn't funny. Ajax created chances to be sure and also gifted some chances to Legia.

Here we are for the fourth straight year with no clue at all how to play the ball out from the back when there is pressure. The whole second half Legia pressed and all we saw were weak passing and nobody from the midfield coming back to try to create a passing zone. This is so maddening!

Player Ratings:

Onana (7.5) - under siege from his own team who were constantly losing the ball in bad situations
Sinkgraven (6) - other than on bad turnover, a pretty decent game
Viergever (6) - most consistent of the back line players
Sanchez (5.5) - woeful first half with some bad give away and a better second half
Tete (4) - thrust into the lineup to fill in for an ill Veltman and suffered from a lack of playing time, seemed to get back on track in the second half but was undone by a second silly Yellow card; he had some good interventions including one that saved a goal but was badly beaten just before coming off
Schöne (4) - woeful defending and other than a couple sparkles on offense his star was quite dim
el Capitan (6) - had a good match but his poor touch let the team down several times when there was a chance to set something up
Ziyech (4) - lots of €s spent on this player who failed to show up to play
Younes (6) - worked hard and managed to create some danger
Dolberg (4.5) - had a blue plate special delivered and made a hash of it
Traore (5) - average and no better
Kluivert (5) - super sub came on and then right off when Tete was sent off
Westermann (5) - First game in a long time and at least didn't screw up

Return match in Amsterdam should be interesting as the team cannot afford to concede an away goal. Even if they get by Legia I can't see them progressing very far.

[Ayman]

Soon Ajax will be punished if they dont make the necessary changes i.e. in midfield with van de Beek for Ziyech and Frenkie de Jong for Schone. I'm glad de Ligt is returning from injury he is on the fringes. I feel for Riedewald, he is fading away.

[Orange14]

My feed didn't have a replay to determine whether Klaassen's shot was over the line. I guess Europa League matches don't have goal line technology as that would have proven it.

Funny how everyone sees a match differently. I thought Sinkgraven had a decent match other than the one bad turnover. He had a lot of successful interventions. I felt bad for Tete as he had to come over and take a Yellow when the Legia MF had a clear path in on goal as Schöne was lost at sea on that one. He also had a sliding clearance to prevent a clear shot on goal, but you still cannot get a second card that sends you off.

I'm most disappointed to see that this team still cannot get the ball across the half line when pressured. I don't understand why all opponents don't do this. Legia only pressed in the 2nd half and it was successful.

[SPL]

Need to change midfield on Sunday ,v d Beek to start and give Nouri a game instead of Ziyech.I assume deJong will play 90 mins for Jong tomorrow where as the other 2 wont play.

[Ayman]

Let's not forget the promising Kaj Sierhuis, since Dollberg is going through a bad spell, and Cassierra isn't ready for this level, time to give a chance to Sierhuis.

[Tom_]

I'm most disappointed to see that this team still cannot get the ball across the half line when pressured. I don't understand why all opponents don't do this. Legia only pressed in the 2nd half and it was successful.

Our football is better this year than it was under FdB, but tactical problems remain. Honestly while Ajax is determined to play with three MFs and two wingers who don't contribute, getting the ball up the pitch against defensive teams will always be difficult. We're typically outnumbered 4-3 or 5-3 in MF with the only outlet an advancing fullback.

Maybe Kluivert will help on the right. He looks like a genuine winger. Younes is not good enough so left wing is still a question mark.

[Cruijff]

Told my wife about the above and hope to come in October.Her response we could go in April or May so she can see the tulips ,and get to Edam. She knows I now plan to watch Ajax at home every year so will work on this.

Exactly!!!! All these chicks [ ] even the 63+ (?) 70+ (?) [ sorry ] birds would like to see flowers at De Keukenhof or spring at Edam so you can just arrange this stuff SPL!

I remember forum member Tom_ joined me on a freezing Sunday in Amsterdam to see Ajax beat Feyenoord 3-0 inclusing a penalty miss by Lex Immers on Vermeer.

Especially his rebound was a delight for Ajax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5fFWJskfY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH5fFWJskfY

[Cruijff]

Orange14 you forgot to rate Sanchez.

[Orange14]

Orange14 you forgot to rate Sanchez.

Just checked, I gave him a 5.5 for too many first half turnovers and general poor play.

[Cruijff]

Oh yeah, I see.

Agree with you that Ziyech, Schöne and Tete were shit.