18 Jul 2009: Southampton FC - Ajax

[Kowalczyk]

From the looks of things, it looks like we will be playing a 4-4-2 this season. Given we have so many midfielders this makes some sense.

Yeah. We have:

1. many midfielders
2. no traditional wingers
3. no real centre forwards who feel at home in a 4-3-3

I think Urby Emanuelson can be a fantastic 'outer midfielder' in a 4-4-2.

K.

[SPL]

Had a great day. Met Sadler Ian ,SE6( Brian), Ray and Mika. Good to be with real supporters and what really friendly guys and completely nuts about Ajax . There was about 300 Ajax fans and no trouble everyone having a great time.
The steward went to search me and was taken aback that I was english. Not the only person yesterday to wonder why an english guy is a fan of Dutch football team!. I went and got a ticket early before meeting the others and a group of Saints fans were talking and saying Ajax have a great team ( I had to say we are a great club but the current team is not great) I mentioned they would see Rommendahl in action and they rated him I said their club could have him ( he wasn't too bad when he came on)

We had a good view and were sitting in the corner and Ajax attacked our end in the second half.
First half was not that exciting( footy wasn't but I felt in heaven watching Ajax live , what a buzz I felt)
We played 4-4-2 and scored with what loooked like a lucky penalty ,I think Mickey was fouled.Defense abit dodgy when they scored.
Second half Rommendahl came on and gave some width to our attack and we played 4-3-3 with young Zeegelaar on the left wing. Rommendahl hit the bar , cannot remember who else did( will read official site report after this to see how accurate I am ) Rommendahl broke through with only the goalie to beat but stumbled (I said to Ray KJH would bury that with both eyes closed, he agreed) Suarez scored an excellent 2nd from wide on the right and Toby Alderweireld nipped in for the third and finally Zeegelaar scored to round up what I thought was a very impressive 30 mins from this guy who only came out of youth last season. Overall a good workout but when we had 2 wingers on and 4-3-3 we looked better. It was if we moved up a gear in the second half and of course played with width.

Afterwards we finally reached a pub in the centre and 2 young ladies asked us why we were not Saints fans when we were english? When we told them where we came from it did not register but when we said Mika was a genuine Amsterdammer they were impressed and thought he must be rich! Think he was relieved that he was not on his own !!

We then wandered back to the station and the end of an unforgetable day.

Thanks to you guys for helping make this one of the best football days of my life. I can only describe myself as an amatuer Ajax fan in the company of true professional fans.The 3 have all trained their wives
and I am not sure how!!!! It left me knowing I have to come over to watch this magic club at home asap.
I would try and watch a Friday night 1st div game but I think I would give Volendam a miss. SE6 said he went there and the lights get turned off as soon as the players walk off and then he walked down a long dark road hoping to catch the last bus home. (I do believe SE6 could write abook on his football watching
and probably Ray and Ian also.)

Thanks for making it a great day and I will come to Amsterdam( just wish I knew your secret with the wife)

[SE6Ajacied]

Yes, it was a good day, good to meet everyone, would have been even better if I'd only had to queue up once for a ticket after the ticket office seller "mis-heard" me and sold me a ticket in the home end (I wasn't the only one, seemed like 1/2 the queue had the same problem).

Good solid performance though apart from Suarez who got two goals no-one else really stood out for me.

Took some pictures too - If I get round to it, I'll post them online.

[saddlerian]

Greetings from Krakow;

Yes, it was rather a good day out....but what did the two managers get out of it? As far as Jol's concerned, he must have learned that he has to play with wingers....Rommedahl really lifted the performance, along with Zeegelaar....a seeming good find from the youth ranks.
As far as Pardew's concerned, He must hope that there's a 14 day cooling off period in his contract! There's only one direction for Southampton.....and it isn't up!

A good training exercise....and a trophy to put alongside the Champions League trophy

[SE6Ajacied]

OK, here are some pictures. I only took a small camera so the one's of the players aren't that good....

http://s322.photobucket.com/albums/nn40 ... uthampton/

[SPL]

Thanks for posting them ,sorry you were not in the picture we should have taken one with you. For others the 3 guys in the picture with Ajax shirts are SadlerIan on the left , Ray from Milton Keynes in the centre and the old bloke on the right in last seasons blue away shirt is me . Great day.

[Over Pasanens Head]

Thanks for posting them ,sorry you were not in the picture we should have taken one with you. For others the 3 guys in the picture with Ajax shirts are SadlerIan on the left , Ray from Milton Keynes in the centre and the old bloke on the right in last seasons blue away shirt is me . Great day.

And in the front row is Steve (Pizza 5) who is the ugly one, his son David and Micha

[SPL]

I did speak to Micha and he came to the pub afterwards but did not know who Steve was .

[Kowalczyk]

I did speak to Micha and he came to the pub afterwards

What a load of bollocks, eh?



K.